This year, I challenged myself to go "outside my comfort zones" and one of those things was to join a photographic society. I have successfully missed all meetings that have had a guest speaker, unfortunately (because soccer, school, work got in the way), but I have attended two critiques/judgings so far. I'm about to enter my third with this shot for the interior natural lighting theme. I took a shot like this before and I thought I would do it with more intention today, and WITH a tripod! I'm pleased with it, but I'm not sure about submitting an abstract for the theme. The judge is a landscape and nature photographer, so I hope I get good feedback (meaning critical points that address the quality/merits of the photo). Last month, the judge was just weird--with comments like "yes, that's emotional, I like that a lot." Really not helpful or critical, but it's very fun to see what others submit, so I'm looking forward to that!
Not that I'll get a chance to explain my concept with this shot, but I love Rothko and it inspires the idea here. I wanted ONE blind (these are my window blinds) to be in perfect focus and then start to blur and lighten as they go down. Yes, I used some radial filters for clarity and some graduated filters at the bottom, but for the most part, the shot is as the light comes in my living room with the blinds closed.
Now, off to get back to the Madness that May is. Let's hope I don't "flat line."
Good luck with your judging. I prefer landscapes, too, but I like your abstracts. I wonder if the top and bottom of your photo should be equal in size?
@danette I played with it some and had the same question for myself. In the end, I decided that proportions would not be too important but I also wanted everything as level as possible. I used my 35mm full-framed lens on my crop sensor camera, so there are distortions that occur. I was struggling also with going for a full "luminance" smoothing versus leaving in the texture (dust?) that exists on the top blind. I still think it needs work, so I'll look forward to the critique. Thanks for the comment. It's submitted now, so I can't change it.
I love abstracts. I'm drawn to this for several reasons. I like the use of the graduated filter. The repetition of the line with the graduated coloring is part of the appeal to/for me. The only CC I would make is to consider making the top and bottom "leftover" space as uniform as possible. I'm a bit thrown off by that disproportionality. Equal space feels like it might serve as a frame for the middle three blinds in the "spotlight".
@voiceprintz I understand. I've already submitted it and can not change. But I'll play with it. Thanksfor the feedback. I should be pprepared for that comment!
What is important about this shot - apart from any artistic or technical considerations - is that it came from your heart and soul... and you felt good about doing it. Anything else is a mere bagatelle...
@vignouse thanks Richard, but I do tend toward the technical considerations in the end as far as delivery. I'll hope for a good critical review next Tuesday. @shunter Thanks MOM! I was trying to make everything focused above and blurred going downward, so it worked!
I really like this - you do abstract so well!
Thank you for the fav on my "Young Love' shot. .That shot was only up for a few minutes before I decided to delete it because I was not happy with the diptycth I made.
So sorry I deleted your fav - but watch for my second - and hopefully nicer - post tonight.
God luck with the judge!
Best of luck in the contest!
~~JT
Thank you for the fav on my "Young Love' shot. .That shot was only up for a few minutes before I decided to delete it because I was not happy with the diptycth I made.
So sorry I deleted your fav - but watch for my second - and hopefully nicer - post tonight.
God luck with the judge!