Digital Camera Speed Challenge #402 - Black on Black

Digital Camera Speed Challenge #402


Black on Black


Use your skills with composition and lighting to make your subject stand out for the image. Other than that, I'll leave the interpretation of the theme up to you (as long as you keep it clean- see #7 below).


This challenge begins when posted, and will end at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, January 28th, 2016. Winner of this challenge will be announced shortly afterwards.

Standard Rules apply:
Photo Submissions:

1. Camera: Any Digital Camera, but NO Cell Phones.
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. Camera model & lens used. 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 - 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday, January 28, 2016.
* Winner from this competition decides the theme of the next one (and judges it for a winner) after this competition is closed.

Previous Winners 01
Previous Winners 02
Previous Winners 03

Cat Burglar

Alley

Mr. Wilson

Quail

black on black

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Dw55​6N

Contest is closed. Results will be up a little later.

Thanks to everyone for participating this week. Here are a few thoughts & comments on the entries.

Mark - Being a cat person, I liked the idea and the lighting in your image. That flash did a good job of illuminating the outline of the cat and the rain drops. The line of lighting on the pole is a bit distracting to me though. Maybe toning it down a bit in post would have made it less distracting? Part of me would also like to see it in b&w. Overall though, I liked the image.

teekay - There's a lot going on in your image. It was hard for me to find one thing to focus on. My eye kept wandering around the image. Something in the processing seems a bit off to me too. Maybe that was the kind of look you were going for, though.

Phil - Again, being a cat person, I really liked your image. Taking photos of black cats is tough, and doing it on a black (or dark) material is challenging too. Mr. Wilson doesn't look too happy about having his picture taken, but I liked how the lighting and textures seem to complement the cat.

Don - I really liked the quail idea here. I think if you'd gotten a little more lighting on the sides, it would really have stood out. It's definitely a low key image!

Jason - Of course you come up with something clever. What is the BLACK labeled item in the photo? I have a guess but will wait to see what you say. I really liked the lighting and contrasting textures here.

This was really close in trying to decide the winner. It was really almost a toss up, but I'm giving the win to Jason, with Phil as the runner-up.
Thanks again everyone!!

Congratulations to Jason on a clever shot indeed - I'm guessing that's a speaker?

I thought Mark's cat would be impossible for me to beat so I nearly didn't enter, but got intrigued with converting that alley shot to B&W then painting over with black. I agree, Lisa, the final result was confusing - I just got lazy!

BTW, taking the trouble to comment on each shot is much appreciated by all, I'm sure, as is naming a runner-up.

Congratulations Jason. Well done.

Agree totally with your comment Lisa. The quail has a flat ceramic finish and didn't take to side lighting well, at least given my composition and pp skills.

Thank you kindly. I'll have the next challenge up around 6"00 PM pst...I'm off to work right now.

jason

Kudos, Jason. Clever shot.

Computer speakers laid flat, side by side with one of my mini cigars (Djarum Black) in the crease...that's it.

Thanks again Lisa for both the challenge and the nod, and thanks to Don, Phil, teekay and Mark. Good work all!


Oh yea, the new challenge is up...

!CLICK-ME!

jason

Aha! I thought it might be a cigar!! I figured the other was a speaker or something similar. Are those cigars really black?

teekay wrote in post #17877161
Congratulations to Jason on a clever shot indeed - I'm guessing that's a speaker?

I thought Mark's cat would be impossible for me to beat so I nearly didn't enter, but got intrigued with converting that alley shot to B&W then painting over with black. I agree, Lisa, the final result was confusing - I just got lazy!

BTW, taking the trouble to comment on each shot is much appreciated by all, I'm sure, as is naming a runner-up.

Thanks for the note. Yes, commenting is tough sometimes, and I don't always have time to do it. It makes me think why I like and image or why one doesn't appeal to me. They're just my impressions, and I hope no one gets put off by them. I also try and learn from it for things to do or not do in some of my images. And yes, trying to decide between some really striking images can be very hard!