photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 55: MINIMALISM (hosted by Vikas Malhotra) >> eligible > Men*
previous | next
19-NOV-2005 Grant Hamilton

Men*

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
1/800s f/8.0 at 200.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time19-Nov-2005 12:24:34
MakeCanon
ModelEOS 10D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length200 mm
Exposure Time1/800 sec
Aperturef/8
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias1.00
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modecenter weighted (2)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Nov-2005 13:24
Grant, I think I like the other photo better than this one. It had such a nostalgic aura about it. While this is a great shot, I just don't have the same feelings towards it. -- Jeannie (jburly)
Guest 26-Nov-2005 23:42
Well then you may have also noticed that I almost completely ignore the "rule" of thirds...
Canon DSLR Challenge26-Nov-2005 21:55
The shots I take are obviously 3:2, so if I crop an image at a different ratio it feels like cheating. I sometimes use a 1:1 crop for sports images where there is too much distraction on the edges of the frame, but that's about it. Aesthetically 3:2 is generally more pleasing, too (fits in well with the "rule of thirds" for instance). I'm not accusing you of "cheating" or anything, I just see all your square images and wonder if there is a thought behind it. bee1000
Guest 26-Nov-2005 15:56
My answer to you is "why always 3:2?"

Also, I can get 2 or 3 completely different photos from one 3:2 image so it opens up a lot of possibilities for me.
Canon DSLR Challenge25-Nov-2005 18:04
Grant, excellent description of the process. (Considering the big, white lens you used for this shot, I can certainly understand people asking you questions!) Nice composition to the photo, too. I could see it working well even without the MEN sign. My question to you is: Why always with the square crops on your photos? bee1000
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Nov-2005 18:23
The thumbnail jumped off the page at me and I knew instantly it was yours! So funny about the men's room b.c I my hanger shot was done in the men's room I found in the basement of my building that the maintanence crew uses. Yes, if I lived near you, or you here, no likely we'd run into eachother at a place like this! LOL! ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 07:10
Thanks Grant for your explanation behind this shot and I have to agree, most wouldn't take this shot or even see it. I like this one, first for its lines, second for the blue shades and third for the quirky Men sign which makes this shot. Cheers, Vikas
Guest 21-Nov-2005 02:16
Shu,

No offense taken. I think most people are trying for the photographic equivalent of cake and these images might be like eating a persimmon. It is certainly not for everyone.
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 00:56
Dear Grant,

I like your thought process. Still, it's not an image I'd take another look at should it be mixed in with other images of different subject matter. I hope my comment doesn't offend you and I'm sure this shot fits the challenge perfectly, but if I learn anything about the minimalism style, I'll be grateful for having viewed this and the many other "minimal" images in this challenge and on the web!

shu
Guest 20-Nov-2005 21:40
Thanks Vikas,

I would be lying if I made up some complicated rationalization for this but here is where this came from...

There is a great, slightly abandoned gas station in town that is about to be demolished. I like this minimalism stuff because it is like a scavenger hunt. I too like this image but if you saw the gas station...most people would have a very difficult time making an interesting photo from it. It seems to me that most people feel intense internal and external pressure to make "pretty pictures." And so they point their camera at a flower or a sunset and they are happy. And those are added to the countless other flower and sunset pictures where they are lost in the noise...

I know I am on the right track when a passer-by (or a policeman) asks me what I am doing. When they just don't understand why I am photographing the men's room door of a gas station instead of a flower, then I know I am onto something. Because if I can still make an image that I want to look at again and again shooting something as boring as a men's room, then it is because of something I did instead of getting lucky with a perfect subject. This, I think, is where the "art" comes into the picture (pun intended). It is less about the subject and more about composition, line, color and form. Does this make any sense or am I rambling?
Vikas Malhotra20-Nov-2005 17:34
Grant, I like this picture a lot and would really like to know about your thought process behind this one. Thanks. Vikas.
Guest 20-Nov-2005 14:53
Thanks aam1234,

That is probably because it is a 60's gas station. Unfortunately they are going to knock it down...
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Nov-2005 04:54
Very nice Grant, for some reason it has 50's/60's feel to it -- aam1234