My eye gets blah blah blah blah, rule of blah, you should blah blah. Practice blah, blah. There's blah, blah. I find that blah, blah. Grain blah, blah.
PJ took the words right out of my mouth. I can think of nothing to add.
Last edited by Old Timer; 08-24-2006 at 08:43 PM.
Don't forget about the Gallery. Are your photos there??
Nikon Samurai #13
"A photographer is known by what he shows not by what he throws. The best photographers have the biggest trash cans." Quote from Nikon School sometime in the early 1970's.
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed, and is, thereby, a true manifestation of what one feels about life in its entirety...” - Ansel Adams
How many photo rules did you break here? More than 100 I would say (I bet you didn't know there were even 100 or more rules but I'll get to them later). You know, you're lucky that guy that puts the rule of thirds grid on pics doesn't post here anymore (remember the cat picture?) That lunatic would kick your a$$ up against your grainy wall.
Regards,
Brian Samurai #6 My Gallery Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. - Ansel Adams
second day of looking at this one---may take a third---don't like or dislike this one...
it certainly depicts the blandness that the practice of certain types or styles of spirituality tend to feel like to most people....who attend services....interesting....will keep looking---may never develop an opinion....
"I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer.
I wasn't trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time.
I didn't think of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important.
I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be, or any other way to live.".
I would clone out the hook on the wall, top left.
Take out the slight (pespective induced?) tilt on the cross, and crop the left and right perfectly symmetrical instead of just not quite symmetrical.
That lone candle on the left then really makes the difference.
Communicates absolutely nothing to me. If the expression is important you should be closer. If religion is part of it, why only part of the "cross", and why does there seem to be GREEK on the cross? The angle does not communicate anything either except perhaps part of a cross growing out of the head of perhaps an eastern orthodox priest. So what?
Anyone can screw the rules and create a throw away shot and in that respect you have succeeded. So what?
I think you are taking an overly academic view of this photo. Sebastian knows the rules of photography quite well and his willingness to try new things or take a tongue-n-cheek approach to some of his photos are quite refreshing.
If he didn't know the rules then he would've titled the shot differently, you think?
Another thing to remember is his role as photojournalist where a writer or story WILL be told along with these photos. So communication is a part of the job.
From Sebastian's personal photography I have seen some very strong images from concept to finished product.
I haven't seen the same from you, to be honest. You have to photograph from the heart and not from the book.
I think you are taking an overly academic view of this photo. Sebastian knows the rules of photography quite well and his willingness to try new things or take a tongue-n-cheek approach to some of his photos are quite refreshing.
If he didn't know the rules then he would've titled the shot differently, you think?
Another thing to remember is his role as photojournalist where a writer or story WILL be told along with these photos. So communication is a part of the job.
From Sebastian's personal photography I have seen some very strong images from concept to finished product.
I haven't seen the same from you, to be honest. You have to photograph from the heart and not from the book.
Loren
Not OVERLY academic at all. On the other hand, M.A.s in Art and Photography are in positions of power in deciding what photos to use in many commercial venues. Being able to work well with them is always to the advantage of any photographer. "New things" and "refreshing photos" are meaningless and useless commercially, unless they have considerable visual impact and that is the true bottom line for ignoring the elements of design.
As to photojournalism which I do as well in producing a small local newspaper, the best of the best, still combine great technique with great compostion. They certainly don't screw the rules. Take a look at some of the work of Boris Spremo.
I cannot comment on "strong images" since that is a vague personal reflection, but to pose a question. Did these "strong images" "screw the rules" or did they display great technique and great composition? The most important bottom line question, in my view.
As far as my photos are concerned, you should know by now, that I chose what to post and it is usually those that I have a mixed opinion on, and want to see what people see or do not see in the photo.
I value your opinion more than many others, so get specific on technique or composition related to my photos, but avoid impossible to interpret comments about the "strength" of the image or lack thereof.
Communicates absolutely nothing to me. If the expression is important you should be closer. If religion is part of it, why only part of the "cross", and why does there seem to be GREEK on the cross? The angle does not communicate anything either except perhaps part of a cross growing out of the head of perhaps an eastern orthodox priest. So what?
Anyone can screw the rules and create a throw away shot and in that respect you have succeeded. So what?
Ronnoco
I actually kind of feel the same as Ronnoco here. No emotion for me from this photo, nothing. And the one "rule" that was broken here that bugs me is how many distracting elements there are to this photo including the candle, plant, and edge of wall. I really don't find this shot successful either. Ronnoco is missing tact in his critique but he did provide reasons why he doesn't like the photo. Take it for what it's worth.
A Sebastianesque approach would normally have been a vertical composition where you woudln't see the stuff at the left and right sides of the photo and would just see the person and the same portion of the cross you see here. You can't blame Sebastian for trying something new but you also can't blame people for disliking it.
It's nice to be sensitive but Sebastian is a confident enough person that I don't think he needs people defending him. I'm pretty sure he likes all the comments he gets whether interpreted as personal attacks or not.
Hi Trevor.... I have to say I agree with you that Sebastian doesn't need defending. I should've stayed away and let Ronnoco make his comments. Sebastian is thicker skinned than me..
At least Ronnoco can defend his statements, although rather blunt, and it wasn't personal.
As for the photo, it's not my cup of tea but people did get amped up over it plus and minus.
fifth day of looking and I like it because it seems to annoy the crappola out of most people that look at it...lol
it stirs emotion ---- not necessarily on the merits of the image---but it does what good art does.... stirs emotion.
well done --- when's the book signing.
"I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer.
I wasn't trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time.
I didn't think of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important.
I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be, or any other way to live.".
the emotion I was referring to ---is how passionately BORED you are by it.
"I was not trying to be shocking, or to be a pioneer.
I wasn't trying to change society, or to be ahead of my time.
I didn't think of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important.
I was just myself. I didn't know any other way to be, or any other way to live.".
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Originally Posted by Sebastian
