photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2006 > 2nd : Pondering Five Powers of Five by Victor Engel
previous | next
8/28/2006 Victor Engel

2nd : Pondering Five Powers of Five by Victor Engel

Austin, TX

1s f/5.0 at 85.0mm iso400


other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Victor Engel08-Sep-2006 03:45
Now that the voting is completed, I'll post again where the fives are in the picture. As seems to often be the case, I wanted to show something that wasn't simply showing 5 static objects. I wanted to, perhaps, bend the rules a bit and try expressing the concept of five in a different way.

I came up with the idea of crocheting a solid ball made of five layers of stitches. Each layer has five times as many stitches as the previous layer. So each layer represents a power of five.

Additionally, crochet stitches come in different kinds. I decided to use a different kind of stitch for each layer, each time adding another loop to the stitch. So the first layer is made with 1 loop. The second layer is made with 2 loops, etc.

That way the number of stitches multiplies by 5 each time makes the numbers powers of five, hence the name for the picture.

After viewing the picture a few times and reading others' comments, I realize "Pondering Powers of Five" also has an additional meaning, which I also like. The orb can be thought of as an object of power. I'm holding it with my five fingers, pondering what to do with the power I'm holding.

-- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge05-Sep-2006 02:33
Fantastic! You really make that 10D sing! It's this kind of image that makes people realize they don't need a bigger and better camera to get an outstanding image like this. (......just something priceless such as a great imagination, a total command of the camera and an unbeatable sense of daring....BRAVO Victor!) shu
jnconradie04-Sep-2006 12:04
You know what, Victor, I think the comment from Phil is spot on: I can obviously not say that have seen all your work (or can recall each one I have seen), but that was exactly my first thought also when I looked at this: "Victor's best yet" is what went through my mind. And what makes it even more special is that it is a self-portrait, where you could not simply get a model to "sit still" whilst you experiment with camera/exposure settings. Again: really, really impressive! Regards ~jnconradie
Guest 03-Sep-2006 22:32
Victor
Possibly the best picture I've ever seen from you. Perfectly lit, perfect b/w conversion. Truly excellent.
Phil.
blademeister02-Sep-2006 02:51
The concept here is perfect for our common endeavour. Everything about the photograph is right on.
Canon DSLR Challenge31-Aug-2006 04:51
I should have linkedhttp://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/image/27663964 instead, because it describes the technique I referred to in my previous post.

-- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge31-Aug-2006 04:47
You guys are blowing me away with your comments, especially CJ, who I guess is trying to give me a messianic complex. I see what you mean, by the way, and I may come up with another picture (not for this challenge) that addresses that aspect more directly.

I thought I'd mentioned this, but I guess I didn't. Usually when I convert to B&W these days, I seriously consider some sort of toning. I considered that with this picture as well, but for some reason, it didn't seem to want to be toned, so this is a true greyscale picture. I thought of trying to add a glow around the ball, using a technique similar to what I used here:http://www.pbase.com/victorengel/image/56386070 , but I decided not to, after my initial tries didn't amount to anything I liked.

-- Victor
Cara Vinson31-Aug-2006 04:28
Magnificent!
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Aug-2006 20:49
This is one terrific image Victor! I'm glad you took off the description as the explanation took the mystery out of the photo for me. I'm impressed with what you went through to produce this shot, but only want to know the details of it after the challenge is over. I prefer to think of this image as the "Creator of the World" and would prefer no title at all so we can each interpret as we wish. Did I say I liked it??? NO, I "love" it! :-) CJ
Guest 29-Aug-2006 19:44
Beautifully done, can't add much what others have already said.
L. Scott Campbell29-Aug-2006 18:02
Outstanding mystical image with great lighting and composition.
Vikas Malhotra29-Aug-2006 15:37
WOW now this one is one I would hang on my wall. Mysterious and so Striking. Excellent shot Victor. Simply Brilliant.

Cheers, Vikas.
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Aug-2006 04:24
Very nice image and nicely done. I personally think (not to take anything away from the image) that I don't really see five in this one, or atleast it is a stretch in my opinion, simply because the image is so much about other things and there isn't much focus on "five".

That all said you did an excellent job on this.

Chris
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Aug-2006 00:42
Neat idea and well done.
theFly
Canon DSLR Challenge29-Aug-2006 00:36
Very well done! Great concept, nice execution. -Cat
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Aug-2006 23:01
Mikey, Thanks for the comments. Yes, I do crochet. I've crocheted ever since I can remember. It was my father who taught me. But I don't follow other people's patterns. I invent my own.

Mary Anne, I agree with you about the mundanity of the instructions and that the fingers suffice to show the five. I spent a bit of time wrestling with the decision on whether to post the instructions/description. In the end, I decided to post them because I was reasonably confident that I'd be asked at some point.

Actually, the thing about making a prop such as this, is that you have some time to reflect on the composition and other technical details. It was during such a moment of reflection that I thought of the idea of this pose. I recognized that the pose would make a good picture without the five-ness of the ball, but that's what I initially set out to do, so I decided to post the description. Being a math person at heart, I'd hate for the information not to be available for someone of like mind.

Actually, I think I'll take it out, since it's nicely covered by the title and the composition.

-- Victor

P.S. This picture looks lousy on a computer at work. More about this at dpreview.
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Aug-2006 22:18
Simply great, Victor. Even without your explanation, those five fingers holding the mysterious ball of light say "five" to me. The crocheting description certainly adds another level of meaning, but I think it kind of makes the mystery into something more mundane, if you know what I mean. I'd just let the photo speak for itself. (It was nice to hear how you did it, however.)
--Mary Anne
Guest 28-Aug-2006 22:00
This is just an outstanding image, Victor. Excellent conceptualization (big word for idea, eh?) and fine implementation of lighting and capture (you did good!). Do you crochet? ":^) Warm fuzzies, -mikey
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Aug-2006 17:28
Thanks for the comments. Regarding the lighting, it was done by means of a small LED light I have, embedded in the ball. By opening up the ball a bit on the side facing my face, I was able to allow a bit more light to fall on my face than would naturally emit just from the ball. I hope that makes some sense. Normally, in order to light my face up this much, the ball would be overexposed. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Aug-2006 11:25
Very cool! - Pops
jnconradie28-Aug-2006 09:59
The lighting is as perfect as one could wish for, Victor. Compliments on an outstanding self-potrait. Regards ~jnconradie
jimhwy28-Aug-2006 09:36
Spectacular lighting. This is just great as a black and white too. Very nice!
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Aug-2006 05:24
I like this a lot victor! Of course, I think the thing you are holding is a hot ball of magma, but what the heck, this is good whatever it is. Nice lighting. Best Wishes, Traveller