Graphically Smoking * by Vikas by Canon DSLR Challenge

Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 24: photoGRAPHIC (Host: Olaf.dk) >> Eligible > Graphically Smoking*
by Vikas


September 16, 2004	Vikas

This one is for Olaf! ;-)

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* Submitter retains all copyrights *

Canon DSLR Challenge		21-Sep-2004 06:55
Thanks Olaf, that is actually quite profound. :-) Thanks ISO, appreciate it. Actually, if I remember correctly (will have to check and conifrm) the aperture was f/13 guess I could have tried it with f/16 or less. Hmmmmmm will try that out next time, thanks. Was looking to basically get the lit end in focus so that attention goes there. Cheers. Vikas.

iso3200		20-Sep-2004 19:51
I like this in both colour and composition. My only constructive crit would be that I'd have preferred this shot with a smaller aperture if possible to make the foreground part of the shape sharper.

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Sep-2004 18:34
Dead ends are inevitable in a creative process - but they are never useless! Hey, that's sounds pretty clever! [Sometimes I amaze myself] ;-) --Olaf

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Sep-2004 09:46
Thanks Yoni appreciate your comments. Regarding the b/g, I took Olaf's advice and went and bought some dark green construction paper, hung it on the wall, put the mosquito coil against it and realised that nope, it wasn't working because of both the dark colours. I then realised why I went with this particular combination as opposed to a dark b/g, its because the mosquito coil is dark itself to begin with. I guess instinctively I needed a lighter b/g to set off the dark coil and yet it couldn't be too light as to make the smoke invisible. I am learning more and more to trust my instincts where photography is concerned and I think that is helping me. Thanks for your comments, really appreciate the time you took to pen them. Cheers. Vikas.

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Sep-2004 11:48
Shoot, keep doing it-last comments is by Jonathan (Yoni) Nissanov.

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Sep-2004 11:47
I too like the color combination as is. What I like about this most is the way the smoke curls so as to roughly duplicate the coil of the repellant. For me this is graphic in that the geometry is the theme. My mind keeps trying to trace the coil and precisely because it is cut by the frame, I am forced to do it mentally making the graphic basis of the image so much more a strong element of the image. As for the color, our challenge here, at least my interpretation, was to take a rather common photo topic-graphic, one that is frequently employed in advertising- and try to come up with a unique view on it. Strong complimentary color would have made this a more typical graphic image. The fact that by not employing bold color combination and yet not breaking the graphic nature of the image is to your credit. Indeed, what has occupied my mind on this challenge is precisely the issue of where is the boundary of graphic. How complex can the shapes be and still have the shape dominant? How monochromatic? Can low contrast work? How abstract? Anyways, great job.

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Sep-2004 11:05
Thanks Mark, appreciate it. Regarding space between the bottom coil and the border, kind of wanted to stick with the rule of thirds with this one so wanted the coil centre to be on one of the thirds and the lit end on the other so went with less space at the bottom of the coil. Will experiment with more space and see if that is better. Regarding shooting from a different angle, actually this particular shot was from above (since if shot 'level' the coil would have appeared as one line, being parallel). Did try various permutations and combinations on the angle and have about 20 shots of this coil (Thank God for digital photography and the delete button :-) but somehow this top angled shot appealed to me the most. Thanks a ton for your comments, they are always insightful and always make me think and rethink my pics and I like that. Thanks. Cheers. Vikas.

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Sep-2004 09:39
Vikas, your images is very strking and as usual.. simple / clean lines. I'm going to take a sligtly different view of this and say I like it just the way it is, including the color combination (which is rather unusual) but, I would have like to sse more "space" between the bottom edge of your spiral and the border of the image. In fact, I might have shot this on an intersting angle as opposed to "level". Thank you for keeping an open mind to comments... it's shows your maturity as a photographer. Markjay

Vikas Malhotra		17-Sep-2004 09:55
Hi Olaf and thanks for your comments, appreciate them. Regarding the b/g, you are indeed correct, a darker b/g would have brought out the smoke more; actually thought of using black back drop but then realised that the mosquito coil would be partially obscured because of it. Didn't have a dark green b/g so used this sheet of paper instead though if I get another chance, will try and reshoot with dark green. Thanks for the suggestion. Regarding shadow, didn't think I required it for this shot since the shadows forming on the coil due to the lighting were giving it depth. I purposely went with a floating in the air kind of a look for this one. Thanks again for your valued comments, this is the best way to learn and grow. (No you aren't being too hard, you are helping me better myself and I appreciate that) Cheers. Vikas.

Canon DSLR Challenge		17-Sep-2004 00:28
Finally, I'm here Vikas. A little while back in the challenges, someone said (I think it was Gayle) that you make the best photographs when you are excited about the subject you're shooting - and if you are not - it shows! I think that is very true, and I think this is a bit the case with you and this photograph, am I right? It is indeed a nice and also graphic shot and coming up with the idea was very creative of you! I am not too thrilled about the color combination. I think a dark green background would have been better. That would be complementary to the red spiral and also yield more contrast to the white smoke, enhancing and emphasizing the two elements in the photograph. Also, I miss a contact shadow on the background - as it is here, the spiral seems to float in space. I feel I am being a bit hard on you, but you are so darn talented, I am trying my best to just find _something_ that can help you improve. --Olaf

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Sep-2004 19:51
Right On Jon, Mosquito Repellant it is. The light patch on the bottom right, I purposely left it in since when I cloned it out it was looking too bland somehow, the b/g that is. Thanks Angela, hope Olaf likes it. :-) Vikas.

Guest		16-Sep-2004 19:25
Olaf's gonna love it! Great shot, Vikas, and bang on topic!!

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Sep-2004 18:37
Mosquito repellant? I like the shape the smoke is making. Not sure about the lighter patch in the bottom right corner though. - Jon S.