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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> CSLR 147: Reflections (Not in Water) (hosted by LydiaToo) >> Eligible > The Smile
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June 5, 2009 Traveller

The Smile

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I have felt that BMW had Succumbed to a certain brutalism in design...though this is a valid design philosophy, I had doubts about its absolute beauty...or if it had any beauty at all. At least after 2007 they seem to have added certain Subtleties of line that I am finding, in automotive terms, attractive.

Photographically, of course, my goal is to make the car...exciting and interesting.

I'm working on it.

Canon EOS 350D
1/8s f/5.0 at 41.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge08-Jun-2009 03:52
How interesting to me that what I say is not what I meant to say at all, Trav.

For example:

I said: "I really, REALLY like the simplicity here, Trav! The negative space is really a treat. The vertical lines, however, are distracting to me. ~Lydia"

You read (paraphrase): Why did you say it doesn't reflect anything?

Regarding "Tomorrow's Rose", I said: "I'm missing the reflection... Tell me, please. I like the dried rose vs the fresh rose... but am struggling here. ~Lydia"

I asked for more information, and you read that I mistrusted you. I still say that that one had nothing to give reference to the fact that it is TOTALLY a reflection, but if you'd included the glass, it would have been really a great reflection image.


I think we have a communication problem. I'm positive it's all on my end. I'm sorry, Trav. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge08-Jun-2009 02:21
The problem was that both the hood shot and Tomorrow's Rose were "Reflection," shots...now they may not have been good...they were what they were and pretended to be nothing more, your implication on both was that....they were not Reflections was troublesome.

It isn't so much that you were saying I was cheating, though that was implicit, but rather that I so utterly failed to communicate what was going on...there was a lack of trust in reference to Tomorrow's Rose and the Hood shot never needed to be pretty...it simply had to reflect something.

Your criticism wasn't over the pictures...badly framed, bland color, lack of either punch or meaning...all of which may have been true and validly stated, and I would have sadly nodded my head at least in partial agreement.

Rather my failure was more profound in that I could not adhere to or understand the rules of the Challenge...a failure most profound indeed.

Which wasn't true.

BTW, I'm unhappy with the Strawberry shot....I thought I had something better, ate all the evidence, and then discovered the images weren't exactly what I had hoped.

But it is a reflection....not off of water....lol

Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Jun-2009 15:57
Oh yeah... I'm not sending anyone off to Pending. I believe I've stated on each one if the reflection is not obvious...and gotten harrassed for it in other photos, too (so don't feel so special. LOL!). I really would like to know which you think I'm letting slide. ~lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Jun-2009 15:52
I certainly did not mean to get under your skin, Trav. I was not speaking as the hostess, but as a voter. And to me, the reflection in the hood did not appear to be a reflection, but artifacts, since the reflection was not what would normally be considered 'pretty' (garage rafters are not normally pretty, but they certainly could be artsy -- Perhaps if you'd played them up a bit, I don't know).

Perhaps many others thought the same thing I did. But, we will never know since I'm the only one who commented. *sigh* At least I'm honest in my critiques and don't just say I love it when I don't. Would you have it another way? If so, I'll be happy to tell you I love every photo you put up. *grin* ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Jun-2009 10:58
Oh, Heavens, no, I don't mind...I'm playing with it...I have some low shots, low night shots that came out nicely, head and fog lights shinning out into the night up a hill...but no reflection. I was so irritated at Lydia's not understanding my earlier efforts, while letting others completely slide, I half-way came back to the project with the idea of putting together a small portfolio and trying to sell it to some local BMW dealers.

But what the hell, I don't want to get crazy over this. (BTW, Lydia, I how you understand that you getting under my skin is not a bad thing...it is a compliment of sorts...I'm such a lazy guy a kick in the posterior now and then comes in handy)

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge07-Jun-2009 06:25
I like this image, trav. I like the negative space and the reflection off the car hood is obvious enough to be on topic. IMO if you want to photograph this as you stated (my goal is to make the car...exciting and interesting) I would take my camera down to the ground and photograph up focusing on the bumper (smile) and see what kind of reflections you can catch along the way :-) Hope you don't mind my suggesting experimentation? Markjay
Canon DSLR Challenge06-Jun-2009 22:22
Oh! You changed the image completely! I like this one much better. Your new car is very pretty, too! ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Jun-2009 02:14
Oh. I thought it was PS artifacts, Trav. Sorry. Okay then. Enjoy the rain! ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge04-Jun-2009 01:34
I'm not sure that's a fair criticism, Lydia. It has to be reflecting something, otherwise it would just be a shiny surface....that this happens to be reflecting the ceiling of my garage...is because that's what's there to be seen or reflected.

I have thought that Lydia is right, I has have to sit something interesting on the hood and shoot that...but what's interesting? What I want, if possible, is a clear blue sky and some fluffy clouds and I could get up on a ladder and shoot down....

But it's raining....lol

Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge02-Jun-2009 02:04
I really, REALLY like the simplicity here, Trav! The negative space is really a treat.

The vertical lines, however, are distracting to me. ~Lydia