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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 40 : Off Center >> Challenge 40 : Eligible > off center chess game
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September 30th, 2003 Matt Schaller

off center chess game

converted to b&w, artificial vignetting done in gimp

Canon PowerShot S400
1/15s f/2.8 at 7.4mm iso 50 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Guest 05-Oct-2003 00:04
Guess what! I tried rotating the image in gimp until the left side of the picture was vertical. Then the top side of the image was slanted. At first I thought that this didn't make sense, because it doesn't. If you look at this image, you will notice that the RIGHT side of the picture is perfectly vertical! I opened gimp and applied a rotation grid on top of the image and looked closely at the right side of the picture. It looked surreal because it was aligned PERFECT with the vertical grid lines! As were the top and bottom sides of the picture. The physical frame, then, was created wrong because the left side is slant. That is probably why they removed them! I am going to be applying some contrast to the picture and re adding it, now naming it 'off center, off balance.'
Guest 04-Oct-2003 20:50
Well, that day that I said I would go back and retake and use a technique I acquired by messing around the day before. The technique is simply presing the camera against the wall while taking the photo. This does a great job of stabilizing the camera to practically eliminate camera shake. The only problem was, they had removed all the photos off of the wall! I was disappointed.
Guest 03-Oct-2003 02:36
I would play with this picture on your pc and make changes which can be easily undone. As for the straightness you can rotate and crop the image to straighten it up easily. These were just my opinions though and others may not agree with me. Basically I would try the suggestions out on the pc and if it looks good to you then go for it.
Guest 02-Oct-2003 23:36
The "Digital Drkroom" is fair ground. You do as much as you want. If the voters feel you've done too much they wont vote for your picture. Look at challenges past and you'll see several winners that have a lot of digital darkroom magic.
Guest 02-Oct-2003 16:50
Thanks jadzia. I may go back there and re-take the shot to correc the rotation and such. Also, do you know if there is any way I could make the contrast better by using my Canon Powershot S400? I took the picture in Vivid mode, and converted to black and white in gimp. My next shot will be in B&W mode so I do not have to do the conversion.

If there is no other way to increase the contrast what are your opinions on doing that in the digital darkroom? Ethical?

Thank you for your comments.

Matt Schaller
Guest 01-Oct-2003 21:20
Funny how art can be made from the most simple, everyday sights. I agree with pops, if this image was sharper and with more contrast it would be stunning. One thing I would like to say is that the pic on the wall is at a slight angle to the side of the actual pic which is rather distracting - I want to reach in and straighten it.
ctfchallenge01-Oct-2003 04:00
(This is from Matt Schaller, the photographer, didn't realize I was logged in as ctfchallenge)

Thank you for your comments. I agree, I did want to get more contrast in, meaning more blacks and more whites. I was at college when I took this picture and the particular building I was in was empty and there were these kinds of frames all over the walls. I thought I would make it off center.

Matt
Guest 30-Sep-2003 22:03
It's really tough to get perfect clarity on a hand held shot. I like the idea and the composition. In light of the fact this is hand held I think it's a good job. I'd put a bit more contrast into the picture, you need some white whites and black blacks to punch it up.