Organic

[cLen]

A group of friends and I decided that we would have a monthly photo contest. None of us are professionals, just enthusiasts with the hopes that this monthly contest will encourage us all to get out and shoot more plus serve as an arena for us to discuss ideas, techniques...etc.

The theme for January was "Organic". I was extremely busy all month and while I had thought about the competition didn't go out and shoot anything for it until yesterday in my folk's backyard, did a little PP and submitted my photos a few hours before the deadline.


"Tree Bark"

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4321756288_d7d0600cf6_b.jpg



"Jalapeno" - I also took this photo but in the end liked the one above more

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4321755724_e7d62bfb66.jpg



Originally my idea for this theme was to do something more textural than subject or object oriented, an organic surface which I could fill the frame with, increase contrast and display an organic texture. In the end the photo I submitted did that to some extent, but not entirely as I ended up using some DOF aspects as well.

Any comments or criticism is welcome. I've been shooting w/ a DSLR for about 3-4yrs now but usually just shoot people in party atmospheres or various gatherings - but want to start expanding what I shoot. Additionally it wasn't until a month or so ago that I started doing any PP work, so that's a whole other world I've opened up to myself and need a lot more experience in!

[vk2gwk]

Welcome! I think you got some thing with out of focus... :) The tree bark has a nice texture but why not show it all... most of it is blurred. And the sharp section is not that special to justify its extra - focal - attention.
Same with the peppers... very shallow - intentional I presume - DOF which makes the image confusing. What is it you want us to see: the sign...??? Then one or two peppers would have done with the sign and one pepper in focus.

[cLen]

Thank you for your comments! And I think they are directly in line with where I mainly feel my results were lacking. Sometimes it's just good to hear someone else say it, sorta makes more sense that way, haha. I need to be a little more conscious while shooting, look at the big picture. Whenever I shoot with my 30mm Sigma f/1.4 I have a tendency to really open up that aperture, simply because I can but need to keep that in mind when it may not be completely in line with what I need to accomplish. I also did have one bark shot which was shot head on and thus more in focus, I ended up making that one b&w with some extra contrast. In the end I just liked the first photo more due to the color and perspective - even though the b&w was more in line with my original intentions.