>>> dgrin challenge 17, reflections <<<

[Andy]

hi guys,

dgrin challenge 17 is upon us. it will run from now until monday, july 26th at noon nyc time. this time, our guest judge will be moti goldman. moti hails from brussels belgium, and is a fine photographer and a good friend. i thought the critiques and comments thread worked quite well last challenge, so we'll continue with it. that's where you can place your images for, well, critique and comment! :rofl remember, in order for this to work, you should be commenting and critiquing for others as much as you expect to get for yourself. you've got to give to get!

the comments and critiques thread is right here (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=19313#post19313)

i just love finding reflections, they really do make for some stunning images. the *challenge* is to capture a reflection, either found or created. reflections are everywhere! you just have to have your eyes open and be looking for them, you'll be surprised where you find them. sometimes, they are an "extra" in the image - a sort of "bonus" that may not be the focal point, but nonetheless adds significantly to the image. take a look in your morning coffee cup, or in the mirror as you shave. how about the playground, reflecting in a rainy window as a child looks out? an ornament or gewgaw, or the crystal and silver settings on the table. a puddle in the street, the clouds on the lake. the moonlight on a frozen pond. a child blowing bubbles, a cat's eye, a marble. a glass covered building. maybe a parent or grandparent, looking through a photo album with a child. there are countless possibilities, and endless subjects and ideas to "reflect" upon. this is really an open category, so "shoot your style."

reminder: this is a "no-photoshop" challenge. that means, nothing other than basic exposure adjustments (levels, curves) color correction (hue/satuation) and sharpening is allowed. yes, you may perform a black & white conversion, and yes, toning of same is allowed. minimal cropping is ok, too. the purpose of the "no-photoshop" rule is so that we can really work hard to get it right "at shoot."

this challenge is wide open, so long as your image "reflects" the theme :wink

here are two examples of reflections humbly submitted by your benevolent host:

"cloudspheres"

i found these metal spheres as an art installation in one of the ponds in nyc's central park. they are black becuase i shot it in infrared.

http://www.moonriverphotography.com/photos/4698470-L.jpg

"musical reflections"

i found this in saks fifth avenue store window, at the holidays in 2003. that's the trump building (nee general motors building) reflected in the window.

http://www.moonriverphotography.com/photos/4698461-L.jpg


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

this thread, is the one into which you post your challenge entry, and remember, one entry per person, and the photo must be fresh, taken during the challenge period

***challenge 17 will close to entries on monday, july 26, 2004 at 12 noon nyc time***

enjoy (challenge) photography,

[damonff]

Bus Window

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/6094469-L.jpg

[ginger_55]

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/6393421-L.jpg



Marsh Land
Sullivan's Island
South Carolina

[cmr164]

Sunrise in Vegas is over very fast.

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/1330LuxSunrise.jpg

[snapapple]

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/6502555-L.jpg

[Sandy]

His name is Jack Photographed in reflection at the Grand Opening of Wells Fargo Bank in West Hollywood.

http://sandra.smugmug.com/photos/6291549-L.jpg

[Shakey]

Best Friends

http://shakey.smugmug.com/photos/6286459-M.jpg

Tim

[DoctorIt]

Aight, got some positive feedback, its time to throw down with this one:

Wet Chrome

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/6203357-M.jpg

[spockling]

The Storefront Door

[lynnesite]

Until I find something better to shoot. :-P
http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/6403001-L-1.jpg

[rutt]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/6384609-L.jpg

[SeeMoon]

Queen Mary II


http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/6399649-L.jpg

[tmlphoto]

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/6139279-L.jpg

[gubbs]

http://Gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/6313722-L.jpg

[lynnma]

I should'nt even submit this but I have nothing.....

[dugmar]

http://dugmar.smugmug.com/photos/6516087-L.jpg

[pathfinder]

A Covered Bridge on a Summer's Eve


http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/6450531-L.jpg

[rescue951]

Saw this while in Corpus Christi, Tx

[wxwax]

Sean John

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/6554801-L.jpg

[Andy]

the voting will be up at some point later today. remember, i'm collaborating with my guest judge on the finalists.

[Stan]

http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/6560680-L.jpg

[DoctorIt]

Only 19 entries so far? Last minute rush... :dunno

nice work so far, even if the numbers don't grow too much, I don't envy Andy's work.
:thumb

[AltPro]

"After Hours: Men's Bath"
Jefferson Pools
built 1818
Warm Springs, VA

http://ThroughTheLensLtd.smugmug.com/photos/6563466-L.jpg

ginette

[Andy]

entries are now closed for this challenge.

voting thread posted later today.

thanks!

andy

[Andy]

Bus Window

http://www.nomadphotographystudios.com/photos/6094469-S.jpg

FROM ANDY:

damon, i do like this one a lot - i felt that it should have some more context to tell me that we're looking at a bus..

FROM MOTI:

The photo is very nice but I have two problems with it. First, as Andy mentioned, I would like to see more context to tell me it's a bus and secondly, I have difficulties to define the main subject from the background.

[Andy]

Sunrise in Vegas is over very fast.

http://www.iisc.com/dgrin/1330LuxSunrise.jpg

FROM ANDY:

Charles, you got a great exposure here, on a tricky shot. i applaud you for that! this was a hard one to not pick as a finalist, but i think technically i didn't feel that the lens flare added, it somewhat distracted me. a nit, yes, but if i had to pick a reason, that'd be it.

FROM MOTI:

The idea is wonderful, capturing the sun reflecting from a glass building. The task is very difficult because of the high dynamic range. There are techniques to compensate for that and to get a correct exposure of the highlights and shadows but in this photo, I'd rather see an underexposed picture with a bit silluheted foreground and less exposed sun reflection without the flair.

[Andy]

His name is Jack Photographed in reflection at the Grand Opening of Wells Fargo Bank in West Hollywood.

http://sandra.smugmug.com/photos/6291549-S.jpg

from andy:

lovely shot, great find! i think you need more of the window for context here. that's what i feel. otherwise, spot on :grin

from Moti:

Sandy, I really love this one. beautiful idea good technique and cute doggie. I just share Andy's oppinion about giving a bit more window and reflection.

[Andy]

Aight, got some positive feedback, its time to throw down with this one:

Wet Chrome

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/6203357-S.jpg

from andy:

i like the abstract-y feeling i get from this image - it's very good. it really just got edged by the other finalists. great detail for the drops - impressive!

from moti:

Great reflection shot. Very good exposed and details. I like it very much. The reflection of you taking the shot can be a bit bigger. I think opening your lend wider and approaching the subject could have produced this effect.

[Andy]

The Storefront Door

from andy: hey this is a good find - again, i'd like to see more context in the image, letting me know it is a storefront would be good. or, if you're going with this tight crop/compo, then the action or subject in the reflection should be really strong & compelling. nice exposure & color. keep up the good work.

from Moti:

It's a wonderful shot with lots of context and colors and everytime you look at it you doscover somethiung new. It is just a bit over-cropped. Seeing more of the door and having the round opening off center could have made it more interesting.

[Andy]

Until I find something better to shoot. :-P
http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/6403001-S-1.jpg

from andy:

good "eye" to find this one, lynne :D i'd like to see the reflection in "tack" sharp focus, and the animal a bit oof, if that is necessary due to exposure limitiations. i'd really like to see both in focus, requiring probably a much smaller aperture - and probably a way high iso, but so be it.

from Moti:

An interesting and original idea for the topic. I join Andy's comment about the focus issue but also, I'd like to see it differently composed. Either closer so you just see the eye with a detailed reflection or else, a wider shot so you see a bit more of the horse.

[Andy]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/6384609-S.jpg

from andy:

a vast wide angle shot - i dig that. lovely coloring, and the subtle reflections keep me interested. i was a bit put off by the silhouetted mountains on the horizon - wishing there was some kind of shadow detail there to give some definintion. i'm sure that'd be really difficult. i dig the details in the foreground, really nice work, rutt.

from Moti:

This is a very beautiful wide angle shot. I love the way the path leads my eye into the picture with a natural contunuation of cloud patern. The textures and the colors here are really lovely.

[Andy]

http://Gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/6313722-S.jpg

from andy:

spot-on exposure, focus. i think the compo or crop is a bit too tight, i'd like to see some more...mainly for context.

[Andy]

I should'nt even submit this but I have nothing.....

this could be a postcard - quite lovey, i really like the fog and the general compo - the rocks foreground left echoing the shape of the island in the mist. the trees don't add for me, they don't really frame this shot... i'd have moved 20' left if possible. a nice scenic, lynn :thumb

from Moti:

This is a very beautiful scene. I love the atmosphere of tranquility, the colors and the the way the mist merges the water into the sky.
The trees at the right are too dominant and in a way, spoil the magic. Cropping a bit more from the right might improve it.

[Andy]

Saw this while in Corpus Christi, Tx

from andy: welcome to the challenges! keep trying - this one, just needs some more context i think, and the ship isn't as obvious as it should be i think. a good entry though!

from Moti:

The exposure and colors are very nice but I'm not sure what I am looking at. I think that the boat, being the dominant subject, should fill up a much greater part of the photo.

[Andy]

http://stan.smugmug.com/photos/6560680-S.jpg

from andy:

a cool night (morning) shot :grin ... lovely curve to the whole pic. nothing to suggest here, it's a fine shot. just edged out by the others, that's all. congrats on a fine pic.

from Moti:

Night shots are one of my favorite subjects and this one very nice. The reflections are beautiful but I'd like to see more emphasis on the boats.

[Andy]

"After Hours: Men's Bath"
Jefferson Pools
built 1818
Warm Springs, VA

http://ThroughTheLensLtd.smugmug.com/photos/6563466-S.jpg

ginette


from andy:

lovely colors here and you should be commended on finding this reflection. i get "big empty space" though after i'm done with the colorful parts of the shot, i think there needs to be something or someone else in this shot. a fat old nekkid guy, a loofah on the floor, that's the ticket...

[gubbs]

Thanks andy :thumb

[spockling]

Thanks for all your efforts Andy!! Muchly appreciated.:thumb

[moti]

from andy: hey this is a good find - again, i'd like to see more context in the image, letting me know it is a storefront would be good. or, if you're going with this tight crop/compo, then the action or subject in the reflection should be really strong & compelling. nice exposure & color. keep up the good work.
Spockling, It's a wonderful shot with lots of context and colors and everytime you look at it you doscover somethiung new. It is just a bit over-cropped. Seeing more of the door and having the round opening off center could have made it more interesting.

[spockling]

Moti, Thanks for the feedback. The original picture was just slightly larger than that one and didn't show any more of the door. I was concentrating on the reflection and lost sight of the "bigger" picture.

[DoctorIt]

Doctorit, beautiful reflection. Very good exposed and detailed. I like it very much. The reflection of you taking the shot can be a bit bigger. I think opening your lend wider and approaching the subject could have produced this effect.Great comments - thanks Moti (and Andy too). More incentive to work harder next week!

[AltPro]

from andy:

lovely colors here and you should be commended on finding this reflection. i get "big empty space" though after i'm done with the colorful parts of the shot, i think there needs to be something or someone else in this shot. a fat old nekkid guy, a loofah on the floor, that's the ticket...
You're right I suppose... a person basking in the bath... (really not much of a walking surface around the pool...) would have offered the extra bit of interest... But since they were closed, and we'd of had to have broken in, which might have put us at odds with the local Deputy... (Might have gotten interesting shots from the local jail tho')...

In anycase, there was something to the stillness of the scene that called me... I was almost put off by the colored noodles, wishing for a more monochromatic image... I did take many other shots while at the pools, although not nearly as many as I would have liked. Would have been wonderful to have gotten inside... Here is a link (http://ThroughTheLensLtd.smugmug.com/gallery/176506) to a few of the others, should you want to take a peek.

Thank-you for all the effort you put into this challenge...
ginette

[Sandy]

I want to thank you and Andy for your comments on the photo. I feel that in this case showing more of the window and the objects reflected would not have been an improvement to this photo. But for the future I am now aware not to crop too much, and that the background can add more interest.

Sandy, I really love this one. beautiful idea good technique. I just share Andy's oppinion about giving a bit more window and reflection.