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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 109: Mechanical Art (Hosted by Barry Shaffer) >> Eligible > 9th Place
Humanoid
by jnconradie
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17-DEC-2007 jnconradie

9th Place
Humanoid
by jnconradie

Centurion, South Africa

credits: Lizzy (model), Bonita and Riana (make-up)


:-) OK, so perhaps I took the "Every other kind of thing mechanical is fair game..." a little too far...? Please feel free to give honest and frank comment.


We enjoyed the creative process thoroughly, though, and that is probably the most important aspect for me.


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Canon DSLR Challenge25-Dec-2007 19:41
An intriguing image Nico, well-crafted. --mlynn
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2007 21:12
You know, Nico, this problem may just be me...I've seen all over the world far too much monumental Wall and Poster Political Art...it just makes me crazy...though, for its designed purpose, I suppose it is effective.

I myself have done some political photography for advertisements, fliers, etc...look into the camera, slight but friendly smile, yet serious with purpose, have a relevant background...it is so easy to tip over into a Fascist Mien....I just bring too much personal history to this image to appreciate it.

That may very well be what is going on.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2007 06:12
Windows?!? I don't do Windows! Well, maybe for you, but you have to provide the paper towels and Windex. BW, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Dec-2007 00:42
"I owe you a favor. "
Ummm, Trav? Could you do my windows, please?? *grin* ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 23:41
Very Good! Thanks, Lydia, I see artifice and bombast, but that's actually a niggle and a nit, not hardly worth arguing over...I suppose the very real fleshiness of her, especially the line of dark make-up leading to her chin and secured by a screw is what first attracts my eye...not her eye, as it does for you. She is real and the dark make-up is not real, or not real in the same sense that the screws and cogs are...it is this disconnect that throws me...apart from the political, I suppose.

But thanks so much for telling me why you like it....I owe you a favor.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 23:05
My first impression of this is that it's all metal and photoshopped and 'fake'... then my eye hits her eye and WHAM! I see it's real. It's the clarity of the eye vs the 'fakeness' of the rest... Look at the expression in her eyes. She's been through a lot, but is still determined. It makes me wonder how she got to be this mechanical way... what has she been through to get this dirty/sooty? Her eyes are clear and determined. She has a plan. The 'wheels are turning' in her mind (picture the metal behind her skin instead of in front). She has a past and a future.

The story is just beginning. I want to know more.

That's art. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 18:52
Lydia, I though that that might be the case. What am I missing here? What do you like about the image and why? In a broader context, what is it saying to you? (Of Course you could make the argument that Art doesn't have to say anything....which while maybe true in some abstract theoretical sense...that does rather kill the conversation). Let me know, I'd be curious...maybe a light bulb will go off over my head. BW, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 18:31
I get it. I like it very much. It really, really works for me. ~Lydia
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 10:53
Dearest Nico, criticism need neither be accepted or respected...it is what it is. I sense a degree of disappointment in that myself, and maybe others, just don't get this image. There is a lot of work here obviously, maybe even pride in workmanship by everyone involved...none of which should be disowned. I understand the work that went into this...we just don't agree on the end result. Hey, stuff happens, but you've won this Challenge thingy so often and your images are so commented on...I'm not sure you have a legitimate complaint, you reach out you try stuff, sometimes yes, sometimes no....life.

Best Wishes, Traveller
jnconradie20-Dec-2007 06:43
Trav, comments and criticism accepted and respected. :-) Regards Nico
Canon DSLR Challenge20-Dec-2007 00:03
Hun!?! I vastly prefer, Straight-from-Camera...and have no objections to that or the full on face one either, (if cropped). They work for me. Very interesting! The problem, if a problem there be, is in the Post Processing.

Hun!

Wow, how fascinating.

Which maybe brings up the oft ignored rule, just because it can be done, doesn't mean that you should do it.

Thanks so much for the successive frames to show how you got from Point A to Point B.

Best Wishes, Traveller
jnconradie19-Dec-2007 23:45
No "advocating a conformist mechanized ideal" at all, I can assure you, Alastair. And thanks for the detailed comment. Always appreciated. In fact, no "deep meanings" at all, to be honest.

Thanks, Traveller... totally agreed. If I did not want comment and feedback I could have left the image "safely" on my home computer, not so?

The road from concept drawing to final image is summarised in this little gallery:http://www.pbase.com/jnconradie/humanoid

Kind regards and many thanks for the interest. Nico


Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2007 18:04
It's always better Nico to have too many comments rather than too few...a little Controversy is nice, while being ignored...stings.....lol.

I do not like thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell;
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell.

********

This Nursery Rhyme was written in 1680 by the satirical English poet Tom Brown (1663-1704). Whilst Tom Brown was a student at the Oxford university of Christ Church he got into some trouble and was sent to the Dean - Dr. John Fell.
Dr. Fell (1625–1686) was an English clergyman, the Dean of Christ Church who later became the Bishop of Oxford. Dr Fell was furious with Tom Brown but before expelling him he set him a test. If Tom passed the test, to assess whether he could use the literary style marked by the use of epigrams, he would not be sent down. The test was to further translate and extempore work by Martial, who was the most well-known of Roman epigrammatists. Martial's epigram was in Latin as follows:

"Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare;
Hoc tantum posso dicere, non amo te."

You should take all the swirling comments as a compliment, I suppose. But like or dislike is not really the question...what is it for, what is its context, how will it be used? If a fun exercise and test of talents, then fine...as a statement, maybe fine also but certainly expect differing responses.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2007 04:52
Yes but a heavily veiled one Nico ;) -mcbit
Canon DSLR Challenge19-Dec-2007 02:08
Traveller's remarks about the totalitarian propaganda feel to this image are right on target. But that isn't a reason for me to dislike it. Given that you're not actually advocating a conformist mechanized ideal (you're not, right? :)), I can appreciate the image aesthetically apart from any political connotations it might evoke. Aesthetically, there's a lot to like about this image. The terrific textures and colors of the skin, the interesting shapes and patterns, the striking color of the eye.
Perhaps I have too much aesthetic distance. My wife hates it when, in a movie in which the heroes, or their loved ones, are in danger, I calmly tell her that I predict that the forces of good will triumph eventually, because the movie was made in Hollywood, and that's what happens in such movies. She's all caught up in the movie, anxiously clutching my hand and whimpering, and I'm outside, so to speak, looking on.
Alastair
jnconradie18-Dec-2007 21:21
Thanks, Cindy :-)

Thanks, mcbit. I think there is a compliment in there, somewhere... :-)

Thanks, Najinsky, for the second round of good comments. Indeed, a learning experience for me - and most thought-provoking.

Kind regards Nico
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 20:44
Thanks for the detailed info regarding the modelling/makeup Nico, much appreciated.

As usual Travellers comments have forced me to try and think deeper than comes natually. After that what do I think? I love the skin tones and dark makeup and how they really pickup and match the eyes. I love the processed look of the textures which I find gives a great mood for the subject. I love the fact it has been done with make-up and real people. Kudos for bringing the shoot together and getting your shot. I do agree with melbob about the busy appearance and the positioning of some of components, in fact I find myself concerned for Lizzy regarding the proximity of the medium cog to her eye, and that is a distaction. The parts that work best (for me) are definately where the face, make-up and components all combine with functional purpose and spacial accuracy, the bolts on the forehead and chin, the partially out of picture cog wheel and its adjacent lever. I think the lever might work better inverted, as though it was driving the painted part of the jaw. But it takes nothing away from this achievement. I'm sure you learned loads from the process (and the feedback here) and the next one will benefit from this experience, exactly as it should be. Regards -Najinsky
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 20:26
I think that you're much better than this Nico! -mcbit
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 17:15
The question is - bionic human or Borg? Where will this technology lead us . . . ;) Cindy
jnconradie18-Dec-2007 06:47
OK, let try a few replies to comments:

Many thanks, Lydia, Alastair (that was soooo funny!!), shu, Naj, Kelly, dtallakson, Melbob, Barry, AussieDawg and Yuvraj. Really appreciated. (Also the contructive criticism about being too busy, lack of functionality, etc.) The references to Mr Puff are most humbling, but way misplaced, in my opinion. He operates in a completely different stratoshere! :-)

Naj, the models and make-up artists are indeed mostly "cooperative skills exchange" type arrangement, as you so aptly described it. I think the official term is TFP/CD ("Time for Print/CD"). In essence, all parties give their time and creativity in exchange of pictures to add to the respective portfolios. Make-up artists do get paid, mostly, since their efforts consume actual "product" and this is rather expensive to replace.

Where to make contact with such people? There are numerous web sites, such as ModelMayhem.com, Jurgita.com, OneModelPlace.com, etc. etc where photographers, models, make-up artists can network and plan colloborative projects. I am sure there is also one in your neck of the woods, focussing on "local" talent. In South Africa, the site Modelbase.co.za is a most useful place to build the required local networks. Hope this helps?

My dear Mr Traveller, what can I say? It works for some and it does not work for others. You and I "know" each other long enough by now to respect each other's views and also differences in styles and tastes. Your comments are really appreciated, are thought-provoking and have good intentions. So no problem at all. Next time around, perhaps you like what I do a little better? :-)

Regards Nico
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 06:38
Post Diner, still in the middle of a terrible sniffling cold, and wanting to say...Geeze, that seemed harsh, Nico.

But upon fresh reflection, trying to understand my deep antipathy for this image, I still see maybe a tinge of Totalitarian Propaganda Poster Art...the noble visage looking slightly skyward, the brim of a Nazi Cap coming down over the left eye maybe, the grease smudges reminding me of Uncle Joe Stalin and his crusade for and ostensible worshiping of the Proletariat.

This subconscious sub-text seems very present to me...but remember, I am a product of my times and the iconic meanings I ascribe to this image may well be far different than that given by many other people.

Lastly, for better or worse, I am Visceral Person, full of passions,confused emotions and only half perceived needs or wants...I react, I respond...I bleed on paper...this is what I do.

This is what I see.

Best Wishes, Traveller


Guest 18-Dec-2007 05:16
Cool lighting and nice colors, Nico :) Also very interesting take on the topic ..I like how some of the gears are aligned as if they were at work on the model's face ... :)
jnconradie18-Dec-2007 05:02
Thanks for the many and varies comments. I am a bit pressed for time now, so won't reply in detail. Trav, I appreciate the open, frank and differing view. (I asked for exactly that, didn't I?) No stress. I will read, reflect and respond in due course. Kind regards Nico
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 05:01
Whereas I think the image is visually addicting I just can't get beyond the lack of any obvious functionality of the mechanical aspects. But that's comming from a engineer so it probably doesn't matter. Artistically, it obviously works as I find myself continually rescanning the image and thinking of the various interpretations it may have. I like the makeup and the pose and love the model's gaze. --AussieDawg
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 03:55
I'm sorry, Nico, but this doesn't work for me. This is neither fish nor fowl, it is, to me, half of two very distinctively different plates, neither of them filling...there is the make-up, which looks like make-up, but contrary to all principles of make-up, (dark and ugly), and then there is the mechanical...which isn't there either, not mechanical enough and not integrated into the subject as fully enough to make it plausible as real.

This to me seems almost 1950's-ish, before the advent of good CGI.

Now if the gears were actually embedded in her flesh, maybe but also maybe not.

I wish there was something I could like about this. I presume that this is an idea for a commercial spread...what does the Editor/Customer think?

This seems like a noble effort gone wrong.

This was my opinion when I first saw this but couldn't comment at that time.

I'm sorry, I just don't want to encourage what seems to me to be a dead end creatively.

I'm also sure I will say more later.

Later is now...if you guys were just playing, then fine, have fun...but this still doesn't even rise to successful play. Sorry.

Best Wishes, Traveller


Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 01:59
Wonderfully creative!
Not taken too far at all - excellent from concept to execution!
- Barry.
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Dec-2007 01:58
WTG Nico (shortly to be renamed Nico Puff... lol) This is terrific especially the framing of the eye. Great work and excellent concept.

If I was to try and be critical, my criticism would be one that I often receive in that it is a little busy, but that is purely subjective. My 'mechanical realism mind' would move that lower geared 'fan blade' up to mesh with the gears above and lose that central circular plate which seems not to have a legitimate function.

As I said Michael... oooops I mean Nico ( ;-) ) this is terrific... love it.

~ Regards Melbob
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Dec-2007 20:56
I like this...very much! dtallakson
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Dec-2007 20:28
Full marks all around Nico - Bravo! - Very well done! It appears as though it's too late and that she's been assimilated. But thankfully, your creativeness has not bent to the will of the those that only sleep and never dream. - Kelly
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Dec-2007 19:50
This is sensational Nico. Great idea, great execution, and I love that lens too. I think it fits the theme really well from a creative perspective. Remeniscent of Mr Puffs industrial entry, yet very diferent too.

How are you getting your models and make-up people, are they people you know, or a cooperative skills exchange type thing? I need to get some models, the people I usually point the camera are really getting tired of it!!

Regards,
Naj
Shu17-Dec-2007 19:11
So artistic! Beautiful work! shu
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Dec-2007 18:50
Beautiful texture, and very creative. It reminds me of the 'Borg' from Star Trek (they were the aliens with the powerful topspin forehand. The Federation finally defeated them with the secret weapon, the 'McEnroe').
Alastair
Canon DSLR Challenge17-Dec-2007 15:18
I love it, Nico! The PP is perfect. To see the shock of the naked human eye after all of the metal... perfect. ~Lydia