Composition and all that Arty stuff - discussion thread.

elrey2375 wrote in post #17154681
Maybe it's me, because I took it, but I go right to the triangle made by the two people and the ball. And the people are arranged in a triangle.

There are a lot of triangles all the same shape (flat and pointing left or right). The largest area of grass is a prominent triangle. Two smaller areas of grass (considering the tree shadow as not-grass) are also triangular. The long wall of the building and the receding row of shrubs are truncated triangles that complement each other. All these basically horizontal skinny triangles create a relaxed effect, which could go too far, into dead calm, if the numerous small vertical accents weren't there: trees, posts, people, and the upright whatevers on the side of the building. I think the composition works because of these repetitions of shapes.

thanks guys,
OL you got it right I think, I was going for the mix of joy and anxiety. All suspended in an abstract space of yet unknown. Kind of I think I need a series of images to explore that, we'll see.

OhLook wrote in post #17154595
I like this arrangement with one exception, the car hood (?) in front, which doesn't seem part of the scene. The degree of blur takes a big jump between that and the next surface.
Okay, but why is all the blue in the bottom row?

Blue is still a primary isn't it? But the splashes of red and the touch of orange at the very edge of the frame mid right side and the oranges (secondary colors) create a wonderful triangle are not that far from his other work. And then there are he red stripes.... Just different subject matter.

ziemowit wrote in post #17154958
OL you got it right I think, I was going for the mix of joy and anxiety.

Some stories in the science fiction + fantasy + horror category capitalize on such an incongruity by using a plot that combines items associated with childhood and innocence with evil. One example is the diabolical doll, as in the "Talky Tina" episode of the old Twilight Zone.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17155107
Blue is still a primary isn't it?

I'm not disputing that blue is a primary, I'm only asking about its placement. It isn't sprinkled around like the others.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #17154330
I shoot things all the time that don't look like my work.

I think that's awesome, Allen.

I do the same thing. Part of me does it for fun (I just love to shoot!), while the other part of me does it because I think/hope it will make me a better overall photographer, and that it will, ultimately, lead to growth that helps me shoot "my work" in better, more unique ways.

After all, the more things we shoot, in more diverse scenarios, will help us to come to a more thorough understanding of how our camera "sees" things; of how the camera interprets the scenes before us. And the more thoroughly we understand that, the better we are going to be at all of our photographic endeavors.

Z, I'm sorry, I just don't get that one, except for the color combination. The tall truncated cone in the foreground, we don't have those over here. It looks sort of like an illustration on the sign in the lower left corner; a representation of something for sale?

its a mock up kebab photographic mock up on top of that. so its a photo of a photo of grilled dead animals parts, pretty much.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #17158588
I think that's awesome, Allen.

I do the same thing. Part of me does it for fun (I just love to shoot!), while the other part of me does it because I think/hope it will make me a better overall photographer, and that it will, ultimately, lead to growth that helps me shoot "my work" in better, more unique ways.

After all, the more things we shoot, in more diverse scenarios, will help us to come to a more thorough understanding of how our camera "sees" things; of how the camera interprets the scenes before us. And the more thoroughly we understand that, the better we are going to be at all of our photographic endeavors.

What I choose to show seriously in say a gallery setting will look like my work. But when I'm on vacation I sometimes become a tourist. If I see a flower or a sunset I might shoot it but i rarely take any of that as serious work. But that doesn't mean I never shoot it. What you choose to show say in a gallery or what you put in a book is as important as what you choose to shoot.

I love the kebab shop shot, Z. The photographic mock-up of a kebab kind of highlights everything wrong with the kebaby ... and yet that's their method of advertising. One wonders if the sign also rotates?!

Your colour palette of browns throughout the image helps it along as well, but the subject is key - as always well spotted and photographed in your own particular way.

Owain Shaw wrote in post #17161348
I love the kebab shop shot, Z. The photographic mock-up of a kebab kind of highlights everything wrong with the kebaby ... and yet that's their method of advertising. One wonders if the sign also rotates?!

Your colour palette of browns throughout the image helps it along as well, but the subject is key - as always well spotted and photographed in your own particular way.

thanks Owain. the absurdity of the whole thinkg struck me hard. and no, it did not rotate.

July 2014 wildfire, taken from my backyard (which eventually burned)
Due to the very low light, I had difficulty with the technicals (image quality), but I wanted to "capture the moment"

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Wow, Tom, wow!

I guess if only your backyard burned but not your home and such we should be thankful, but still, Wow...

^ Never try to conduct business negotiations on an escalator.