>> dgrin challenge 16, the quality of light <<

[Andy]

challenge 16 is now upon us. the theme is "the quality of light." now, i'm not sure i have the exact definition for this, but i'll go with what the united states supreme court said about pornography many years ago .. "i know it when i see it."

*** this is the thread into which you post your challenge entry ***

in challenge 15, i used a guest judge to help me pick the finalists (thanks jim fuglestad!) and i'm happy to say, that our own shay stephens (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=7) will be guest judging challenge 16 with me. shay will help pick the finalists, and will also make comments on the submitted images and finalists' images at the end of the challenge. :clap :clap :clap

some examples of "the quality of light"

here's one of my favorites by shay (http://www.shaystephens.com/viewer.asp?I=162)
from shay: "the quality of light I wanted here was the hard light that brought out the texture of the plants.." i really dig the crisp contrast too, of the sunlit areas and the shadow areas.

the light can be a supporting actor in the image (http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/4447871-M.jpg)

it could be a co-star (http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/2573851-M.jpg)

or it could be the main event ;-) (http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/4859336-M.jpg)

of course it could be "sweet light" in a landscape or the perfect little amount of light in a macro shot. it's really wide open, so have at it!

the change we made last challenge was well received, and so we're sticking to it: only one entry allowed into the main challenge thread. you may enter early, and change it any time you like, so if you have an image today and you want to enter it, fine. in a week if you think you've made a better image, by all means go ahead and replace. ***remember*** use the challenge 16 comments and critiques thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=17922#post17922) to have your images critiqued by your fellow dgrinners.

all of the other rules of the dgrin challenges apply, click here to review them (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=1338)

*** this is the thread into which you post your challenge entry ***

challenge 16 will close to entries on monday, july 12, 2004 at 12 noon nyc time.

enjoy (challenge) photography,

[ondrovic]

Just below Anna Ruby Falls in Unicoi State park

[lynnma]

The Stairs

[ginger_55]

Summer Storm

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/6056140-L.jpg

[cmr164]

I agonized over this as we all are doing...

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/0564_flrw.jpg

[SeeMoon]

http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/5843618-L.jpg

[SURFPHOTO]

Swiss Climbing Silhouette

http://www.surfphoto.com/dgrin/16.jpg

[lynnesite]

lynnesite
Sand Bath Terminus with Gnats
http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/5854920-L-1.jpg

[Bryan]

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/5858990-L.jpg

[damonff]

Squat

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/5795995-L.jpg

[GREAPER]

Celebrating With a Bang


http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/5889312-L.jpg

[dugmar]

"Beantown on the Fourth"

http://dugmar.smugmug.com/photos/5827836-L.jpg

[spockling]

Let it Shine!

http://members.shaw.ca/betlin/Contests/qualityoflight.jpg

[tmlphoto]

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/5952332-L.jpg

"Waiting for Breakfast" July 9, 2004

[gubbs]

http://Gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/5984088-L.jpg

[snapapple]

The warm light beckons me to set aside my cares, rest and enjoy the sunset...

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/5862858-L.jpg

[Sandy]

Taken at the Venice Pier, Marina Del Rey, CA

http://sandra.smugmug.com/photos/5988175-L-1.jpg

[Shakey]

Woke up in a Fog

http://shakey.smugmug.com/photos/6002983-L.jpg

[wxwax]

Water Girl

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/6032800-L.jpg

[rutt]

Here is my entry

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/5955706-L.jpg

[pathfinder]

I'll call this shot "Rain"

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/6042286-L.jpg

[FreeUps]

It takes twoooooo babaaaaay


http://www.filenote.com/redir/15346.jpg

Marshall

[Andy]

good luck everyone!

[AltPro]

Aauugghhh... Been trying to up-load and get onto the net for more than an hour.... Trouble with our connection out here in the back 40...
Finally.... Maybe?
ginette

http://throughthelensltd.smugmug.com/photos/6059146-L.jpg

[Andy]

I agonized over this as we all are doing...

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/0564_flrw.jpg
from andy:

a lovely flower but i felt the blown areas distracted rather than enhanced the photograph. i do like the separation of the flower from the background, and the use of dof.

From Shay:
I agree with Andy here. This image says more to me about contrast.

[Andy]

Swiss Climbing Silhouette

http://www.surfphoto.com/dgrin/16.jpg
from andy:

an impressive image, really. but i think it's more suited to shadows & silhouettes (a future challenge!) than quality of light.

From Shay:
This has great composition, but looks underexposed to me. The quality of light is compromised in my eyes because of this.

[Andy]

Squat

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/5795995-S.jpg
from andy:

a cool street image, very "damon-esque" and i like it a lot. i felt it's more a mix of high key/low key than quality of light though.

From Shay:
More contrast than anything. I personally didn't care for the photo, but it does show artistry than many enjoy.

[Andy]

"Beantown on the Fourth"

http://dugmar.smugmug.com/photos/5827836-S.jpg
from andy:

certainly a lovey fireworks image but other than the light of the bursts themselves, i didn't see "quality of light" ... a good shot though!

From Shay:
I agree with Andy here. Nice fireworks, but not illustrative enough of the challenge theme. Open up those shadows.

[Andy]

Let it Shine!

http://members.shaw.ca/betlin/Contests/qualityoflight.jpgfrom andy:

some cool cloud formations. the lens flare detracts imo, and it needs some grounding from the ground to anchor the shot. also i think a noise reduction could be in order. love the sun's rays though!

From Shay:
The image quality is preventing this image from ranking higher. It looks very over processed and or taken with a camera with a very low quality optical system. I like the composition however.

[Andy]

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/5952332-S.jpg

"Waiting for Breakfast" July 9, 2004
from andy:

wow a cool spider shot. i do like the quality of light here, it's nice, if maybe a teeny bit much, on the spider. i really like the light trail-off on the rhs of the shot. well done.

From Shay:
I liked this one, the shimmering webs, the saturated spider from the morning light. The composition could have been improved, it looks overly cropped (it may not be, but it has the look). Give some room on the top and left hand side, those legs are almost cut off.

[Andy]

The warm light beckons me to set aside my cares, rest and enjoy the sunset...

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/5862858-S.jpg
from andy:

okay this was close, just edged out by the finalists imo. a lovely scene, well lit. i think the improvement to take this shot to the next level is to have a live subject on that bench. congrats on a fine fine image.

From Shay:
I have a thing for benches. I really like this photo. Good composition and color. Well done.

[Andy]

Woke up in a Fog

http://shakey.smugmug.com/photos/6002983-S.jpg
from andy:

this is lovely. i really like the strong lines and the soft (quality of) light. this was soooo close. congrats on an excellent image, shakey.

From Shay:
I like the lower half of the photo a lot, but the upper half is just doing nothing for me.

[Andy]

Here is my entry

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/5955706-S.jpgfrom andy:

i don't get "quality of light" here, i do get a fine fine silhouette shot, lots to keep me thinking about with this photo. i think there's a bit of trouble with the light top center, needs some work? still, a good image and i like the mood of it.

From Shay:
The image quality of the photo looks poor. The focus looks like it was unintentionally off. I like the concept, it should be reshot.

[Andy]

I'll call this shot "Rain"

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/6042286-S.jpg
from andy:

a great lily close-up. but doesn't say "quality of light" to me. love the water drops, a great touch.

From Shay:
I agree, it is a nice photo, but the light is not playing a central roll here. The quality of the light is soft, but the subject of the photo is lost among the three competing subjects, and the light is so soft that that it has just become illumination.

[Andy]

It takes twoooooo babaaaaay


http://www.filenote.com/redir/15346.jpg

Marshall
from andy:

the image is a bit busy and so i couldn't find the quality of light that i was looking for. i like the coloring though, and the two birds.

From Shay:
Poor image quality from the focus, blown highlights, and low dynamic range really obscure the subject. It is more of an abstract now, which could still be good, but doesn't resonate in a quality of light setting.