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Thread: Beached Cans

  1. #1
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Beached Cans

    A couple o cans on the beach. . .and well, you know the rest. Appeal or so-so
    Thanks
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Beached Cans-cans0105-101804x1web.jpg  
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  2. #2
    Senior Member readingr's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Gary,

    I do like your can's series - however I think the lighting on the right can is detracting from the photo. I would have liked to see the words clearly but then I am not sure, there is something that bothers me about this photo.

    I do like the composition however the DOF is a little harsh and I think I would have prefered a little more clarity of the beach around the cans. Perhaps its not the lighting just the DOF thats putting me off.

    Sorry for the rambling but I cannot put my finger on what is making me uncomfortable with this photo.
    "I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders; and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass." from The mind's eye by Henri Cartier-Bresson

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  3. #3
    Not Really (Senior Member) ShotsbyScott's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I like the cans man! Nice subject.........there's just something about rust!
    Great shot Gary!

    Scott

  4. #4
    Intermediate member bobbythebandit's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I can certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into this series.All excellent so far, hope you have more.Would consider making a poster if they were mine.
    Bobby

  5. #5
    Just a Member Chunk's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I like the color, Gary, but I think I'd like the overall shot a bit better if the cans did not seem to be oviously placed there rather than found there. I'd rather see smooth sand around them...or maybe the highest reach of a wave moving around them. If you placed the cans, maybe a bucket of water over the area after placement.
    It might be cheesy, but a night crawler half out of the can would make it a little story.

  6. #6
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Thanks all for sharing your thoughts on this.The extreme limited dof and the b&w behind the color sole intent is to have the cans popping out of the picture in a sureal way. I must remember to snap multiple frames with varying dof and exposure (bracket) to have options to compare.
    Thanks Scott, Bobby. .encouraging to know when something is found appealing as well by another. Actually, out of al the pics I have shot, the ones I find myself wanting to hang up around the place are these can shots. . .I dunno what it is.
    Chunk, great ideas and points. I will definetely continue experimenting. Thanks again
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  7. #7
    sharpen your image JK_Photo's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I like the cans. Shots of 'found' things are very appealing to me.
    I do agree with the comment about the posed appearance. The DOF on the cans could be a tad more but it's not too distracting as is. Cropped a little too close on the left; the can is cut off.
    I'm curious to know the focal length you used and how close you were to the subjuect?

    From the sound of the other posts you have more similar shots. Anywhere I can view them online?
    Jon

    "shoot wide, shoot close"

  8. #8
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Of your entire series, this is easily my favorite.
    http://www.dmbforums.com

  9. #9
    GoldMember Lava Lamp's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Quote Originally Posted by gahspidy
    A couple o cans on the beach. . .and well, you know the rest. Appeal or so-so
    Thanks
    Don't know why, but it reminds me of that image in Planet of the Apes (the old version) where the Statue of Liberty torch is sort of half-buried in the sand.

  10. #10
    Grumpy Old Man Overbeyond's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Quote Originally Posted by readingr
    Gary,

    I do like your can's series - however I think the lighting on the right can is detracting from the photo. I would have liked to see the words clearly but then I am not sure, there is something that bothers me about this photo.

    I do like the composition however the DOF is a little harsh and I think I would have prefered a little more clarity of the beach around the cans. Perhaps its not the lighting just the DOF thats putting me off.

    Sorry for the rambling but I cannot put my finger on what is making me uncomfortable with this photo.
    You took the words right out of my mouth. For me the DOF is the problem here..
    I like the light on the cans but I want to see those waves.
    Tom
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  11. #11
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Hello Gary

    I must also agree that this is also my favorite of your can series. I think all the comments you have received put it nicely together . I was also thinking that the dof could be a bit too harsh. I really like the position you hold your camera . It looks like it was flat on the ground . The bit of light on the first can do not bother me as it actually draw your attention to the cans.
    Good luck with your can series and i hope to see your upcoming series as well ;)

    Regards
    james

  12. #12
    Panarus biarmicus Moderator (Sports) SmartWombat's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Waves, or clouds?
    Nice use of DoF to make that background ambiguous.

    Took a while to realise the cans look placed, not natural - shame.

    I've got a problem with the lighting though, my attention is continually drawn to the left hand can away from the central can and the space on the right that's balancing the cans.

    For the issue of placement, if you're going prepared then you might consider a spray bottle to wash down the can so you can't see the sand line where it used to be
    Either that, or place them in the very edge of the surf so that the disturbed sand gets washed and softened by the big wavess, leaving the smaller waves in the background.
    Your spray bottle might come in handy again too
    PAul

    Scroll down to the Sports Forum and post your sports pictures !

  13. #13
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Quote Originally Posted by Overbeyond
    You took the words right out of my mouth. For me the DOF is the problem here..
    I like the light on the cans but I want to see those waves.
    Tom
    Personally, I think the DOF is perfect. It's what makes this image so compelling to me...
    http://www.dmbforums.com

  14. #14
    Seb
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Quote Originally Posted by gahspidy
    A couple o cans on the beach. . .and well, you know the rest. Appeal or so-so
    Thanks
    Gary, I think that the sureal feel you are reffering at comes from the duality betwen the lively, warm coloured cans against the oppressing sky. In fact, the sky really looks menacing here, which create a strange tension.

    I enjoy the shot but I agree about the marks in the sand arround the cans being problematic. Personally, I prefer your previous shots of the series in industrial locations partly because they appeared less (or not) "set up" but this preference of mine also have a lot to do with my natural interest for industrial environments.

    Seb

  15. #15
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I haven't been here long enough to see more than 4 of your "can" series pix but this is my least favorite. I think it's because of the limited DOF, the cans are "small" cans and they are obviously (to me) staged. Really, I think that it is the size difference of the cans that nixes it for me.

  16. #16
    GB1
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Is this a digitally manipulated image? Looks like all the colors with the exception of the cans are black and white like they were shot on B&W film... ?

    Looks great btw.

  17. #17
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I really appreciate all the feedback here and it's interesting to see the differences of opinion in the dof and the evidence of this shot being "staged" or not. This has been a very useful thread , for both the reinforcement of the reasons why I felt this works, and for opening my eyes to new ideas and to the points that may improve this to be a stronger image.
    This was shot in color, converted to b&w, and then partial color brought back to the cans. . .all done through layers. Shot with a 28mm at 2.8 close to the min focusing distance. .about 9- 10 inches away.( laying in the sand)
    I think this is the fifth I have posted in this series. If you would like to see the others, go to threads I have posted and look for titles: 1 Can , Four under cover , Charcoal Only , Can I.
    Thanks again for your time. . . .
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  18. #18
    Member Nina's Avatar
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    Re: Beached Cans

    Gary, I have to agree that I as well find this to be my favorite so far in your can series. It seems with every set of series that you work on your images progressively get better and better. Love it.
    ~Nina~

  19. #19
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    Re: Beached Cans

    I like it. If perfection were the game all I'd change is the sand that makes em look placed and thats it. Kool stuff!

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