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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 66: Bluejeans (host: Sergio Rojkes) >> Exhibition > 2nd Place
TORN
by Natalia Worthington
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Natalia Worthington

2nd Place
TORN
by Natalia Worthington

New Orleans, La


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Guest 05-May-2006 19:01
Darn, I missed the voting! Sorry, guys. Thanks to all who voted for this image. All of your comments are greatly appreciated. The reason behind the title "TORN" : First, the man seems to be torn between choosing which direction to go next - left or the one his bike is suggesting. Second is obvious: torn jeans;)
Canon DSLR Challenge04-May-2006 13:56
Looking back - in the direction from which we've ridden - is what we do at the subject's age. Cropped as-is, there's room on the right to include a "past" (and not just an abrupt "wall" caused by too-close cropping), and ample room on the left (plus a half-full water bottle and wheel pointed straight forward) to allow a future as well. Good work. .. Lew
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Apr-2006 13:08
Deleted my "crop" comment because I like it as it is --- aam1234
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Apr-2006 04:17
Natilia, trust your instincts...I hate to go against all these great photographers...but don't crop an inch...lol Best Wishes, Traveller
Guest 27-Apr-2006 23:47
Yes, indeed, a fine image. Very engaging on all counts. While I don't feel strongly that the image needs a different crop, I do rather like Lonnit's idea to crop the right side where the red meets the yellow the gent is sitting upon. -Michael
Guest 27-Apr-2006 21:39
I think it is a great shot. It works well on so many counts, one of which is the double meaning of the title. To me, the fact that he's looking the other way only makes the image stronger...
roberta27-Apr-2006 21:01
Natalia,
Captivating image. It really demands a second look. I agree with Lonnit that the man looking to his left creates tension but I think the tension works extremely well in this image. The look on his face can be interpreted in many ways and the fact that he's watching or waiting adds to the story. Excellent!
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 19:54
I didn't think the "boardwalk" (that concrete surface behind him?) was causing me distress. Now you've caused a dilemma; if it's cropped to the red beam, then it gives the poor guy even less gazing room, however, it could very well be that the horizontal lines of the seams of two different concrete layers (or marble over concrete?) the white layer itself, and the rows of black tubing, all and becoming leaing lines that are helping to feed us out of the image along his gaze-line. If it were to be cropped.... OH, yes! - if it's cropped to the point where the red meets the yellow he's sitting on, or the point where the red meets that seam between the concrete layers, it does the trick! The red then crfeates kind of a barrier to stop the eye from going out of the frame, because it angles back towards the left which brings you back to his face and down the beam to the bicycle to cycle around again! Excellent call! Great discussion!! ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 17:58
I'm telling you, guys, my feeler must need to be recalibrated. I mean I even submitted my own image, liking it, and getting a huge consensus that it sucks. Man am I off! Must be some freaking alignment of the planets. OMG!!!!!!!!!! What if it's my age? I just turned 46 on Sunday. Maybe that's thrown everything off kilter! The weird thing is that I thought I didn't look right for the day or two before and day of. I'm looking right again, but my perceptions still seem to be off. Weird, weird, weird!

The general "rule" is to have people looking into the image's space, not out of it. I guess in this case you could say that the story seems to be that he has gotten ahead of his group, so he has stopped to wait for them to catch up and is looking back, watching for thier impending arrival. The problem is, though, that it makes me look off the page into the area he is gazing into. I have a hard time looking at the bicycle. When I try to pull my eyes off him to look at the bike, they stick, and when they release, I bounce all the way to the front wheel, at which point I am instanint sucked up the forks, which then causes me to jump to teh angled beams which lead me to his head and then I follow his gaze and go off the page. It's very difficult to look at anything left of him without getting tosses off the page to the right. If he were looking to his right, we would follow the beam downwards to the bike, to the front wheel, carry on along to the rear wheel, pick up at his feet, travel up his legs and body, back to his face, where we would start the cycle (unintentional pun!) all over again, remaining in the image. It's not a good idea to toss the viewer off the image - particularly if this were in a book or next to another image, b/c then you are sending the viewer out of your image and into the next one. This is something I try to be aware of when I am designing yellow page ads for hubby's business. We want to keep people in our space, not send them off to someone else.

I don't think he'd look like he ws looking into a wall if he looked to his right b/c it is obviously behind him. I wouldn't say the guy looking the opposite way of the bike adds balance, I would say it adds tension. Tension is a good thing in the right place. This isn't a tense image though. He looks like he's got no problem hanging out there all day. :)

These are great discussions! This is where we learn the most. :) Thanks guys! ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 04:55
This is the second time I disagree with you Lonnit in this challenge :) but we are all good sport, right :) In any case, since there is a space to his left then imo it's better for him to look in that direction too. Also, if he was looking to his right he would look like he's looking to a wall, so to speak. Finally, the bicycle is facing to the right so the guy looking to the left adds balance. All of this is just my opinion of course. Good job there Natalia -- aam1234
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 04:41
Lonnit, why do you want him looking the other way? Isn't there more tension and Balance with him looking to his left? Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 04:03
Ok, I just posted a comment here and it disappeared immediately!!!

I said, and I repeat.... Nice image. I wish he were looking the other way, but I won't take off too many points for that. ;) ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Apr-2006 03:37
This is really Excellent color-wise, componsitionally and as a character study. Really wonderful. Best Wishes, Traveller