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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 144 - CLUTTERED COMPOSITIONS >> Challenge 144 - Eligible > Unwritten Ideas
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Oct, 18 2007 Techo

Unwritten Ideas

Though my eye goes all around the image at many different stops and all the way back again. Needs more clutter doesn't it? On topic? I might need to crop the top off to make it fit better, but I really like it as is.


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J.V. 23-Oct-2007 03:05
Hmmm... As someone who owns a shop lamp with a 100W bulb, and doesn't own an off-camera flash, I will definetley have to try this one.
ctfchallenge22-Oct-2007 23:44
Thanks again for everyone's comments. I won't get a chance to reshoot this one. As more is involved and I dont have much time left.

J.V. , I used a homemade type of softbox. I dont have any studio equipment or an off camera flash, yet. Just a regular clamp work light with a 100W light bulb, diffused with a piece of paper. Placing the light quite close to the scene. No reflectors. Shot handheld which was tricky considering the 100mm focal length and sensor crop. Will post exif.



-Techo
J.V. 22-Oct-2007 02:17
How did you light this scene? My guess is a softbox, but I have a lot to learn when it comes to lighting.
ctfchallenge21-Oct-2007 21:50
This fills the frame nicely with a cluttered look - I really like he shadow play as it adds a lot of interest. Well done. jano
Maurice Allain21-Oct-2007 19:35
Excellent capture, the light, shadows edges and pencils all provide competing interest, creating a cluttered shot, that even has balance! :)
ctfchallenge21-Oct-2007 12:50
Very nice composition Techo and I guess that's why it doesn't give a crowded/cluttered feeling to me. Great lighting and attention to detail though and it has a great commercial, graphic look to it! CJ
ctfchallenge21-Oct-2007 11:34
After all that discussion I can only say nice pic

Debi
ctfchallenge20-Oct-2007 23:54
"Treaking" is my dislexic way of typing "w"s. Sort of the opposite of Elmer Fudd. (Remember his "waskley wabbit"?) -tv
Rod 20-Oct-2007 23:10
It's not how we see the topic Abs it's how the host see's it. That's wot's driven us nuts over the last 2 weeks & made this challenge really enjoyable:-)
ctfchallenge20-Oct-2007 20:12
The way I interpret "clutter" in a photograph is...
- "Photo should have various almost-equally weighted elements, constantly fighting for viewers attention without any clear winner at the end."
- The extra boundary condition for this topic is to make sure to include those elements in corners also.
This photo perfectly fits the original definition of clutter and satisfies the extra requirement everywhere except top-right corner. so overall, I see this one on-topic.
In any case, I like the depth feel created by directional shadows. beautifully lit and perfectly exposed. -Abstract
Rod 20-Oct-2007 06:13
It's NY speak for tweaking silly billy:-)
aam1234 20-Oct-2007 05:35
Tom, sorry for the silly question, but what is "treaking".
ctfchallenge20-Oct-2007 05:02
wow. beautifully lit and very creative. - b.c.
ctfchallenge20-Oct-2007 02:35
Sorry I never get to the point. I think this is very creatively on topic. Leave it for the vote unless you want to do some treaking. I don't think it belongs in pending though. -tv
ctfchallenge19-Oct-2007 22:22
Thank you for the in depth comment, Tv.
Appreciate it. So should the shot be left for voting perhaps I shall reshoot before the weekend? I will re-read your comment to get a full understanding. I have though uploaded a version with slighty less contrast.

Thanks again,
Techo
ctfchallenge19-Oct-2007 21:50
As to the "negative space" issue, as I've said before (maybe not here) negative space is relative and contextual. If it is not a relief from clutter, it is ok. This image turns the tables by transforming the whiteness into something blindingly in your face and intimidating, even scarey because the deceptively pristine white leads into pitch black places, not unlike the horror of the abyss in an E.A. Poe story. The curls remind me of fly paper or a pitcher plant.. -tv
ctfchallenge19-Oct-2007 21:34
Before I read any of the other comments, I'm writing this and taking some prerogative as host to say maybe more than Aam would condone. This is an obviously striking image that reflects a meticulous level of attention to details of the photographic craft on a technical level. On an artistic level, to me it almost seems too much design and not much emotion. But they said that of the "Grand Dali" too. It's something of a special art to take ordinary items and manipulate them into a surreal composition, and the precision of exceution may be the difference between success and utter failure. This succeeds very well but it leaves me a little cold. As to topicality, it might come as a surprise that my poorly defined "clutter" encompasses this kind of unfocused and seemingly random collection of lines and tones that are almost formless. -tv
ctfchallenge19-Oct-2007 21:22
I like the shot. Yes, it's quite commercial and would do well on as the wrapper for a pack of paper. The extra piece in the upper left corner bothers me a bit, though, as it's darkness calls much attention to it. Very nicely shot. Oh, and I really like that calibration link. Mine looked perfect on it too. ~ Lonnit
Rod 19-Oct-2007 21:12
Tommy calls it "the way out of the shot" Have a look at Armins No3 shot. If Armins little neg space is a way out of the shot then this has that on all four sides.
Only Tommy can enlighten or confuse the L out of us on this one:-)
By stock shot I mean this would be a perfect image on the front of a box of pencils or on the packaging of a pack of printing paper. It's not the type of shot I can see hanging on a wall, its too sort of set up with the pencil placement. I think it works better without the pencils for a wall shot.
ctfchallenge19-Oct-2007 20:48
Thanks for your comments everyone :)


Interestingly enough, I thought this wouldn't wory for stock really. I did adjust the contrast in the final edit, but this shot might look different on so many monitors. I have my monitor calibrated via this sitehttp://www.photofriday.com/calibrate.php


As for the empty spaces in the shot, I have mixed thoughts about that. In my defense ;) when viewing some other shots already posted and approved there where decent spaces between the focal points. There is no one real focal point in this shot, and that's what I was going for. I thought that was the main feature of what clutter is supposed to be? The curves and shadows are the features and the pencils just add more focal points.



-Techo
aam1234 19-Oct-2007 20:45
Stocks or bonds, an exceptional photo is an exceptional photo, no matter what.

Btw, I don't see anything in it that suggests a stock photo.
Rod 19-Oct-2007 20:09
It is all relative Aamm but I would have said it differently to you, this looks more a stock agency shot than an ahrt shot. As for John's mention of dynamic range a shot with good dynamic range would show tones from dark to light with as many tones in between, this is more towards contrasty. To me negative space in photography is any large featureless area, not just the opposite of positive.
Gawd if we carry on like this Techo will go back to posting at the 11th hour again:-)
aam1234 19-Oct-2007 18:48
I'm with John all the way.

As with everything else, it's all relative, isn't it. For me this is cluttered in a nice, beautiful, but most importantly, in a subtle way.

This is art, my friends.
John Prichard 19-Oct-2007 16:07
Nice composition and nice capture of the dynamic range, Techno. To me, I think this is right on topic and that there is only a little slice of negative space at the bottom. However, I agree with you in that you need a few more elements to seem cramped/crowded/busy but please don't crop the top. I think this is very creative and artistic. John
aam1234 19-Oct-2007 09:10
WOW!
Rod 19-Oct-2007 07:47
Me & Carole will await Tommy's judgement on the neg space issue:-) Possibly needs a flatter perspective for the topic too Techo. Nice to see you posting early so we can comment:-)
Guest 19-Oct-2007 05:33
I can't/won't answer any of those questions, but I like this also. Very nice composition, lighting & shades of gray.