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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2006 > 3rd Place
Split
by iso3200
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26th April 2006 iso3200

3rd Place
Split
by iso3200

A real split decision actually. The colour version is maybe more on topic as the blue is easily seen. However, the mono version is my favoured option


other sizes: small medium original auto
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kyoung kim photography10-May-2006 06:37
Beautiful! love this shot.
Canon DSLR Challenge04-May-2006 17:34
iso,

Great shot...I would say similar to Arno's work...do you know it?

http://www.arnorafaelminkkinen.org/

cheers,
:-D
Canon DSLR Challenge02-May-2006 20:59
Charlie, jsut for the record, I've no problem with the athletic body - I was very much into weight lifting before the kids came along. I was even a subscriber to Muscle & Fitness and I own several books on body building. The part that I referred to as "hideous" was the sense that the head and arms were amputated, making the body look like a chicken carcass in the meat case of the grocery store. Those chicken-wing legs add to the effect. But there is beauty a plenty in the present image, at least in the eye of this beholder. I deem the image to be DAMN beautiful. It's a work of art, indeed, and should be hanging in a gallery. There is often beauty in ugliness, as is the case here. I am particularly fond of images that are beautiful art yet contain ugly things. That's what makes them extremely strong and wonderful. It seems people are having a difficult time grasping that point of view. Somehow, I don't think I'm getting my point across properly. ~ Lonnit
Charlie Beck02-May-2006 20:05
With respect to Lonnit, I would not choose to apply the word "hideous" to any aspect of this photograph. From my viewpoint, the higher-than-usual detail seen in the muscles and ribs, the result of the stretched-forward position, serves to pay compliment to the model's uncommon level of athleticism. I concede that had she been posed sitting up, with her hair taking its share of the viewer's attention, the image would likely have depicted "beauty," as opposed to athleticism. But there is beauty a plenty in the present image, at least in the eye of this beholder.

As to the choice of the monochrome image instead of the color image, I see it as a reflection of the intent of the photograph. If you are seeking art for art's sake, I believe you have achieved a great success. But if you are seeking to convey, indeed to emphasize, the theme of this particular challenge, "blue jeans," I fear that you have gone no farther than to meet the minimum requirements. Coloring the jeans, and leaving the rest monochrome, might have better served the intent of this challenge. Still, I call it "very good work." Regards, Charlie Beck.
Guest 02-May-2006 07:16
Re: Image titles, I tend to agree, which is also a reason why I've made my own gallery not show the titles in thumbnail view until mouse-over (doesn't work in IE) - in a sense leaving the first impression of the photo untitled - letting the thumbnail speak on its own.

In this particular case though, the title is fitting the image in many ways - ambiguous - and therefore as open to interpretation as the photograph. Another approach to entitling, is to describe the depicted in a very simple form, without trying to add special meaning to the shot, something that would be obvious to anyone viewing the image, for example 'dog' if a picture of a dog (doing whatever).
Canon DSLR Challenge02-May-2006 02:10
I'm picturing a red pipe wrench lying on the floor next to the model. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 21:42
As a last thought, I have to diagree with Cindy who felt that this would be better as entirely nude...Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is just perfect with the jeans as presented...and as a mono. Best Wishes, Traveller
iso320001-May-2006 20:32
After we did the untitled challenge, I've wanted to place less emphasis on titles. You'll note on a previous challenge I've entered *untitled* and in this one too *IMG_4680*. Split was an afterthought. Split legs, splits in her jeans and the split of her behind. Ultimately my split decision to post the mono version. The title I actually had in mind I think would have influenced the viewer too much. I think my other *gimp* shot should have been untitled as well. On the whole, I still think titles make things easier to navigate in the voting booth though.
Guest 01-May-2006 18:53
Oh, one more thing - the choice of title is brilliant! Just as ambigous as the photograph itself! Did you already know the title as you were shooting this - or was it an afterthought?
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 17:58
And hence, that is why today we refer to women as chicks! LOL! Yes, excellent call, Olaf. It is indeed embryonic as well. Now you've explained, as well, what repulses me about the upper half of the body - which I reiterate, is a GOOD thing - YES! The upper body looks like a chicken carcass in a meat case! Interestingly enough, that image you linked to absolutely and without question, repulsed me. I remember when it was first entered. It was absolutely gross to me. This was a case where it was not art, though. It was more in the line of a snapshot taken for fun. Iso's image is far from that but yet stirs up the same negative emotions (WHICH IS A GOOD THING!) for precisely the same reason. I also do not cook whole chickens or turkeys because of this; it really turns me off. It doesn't matter that I am completely aware that this person does indeed have a head and arms, but they are pulled so tightly, like a packed chicken on the meat shelf.

I thank you for the reference b/c it demonstrated the same principal of distrubance. Of course this image is far superior in terms of being art. I would consider this image to be fine art. ~ Lonnit
Guest 01-May-2006 17:42
My thought on this:http://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/image/26476872
To put a little more meat on the bone ; ) it makes me think of human embryos and how they seem to mimic the whole Evolution of life on Earth in just a few weeks. At one stage, we've all looked like chickens! Seriously, I think it is a masterly done shot artistically as well as technically! But(t) it is a chick!
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 17:26
Iso, now I love you even more! *SMOOCH!* I'd really love to hear about your thoughts as you made the image. Were you trying to make a statement with the missing items, or was it more that you just thought it looked cool as an overall shape? I love that it looks like it could fly; the legs are wings to me. There is so much interpretation that can come out of this image. That's why I wonder what the intent was from your point of view. It's truly a magical image! I don't know why people percieve my comments as a negative attack. The "negative emotions" envoked by parts of this image are what make the image so spectacular! I wish we could all be in the same room to have a big discussion on it. I really enjoy the image b/c it is so contradictory to itself. It so plays with my emotions. It makes me happy yet it disturbs me. Strike that and reverse it. I glance at the whole then focus on the disturbing parts. Eventually I tear myself from them and ponder the beauty of the human form, then I move on to the freedom and sense of playfulness and wonder that the winged-legs bring to it. I look at it and it brings me full circle.

As a side comment, what is tiresome, is a person who is frustrated, angry, and offended by everything I say and projects those feelings onto me. I'm not the least bit frustrated with this, or any other, image. In fact I adore the discussions and the different points of view. I love when someone points out something I didn't notice, or has a different take on it. I find it facinating when others do not see what I do, as well. It excites me and I bask in the glow of our uniqueness. That's a beautiful and wonderful thing. Anger is the furthest thing from my mind - I'm elated when these opportunities come along for deeper discusion. It's the whole reason I'm here. And, as for being offended, that's a part of great art. Art that offends is great art because it has struck the viewer deeply. Art is tangible emotion. The only comments that offend me are racial remarks and immature annonymity. ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 16:30
An isograph if there ever was one. Elegant, sensual, evocative. As usual, outside-the-box photography at its best. --Mr. Biscuit
iso320001-May-2006 11:57
Unsigned, anonymous comments are even more tiresome. Yawn.
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 11:41
Lonnit, there aren't any missing parts. The head is bent forward, the arms are folded in front of the woman. You are hyper-focusing on this aspect of the photo and missing the whole, then getting frustrated, angry and offended that the rest of us don't fall in line with your hyperbole. You do that a lot. It is tiresome.
ctfchallenge01-May-2006 02:49
This is just another way of looking at the human form, hideous doesn't come to mind at all when I look at it. I simply see an excellent image- well done iso!
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 01:00
You guys think that bodies missing arms and heads are attractive? LOL! The image is, of course, brilliant, but the missing parts are rather disturbing - that's what the "hideous" part was. The image is fabulous. There's nothing wrong with an image having hideous parts as it adds depth and meaning. Not every image should be about happy little flowers. ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge01-May-2006 00:06
WOW!!! Hats off to you ISO! Choose the words you want to hear from me and I will say that to you. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Apr-2006 23:28
Using the human body for line, form, and shadow? Surely not hideous or repulsive, but brilliant.
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Apr-2006 20:35
This is just sooooo wonderful...there is nothing hidious about it. There is great tone and balance. I knew instantly that this was an iso image. What is interesting also the the breadth of your oeuvre. You seem capable of working in so many differeing genres, so many distinct forms and styles. Also, interestingly, your images stay with me. I'm still agravated by Death Becomes Her, lo almost a year later, still asking myself, Just what does this mean? And of course, as I rumage in my mind, your rolled hay series of images, your son...pretty women...there are so many fine images in these Galleries, but I remember yours. Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Apr-2006 17:47
So undoubtedly Iso! I have to say, I'm really torn on this. Yes, of course there is no doubt that it is well done and very creative; one can't deny that. My issue comes with the way it repulses me. The headlessness and armlessness make the upper body utterly hideous. The bulging spine is quite unattractive as well. But then there is the release of that tension and ill feeling by the sensuality of the image below the waistline. The leg position is intriguing and interesting to look at, so there is appeal there. I liked the thumbnail but the larger image seems to give me so much more of the repulsive part which was not so in-your-face as the thumbnail. I think my ambivilance stems from the fact that I'm not sure what the photographer is trying to convey. Can you tell us your thoughts as you made the image? I found myself needing to check a title for a clue, but that did not help. It's a very strong image b/c of the conflicting emotions it stirs up, which is what makes art great. So, as an artist, the image is brilliant. I like it b/c of it's brilliance. That makes it good art, but it's hideousness makes it something I'd never hang on my wall. It's definitely something that belongs in a book as part of a collection or series. Ironically, as you know my pet peeve that challenge images should give a very good clue as to the topic of the challenge, the challenge topic never crossed my mind here. The image is so good that it made me forget why I was looking at it and I immediately started analyzing my feelings about it. It wasn't until I just scrolled down a bit and noticed the blurb below, that it dawned on me that the topic was blue jeans. LOL! But, of course it is an on-topic image. Kudos, Iso! ~ LOnnit
Canon DSLR Challenge30-Apr-2006 17:40
Awesome! easily my fave of three images you've posted. The tones and composition here is wonderful. Trying to imagine the color version of this image, but can't be too sure can I ;). I too prefer this monotone version, with the flowing lines in this image.
As for the on-topicness, perhaps a mid desaturation of the color version can work but still keep the overall tone?
-Techo
Guest 30-Apr-2006 17:30
Totally elegant. -Michael