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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 69: Opposites Attract >> Challenge 69: Opposites Attract Eligible > work and play *
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26-NOV-2004 atothev

work and play *

antigua guatemala

Canon PowerShot A80
1s f/7.1 at 16.2mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Canon DSLR Challenge06-Dec-2004 10:40
Thanks Rod. One dilemma is that I am a very upbeat person but I like edgy dark shots! LOL! So, my personality conflicts with that side of photography. I guess I would be more prone to finding the beauty in the darkness, and that could be very effective, so maybe that will work for me. As for the dedication, I'm always in the middle of reading photography books and I've subscribed to a few (wow they get pricey!) magazines (PDN, Communication Arts, Peterson's PhotoGraphic, and another, I think it's called Digital Photography). I'm getting so bogged under with editing that I've got shots ranging the span of the entire time I've been shooting (Sept 03) that still haven't been processed. Although, by the time I get to them, I'm ever improving so less will be acceptable to me, so less processing to do and more trashing. :) As for my love of photography, that passion comes second, only to my family. :) The BW is a good idea. I was getting some complaints around here when I had started doing more BW. LOL! You're right though, that would be very helpful.

Thanks for your comments. :) ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge03-Dec-2004 21:47
Andrew,
Are the blown highlights made on purpose or they appeared as a result of post processing in the excellent quality monitors of the PCs in the Cafe-Internet in Antigua? :) LOL. Just kidding. Great shot.
-Jose Pablo.
Rod 02-Dec-2004 18:48
Lonnit, don't be such a silly billy you have lots of talent as we can see in lots of your shots. The types of shots we take are dependent on our personalities, dedication to learning, & lots of experimenting & then we can settle into a way of shooting that reflects a bit of ourselves & our outlook on life. It would be boring if we all tried to make our shots look like Jude’s or Lonnits, so yes never be truly satisfied with your work & it will grow into your own style. So keep shooting the way you are now & things will just fall into place. If you love photography then your shots will reflect this & always shoot what you want not what you think others will like as most others like product & postcard shots. (Like wot I take now)Why don't you try & only take B&W shots for say one month it's a great way to appreciate the effects of light textures, movement, shadows, expressions etc. A lot of times we rely on the colours to make our shots & the shots miss that indefinable something that B&W should bring into your work. Above all give it time & don't rush, I gradually gave up photography after our kids were born & felt I couldn't give it the time so you are doing really well raising a family & putting the time in your photography:-)
Guest 02-Dec-2004 16:33
As long as you're not thinking my comment was a critism b/c it was supposed to be a compliment, a huge, HUGE compliment b/c this is a fanstastic shot!! ~ Lonnit :)
Guest 02-Dec-2004 14:58
love all the discussion guys and lonnit (not a guy:-). thanks for all the comments and criticism that were laced throughout the discourse. i enjoyed it.
Guest 02-Dec-2004 14:39
Blown hightlights are just that... "blown", as in "you blew it buddy!". They are mistakes. This shot is NOT a mistake, it is an intentional artistic technique which gives it a painterly quality. If a highlight is offensive, it is blown; if it is not, it is art. :)

Rod, I myself do prefer more edgy and artistic shots as well as they are not so sanitized like postcard shots, which have no character. I wish I could tell stories in my photography. I take too many "pretty pictures". For a person who is so deep and introspective about things, and so well understands human psychology, and is normally very creative, it absolutely dumbfounds me that I can't get that into my pictures. :( It is what is really holding me back.

Lonnit
ctfchallenge30-Nov-2004 17:23
Thanks, old sage, I feel so much wiser. Tomas
Rod 30-Nov-2004 06:45
Forgot to answer your question Tomas. Yes they are blown highlights on the shirt but in this shot they work..........I think.
Rod 30-Nov-2004 06:41
Gawd Tomas what is a blown highlight expert?:-) All I know is that I hate looking at blown highlights in what I would call a normal shot. As a general rule a blown highlight is a fault BUT there are some terrific shots that break the general rules & the shot works. The old adage when I was into photography was to "learn all the rules then learn how to break them". That's when the really good shots start coming. Looking at Andrews shot I would say he meant for the highlights to be the way they are for the dramatic effect, plus he wouldn't want it to look like an advertising shot..................would he:-)
ctfchallenge29-Nov-2004 11:38
Rod, I enjoyed your exercise. I really like the photo, but have one thing to ask all bhl experts (not being one myself). On some parts of the shirt the details are completely lost. Is that a "bad blown highlight" or rather a result of an "high-contrast artistic touch" :)?
Personally I'm not particularly happy about the detail loss. Otherwise, lovely.
Tomas
Guest 29-Nov-2004 11:34
Well, regardless of whatever Rod means, Andy, this photo is rich. I am glad to see that you are hanging your clothes up, too. Mom
Rod 29-Nov-2004 10:20
Gawd, I mean the below mentioned 90%:-)
Rod 29-Nov-2004 10:18
Clarification, when I said "composed & lit as above" I meant as in "what I wrote above" NOT Andrews shot:-) When I read it the next day I could see how someone might think I meant Andrews shot which I wouldn't class as being in the above mentioned 90%.
Rod 28-Nov-2004 03:42
I think 90% of add shots are well lit, well composed nothing shots. They have to appeal to the lowest common denominator. When I first started photography all my friends loved my shots, they were all pretty shots composed & lit as above. It was called postcard photography, as I learnt more & got close to the next level the same friends didn't like many of my shots mostly in B&W, yet I felt I was just starting to get into photography & could see what the top photographers were doing. Alas mostly forgotten in my old head now :-) Jude’s photography reminds me of what I call the next level. Andrew is well on his way with shots that have something to say & not just pretty compositions, like mine are now:-)
ctfchallenge28-Nov-2004 03:17
What insult? I'm not sure what the ad would be for. How is that an insult? I was raving about the shot!! I was just saying that if it was an ad, I can't figure out what kind of product.... is it for the shirt? A whole clothing line? Maybe for a product that's not actually shown, and it's more of a concept? Maybe for a product that the owner of the clothes is out using, and will come back and put these back on? Oh, maybe it's for a nudist colony! That would be really cool for a nudist colony! Hmm... but then maybe the underwear would be there too. I don't know. Doesn't really matter. I just absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the shot!!!! Absolutely perfectly captured and artistically treated!!!!! WOW! ~ Lonnit
Rod 27-Nov-2004 12:48
"It is absolutely an advertisement" Lonnit why insult the photographer?:-)
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Nov-2004 02:13
Had to look again. This is really so well done. It is absolutely an advertisement - for what I don't know! LOL! It's really there though. Congrats! ~ Lonnit
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Nov-2004 02:07
I like the shot and its artistic touch. Very well done. Beautiful saturation and contrast. ~ Lonnit