POTN G-Series Speed Challenge #54 - Pollution

[in Japan]

Thanks everyone for participating in the challenge. Your photos certainly confirm the idea that humans are disgustingly short-sighted, wasteful animals. Some of the more dramatic shots really forces one to question what the heck we’re doing to our waterways and air. I think you all deserve credit for successfully capturing some of the most abhorrent behavior of man. If photography has caused me to become more aware of the weather, sunlight, colors, etc., then I’d like to think this would have a trickle-down effect on our other habits.

I’ll keep my comments fairly brief and to the point but I do encourage anyone else to share your thoughts on the entries. It’s also a good time to ask for criticism or another opinion on a photo. After all, we’re all trying to improve.

The entries in the order which they were submitted…

dewmuw - Cloud Factory - Cleverly titled photo. Particularly like the dramatic composition, especially the horizon line. Well done, dewmuw.

marie - pollution flows quietly but deadly as flowers look down helplessly - Another resourceful title. This shot doesn’t have the obvious pollutants that I was looking for…perhaps for the best.

alans220 - Pollution Power - The infrared definitely adds more of an ominous, eerie feel to this shot than it would have had otherwise. Actually, I find it quite disturbing.

teekay - Dockside Graffiti - While it’s nice to know that Gus, Eddy, Jenny, and Dana have all visited this rock face, it puzzles me why anyone would spray paint the fact. It’s a nice capture, but it lacks a definite focal point.

3Dart - Acropolis - Unfortunately, you didn’t completely adhere to the rules by not including your title in the subject line, so I’ll refrain from making any comments on your photo. Sorry…rules are rules.

Boutty - Swimming Anyone - Particularly like how the pipe(?) seemingly juts out of the photo. Yeah, this one is pretty disturbing, too.

mistergibbon - Upton-upon-Severn Household Waste Site (on a miserable day) - The amount of waste that goes into landfills is quite alarming. The subject matter doesn’t really hold my attention…perhaps a shot of inside one of the containers would’ve been better.

rpolitsr - Contribution to the Global Warming - Thankfully not titled “Apocalypse”. Dare I ask what the heck is happening in your beautiful city of Quito? The contrast of the warm colors of the city, beautiful blues in the sky, and the scenic mountains in the background with the monstrous plume of smoke makes for a extraordinarily compelling image.

partridge9 - Steel - Personally, I like how you’ve composed this shot. My eye is immediately drawn to the smokestack, to the foreground, then to the background. Nice photo.

am_pitbull_terrier - Ice Cold Water?……Anyone? - I wish this was the first time that I’ve seen this sort of this thing, but it’s not. The cool colors add a nice effect. Very disturbing…

bottombracket - Receptacle of Inconsiderate Boors - Apparently, the same boors that live in NYC have Japanese relatives. While I like the b/w, it seems a bit flat. Perhaps, increasing the contrast or tweaking with levels would make a difference.

Raw - Third Hand Smoking - While the butts look a bit staged, I quite like the shallow depth of field and the resulting shapes and colors in the background.

superkully - If you tolerate this your teddies will be next - Please forgive me, but I’m not entirely sure what is going on in this picture. Also, the grainy effect of using an ISO of 400 doesn’t do much for this photo either.

The winners are…

3rd Place - Raw - Third Hand Smoking - Nice artistic interpretation.

2nd Place - rpolitsr - Contribution to the Global Warming - A photo that begs to tell a story.

1st Place - alans220 - Pollution Power - A shot with future implications of current actions... sums up exactly what I was looking for. Well done.

Thanks everyone for putting up with me as your judge this week. I’m not sure why I chose “pollution” as the challenge topic. Well, if anything, your photos are evidence that we’ve got our work cut out for us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Challenge #54 - POLLUTION

Unfortunately, pollution is all around us. I suppose it's a necessary evil of modernization. It's also something we tend to conveniently ignore. Well, hopefully that will change this week. In this challenge, I'd like you to capture the pollution (I'm sure you know the many varieties) in your area. I'll especially be looking for your artistic interpretation of the subject matter. Please PM message if you have any questions. Good luck to you all.
___________________________________

To submit, click "Post Reply" and put your Photo Name in the Subject Line. Don't forget your Camera Model.

Post until Monday noon GMT, February 20, 2006.
_____________________________________________

Photo Submissions

1. Camera -- photos must be taken with a Canon G-Series Camera (G1,G2,G3,G5,G6) or Pro 1.
2. Time -- any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.
3. Size -- photo must be EXACTLY 640 pixels on the longest side, with NO BORDERS.
4. Post-Processing -- do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.
5. Posting -- ONE PHOTO per photographer in each challenge. Photo titlee in the message subject line.
Camera model.
6. Commenting -- No commenting on photos by anyone, including the photographer. Once the winners are declared, photographers can add comments to their images and everyone is invited to discuss.
7. Photo Display -- Photos must appear in this thread to be eligible.

Time
One challenge every week, on the following schedule:
New Topic ... As soon as possible after winning.
Posting Starts ... Right after topic is announced.
Posting Stops ... Monday noon GMT
Winners Announcement ... Tuesday noon GMT.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please consider turning on Private Messaging in your profile.
This will allow the host to contact you about winning or ineligible photos. You turn this feature on by clicking "User CP, Edit Options, Enable Private Messaging" (about a third of the way down the page). Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click this sentence for Hosting Rules and Winners List.
Click this sentence for Discussion of Rules Thread.

[dewmuw]

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/23843669.jpg

[marie]

G2
1/400 f/4


http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/105600/IMG_0017pollutioncs8189.jpg

[alans220]

G6
R72 Infrared Filter

[teekay]

G1
http://community.netidea.com/teekay/temp/MarinersGraffiti.jpg

[3Dart]

ACROPOLIS g3

[Boutty]

G6

[mistergibbon]

Canon G6

[rpolitsr]

Contribution to the Global Warming

Powershot Pro1 Shooting Mode: Shutter Speed Priority AE (Tv), 1/400 sec. f 6.3, ISO 50

http://sites.google.com/site/rpolitsr/rpolitsr/varios/onthenet/fire_IMG_4039_640.jpg

[am_pitbull_terrier]

1/100
f2.0
Manual

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2765/img002aresize2st.jpg

[BottomBracket]

G6

http://piofort.zoto.com/img/480x640x1/ae26906aeadd18a5f85fdba94423bd96-.jpg

[RAW]

Canon Powershot G6

[superkully]

ISO400, f/3.2, 1/1250 (G5).

http://www.asgt99.dsl.pipex.com/IMG_2292_forweb2.jpg

[in Japan]

The challenge is now closed. Hope to have the results up soon.
Thanks,
Brandon

[in Japan]

The results are posted at the top of the thread.

[teekay]

Congratulations to the winners! All excellent images and it must have been hard to judge as there were others as well.

I agree with the comments re mine and knew it wasn't a winner but since I no longer have my G1 I'm scraping the bottom of my archives at times to find an entry when I would do better to abstain.

Question for Alans220: I was born near Nottingham and would I be right in saying those are actually cooling towers emitting nothing but steam?

[andrewaaa5]

Question for Alans220: I was born near Nottingham and would I be right in saying those are actually cooling towers emitting nothing but steam?

( : LOL : )

[BottomBracket]

Congratulations to the winners! Very deserving photos if I may say so. Thanks In Japan for a very timely theme, what with the polar ice caps diminishing, the mean sea water level rising, Greenland warming up, weather patterns growing crazy, hurricanes getting stronger, heat waves sprouting up in Europe, etc. Man has been abusing the environment for so long and now it is going haywire. I really wish every country would adhere to the Kyoto protocol.

Congratulations alans220, and welcome to the challenge! Very nice pic - though I join teekay in asking if those clouds are actually steam. These are cooling vents of a nuclear facility right? This doesn't mean to say though that pollution isn't portrayed in the picture. Nuclear plants do emit thermal pollution, which can significantly affect the local environment. And the spent radioactive material does pose a pollution problem.

rpolitsr, I think your pic is outstanding. That cloud really looks ominous. What the heck is that? RAW, I think the shallow depth of field is really pretty in your shot.

I agree that my shot looks flat. It was a rather hasty conversion (though I did level it and adjusted in curves) and I thought of putting up an improved version, but I didn't have time. I would have dodged and burned a little and used selctive USM, but well, maybe next time :)

Great pics all, very thought provoking. I wonder what Alan has for us.....

[superkully]

Hallo,

The photo was taken at ISO400 for the grain. 'Toto' is sitting amongst dead plants sucking on my asthma inhaler (which I take when the air gets bad).

Well done Alan, I think you've convinced me to buy/steal a IR filter :-)

[Maureen Souza]

Congrats to alans220, rpolitsr and Raw on their splendid entries. I found all of them very forthright in telling the story of pollution.

I apologize for not entering this week.... after I worked my 12 hours shifts, we left town and had a California POTN meet up with 11 other members for the weekend. It rained off and on and the skies were clean, and it was too wet to tromp about looking for something. Next week.....

[andrewaaa5]

great pics. well done kids and congrats to the winners...
here is my effort (ooh, a bit late me thinks...)
polluting my girlfriends coffee with milk : ) ha ha..
G3. 1/101sec. F2.2. ISO 400, Macro.

[alans220]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies and comments.

Yes, you are quite right, I was a little unsure about submitting this photo as the Cooling Towers do only emit steam, which is not a pollutant, but the power station is a Coal-Fired one which sends out lots of smoke (and other nasty stuff) into the atmosphere. The smoke emitting chimney is behind the Cooling Towers, but I could not get into a position to capture it with the camera. I had to wait quite a while for the sun to appear from behind the clouds, otherwise it would have been to dull to use the R72.

Just finalising the next challenge, I will anounce it tomorrow when I have had more time to ponder!

bye for now

alan

[Sophia]

Question for Alans220: I was born near Nottingham and would I be right in saying those are actually cooling towers emitting nothing but steam?
[/QUOTE]

Those are 8 cooling stacks... Just conventional coal-fired power station. Meaning, it piles a large pile of coals in there. So I'm not sure if it's a pollutant.

Anyways, picture is so stunning and grand... nice sephia. Congrats Alan!

[am_pitbull_terrier]

Congrats to all the winners, and great entries everyone. alans220 I knew when I saw that shot it was probably going to be the winner..... Nice shot.

[in Japan]

I agree that my shot looks flat. It was a rather hasty conversion (though I did level it and adjusted in curves) and I thought of putting up an improved version, but I didn't have time. I would have dodged and burned a little and used selctive USM, but well, maybe next time :)
BB,
Thanks for your comments. If you find the time to adjust the pic, please post the results. I'd sincerely be interested in seeing what you are able to do. Perhaps, it's something we can all learn from as well.
Brandon

[in Japan]

'Toto' is sitting amongst dead plants sucking on my asthma inhaler (which I take when the air gets bad).
Superkully,
Thanks for the explanation. Please excuse me, I just couldn't make out your inhaler. It all makes sense now.:)
Regards,
Brandon

[teekay]

Hi all,
Yes, you are quite right, I was a little unsure about submitting this photo as the Cooling Towers do only emit steam, which is not a pollutant, but the power station is a Coal-Fired one which sends out lots of smoke
alan

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't questioning the image's eligibility, I was just wanting confirmation of what they were. On my last visit to the UK I noticed a number of these eyesores at various places in your area and since they dominate the flat landscape for miles around they qualify as visual pullutants even if they didn't burn coal as well.

[Boutty]

Congrats to the winners and well done everyone! Thank you Brandon (in Japan) for the theme making us aware of what we are doing to the environment. :(

My shot was wasted water pipe captured under an old jetty on our most famous St. Kilda beach. Within metres away, people are playing, swimming and having fun in the water.

Apart from the winners, there were some great shots this week, I particularly love dewmuw's Cloud Factory - I think it's a good candidate for B/W image! :cool:

[BobbyT]

Great pics from everyone. I hope to rejoin the contests soon as I've been too busy to take pictures lately.

If I could be allowed a small threadjack. Since the contests are the main place I hang out and post I thought this would be the best place to put this. I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.

[Sophia]

Great pics from everyone. I hope to rejoin the contests soon as I've been too busy to take pictures lately.

If I could be allowed a small threadjack. Since the contests are the main place I hang out and post I thought this would be the best place to put this. I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.

Yipee!!! Congrats!

Pls. let us see some pictures of your angel this coming September!

Sophie

[rpolitsr]

Thank you, in Japan. It is certainly an honor to be one step below alans220’s shot and share the top with RAW. Congratulations!

Thanks for the kind comments about my picture.

I was amazed by the colors of alans220’ picture, but the IR filter is not the only amazing thing there. The size of the cooling towers compared to the tiny trees adds to the sense of harming power present there.

Thankfully not titled “Apocalypse”. Dare I ask what the heck is happening in your beautiful city of Quito?
rpolitsr, I think your pic is outstanding. That cloud really looks ominous. What the heck is that?

My picture shows the result of an evil contest among some people (if they deserve the name).
In the dry season, they start fires in the slopped hills surrounding the city just to see if the fire grows big.
Usually the Major’s Office, the Fire Department and the Police deal with the fires, but seldom find the people who started them.
On August 2005, the fire caught the woods in a windy slope east of the city and the fire went out of control. The picture shows the start of the ominous cloud that lasted three days above the usually clear sky of Quito.

[BottomBracket]

If I could be allowed a small threadjack. Since the contests are the main place I hang out and post I thought this would be the best place to put this. I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.

Bobby, that is no threadjack at all. Congratulations!

Rpolitsr, thanks for the explanation. I'm just shaking my head in disbelief at how some people could do what they did in your city.

[rpolitsr]

Congratulations, BobbyT, you have plenty of time for new born pictures rehearsal :)

BottomBracket I do not want to create a false impression of the people here. There are very few of those guys here, but when they strike the damage is always big.

[BottomBracket]

BottomBracket I do not want to create a false impression of the people here. There are very few of those guys here, but when they strike the damage is always big.

No worries, my friend, I understand. Here in NYC we have more than our share of mischief makers. It is still appalling how some people can be so inconsiderate, wherever city they may be.

Looking at your pic again I was reminded of the fires that raged in Indonesia a few years ago, the ones started by 'slash and burn' farmers. The smoke generated was so bad that it descended in Manila and other South East Asian cities, hundreds of mile away. Indeed, environmental effects know no political boundaries.

Again I must say that this is a most thought provoking challenge, great pictures by all. For full effect, I played Albinioni's Adagio on the CD player while viewing the pics.

[RAW]

I just got back from work and I had to read all comments before I post so I don't repeat something someone else said...;) .

I liked all the entries and I have to agree with the first place and the second one. Great captures that really show the power of pollution.

Thank you all for your comments and congrats...My best to all of you.

Regards,

[marie]

Congratulations to the winners

# 1 Alans 220

# 2 Rpolitsr

# 3 Raw

thank you In Japan for the wonderful summing up
it is appreciated

the entries were so very interesting

Rpolitsr's picture was first class pollution
:eek:
horrible to think what happened.
it did look like a huge fire blazing somewhere

and Boutty's. it really is a worry about what is going on
great shot

Damian's shot shows 'powers of pollution '
I guess it's the times we live in
there is no avoiding some 'fall outs' of our everyday demands

some shots were more or less of heavy 'litter' but all are pollution being caused by carelessness
loved 3darts and others
it's amazing what goes on
(and out) :rolleyes:



regards my shot
this water was contaminated . some fish were found dead on the banks
that very week the town's ( it's about 30 mile from here) people had a bad case of diarrhoea caused by drinking water
many were ill
no one drank water (unbottled) for some time:rolleyes:

not sure how it actually happened but it was very serious at the time
inquiries and big measures were taken
I just put that shot in as you mentioned ' looking for artistic interpretation''
:rolleyes:
pollution and artistic..not really companionable:lol:

I see some rivers with scum like it and worry about what is running down into the water from some farmlands (waste)
it has been known. and the fish are the first to suffer

Congratulations all
terrific shots
and thanks Brandon
great choice of subject


:D
congratulations to you and your wife BobbyT

[in Japan]

I found out last week my wife and I are going to have another baby this Sept.
CONGRATULATIONS! I hope your wife has a smooth pregnancy. Post some pics in September. :)
Best Wishes,
Brandon

[rpolitsr]

Rpolitsr's picture was first class pollution
It is a doubtful honor to have 'the worst pollution ever’ close to home.
Near the top of the hill it was apocalyptic as in Japan suggested, but I also was impressed by your picture, a small amount by the still healthy flowers looking down, but mainly by the color of dead in the underwater plants. That was also first class pollution, unfortunately. Nice job.

[BottomBracket]

Marie's shot is very nice, very subtle. Great contrast between beauty and trouble, as rpoltisr said. The stream seems to have algal bloom, a situation where runoff of nutrients such as excess fertilizer or sewage leads to overpopulation of algae. It is a precarious situation, as it upsets the underwater environment. If the algae overpopulates the water, and dies off suddenly, it will stagnate the water, deprive it of oxygen and kill all fauna in it.

Great shot.

[in Japan]

My picture shows the result of an evil contest among some people (if they deserve the name). In the dry season, they start fires in the slopped hills surrounding the city just to see if the fire grows big. Usually the Major’s Office, the Fire Department and the Police deal with the fires, but seldom find the people who started them. On August 2005, the fire caught the woods in a windy slope east of the city and the fire went out of control. The picture shows the start of the ominous cloud that lasted three days above the usually clear sky of Quito.
Thanks, rpolitsr for the explanation of your incredible photo. It truly is unconsciounable behavior. Hopefully it doesn't happen again, but if so, let's hope they at least catch the perpetrators. Yes, Ecuador certainly doesn't have a monopoly on arson. Thousands of acres of forests burn each year in the Western states of the U.S. due to arson.:mad:
Brandon

[rpolitsr]

Interesting info in the post above, BottomBracket.

Again I must say that this is a most thought provoking challenge, great pictures by all. For full effect, I played Albinioni's Adagio on the CD player while viewing the pics.
Great pictures and challenge, I agree. Albinioni’ music certainly enhances perception, particularly the organ behind the strings in the Adagio.

[rpolitsr]

Thanks again in Japan for your kind comments.

There is also an ancestral practice, initiated by pre-Hispanic settlers and reinforced by Spaniards that is still in use: to burn the local forests and make room for agriculture and cattle.

[BobbyT]

Thanks for all of the congrats, I will be getting lots of practice and learning from you guys/gals between now and Sept :D

[Boutty]

Thanks for all of the congrats, I will be getting lots of practice and learning from you guys/gals between now and Sept :D

Congrats Bobby!

I can tell you he/she will be a clever one!

I was born in September. ;)

[rpolitsr]

I returned over the pictures, this time with the Albinioni’s Adagio in the CD player as BottomBracket did.:)

Each time I look at the ‘Cloud Factory’ by dewmuw it seems a better picture! I suppose it is a power plant. Are those Nuclear reactors?

RAW the depth of field in your picture enhances the main subject dramatically. I wonder if you could tell me if it is natural or was achieved later in post processing.

I was comparing the smoke columns in several pictures and I just realized that the ‘Steel’ picture by partridge9 and his entire post have been removed.???

[RAW]

I returned over the pictures, this time with the Albinioni’s Adagio in the CD player as BottomBracket did.:)

RAW the depth of field in your picture enhances the main subject dramatically. I wonder if you could tell me if it is natural or was achieved later in post processing.




I don't know the music you guys are talking about but I will buy the CD and listen the effects, I sounds like a very creative music.

As for the effect it was achieved straight from the camera, no post processing whatsoever. Thank you for your comments Rpolistr.

I certainly liked all the photos posted and as the comments about them get more every day going back at the pictures and staring at them really puts you there at the moment and realize what people really can do...

It is very easy to break and oh so very hard o fix things. What some people do for pleasure can ruin the beauty of nature and even take lives. Thank you Brandon for such an interesting topic.


I will try and take the shot for the next challenge before I send my camera back to Canon. They didn't fix what I asked for the last time so I complained and they sent me a prepaid shipping label...we'll se if they will charge me because since I received the camera my warranty has expired...


My regards,

[RAW]

This is the exif from my picture maybe it will help understand it better...

Camera Model Name : Canon PowerShot G6
Shooting Date/Time : 2/19/2006 2:45:21 PM
Shooting Mode : Manual
Photo Effect : Off
Tv (Shutter Speed) : 1/100
Av (Aperture Value) : 2.0
Light Metering : Center Weighted Avg.
ISO Speed : 50
Lens : 7.2 - 28.8mm
Focal Length : 7.2mm
Digital Zoom : None
Flash : Off
White Balance : Cloudy
AF Mode : Manual Focus
Super Macro : On
Color Space : sRGB
Drive Mode : Single-frame shooting
Owner's Name : RAW


Regards,

[marie]

It is a doubtful honor to have 'the worst pollution ever’ close to home.
Near the top of the hill it was apocalyptic as in Japan suggested, but I also was impressed by your picture, a small amount by the still healthy flowers looking down, but mainly by the color of dead in the underwater plants. That was also first class pollution, unfortunately.
Nice job.
I agree it is a 'doubtful honour' .... being appreciated for what you showed, regards pollution
( but it is a great picture):cool:
I guess it's not very nice showing off what happens.. now and again... in our own backyard
but , 'a necessary evil '

many thanks for the very interesting comments about my shot Rafael

[marie]

Marie's shot is very nice, very subtle. Great contrast between beauty and trouble, as rpoltisr said. The stream seems to have algal bloom, a situation where runoff of nutrients such as excess fertilizer or sewage leads to overpopulation of algae. It is a precarious situation, as it upsets the underwater environment. If the algae overpopulates the water, and dies off suddenly, it will stagnate the water, deprive it of oxygen and kill all fauna in it.
Great shot.
very many thanks
and for the perfect description of what is happening also Pio

[marie]

great pics. well done kids and congrats to the winners...
here is my effort (ooh, a bit late me thinks...)
polluting my girlfriends coffee with milk : ) ha ha..
G3. 1/101sec. F2.2. ISO 400, Macro.

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/104697/whistle9122.gifhttp://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/104697/scratchy6058.gif

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:


very nice shot Andrew
:cool:

[in Japan]

I was comparing the smoke columns in several pictures and I just realized that the ‘Steel’ picture by partridge9 and his entire post have been removed.???
Thanks for noticing that rpolitsr. Does anyone know what happened to partridge9's post?

[in Japan]

My shot was wasted water pipe captured under an old jetty on our most famous St. Kilda beach. Within metres away, people are playing, swimming and having fun in the water.
I was afraid you were going to say that...

[rpolitsr]

I don't know the music you guys are talking about but I will buy the CD and listen the effects, I sounds like a very creative music.

As for the effect it was achieved straight from the camera, no post processing whatsoever. Thank you for your comments Rpolistr.

Great DOF and clever use of super macro!

Not the same as a real strings orchestra and organ, but this midi file smaller than a small thumbnail (13KB) will provide you with 7 minutes of music of the
Adagio in G Minor, for Organ and Strings by Tomaso Albinoni (1671 - 1750)

http://homepage3.nifty.com/axelsia/download/midi/Adagio3.mid

enjoy

[partridge9]

Thanks for noticing that rpolitsr. Does anyone know what happened to partridge9's post?

I returned over the pictures, this time with the Albinioni’s Adagio in the CD player as BottomBracket did.:)

Each time I look at the ‘Cloud Factory’ by dewmuw it seems a better picture! I suppose it is a power plant. Are those Nuclear reactors?

RAW the depth of field in your picture enhances the main subject dramatically. I wonder if you could tell me if it is natural or was achieved later in post processing.

I was comparing the smoke columns in several pictures and I just realized that the ‘Steel’ picture by partridge9 and his entire post have been removed.???

Sorry. I withdrew from the compitition (I guess a little too late) because I would not have been able to judge this week if I were to win. Not that I expected to win, of course, but then again I have never expected to win and I am always surprised when I do! Al

[RAW]

Great DOF and clever use of super macro!

Not the same as a real strings orchestra and organ, but this midi file smaller than a small thumbnail (13KB) will provide you with 7 minutes of music of the
Adagio in G Minor, for Organ and Strings by Tomaso Albinoni (1671 - 1750)

http://homepage3.nifty.com/axelsia/download/midi/Adagio3.mid

enjoy

Thank you...I am listening to it and it really adds a dramatic effect, even if it is a midi...Thanks.

Regards,

[RAW]

Sorry. I withdrew from the compitition (I guess a little too late) because I would not have been able to judge this week if I were to win. Not that I expected to win, of course, but then again I have never expected to win and I am always surprised when I do! Al


I am sorry to hear that you withdrew Al. Even if you had won there is a rule for that. The second place would've ran things instead of you...I didn't see the picture so I feel left out now:p . Please when time available post your pic, if you are willing to of course. Thank you .

Regards,

[RAW]

I received so many returns in Amazon and I don't know which one to buy...:confused:


Please advice BB or Brandon...Thanks.

This is the link with the results:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=pd_sc_1/102-9155119-2330551?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=albinoni

[RafaPolit]

Hi all, and congratulations on a great challenge!

RAW, I know you asked for specific advice to BB or Brandon, but at the risk of coming uninvited, here are my thoughts of your selection:

I would choose the Complete Concertos Op.9/Adagio for Organ and Strings
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000041NC/sr=8-2/qid=1140683911/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8200731-8532047?%5Fencoding=UTF8
... actually the piece everyone here is talking about is the very last piece of the second CD. Nevertheless the whole repertoire (if your are a Baroque fan) is very good and somewhat fresh, since they are not typical collections of this music. Also, this Philips recordings of two CDs tend to be the best of versions (to my personal taste of course! :) )

It is somewhat pricier than the others, but the other version I would love, and would recomend is the Solisti Veneti, I heard them live and they are absolutely amazing! but the piece you are looking for appears to be missing, if it is not the first Adagio which is undocumented. This particular piece is the Adagio Op. 9 in G minor for strings and organ.

If you are not a die-hard fan of this music, perhaps something more shuffled from several composers would be best, but you will not get such good versions (although not at all bad). For that situation, my pick would be the Baroque Masterpieces. Hope this helps, and I hope you get more advice than only me! :)

regards,

Rafa Polit Jr.

[BottomBracket]

Rafa, I was thinking of the Baroque Masterpieces too - it looks like a good smorgassborg of Baroque music. Artan, thiws is a good way to get into this type of music, it is sort of a "Best Hits' CD. This way you can hear a bit of each composer and develop your likes and dislikes and go from there. The selections in this CD are good, it is rather inexpensive too. Too bad it doesn't have J.S. Bach's 'Air on a G String' though.

[Boutty]

I was afraid you were going to say that...
No worry mate! Actually I should thank you for setting the theme, after crawling under the old jetty and tooking my shots, I've got invit onboard to this yacht (http://www.pbase.com/boutty/yacht_cruise). :p (Password: Portofino)

[alans220]

Hi All,

Took another photo of the Power Station from the 'other' side, this shows the Coal burning chimney, its a very 'dull' place!!

al

[Sophia]

...

[rpolitsr]

Interesting picture, alans220, but it is clearly an industrial facility from that angle. From the other side, the towers measured against the dwarfed trees are amazingly menacing to me.

Was it formerly a nuclear powered plant?

Is the picture of dewmuw of the same power plant? If not, is it a nuclear facility?

I am curious because I read that the British government has 470.000 cubic meters of atomic waste waiting for a safe place to be buried, if there is such a safe place.

[partridge9]

I am sorry to hear that you withdrew Al. Even if you had won there is a rule for that. The second place would've ran things instead of you...I didn't see the picture so I feel left out now:p . Please when time available post your pic, if you are willing to of course. Thank you .

Regards,

Here you go...

[RAW]

Hi all, and congratulations on a great challenge!

RAW, I know you asked for specific advice to BB or Brandon, but at the risk of coming uninvited, here are my thoughts of your selection:

I would choose the Complete Concertos Op.9/Adagio for Organ and Strings
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000041NC/sr=8-2/qid=1140683911/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-8200731-8532047?%5Fencoding=UTF8
... actually the piece everyone here is talking about is the very last piece of the second CD. Nevertheless the whole repertoire (if your are a Baroque fan) is very good and somewhat fresh, since they are not typical collections of this music. Also, this Philips recordings of two CDs tend to be the best of versions (to my personal taste of course! :) )

It is somewhat pricier than the others, but the other version I would love, and would recomend is the Solisti Veneti, I heard them live and they are absolutely amazing! but the piece you are looking for appears to be missing, if it is not the first Adagio which is undocumented. This particular piece is the Adagio Op. 9 in G minor for strings and organ.

If you are not a die-hard fan of this music, perhaps something more shuffled from several composers would be best, but you will not get such good versions (although not at all bad). For that situation, my pick would be the Baroque Masterpieces. Hope this helps, and I hope you get more advice than only me! :)

regards,

Rafa Polit Jr.


Rafa, I was thinking of the Baroque Masterpieces too - it looks like a good smorgassborg of Baroque music. Artan, thiws is a good way to get into this type of music, it is sort of a "Best Hits' CD. This way you can hear a bit of each composer and develop your likes and dislikes and go from there. The selections in this CD are good, it is rather inexpensive too. Too bad it doesn't have J.S. Bach's 'Air on a G String' though.



Thank you Guys...I will purchase this one and search if I can find Bach's version somewhere else...;) .



Regards,

[RAW]

Here you go...


Thank you Partridge. I like the lines in the photo and probably you are right, maybe you could've won...


My regards,

[Sophia]

Looking at your pic again I was reminded of the fires that raged in Indonesia a few years ago, the ones started by 'slash and burn' farmers. The smoke generated was so bad that it descended in Manila and other South East Asian cities, hundreds of mile away. Indeed, environmental effects know no political boundaries. This was in 1997 if I'm not mistaken. Last year again in Sumatra, conversion fires is again causing haze problems. I visited Manila and Malacca last year, good thing, everything went well...


Again I must say that this is a most thought provoking challenge, great pictures by all. For full effect, I played Albinioni's Adagio on the CD player while viewing the pics.
LOL. I never knew that you love classical. I'm not sure if you know this. Every year, or every end of the school year, students from Julliard School of Music do a recital. It's free and they are pretty darn good. And on Memorial Day, The NY symphony orchestra do a free show on St. Mark's cathedral. Only in New York for not long but I guess you know more free shows that I do:)

[glowluzid]

Hi All,

Took another photo of the Power Station from the 'other' side, this shows the Coal burning chimney, its a very 'dull' place!!

al

Alan,

No doubt, the IR photo is so much more eerie. BTW, it was your album that inspired me to get the G1 for IR in the first place. I had debated between the minolta D7 and the G1, and I am happy to say the G1 is better for me.
dave

[alans220]

Hi Dave,

Thanks, your album is very good, love the colours. I havn't been doing much over the last year or so, been riding my Harley too much to take photos!!

Then I saw some infrared photos taken using a G6, so I bought one. Wasn't too happy at first, with either the Infrared or normal pics, but I'm getting to like it more. Been using Rawshooter for PP and I like that a lot, it does lots of good tweaking.

I am about to convert my G1 (bought some precision screwdrivers this afternoon), just got to pluck up some courage and find a piece of glass from somewhere. Was originally going to sell the G1, but they do not go for much so at least if the conversion fails I will have a spare battery for my G6!!

I am also thinking of buying a Nikon D50, but thats another story!!

It's ok for you in Colorado, the weather here in UK is very cold and snowy, not great for IR work.

al

[glowluzid]

It's ok for you in Colorado, the weather here in UK is very cold and snowy, not great for IR work.


Hehehe. Come to Colorado, and I will show you what it means to be cold and snowy (negative C every night, feet of snow just a ways up the hill)
I live at nearly 2300m (6700ft) elevation, and it gets mighty cold, even in the summer (at night). What we do have is lots of sunshine, though, so it is bright...

Thanks for the compliment.
dave

[alans220]

ooooooooops, sorry Dave, thought it was hot and sunny where you are!!!

al

PS Love yor Infrared Balloon photos

[RAW]

Guys can you please make me a list like Albionis Adagio so I can buy...I really like the link that I followed...

I need music like that to relax me after work....thanks.

[mistergibbon]

Artan,

I've been following the music related thread with interest (being a french horn player and lover of classical music from an early age), here is a link to a CD on amazon which lists a number of Albinoni's slow movements:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000JXQ8/103-9028495-3584646?v=glance&n=5174

I don't know anything about the specific recordings/conductors/performers on the CD (something I think is really important to know about. You can listen to two different recordings/interpretations of the same piece of music, love one and hate the other) but it is a list as requested...

Paul

[RAW]

Thank you for your reply and your advice Paul.


What I meant with a list was diferent classical music that is similar to adagio...thank you for your input.

Regards,

[RafaPolit]

Hi Artan,

If what you are looking for is relaxing baroque music, I think that the Bach cello suites are one of the best choices. Its only one cello playing but for me its simply overwhelming. I have two versions, and with this pieces you can choose from strong interpretations to very sweet and mellow ones. For your purpose, take a look (and a listen! :) ) to Yo-Yo Ma's version here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000029YB/qid=1141145209/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/002-8200731-8532047?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

If your are more fond of chamber ensambleses or ochestras, this rendition of the Bach orchestral suites and violin concertos is fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000041CV/qid=1141146289/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/002-8200731-8532047?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

Maybe you can listen to the samples and comment what you'd like it to be: solwer, more up-tempo, more relaxing, more cheerful, and we can build form that?

Hope it helps,

Rafa Polit Jr.

[mistergibbon]

Sorry, really should learn to read properly... :o

[BottomBracket]

Sophia - what did you do in Manila? I have always loved classical, and I really like attending free concerts. Check out the schedule for Central Park during the summer, usually there's a free concert every weekend. If you dig drums and percussion, go to the Bandshell every Sunday afternoon. You'll see an impromptu drum concert going on and you can bang away if you brought your own drum. A stick and a pail works too. There's a similar thing going on at Prospect Park too.

Artan, Albinioni's Adagio is hardly relaxing (in my opinion) - I find it too heavy, completative and melancholic for unwinding. I agree with Rafa that Bach's Solo Cello Suites is an excellent choice. Yoyo Ma's version is simply divine. So is Janos Starker's interpretation - you won't go wrong with either one.

Other popular pieces that you might like are Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and A. Vivaldi's Four Seasons. All three are hugely popular, have different moods and I have no doubt that you will enjoy any of these.

Mistergibbon, I'm glad to see another musician here. I used to play the piano and recorder a long time ago. I am really. really rusty at present though I play every now and then for pleasure - my pleasure unfortunately, and not that of others who happen to listen to the cacophony I create :)

[RAW]

Sophia - what did you do in Manila? I have always loved classical, and I really like attending free concerts. Check out the schedule for Central Park during the summer, usually there's a free concert every weekend. If you dig drums and percussion, go to the Bandshell every Sunday afternoon. You'll see an impromptu drum concert going on and you can bang away if you brought your own drum. A stick and a pail works too. There's a similar thing going on at Prospect Park too.

Artan, Albinioni's Adagio is hardly relaxing (in my opinion) - I find it too heavy, completative and melancholic for unwinding. I agree with Rafa that Bach's Solo Cello Suites is an excellent choice. Yoyo Ma's version is simply divine. So is Janos Starker's interpretation - you won't go wrong with either one.

Other popular pieces that you might like are Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and A. Vivaldi's Four Seasons. All three are hugely popular, have different moods and I have no doubt that you will enjoy any of these.

Mistergibbon, I'm glad to see another musician here. I used to play the piano and recorder a long time ago. I am really. really rusty at present though I play every now and then for pleasure - my pleasure unfortunately, and not that of others who happen to listen to the cacophony I create :)


Pio,

Thank you for your help on every topic that we have discussed. I will try and get those recomended by you and RafaPolit and I am sure I will enjoy.

I live in NY and don't know the events happening around, thank you for that info too.

My best regards to you all.

[RAW]

Hi Artan,

If what you are looking for is relaxing baroque music, I think that the Bach cello suites are one of the best choices. Its only one cello playing but for me its simply overwhelming. I have two versions, and with this pieces you can choose from strong interpretations to very sweet and mellow ones. For your purpose, take a look (and a listen! :) ) to Yo-Yo Ma's version here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000029YB/qid=1141145209/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/002-8200731-8532047?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

If your are more fond of chamber ensambleses or ochestras, this rendition of the Bach orchestral suites and violin concertos is fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000041CV/qid=1141146289/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/002-8200731-8532047?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

Maybe you can listen to the samples and comment what you'd like it to be: solwer, more up-tempo, more relaxing, more cheerful, and we can build form that?

Hope it helps,

Rafa Polit Jr.

Thank you very much...

[Sophia]

Sophia - what did you do in Manila? I have always loved classical, and I really like attending free concerts. Check out the schedule for Central Park during the summer, usually there's a free concert every weekend. If you dig drums and percussion, go to the Bandshell every Sunday afternoon. You'll see an impromptu drum concert going on and you can bang away if you brought your own drum. A stick and a pail works too. There's a similar thing going on at Prospect Park too.
Wow! I have to go there this summer. I have this roomate and her calendar is always full of free concert schedules. Battery Park is fun on summer too. Overlooking liberty and staten island. Free concerts at night. To be honest, my schedule after New Year is just too hectic. I can't get the color that I want with my G6 (not because of the camera, it's because of my settings).Even I like the shot if I don't like the color, I'm not satisified with it. It's a pet peeve thing. I really have to practice. About visiting Manila, it's my mom's birthplace. Actually, it's in Batac. Farther north of Manila I think. I enjoyed it and since then, I started visiting other Asian countries. Sure Bottombracket, I'll join the challenges very soon!

[andrewaaa5]

can you recommend any baroque and roll?

[Sophia]

can you recommend any baroque and roll?

free concerts are usually open air. so i guess if you say baroque, it's more like a club or indoor. you can find them around time square or greenwich village. roll... yeah, free concerts do roll. i'm just a 70% restaurant/cafe/bistro and 30% clubbing:) you should not miss "passerby" at 15th street. and yeah, baroque architecture is more common in europe:)