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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 55: MINIMALISM (hosted by Vikas Malhotra) >> eligible > * string
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20-NOV-2005 Photocat

* string

Atlanta



3993

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
1/5s f/9.0 at 52.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time20-Nov-2005 14:59:03
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 20D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length52 mm
Exposure Time1/5 sec
Aperturef/9
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias2.00
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 23-Nov-2005 19:58
Interesting!!! I thought the feminine shape was more obvious and caught the eye first than the masculine representation, which is more subtle. Thanks for thinking of it as a sculpture too. Sculptor?!? Well, nothing of that sort. I love and enjoy concepts, that's all. -Cat
Victor Engel23-Nov-2005 19:42
I can't believe I didn't see that. It works really well for a female form. So you've captured both male and female with a single line. Would you call it minimal sculpture? So you're a sculptor and a photographer. -- Victor
Guest 23-Nov-2005 18:29
Victor, The "dent" on the string was unintentional. However after you pointed out, I am glad it is where it is, because it serves a purpose and plays a role for the other obvious feminine shape this string rerpresents. I am going to leave it the way it is for now. Thanks for the feedback. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Nov-2005 06:18
Looking at the picture again, I realize why it looks like discarded dental floss to me, and I think the small feature, if changed, would improve your picture. Now, how to describe it? OK. Suppose you're in a car driving down a road that is the string. You start at the end of the string near the top. Almost immediately, you drive right, nearly in a full circle, but then you straighten out. Soon you curve slightly to the left and then more sharply. It is this more sharply that I think is distracting. It looks like the floss was "dented" from extricating it from between two teeth. And I think what you really want right there is something a bit more undulatory. Not much -- just barely. Here's another thought. What if you added a horizontal motion blur that increased toward the bottom of the picture? Well, for certain, that would be less minimal. -- Victor
Guest 23-Nov-2005 05:08
LOL. Thanks for an alternate title, love it :) -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Nov-2005 04:38
I think it should be called, "Discarded Dental Floss". Just joking. -- Victor
Guest 23-Nov-2005 03:38
Thanks Armin and Rob.
Armin ... look again and look closely :) think micro! -Cat
Rob, I am glad you compared it with a minimal painting... I'll take it as a compliment. As far as my knowledge goes, minimalism originated in art, both 2D and 3D... Photography is still trying to define its own "minimalism", borrowing some from here and there and experimenting some. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge22-Nov-2005 23:29
I like this very much, perfect for this challenge, could easily be a minimal painting dating some decades ago... Rob.
arminb22-Nov-2005 08:37
Like it very much, but fail to see the male part of it :-)
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 22:45
Oh! thanks for getting back on this one, Bee1000. I understand your point of view. Shape and form are surely important. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 18:22
Fair enough! Thanks for the explanation. Regarding your comment about just dropping a string and what would it say: I don't think it would "communicate" anything, but I usually prefer photos that are about composition and form, rather than about trying to communicate something. bee1000
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 09:43
Thanks for looking and sharing your thoughts bee1000. I have given a deep consideration to what you say.

1.Personally curves appeal to me more than geometric shape/straight lines. If you notice this curve is "communicating" something. I am not sure if I would have been able to capture a bigger/better communative message with a geometric shape/straight line, without assistance of a title to go with it. This photo does not even need a title to show what it is and connect with the viewer, IMO. Reducing the need of title is moving closer to minimal.

2. Just dropping the string would be no different than taking a snapshot of any "single" item. What are we showing...? I feel the photo atleast need to communicate something and with a minimum size, entity or complexcity. Thus a setup, but most minimal required to communicate with the viewer. I felt this would hold the views attention for longer time than any other shape I could make with this piece of string.

3. I like your suggestion of letting one end run out of the edge. Here is what I feel about it: A) If I would have let the string run out of the photo, that would have meant that the end which ran out of the photo is of unknown length, could be 2 inches or.. may be infinite... It leaves a uncertainty in the viewer mind. I do not want to communite uncertainty as one of the elements of this photo. B) I don't want to lead viewers eyes out of the frame... I want them to hold their attention within my photo. Thus a finite piece of string was chosen as an element of construction.

Thank you for your critical evaluation. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2005 04:55
I like this concept, but am not sold on this layout of the string. I'd be inclined to do something more geometric with straight lines. On the other hand, just dropping the string and shooting it could work, too. This seems caught between natural and set up, and somehow doesn't feel right to me. I'd try have on end of the string disappear off the frame. bee1000