Shell Photographer of the year 2007

chewyuk

chewyuk

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Name
Neil
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The winning image:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/photo.do?photo=2364&category=46&group=4

Now here's the question, It may be proving my photographic naivety but I thought I'd ask... Is it really that good?

Or is the subject and the photographers comment about how he took it more impressive?

We tend to aim for such clarity and crystal clear shots that maybe, just sometimes, taking everything in focus, applying all the rules isn't actually the 'best' way.

Then again in somebodies eyes it could be a corker, guess you all know my thoughts now :)

Cheers,
Neil
 
Maybe I am not arty enough. I doesn't do a lot for me.
 
Doesn't do a great deal for me, shutter speed is a little too slow to really be freezing the action. Maybe that was the intention, all I can say is well done!
 
Shogun said:
Maybe I am not arty enough. I doesn't do a lot for me.
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:agree:

Looks a bit messy to me. Seen tons of better shots in TP. As for the comments, all sounds a load of pretentious w**kspeak.
 
Doesn't do much for me, but maybe it's the size that doesn't do it justice.
 
Kinda makes me wonder why all the books and tutorials are done.Nice shot though...

Maybe that's the solution...SIMPLICITY?

Maybe we all get caught up in the how's and the where's to see what's really infront of us?

Congrats i say... I wish it was mine.:thumbs:
 
well since it's shot by a friend of mine I am a little biassed but I really like it.

His work and approach is different to most snappers and that gives it a fresh and different look. Check out some of his other work too, it's well worth a look.
 
It's interesting how people view things. I've just clicked the tab at the top of the link and viewed the five other images....four of which I would have chosen ahead of this one.

I've also read the comments left by others on the website and they seem to be from "ordinary" folk (in the main), so I may be out of touch. I often read comments from others and usually continue until the word "juxtapose" appears...then I'm gone, clearly aimed at an audience with a different eye to my own !

5/10 from me, sorry

Bob
 
Does nothing for me. But there again Tracy Emin's unmade bed, did nothing either.
But that was a money spinner. Are we missing something here.
 
This isn't meant to be a glib remark but is there a north-south issue with arty appreciation...seems the northern lot don't like this one....(I'm from Cheshire....just down here helping to give them some class).

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
This isn't meant to be a glib remark but is there a north-south issue with arty appreciation...seems the northern lot don't like this one....(I'm from Cheshire....just down here helping to give them some class).

Bob
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Spades come to mind, and what they are called.
 
Well maybe it's viewing the image on the 'net that ruins some of it's impact. I saw it in the actual exhibition in the NHS and it is quite striking and intriguing when up on the wall with a lightbox behind. Although I agree, it wasn't my overall favourite at the exhibition, there were some stunning images. I actually really struggled to pick a favourite and only one person from the camera club I went with could pick out one clear winner in their mind.

Well worth going to the exhibition if you can get down to London.
 
If I'd taken the shot it wouldn't have made it as far as the PC hard drive.
 
Ben Osborne said:
‘I staked out this waterhole in Botswana’s Chobe National Park for three weeks, taking pictures from my vehicle of thirsty elephants and other animals coming to drink. Sometimes the waterhole overflowed, and this huge bull was the first to indulge in a head-to-toe spa. I focused on the centre of the action, an explosion of texture and colour.’
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If I'd staked out a location for 3 weeks I would be disappointed if this was the best shot I came away with. Don't get me wrong I do like the image especially the texture (I'm missing the explosion of colour though:thinking:) and abstract nature of it. I just think there were other entries that were better.
 
Does nothing for me either, the ones from the 10 years and younger are a lot better than that.
 
Have you seen the ones in the 10 and under section - wow! Wish I had those kids talent. There are some cracking shots in there.
 
susie said:
Does nothing for me either, the ones from the 10 years and younger are a lot better than that.
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:lol::lol::lol::lol: I need to type quicker :lol:
 
dazzajl said:
well since it's shot by a friend of mine I am a little biassed but I really like it.

His work and approach is different to most snappers and that gives it a fresh and different look. Check out some of his other work too, it's well worth a look.
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this isnt against your mate as a photographer, its just this image. i personnaly think its one of those shots that most poeple delete and he thought, sod it i'll enter it.
 
I would have entered it.

People forgot at what they're actually looking at in pictures. They concentrate too much on exposure, sharpness, depth of field ... when the true element of the picture is a last thought.

If this were mine i'd be well pleased. How many people can say there were there to capture this - and to capture it as an artist too :) :clap:
 
Looking at it makes my eyes hurt.

No offence to your mate intended whatsoever, I mean it won so something must be right about it somewhere, just I can't see it.

If it were mine it wouldn't have made it past the initial download to PC, I'd have binned it as camera shake.
 
I actually really like it & it's definitely a shot that I would have kept had it been my own. Anyone that has tried to get arty shots like this should appreciate how difficult it is to keep just enough of the shot sharp so as to emphasise the movement/blurring, like advanced panning techniques it's very hit & miss - a lot of it is down to luck but he was still there & made the effort to get the shot, knew the settings that he needed & came back with a shot that he felt was good enough to enter into the competition. I'd say he was right personally.

Photography is obviously subjective though & everyone likes different styles of images - tis very difficult to get shots that the greater majority will love.
 
susie said:
Does nothing for me either, the ones from the 10 years and younger are a lot better than that.
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The age of Digital is really levelling the field of photography. The fact that you can review a shot immediately and retake is improving even most novice person's images. Kids have a huge advantage in that they aren't aware of any rules or advice as to what makes a good image. They just point the camera at something they like and push the button. Often this produces stunning images that evoke childlike innocence and that really engage the viewer by drawing focus to the subject rather than worrying what it looks like with regards to technique or composition.

I'm often amazed at some of the images my 3 year old nephew produces when I give him my digital compact.
 
Im very quickly getting disillusioned by photo competitions. This image does nothing for me, no matter which way up I look at it or which juxtaposed metaphor I use. Im also disspointed at the results of my local club competitons. Im not a sore loser, but it seems the judges have lost any idea of judging objectively on creativity, technicality etc. Another example of 'art' dissapearing up its back end.:thumbsdown:
 
In my humble opinion, I feel it's not arty at all, but conveys an emotional response of the vast power of this elephant that couldn't be captured with a technically clean shot.

I like it a lot.

9.5 out of 10...
 
Well I like it. Very dynamic. Texture, composition, contrast ... it's all there :)
 
Hmmm...I do quite like it, although I'm not sure I would have voted it into 1st place myself. :|

Well done to the 'tog for winning though.:clap:
 
I think it's great, an explosion of power with just enough information in the image to tell you what it is.
 
Messiah Khan said:
Im also disspointed at the results of my local club competitons. Im not a sore loser, but it seems the judges have lost any idea of judging objectively on creativity, technicality etc. Another example of 'art' dissapearing up its back end.:thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

I think that I have to agree with you one that front MK, I have noticed the same - admittedly the person that won 1st, 2nd & 3rd in most of the categories is a friend of mine & a very talented photographer but even he was sitting there & shaking his head at loads of the comments that the judge was making.
 
Perhaps we shouldn't be our own critic. If I had shot this I wouldn't have thrown it in the bin. Then again I wouldn't have thought to enter it in a competiton either, thereby missing out on a pestigious award.

I said it before but it bears saying again, "you can't please all of the people all of the time"
 
Looks like a prime candidate for a turner prize :cuckoo: Art for art sake I suppose.
 
Canon Bob said:
... I often read comments from others and usually continue until the word "juxtapose" appears...then I'm gone, clearly aimed at an audience with a different eye to my own !...Bob
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Messiah Khan said:
.....This image does nothing for me, no matter which way up I look at it or which juxtaposed metaphor I use.....
Click to expand...

Lucky I got in before you MK or I'd have two posts less on my total. ;)

Bob
 
richmond said:
Perhaps we shouldn't be our own critic. If I had shot this I wouldn't have thrown it in the bin. Then again I wouldn't have thought to enter it in a competiton either, thereby missing out on a pestigious award.
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You have to be your own critic.....would you feel right about winning an award with something that you weren't happy with?....I believe not.

Bob
 
I am confused as to why everyone is mentioning 'art' as something foreign? Surely photography, illustration, painting, typography, writing etc are all art?

Aren't they just different mediums for creatively communicating an idea not just a vehicle to show off technical prowess.
 
I do actually like it.:thumbs:
(not sure if I would have picked it as a winner though?)

But I do recall a post similar to this one last year, when the picture of the cat cleaning itself won.

I suppose it's all down to people having different taste:shrug:

Spence
 
spencer said:
I suppose it's all down to people having different taste:shrug:
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Thats the great thing about pictures, if we all liked the same thing the world would be a boring place, if I had been a judge and picked a different entry I expect there would be a hell of a lot of people who would not liked my choice, at least it has got people talking though!
 
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