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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 68: Complexity >> Challenge 68: Complexity Eligible > A fag & cuppa.
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20-NOV-2004 Rod

A fag & cuppa.

Brisbane

What could be nicer than a fag & a cuppa! Well the doctors say just a cuppa would be nicer. That's when the complexity begins:-)

Canon PowerShot G2
1/8s f/2.5 at 16.8mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Rod 23-Nov-2004 08:40
I can just make it out too now you mention it. I had to clone out the white specks that were showing on the black cloth. Maybe it was filthy fag ash:-) I think what made the cloning show up more is the wind was blowing the smoke around & that clone trail is in amongst hard to see smoke.......................well really it's just sloppy work on my part:-)
Techo 23-Nov-2004 02:06
I hope it's ok I mention this, surprised no else had yet. Perhaps it's only my monitor that reveals so much. With the brightness set to 60% or above I can see remnants of a brush streak (which is totally okay to use) between the cig. bowl and the cup. Just wondering if it's only me?
Techo 23-Nov-2004 01:58
Sorry for not commenting earlier, it was a busy week. I like the cig. part of the photo but the coffee looks very tempting. :-)
ctfchallenge22-Nov-2004 16:58
So why drop your standards? Just because others are making composition errors in camera and salvaging them after, why should you? Maybe all those vices are messing with your head! LOL! ~ Lonnit
Rod 22-Nov-2004 06:35
PS. A better way to portray these bad habits would be to photograph them showing the stink & harm they do (like a full ash tray that looks disgusting). But I'm still enjoying them, so I made a nice photo:-)..............sort of
Rod 22-Nov-2004 06:30
I changed it because you lot make me nervous. When I was into photography (when you were a 10 year old Lonnit) all my colour shots were on slide film so you had to frame the shot very carefully. When I got into B&W I found myself doing the same thing. So now with my digital I'm still framing my shots in camera but on seeing so many good shots here that have been cropped I'm starting to look for cropping possibilities when loaded on the monitor. Maybe I'm at the stage of the framers & borderers & over doing it:-)
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2004 21:48
AHA! Now I look at the ashes and then up to the cigarette, then follow the smoke along to the coffee cup! :D Why on earth would you change it man, when you had it perfect in the camera? Remember that thing about sticking to your first instincts? LOL! Now, for the record, I hate cigarettes and I only drink decaf on the rare occasion I drink coffee - can't stand the caffeine buzz. So now you've got a great shot of a yucky subject! ;) ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge21-Nov-2004 14:08
PS--Just throw another schrimp on the barbie and don't sweat it!!!! Shu
ctfchallenge21-Nov-2004 14:04
I like this shot. Complex it is because if you eliminate the cig, as the doctor suggests, you spoil the shot! LOL Shu
Rod 21-Nov-2004 08:27
Here you go fussy pedantic Lonnit, this is the shot as I framed it in the camera. I thought I was being arty by cropping the left side out. Does this help?:-)
Rod 21-Nov-2004 07:48
Gawd Lonnit you're supposed to go to the ashes up the fag along the smoke to the coffee cup...............just keep practising:-) Your points & suggestion are good, thanks:-)
Canon DSLR Challenge21-Nov-2004 05:08
I agree, Rod, about the cup. It's already too strong a pull. I find I pretty much only travel from the ashes to the cup, and once on the cup it is hard to pull off of it. When I do, I end up at the ashes. It really takes effort to look at the cigarette. I think it's because the ashes are right on the left thirds line but the cigarette doesn't quite make it far enough to the thirds line, although it is on the upper thirds line, it needs to come further to the right to make it a focal point. The rim of the coffee cup is sitting nice and neatly directly on the upper thirds line and the right thirds line, which is probably why IT is pulling so strongly as the main subject. Perhaps you could just clone in some more black space to the left side of the shot. ~ Lonnit
Rod 21-Nov-2004 04:32
Yes Nugar The common name for a cigarette in London, England was a fag:-) The main focal point of the shot is the fag & ashtray. I think that by showing the whole cup of coffee it would compete with the focal point. The direction of the smoke helps to tie the cup into the shot.....................I think,..........or maybe I think too much:-)
Nugar21-Nov-2004 01:59
Is the fag the cigarrete? I must admit that I would have prefered to see the cmplete cup.
ctfchallenge20-Nov-2004 16:51
nice tones and composition rod. i like the color scheme too. - atothev