the powerless . . .

[gahspidy]

So here it is, another color shot from me.
I have two versions but interested in knowing what you feel about this one.
thanks,

[GB1]

Gary - It's well composed and has nice texture. The colors are borderline intense, but it could just be the combination of them (blue and purple/hot pink). I would say that the only downside of the image is that the subject area (power outlet) is so dark, hard to really see what's happening. The image border is fine but perhaps a different color besides black would have been worth the chance here. Post the other one too!

G

[AgingEyes]

what you feel about this one.
thanks,

I've been wondering if I should ask the question. A question that I want to ask not just about this photos but many I've seen here and there. But since this's a critique forum, and I've seen critics asks questions like this, so I think I may as well ask instead of just keep wondering myself. And I believe I may learn a thing or two from it. So, here's the question:

What do you want to show?

[Overbeyond]

I've been wondering if I should ask the question. A question that I want to ask not just about this photos but many I've seen here and there. But since this's a critique forum, and I've seen critics asks questions like this, so I think I may as well ask instead of just keep wondering myself. And I believe I may learn a thing or two from it. So, here's the question:

What do you want to show?

This gets my goat up a bit. I've seen this before but here it is most blatantly put.
The photographer has placed a piece of work here and in doing so he is inviting your opinions and critique and given you an opportunity to express your views. To do this you don't need any more information.
It seems that you need the photographer to explain himself before you are willing to commit yourself.

[Overbeyond]

Viewing this from a distance it actually looks attractive but on closer inspection I am just finding it to be an uninteresting composition. Gary there is not enough here; maybe the presence of more dangling cables or an old burned out fuse box would help save the day. So the little box and it's cables in isolation is not doing it for me.

[Greg McCary]

Being an electrician this one made me laugh. I guess I have seen quite a few of these. The colors on the wall really work well and the rusty box, screws, the cracked plaster too. You framed it perfectly as always. I do agree the wires could stand out a little more without going to far.

[GB1]

This gets my goat up a bit. I've seen this before but here it is most blatantly put.
The photographer has placed a piece of work here and in doing so he is inviting your opinions and critique and given you an opportunity to express your views. To do this you don't need any more information.
It seems that you need the photographer to explain himself before you are willing to commit yourself.

I don't know, I find merit in AgingEyes's response. ... these are the questions my family members ask me about a lot of my shots btw

When we take a picture we're trying to show something, bring attention to something, etc. That's the reason for the act. A legitimate question might be just that, What were you trying to show...? To me it's a nice composition but it does seem to be missing a deeper purpose. It's a power outlet -- not your typical photographic subject -- and some people may indeed wonder why on Earth the photographer took a picture of it !

[AgingEyes]

This gets my goat up a bit. I've seen this before but here it is most blatantly put.
The photographer has placed a piece of work here and in doing so he is inviting your opinions and critique and given you an opportunity to express your views. To do this you don't need any more information.
It seems that you need the photographer to explain himself before you are willing to commit yourself.

OK, perhaps I should put my question in a better way. Sorry for getting your goat up a bit. Then again, may be other viewers also have that same question in their mind but they just chose to keep their mouth shut.

Anyhow, some of the photos would be better appreciated if the viewer is informed of what the photographer is trying to communicate to the viewers, what he/she is trying to achieve. Some photos work better with caption. Example could be some photojournalistic type photos. They may mean nothing but once the context is known, an ordinary looking photo could become something different.

Here, to answer the question "what do you feel about it?" In my opinion, other than a technically soundly executed photo, it looks like another mundane photo. I could talk about the color, sharpness, etc. That's obvious. And we all knew that, didn't we? A lot of digicam can do it these days without the photographer putting a lot of effort into it. Why would the photographer take a picture of such a boring, ordinary subject? Or is it simply a boring photo that the photographer is using it to play with us, make us think it's art or something, and try to come up with nice things to say?

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the comments and , well debate over the subject matter and intent if one can call it that
Personally, the question AE poses has merit and in the question itself I have an answer as to whether or not this has captured anyones imagination or interest as it had mine.
I feel that the one originally posted was the weaker of two different compositions I had taken. I went with it against my own liking because of opinions from a trusted other set of eyes that felt it was more compelling.
First off, what I saw in this scene was an old electrical box with the wires inside peeping out as if they were mortals, worms perhaps. I could imagine them thinking about what has become of themselves, the once energized and heavily relied upon chain of power that has become over time a piece of clown like arena, sitting here exposed with colors sprayed around them almost mockingly. They are powerless, and part of a setting that could be described as humorous. They peep out almost ashamed at what they have become, but I find beauty in the setting and hope they can see it as well as they lay to rest. . .
Anyway, yes I see whacky things in the ordinary sometimes and realize that these insight are difficult to get across to the viewer most times.
So, this story of this scene is one reason for the image as well as the obvious texture and colors that attracted me visually.
The composition I preffered was alot closer cropped in and Iliked it best because I felt the story still came across (for me) but there was more emphasis on the box itself and the texture and detail.
So here it is, perhaps none the better but I do value all and every comment and response and allows me to understand somethings about my own work with an unbiased sets of eyes.
thanks for the time

[Greg McCary]

I like this one better. I see more detail in the wires and can make out the old tape as well. I also like the placement of the green strip on the right.

[GB1]

Gary, what have you been smokin'? Your last comments highlight a dilemma I often face: do we explain it, or do we keep our mouths shut and not contaminate their eyes and hear what they see?

Though the pretty painted wall is mostly lost here, I also feel that the 2nd posting works better. If the outlet was better lit I think the first one would work.

G

[jkriminger]

I think it could be a fine abstract unsharpened...psst..can I get a hit?

[AgingEyes]

Anyway, yes I see whacky things in the ordinary sometimes and realize that these insight are difficult to get across to the viewer most times.

Thank you for the detailed response, Gary!

Personally I admire those who can make a spectacular photo out of something ordinary. To me it seems like it's the ultimate challenge to a photographer. I just read from a book review that some photographer says there are only four tools a photographer can use to make a photo: vantage point, frame, focus and time. Guess we can only do our best with them

The composition I preffered was alot closer cropped in and Iliked it best because I felt the story still came across (for me) but there was more emphasis on the box itself and the texture and detail.

I prefer this one myself for the simple reason that it has a clearer focus of interest. Fit my simple mind better

[danic]

Gary,

It took me a few days to figure out why this photo was called "the powerless", then it clicked

Initially, I did not like the original shot, it seems like the colours take away from the subject. The power outlet i thought was too small for the frame.

The second shot works a lot more, it has more detail in the power outlet and it seems more proportional.

Well done on capturing a shot that I think most photographers would have passed on :thumbsup:

[gahspidy]

Greg, GB, Rod, AE, Danic, I appreciate your getting back to me on the second version. I see it as sort of pop-art. Danic, I agree with your impression of the first. That first composition was initially taken with the intent to keep and use at some time as a background for a portrait subject or something like that in the future. I have a folder of textures and "backgrounds" that I am building up to have to use in such case as I am creating a graphic art or replacing a bg. Thanks for the time.

As for the story, I don't need to smoke anything to see these things. . .scary, been a curse all my life.

[Overbeyond]

I prefer the second version shown here. It has added life and a little more spark if you like.

[gahspidy]

I prefer the second version shown here. It has added life and a little more spark if you like.

Life and Spark, a bit of reference to the background story? . . . lol
Thanks for your observations, as always Tom.