January voting thread - Contre Jour

January 2011 - Picture of the month

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    72
  • Poll closed .
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AB22 Easy Tiger

AB22 Easy Tiger

Heaven Branch
Contributor
7 Days to vote, and vote for as many as you like.

Voting Guide (which you can ignore of course)

  • Photographs should be judged on how well they meet the current challenge topic.
  • Photography equipment used should not be a criterion for rating a photo.
  • Evaluate the photo in various aspects, set a consistent norm and give your vote accordingly
  • If you don't vote for a picture, please try to provide a comment on the reason and how the shot could be improved.
  • Enjoy the contest.

Then again you could just vote for yourself
 
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Had to fight really hard to restrict myself to three voted this month, otherwise I would've ended up voting for about half of the entries. Votes this month go to:

Huge Organ - Really liked this. Bold and different. My favourite of the month.
Clyde - A bold and clean image. I'm not usually a fan of burn wheel shots but there's something really striking about this one that I like.
Andy M - I love how it paints a picture of the industrial north of England. I wish I had access to some of the locations that you shoot at!

Special mentions to...err...pretty much everybody this month! Too many to C&C in full detail at this moment in time though.
 
Hue Jorgan, Spav and Thank heaven.

Each brought something original to it.

I loved Thankheaven's perfect rays, Spav's creativity in composition, and I can't name only a single reason why I loved Hue Jorgan's, I just did.
 
well my votes are in now too, janiep, andy m, spav, hue and shed 7 earning a vote each from me, all superb efforts and a top class month, great start to the 2011 comp, well done everyone!
 
clyde said:
well my votes are in now too, janiep, andy m, spav, hue and shed 7 earning a vote each from me, all superb efforts and a top class month, great start to the 2011 comp, well done everyone!
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Thanks, I am well chuffed! I thought mine was a bit of a token effort to be honest, hoyed in just to get an entry in because I too have been moving house in January. Thrilled to get a vote and your praise.
 
janiep said:
Thanks, I am well chuffed! I thought mine was a bit of a token effort to be honest, hoyed in just to get an entry in because I too have been moving house in January. Thrilled to get a vote and your praise.
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well, it had a good composition i think and i liked the way the sun shon through the supports of the stand....i'm imagining though that with a dslr it would have been a much better shot as then you could have got the sun to do a star burst effect like that of shed7's pic.
 
clyde said:
well, it had a good composition i think and i liked the way the sun shon through the supports of the stand....i'm imagining though that with a dslr it would have been a much better shot as then you could have got the sun to do a star burst effect like that of shed7's pic.
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Yes, probably. Didn't spend much time on it! It was a day when I went out looking for ideas rather than to take "the one", meaning to go back later if any of them were much cop. Only I never had the chance to go back.
 
janiep said:
Yes, probably. Didn't spend much time on it! It was a day when I went out looking for ideas rather than to take "the one", meaning to go back later if any of them were much cop. Only I never had the chance to go back.
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Exactly the same for me. It's just way too cold here to spend any serious time out taking pictures.

I'd also like to thank Mr Clyde for telling me how to get the sun to burst like that! Cheers fella!
 
janiep said:
Yes, probably. Didn't spend much time on it! It was a day when I went out looking for ideas rather than to take "the one", meaning to go back later if any of them were much cop. Only I never had the chance to go back.
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sometimes quick snaps can work great, this being one of them.

ThankHeavenForShed 7 said:
Exactly the same for me. It's just way too cold here to spend any serious time out taking pictures.

I'd also like to thank Mr Clyde for telling me how to get the sun to burst like that! Cheers fella!
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no worries mate, anytime!
 
Bugger

I just spent 20 minutes typing our a critique of every shot, just as I hit Post Reply we had a power cut.

I'll do it again later when I know the power's back on for good.

Bloody crappy Texas infrastructure, a wee bit of weather and we're knackered.
 
Well I shall try to critique vote according to the criteria laid out as per ABEasyTiger22. Quite a lot of entries this month and some new people, so as ever, please all, take my comments in good faith.:) (CJ = contre jour)

I am going to judge on three aspects
a) does the photograph meet the challenge set
b) how well does it meet CJ
c) is the photograph a pleasing picture to look at in itself

Andrewcoates77 - Total 1
a)- 1 point
b) - 0 - there seems to be flare, and when the sun is in that position in the sky the sky wouldn't be that colour? So I would say the exposure was wrong.
c) 0

Les The Scientist - Total 2
a) - 1
b) - 0 - there seems to be flare? lens colours? at the bottom of the photograph
c) - 1 - I really like this picture, however I would give a horizontal crop across the bottom to get rid of the sticks and flare colours, they detract from the image.

Clyde - Total 3
a) - 1
b) - 1
c) - 1 - A great picture, my only comment would be some of the arcs of light are incomplete, this may be the nature of the photograph though?

Groofwoofgrowl - Total 1
a) - 0
b) - 0
c) - 1 - a really nice picture of a starling? taken at an unusual angle, but I really don't think it meets CJ

Mini -x2 - Total 0
a) 0 - ?
b) 0 - ?
c) 0 - maybe I'm not modern enough to accept plain entries into a competition yet:)


TomTomMacute - Total 2
a) - 1
b) - 0 Just shooting at the sun and getting a shiny white thing in the sky doesn't quite work for me
c) - 1 - I like the picture, the colouring, the composition, just not the sunshine

MaDMaCKeM - Total 2
a) 1
b) half - I like the way you have hidden the sun behind the tree trunk to lessen the worst effects of shooting straight into the sun, but the tree trunk has gone light at that position, I don't know why it has, but I guess this is what we should be learning as we take on new challenges in the composition.
c) half - I like this picture, it holds the attention; ideally though I would have had someone sitting on the bench or waited for some of the people around to be more in the picture. There seem to be three people to the right of centre who are neither here nor there and detract from the composition.

dSOrco Total 1
a) 1
b) 0
c) 0 - although the idea of the sun shining into the valley should produce a scenic picture, the sky is totally blown out? over-exposed? and therefore the picture doesn't hold the attention at all.

Now my internet connection is failing?

Hue Jorgan Total 2
a) 1
b) 1
c) 0 - I think you have met the challenge well, just not completely won over by the final image.

phil Total 2
a) 1
b) 0 - the main treetrunk has had a "bite" taken out of it by the bright light.
c) 1 - probably my favourite photograph of the month - very original.

Subhi Alghussein Total 2.5
a) 1
b) 1
c) half - it is just a bit too bright and nothingy on the right, but I do like the crop, the colours, the sense of scale.

Ghost of EH7 - Total 1
a) 1
b) 0 -
c) 0 - I can't really tell what I'm meant to be seeing here

Ian hesford's Bait Box - Total 0
a) 0 - you don't appear to be shooting into the light, your light source is coming from the left.
b) 0
c) - I like your use of perspective here.

janiep - Total 1
a) - 1
b) - 0 - the brightness of the sun has burnt the legs of the rotunda (?) out, and there is lens flare across the picture.
c) - 0 - usually a huge fan of your pictures, but this is just a snapshot for me, a rotunda against some houses doesn't cut the mustard (but you did say you did it hurriedly).

The Great Soprendo - Total 3
a) - 1
b) - 1
c) - 1 - I think this is really good, and possibly shows where film still wins over digital. The top right is perhaps missing a little detail.

Thank Heavenforshed7 Total one and a half.
a) -1
b) - 0 - the sun looks totally fake/added after/starbursted? The snow and branches in the bottom centre third look altered and spoiled. There is some lens flare too.
c) - half - If it wasn't for the CJ failings it had the makings of a well composed picture, I like the way the tree takes up the whole picture with the snow and sunlight shining through.

Not Spavin - Total 3
a) 1
b) 1
c) 1 - original, well thought out, good title (possibly could be marginally cropped down the right hand side.

Tapeisafc - Total 2
a) - 1
b) - 0 - lens flare and the sun eating away at the structure.
c) - 1 - just needs left side cropping to get rid of that bit of structure that seems to be floating at the left hand side

Cartman - Total 1
a) 0 - I would say this photograph was taken in ambient light rather than CJ
b) 0
c) 1 - well composed, pretty and attractive.

Amnorrageordie - Total 0
a) 0 - not sure this is CJ, too hard to tell
b) 0
c) 0 - probably an incredibly difficult picture to take, but it is just too white across the centre. Needs some context perhaps.

Andy M - Total 1
a) 0 - I'm probably going to look really stupid here but I don't think this picture meets CJ - I say this because the centre square thing ontop of the central building seems to be reflecting light indicating there was some light coming from the right hand side or behind you.
b) 0
c) - 1 Not a huge fan of trains and factories but can't fault your picture

So votes for Not Spavin, Clyde and The Great Soprendo with totals of three and one vote for phil because I like it.
 
peachbum said:
Thank Heavenforshed7 Total one and a half.
a) -1
b) - 0 - the sun looks totally fake/added after/starbursted? The snow and branches in the bottom centre third look altered and spoiled. There is some lens flare too.
c) - half - If it wasn't for the CJ failings it had the makings of a well composed picture, I like the way the tree takes up the whole picture with the snow and sunlight shining through.
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Thanks as ever for your feedback. I just thought I'd add (in case it influences how people vote) that, apart from a small crop, this picture is 100% straight from the camera. The stunburst is a deliberate technique and a direct result of shooting straight in to the light so I'm not quite sure how it can be a CJ failing. In my mind it's a CJ success as I've used the technique to produce a creative effect! Still appreciate your comments though.
 
ThankHeavenForShed 7 said:
Thanks as ever for your feedback. I just thought I'd add (in case it influences how people vote) that, apart from a small crop, this picture is 100% straight from the camera. The stunburst is a deliberate technique and a direct result of shooting straight in to the light so I'm not quite sure how it can be a CJ failing. In my mind it's a CJ success as I've used the technique to produce a creative effect! Still appreciate your comments though.
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I did give you 1 point for meeting CJ. I just scored you 0 for how well it had been done imo, I don't like flare in pictures, and I am not a fan of the sun bleaching/bleeding into pictures. If you didn't have a starburst filter on your lens you have probably created what you set out to achieve, and you have probably done it better than others.

I just try to vote as fairly as possible each month, obviously personal taste comes into it somewhat, but I've never seen a picture with lens flare win a photography competition, so when I see it I would mention it as a fault.
 
peachbum said:
If you didn't have a starburst filter on your lens...
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I didn't!

I'm not having ago...just providing a little information to counter some of the criticisms. I always look forward to your feedback.
 
ThankHeavenForShed 7 said:
I didn't!

I'm not having ago...just providing a little information to counter some of the criticisms. I always look forward to your feedback.
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Thank you. Sometimes I feel a bit critical, but there wouldn't be any point saying "lovely photo" to 22 pictures. Did you read all my critiques or just yours?

[I didn't think you did have a starburst filter on your lens, it doesn't seem to be something that gets used these days (any kind of filter). ]
 
Yup, I always read them all. Like I say, I'm not having a go! I just disagree! It would be very dull if we all agreed and, to be honest, thats part of the beauty of photography - everybody sees something different.
 
peachbum said:
The Great Soprendo - Total 3
a) - 1
b) - 1
c) - 1 - I think this is really good, and possibly shows where film still wins over digital. The top right is perhaps missing a little detail.
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Why thank you so much (and for the vote)! If I'm honest it was a bit of a hopeful shot the way it turned out (as is often the case with film of course) but I was very pleased with how the Trip recorded it. The kind of shot that might have been poorer if I'd been using technically better kit.

I'll try and write some critiques myself when I get the chance.
 
Just to clarify, there was indeed a floodlight directly behind the train on my shot, here's a digital version from a slightly different angle taken by a friend who was with me:

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I was quite aware of it as it was a complete pain in the arse trying to line things up without getting the light in and flaring up. And it's obviously reflecting off the big metal structure as well, but backlighting is backlighting, whether it's reflected or not!

I wouldn't normally say owt to justify meeting the theme but after reading peachbum's comments I thought this was worth mentioning incase anybody had any doubts...

My singular vote gans to the great soprendo - some great entries this month so a tough choice but this is my favourite. If I'd voted for a few it'd have been Clyde and Hue Jorgan as well but one vote for me!
 
Les Clyde and Shed got a vote each from me.

Amnorrageordie - Total 0
a) 0 - not sure this is CJ, too hard to tell
b) 0
c) 0 - probably an incredibly difficult picture to take, but it is just too white across the centre. Needs some context perhaps.

Was a feature i read in Practical Photography magazine in the early 80s. What you do is cut the plug off the sync lead on an old flash gun. Next you extend the length of the lead with some two core speaker wire and strip about a half inch off the end, baring the copper wire. Sellotape the wire to a bottle/balloon/light bulb etc etc as close together as possible without touching. Next you set up the camera focusing on your subject with the light on and the camera in bulb mode. Turn light off, trip shutter, then shoot the bottle. For mine i used a whisky bottle filled with lemonade, and i added yellow printer ink till it went whisky colour. The bottle doesn't always break and the flash only sometimes goes off, hence the pile of glass and flooded shed. I had a go with a jack daniels bottle filled with cola but my airgun wouldn't break it, so i resorted to plan b. Still it wouldn't break, i just kept knocking it onto the floor so gave up.
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