Canon DSLR Speed Challenge #241
Perspective Distortion
Perspective distortion is the theme of this challenge. PD, as I'll call it, per Wikipedia, states that the distortion takes two forms: extension distortion and compression distortion, also called wide-angle distortion and long-lens or telephoto distortion. I'll provide the link below if you wish to read more about it. Anyway, some folk consider PD to be a curse, but in clever situations it can make an image. So get out there with your wide-angle, telephotos and or zooms and have some fun. Do all of us a favor too, please include in your EXIF detail the lens or power equivalent used for those zooms, just so we can get a sense of your voodoo.
http://en.wikipedia.org …e_distortion_(photography
)
This challenge begins when posted, and will end at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time Thurs, 7 June 2012. Winner of this challenge will be announced shortly thereafter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s the judgement:
pappawheely - Big Sky: Mike, nice start to the game. Heck, not only is the sky big, but so too the terrain and trucks. I really enjoy this image, the trucks are just busting out of the picture in a kick of dust. Awesome! The distortion isn’t quite as pronounced, I think because of the safe distance you gave the subjects. Rightly so.
lavanut - Hands Off: lava, my...what a big wing you’ve got there. You have the distortion pegged, but I have two minor nitpicks, I think to the viewer, the fuselage would have made for a more interesting focal point than the “HANDS OFF”, mainly because you have us following that long wing to its inevitable connection to the body beyond. Call me a dirty dawg, but I think I’d like to have seen the belle painted on the motor’s housing more than the stencil. The other minor nit, the treatment of the sky so closely matches the soft focus wing edge, I as the viewer dwelled too long to define the division. The reflective quality of the wing might have made solving that particular issue near impossible, but with some burning maybe a line can be defined.
teekay - Totem In The Rain: teekay, I’ve always enjoyed looking at totem poles. That bright sky almost defies the rain reference, but I see the eagle has a runny beak of sorts. Here again, distortion is evident, but I’m not sure that it’s to the service of the subject and overall image. The compression makes the pole’s detail difficult to see, towards the top. Also, the pole is leading us up to a nearly blown out sky, pronouncing it, something we all dread on those bright-dull days. One last nit, I think there’s too much of the image taken up by the underneath portion of the beak, caught in deep shade. I can see conditions were tough and I’m willing to say given the opportunity, I would have probably tried the same perspective myself. Distortion you delivered, but I miss some of the detail.
airfrogusmc - New Mexican distortion: Allen, nice conversion, terrific detail, and super sharpness. Yup, you got yourself a pew-full of distortion there. I’ve been struggling with this image. Here’s the thing...I know I asked for distortion, but that leading edge that is facing us up front, is leaning some, and I’m spending all my time looking at the image trying to get it to stand vertically. Not satisfied, I copied your image and in pp straightened the lines, but by doing so, I lost the distortion I had asked for. I don’t know...I guess it comes down to some times distortion works for an image and sometimes it doesn’t. I just don’t think it works well here. I hope you have some extra room around this subject to tweak the lines, because it makes for a solid image otherwise.
Jason C - Welcome to Union Station: Jason, boy, you got some nice lines going there, and off into the distance. I like the image, it’s classic and almost timeless in feel. The cars are nicely compressed, and the soft focus supports the distance effect. I really like too those dotted line of lights. Really, nice shot, good move with the conversion too. I hope no one kicked the camera while hurrying for the train. My single nit, is the lone individual to the left, I think, who is barely discernible. I think just a itsy bit more information there would help the viewer.
Maureen Souza - Salt Lake City Temple: Mo, I didn’t know they had those mirror balls in the gardens there. Fun image; fun lens, no doubt. Just one minor nit, that piece of debris up in the upper righthand corner. Clone that out and it’s solid. To a lesser extent, that lens flare too could be popped, as it doesn’t do much to add or detract from the overall image. Easy nonintrusive fixes. I like this shot.
Flo - Rock and Shadow: Gail, sorry, I’m just not getting this image. Perhaps if the concentration was simply on the rock, then maybe, but the green background forces me to think this image is part of something bigger. Also, I’m left a bit confused by the objective here, as the focus is placed squarely on the shadow edge, leaving most of the image fuzzy. I can see the compression effect you’re striving for, but I think the other two concerns detract from your goal.
MSJGD - Going forward: Jean-Guy, I can just see you..camera in hand, waiting for the sun to line up, framed in the ship’s bridge wing. Hoping that that person on top doesn’t leave, or worse...start suffering from seasickness. Dramatic scene. I see the compression that doesn’t fully deceive me; you’re on a large ship. The darkness of the ship’s superstructure is a good offset to the bright sky and ocean beyond. You’ve made it a point that the sun’s framing is important, so rightfully so, it’s centered left to right. Nice balance over all of light and dark. Good focus...spankin’ shot! My guess, this image is near one of a kind.
kbColorado - you KNOW that lens makes my head look big: kb, I think you were given the proverbial hairy eyeball, there. Good distortion, reasonably used. I wish I was there with you and the pup. Tough subject of course, he (?) almost blends into the rocks beyond and I think your use of a flash helped make the fur pop just enough to improve the distinction. I’m not sure about the dog’s expression, qualifying as a “happy to be photographed” one. It’s a bit offsetting...that expression, kind of like the sidewise glance you’d expect to see from a sidewalk vendor while shooting a street scene. It’s that eye...
Folks, do know that my comments are nitpicks, that I have to chew on your image for a while just so I can come to an order of things. I hope I’ve been helpful, more importantly, I hope you feel I was accurate. Thanks for playing.
3rd place: pappawheely - Big Sky
2nd place: Jason C - Welcome to Union Station
1st place: MSJGD - Going forward
Take it away Jean-Guy
Standard Rules apply:
Photo Submissions:
1. Camera - Any Canon DSLR Camera
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 - Please visit Image Posting Rules.
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 Name in the message subject line.* Camera model & lens used.* Notes -- post brief EXIF data including ISO, shutter speed and aperture used.
6. Commenting - No commenting during challenge. When the posting is closed and a winner has been declared, comments can be made in this thread.
7. Keep it clean, and both Family and Work safe.
8. Have questions, PM me.
9. Have FUN!
One challenge every week, on the following schedule:
* New Topic - After winner is declared.
* Posting Starts - Right after topic is announced.
* Posting Ends - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday, 7 June 2012.
* Winner from this competition decides the theme of the next one (and judges it for a winner) after this competition is closed.
