You be the Judge! - Gates

[MAROSSER]

In an attempt to improve our rudimentary photography skills, my girlfriend and I have embarked on a weekly photo competition, based on consecutive alphabetic themes. The challenge being to take photo's that are technically competent and that stretch us creatively.

We alternate each week who chooses the theme, which has to begin with the next letter of the alphabet. We have one week to complete, prior to sharing, but thought that external review from fellow TP'ers would also be helpful.

And so onto this week's theme - Gates

please let us have any feedback, critique, or just vote which you prefer

1.

2.

As always, thanks for looking, all feedback appreciated, or just a quick vote via the poll

Thanks to all that have viewed, commented and voted on the previous weeks theme's

M

 

[Trev Rich]

Sorry but neither really do anything for me..
The first one is blurred and the lines are too confusing to the eye... Instead of being lead into a shot your eyes are scattered.
2 has nice strong textures in it but the key hole cover is distracting.

 

[SJD2011]

Hmm.....

As Trev has said, #1 is very blurry which distracts from what I think could be the better of the 2...even if the crop at the bottom is a little tight.

I am really sorry (and its probably me being dense) but I cant see how #2 fits in with your theme. I think its a good image, its sharp and has great DoF, but its rather abstract and I think it maybe should show more of the gate to tie in?

 

[MAROSSER]

thanks both for taking time to offer feedback.

I can only really comment on mine (no.2)

Trev Rich, i hoped the key hole would give it a little bit more context (which was lacking admittedly) to suggest that it was part of a gates lock and handle.

SJD2011 - as above, i was unsure as to how close (or not) this would fit under the theme. Having tried a number of shots of the gates it became a choice of (very) dull complete gates photo, or something of more interest but weaker against the theme. Oh well, some you win

certainly part of the challenge is to push us creatively, and as i am finding out some themes are easier for me to execute against than others, this theme being (for me) tough

thanks again for the feedback

M

 

[Nick_1981]

2 for me - same reasons as above. Im looking forward to what H has in store

 

[MAROSSER]

thanks for the feedback Nick

next topic - Hands...

cheers,

M

 

[Suvvey]

Love the whole idea behind this. I'm going to try this myself. Some great photos. Who is winning?

 

[MAROSSER]

Thanks Alan, don't forget to view the rest in the series and add your vote

The purpose was to challenge us both, and to move from a mindset of 'taking a photo' of something seen, to 'creating an image'. It really is making me think (a challenge in itself!)

as for winning, it's more for the taking part (although i might just be in the lead )

cheers,

M

 

[Suvvey]

I did have a look at the others but I never voted. I will go back and vote now. Hopefully I'll even things up lol

 

[Nod]

Struggling to find any part of #1 that's sharp! While it's harder to see Gates in #2, the finish on the handle and the rust on the exposed steel/cast iron is enough to tell me that it's not an interior door and my experience as a horticultural engineer (OK, gardener!) tells me that that's gate furniture. The sharpness over most of the handle wins it the point IMO.

 

[Tengu01]

Hmmm. Tough call.

Three-category answer: Technical Capture, Composition, and Communication.

Technical Capture: Image 2 wins
Image 2 is clearly a better capture. The image is sharp, the colour is rich, yet not overpowering. There are no extraneous elements in the image. Its subject is clearly in focus, the background is gently out of focus.
Image 1 is ever so slightly out of focus. Not enough to be pleasantly blurred, just enough to be jarring to the eye. The leaves are in focus enough to draw the eye. The cobwebs are slightly in focus, but the subject is definitely the gate.

Composition: Image 2 wins
Image 2 is well composed. The handle is clearly the subject. The keyhole is nicely blurred clearly identifyable. The focus is on the rust and paint. The shallow DOF makes the image almost look 3D.
Image 1 loses out because the edges of the gate are cut off. Pulling back just a little bit would have given a bit more completeness to the image. I love the cobwebs. A shallower DOF would have drawn the eye to the area intended by the photographer. Is it the light running along the edge of the metal? Is it the shape of the curves? Is it the cobwebs? The leaves of the tree/bush behind would have been blurred a little more.

Communication: Image 1 wins. By a landslide.
In school, I remember my teachers telling me that even if you plan an essay well, structure it well, argue your point coherently and conclude strongly, you still won't get full marks if you don't answer the question. If we were playing 'Pictionary', "Gate" would be one of the first words I would think of. Starting from Image 2, I would probably go through "handle", "rust", "door", "green" but there is nothing in the image which explicitly states "gate" and for that reason, it fails to communicate properly. If you tell me the theme is 'Gate', I'll see the connection, but as a method of communication, it fails because I need to be told by another medium (the title), what the image is supposed to communicate (gate).

...and the winner: Image 1
If it were a question of which I prefer as a photograph with no other criteria, I would say number 2.

However, if purpose of an image is to communicate an idea/concept, image 1 wins for being a clearer communicator of the concept 'Gates'.

 

[MAROSSER]

Thanks Tengu01 - really useful feedback again, and well communicated

M