Originally posted by PalynkaReply from the photographer:
6th - 3 pts - 9. Holy Cow, Zebra Crossing - I think that little boy racer is a much better construction that this one. It all seems a bit over the top but it lacks a certain internal coherence. All added things should have all a reason why they're there and it turns excessive when some are relatively meaningless like the bottle or the bird (or I just don't get it why they're there). Shame as the work put into it is great technically.
"I don’t particularly agree that there are redundant elements in the piece or that the internal coherence is compromised. Of course I would say that..
…..but it is an interesting discussion.
Here’s my take on it.. The elements mentioned are there to add a visual cohesiveness/balance to the image with regard to the viewer’s line of sight and the image’s discoverability. Their placement is to help define the reflectiveness/depth of the water on which the newspaper floats and in which the central animal is reflected (in both water & newspaper). To my mind they also serve to visually aid perspective. The position of bottle in particular is to help physically define the line between the animal and its reflection. Beyond this, the floating bottle is there to suggest a littered environment and thus complement/justify the placement of the discarded/partially submerged newspapers. Overall and very very roughly speaking, the piece is a reflection on the kneejerk immediacy of news reporting and its ‘breaking news’ sensationalism. The puddled, littered, rainy murkiness of the environment suggests the often tabloidesque nature of the information world in which we live. The bird is specifically placed to look unconcerned/beyond the zebra/cow and suggest an alternative more optimistic idea of natural acceptance (beyond the world of selling news/editorial prejudice). While it was an attempt to create a somewhat surreal (and yes ‘over the top&rsquo😉 environment, I also attempted to create a visual of a place which could actually exist (albeit in the minds eye with muted tones/mucky palette). In this respect it certainly wasn’t a case of adding elements adhoc but specifically photographing/blending multiple scenes to help create this imagined environment/idea. I do welcome the comments and certainly would find it useful to learn why it doesn’t work.
Anyway.. just thought I should add some words (read waffle)!"
Originally posted by NordlysInteresting stuff.
Reply from the photographer:
"I don’t particularly agree that there are redundant elements in the piece or that the internal coherence is compromised. Of course I would say that..
…..but it is an interesting discussion.
Here’s my take on it.. The elements mentioned are there to add a visual cohesiveness/balance to the image with regard to the v ...[text shortened]... to learn why it doesn’t work.
Anyway.. just thought I should add some words (read waffle)!"
I don't know, maybe too much symbolism in a picture makes it hard to make sense out of such a puzzle. Like I said, I don't know about the rest of the voters, but even if I got that the photo was about sensationalism, the bottle and the bird flew completely over my head, as well as the rain.
Sometimes simplicity is key, and I think that the matchbox car was not overly metaphorical. Don't get me wrong, to each his own and your pic certainly deserved a spot on the top ten, but I also don't think it is beautiful as a picture. Even if my number 1 isn't meant to be beautiful, it impressed me enough to rate it pretty high, despite my departing standard was for awarding editing that favours the beauty of the pic.
Edit - Not really related to this picture, but I think one should not have voted for the technical difficulty of the editing, but if the editing favours the original picture. Again, Little Boy Racer was the exception because I feel it's simply on another level.
Originally posted by PalynkaThey flew over my head, too. I found the picture technically well done, but it didn't make any sense to me.
Interesting stuff.
I don't know, maybe too much symbolism in a picture makes it hard to make sense out of such a puzzle. Like I said, I don't know about the rest of the voters, but even if I got that the photo was about sensationalism, the bottle and the bird flew completely over my head, as well as the rain.
1st - 10 pts - 12. The Origin of Symmetry
2nd - 8 pts - 3. Little Boy Racer
3rd - 6 pts - 1. Abandoned
4th - 5 pts - 13. Out of Place
5th - 4 pts - 2. Sleep Tight
6th - 3 pts - 8. The Payoff
7th - 2 pts - 9. Holy Cow, Zebra Crossing
8th - 1 pt - 6. The Egyptian Lamp
I liked the simplicity of "The Origin of Symmetry". The editing is simple, but very effective, and I find the result very much aesthetically pleasing.
"Little Boy Racer" is a clever idea, and there are a lot of details to discover. I really like how the artist plays with perspective - things coming out of the picture, and the wall apparently also being a flat surface the match is lying on.
"Abandoned" is funny and quite well done. I think I would have cropped the left side of the picture.
"Out of Place" is very cute. I wouldn't have guessed that it's a cloud.
"Sleep Tight" is a good picture. I think someone else already said that maybe it would have been better if only the eyes had been in colour, and I agree with that.
"The Payoff" gives me the creeps, eek! But that fits the story.
"Holy Cow, Zebra Crossing" - as I said before, it didn't make sense to me, but it's technically very well done.
I like much better to look at "The Egyptian Lamp" than "The Payoff", but it's less interesting. I also don't understand why there are windows (I guess) reflected in the lamp.
"Butterfly Kisses" is cute, but maybe a bit "übercute". I think I would prefer the original.
"Lake in Winter" looks nice, and it does look like a painting, but I just don't find it very interesting.
While I like the geometric forms and the colour contrast in "Lemon", it didn't really give meaning to me.
"Catgirl" is funny and really good work for a first attempt, but the original picture isn't good enough to make me vote for it.
"Fallout" - The colour probably has some deeper meaning, but I don't get it. I also don't know what that sphere in the sky is supposed to be.