Road Closed

Not selectively colored, just a really colorless (other than gray) patch of asphalt.

Thoughts? Criticisms?

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Hi Matt, I'm hesitant to comment without knowing what equipment and settings you were using. But here goes.....

The composition is righteous. Good diagonal lines. Good ROT placement. There's no guessing that your incorporation of the ROT was intentional.

The subject is ambiquous. Is the intended subject the sign? Is the intended subject the pavement and its texture?

If the sign is the subject, the sign needs to fill more of the frame and use less negative space. The sign needs to be sharper focused and I'm not sure if your equipment is capable of more detail.

If the sign is meant to be utilized as the anchor to enhance the pavement and texture, then the pavement needs to be sharper and better exposed.

I personally would classify this type of image as being in the 'still life' genre which includes closeups of an item of frulit, a dish, a vase, and 'product' shots in general. This genre is usually not successful without being razor-sharp focused and exposed with proper bokeh.

If this image was rendered by a camera with a 2-4 megapixel censor, than I'd predict that this quality is as good as can be expected and should be critiqued more on its composition (which is very good) and subject content.

Oh! And BTW, the quality of your equipment is in no way a measure of your ability as a photographer. Edit your signature and get that negative sh!! un-associated with your identity. Think Positive and be positive--you'll be a better photographer than you already are. After viewing your galary, I suspect that I could learn more from you than you could learn from me.

Cheers.

I think I have to go against MJ here in that to me the subject of the image is pretty clear. It presents something of a juxtaposition (I really hate that word)...the road closed sign being ran over. Clearly someone wasn't paying attention to the sign and it make me wonder if the driver ended up speeding off a half demolished bridge or getting stuck in a construction ditch or something. It's almost the same concept to me as driving along a country road and seeing a road sign that says "Reduced Speed Limit - Municipality Ahead" when all you can see for miles in any direction is farm land and fields. To me the subject of the shot is simply the "irony".

Personally, I would have liked to have seen just a little more space between the sign itself and the edge of the image as apposed to having it right down in the bottom corner, but otherwise I like the shot...kind of made me chuckle a little bit .

Peace,
Jim

Walczak Photo wrote in post #5753096
I think I have to go against MJ here in that to me the subject of the image is pretty clear. It presents something of a juxtaposition (I really hate that word)...the road closed sign being ran over. Clearly someone wasn't paying attention to the sign and it make me wonder if the driver ended up speeding off a half demolished bridge or getting stuck in a construction ditch or something.
Peace,
Jim

Whoa! Awesome interpetation! Thanks for sharing. I never would have perceived a story in the image. I need to learn from you and not take in everything absolutely litterally. Jim, you've reminded me that I've become to rapt in the mechanics of things. I should start listening to the image as well.

You didn't go against me--you merely function in a higher plain than I. But, hey! I'll get there--just a matter of time.

I used a canon 30d w/ 10-22.

It was not tripod mounted (hence the lack of sharpness) as I had to work quickly to avoid traffic (this was handheld, using my chest as a support, while holding my breath and watching for cars...I was honestly surprised my feet didn't end up in the frame). As for the exif, it was AV-priority, 1/4000, f/8.

The sign caught my attention b/c it was actually embedded into the asphalt (or fell and was contantly impressed into the fresh asphalt by traffic).

I should probably hit this shot with a little USM to sharpen it up a bi (at least the sign).

I thank all of you for taking the time and offering your opinions.

And Walczak was accurate as to the "story" or theme I was going for.

Just be careful when you get here...the singing dwarves and paisley elephants can be a little unruly sometimes .

Peace,
Jim