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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 55: MINIMALISM (hosted by Vikas Malhotra) >> eligible > Prime Yolk *
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22-NOV-2005 Victor Engel

Prime Yolk *

Austin, TX

If you want to try to figure out why the picture is called "Prime Yolk" stop reading, because I'm about to explain. First, and most obvious, what's pictured is the yolk of a chicken egg. The rest is math and composition. The first eight prime numbers are encoded by the composition, in order as follows: the diameter of the yolk, the distance from the top margin, the distance from the left margin, the distance from the bottom margin, the distance from the right margin, the distance to the lower, right corner, and two more lines. The final two lines are approximated by the lines in USPS, elsewhere in this gallery: take the point of the intersection of the lower, horizontal tangent to the yolk and the left margin. The distance from this to the bottom right corner is the seventh prime. The final prime is the diagonal of the frame. The final three primes, of course, are just approximations.

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
1/50s f/4.0 at 50.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 29-Nov-2005 06:08
Victor, a very satisfying composition and stunning colors. I too like the grandient version. Personally, I like the border and think it gives a nice finish to the image. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Nov-2005 10:38
I'm trying out a bordered version of the picture here. I think I like it better, but I don't know if I'll keep it since it's less minimal this way. So in a contest between better picture and closer to the topic, who should win? -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge25-Nov-2005 02:27
That's because 1 is not a prime. The first prime is 2. -- Victor
Guest 24-Nov-2005 20:02
I like the gradient better.
The first seven primes, hmm, wouldn't that be 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11. 13? Those numbers squared and then summed would be 1+4+9+25+49+121+169=378, so how do get 666?
Canon DSLR Challenge24-Nov-2005 00:08
I messed with the background adding a gradient of both hue and lightness in an attempt to better capture indigo. What do you think? Better or worse? -- Victor
Victor Engel23-Nov-2005 22:57
By the way, the sum of the squares of the first seven primes is 666. -- Victor
Guest 23-Nov-2005 05:05
Yes, I saw it.
Opening the door to new ideas... the seed... fundamental geometic shapes... or fundalemtal elements of life as a whole... expressed in most insignificant looking work of art. That is what minimalism is ... Somewhere in the forum I had mentioned "There viewer will be very satisfied if they can identify what you intended to communicate in the first place." otherwise its as ordinary photo as any. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Nov-2005 04:50
I guess in a small way, this is my answer to the comment on "Spring" that it shouldn't be centered. I stand by my original design on that one that it should be centered. Hmmm. I suppose we should keep your string and my yolk apart. Or maybe we should see what happens when they get together (actually, that thought has just given me an idea). -- Victor
Guest 23-Nov-2005 04:25
Eggcellent!! Victor. Now we are talking minimalism! You have gone beyond the standard rules of a "good comp". You had raised my curiosity yesterday by your comments on USPS. I had guessed paper. But egg is even better! Why? Egg is the most fundamental form of life!!!!! As the prime numbers are!! My hats off to you.
Before my USPS, I have "sperm" disguised as string in one of my other entries. And Phi and Time too. But I did not explain anything. Now you have prime and egg!!!
We are hitting the basics...
Thanks Victor!!
Vikas, Are you getting what you were looking for?!?
-- Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge23-Nov-2005 03:55
The EXIF data is inaccurate only because this picture is a composite of two pictures, one taken with flash and one taken without flash. For the one taken without flash, the yolk was illuminated through a hole in the foam board. The one taken with flash was to illuminate the blue of the foam board. I really wanted indigo, but from what I read, indigo is not reproducible on monitors. -- Victor