Weekly Comp #525 - Vanishing Point Competition

Weekly Competition #525 – Vanishing Point


G’day - thank you for taking the time and effort to submit your image for this comp.

As always, the thoughts in the c&c are my own and thus entirely subjective. They apply solely to these images at this particular time.

There are two sets of things I will be looking for: the first is whether the image meets the brief; and the second (as in previous times) is a combination of content, lighting and composition.

Vanishing Points in photography / graphics have a particular connotation. They employ convergence to give depth in a two-dimensional image. This is often (but not always) achieved with a set of parallel or converging lines (as we see in the entries employing this device with railway tracks, fences and paths).

The intent was to more consciously reflect on framing, composition and image elements to achieve the purpose. So here goes:

Snow-capped remoteness – Perspicador. I suppose in this case, the interlocking spurs lead the eye down the valley and into the distance. If that was your intent, it’s a good pick. My suggestion would be to adjust your shutter speed so that any motion blur (bus or train) is eliminated. It is likewise a challenge shooting through windows! The transmission tower / electricity pylon near the left edge could have been cropped out to good effect.

Out-of-focus background – Mudge. A good, artistic interpretation, with a central vanishing point to the circle of flames. Lateral thinking! The mono background works to give real prominence to the circle of fire. Your PSE treatment appears to have affected the skin-tones on the artist’s face – something to watch.

All that remains – Tyronet2000. Clearly not parallel lines here, bit nonetheless there’s an intersection off-image to the right when the old supports and the new pier are extended conceptually. A lovely atmospheric capture.

What’s around the bend? – NewbieK50user. Probably another point of convergence! With this shot though, there’s not enough lead-in space to draw the eye along the lines of the dirt track and under the bridge. The shot looks a bit flat, to boot.

I.R.V.P. – Coker. Roger has given enough space to this track before the bend. The IR treatment provides a contrast between the dark track and the light foliage, thus emphasising the leading lines. The sunlight at the bend adds depth to the image as well.

Evening Express – JAK. There’s clearly been a filter or some artistic treatment applied to this image, but I like it. To me, it enhances rather than detracts from the intent. And of course, the sun on those rails leaves no doubt about their roles as leading lines.

Night Light Around the bend – Vic Cross. A long exposure to grab those light trails – ephemeral lines. I see you had to stop down to f22 as well, and yet the shot still isn’t as dark as no doubt you’d have liked! Without filters, you’re caught between the two there Vic. The aperture blades of your lens have done a good job creating the star-bursts from the street lighting (unless the bursts are add-ins?). As a suggestion, the light pole on the right could have been cropped out, so to better maintain a focus on the lines into the distance.

Shine – Ramseybuckeye. This is the classic vanishing point – straight out into the distance. The effect is enhance by the poles to the right of the track, as they disappear in much the same spot. A strong image, and a lovely sunset.

The Road is Long – timcx500e. G’day Tim – long time. Like the previous image, the track, fence-line and shadows all disappear towards the horizon. It may have been stronger had you got closer to the fence (and lower-down too). That would likely have given the fence a clearer supporting role.

Down the drain and through the vanishing point – go4IT. A great way to make things vanish! You’ve highlighted (pun intended) the challenge of specular highlights on highly reflective surfaces here. The green filter effect (assume that was in post?) hasn’t resolved that here.

Final Approach – Stephen-s. Again – not the standard approach, but be it a parabola or hyperbola, the flight path does draw the eye to the shrubbery. (There – got some Python into the judging. Excellent work…) I guess this is an interval series following the one bird? Clever stuff.

The Bridge at Zoo Lake – Noelcmn. An effective demonstration of convergence and leading lines. This one takes up the suggestion I offered earlier - get low to make good use of fences / rails.

Fines Bulles – drofmit. Thank you for shooting one just for this comp Tim. Not only the fleur-de-lis though – the entire glass outline works for me. The diagonal of the table edge may have made more of a bold statement, were it at 45 degrees (or perdendicular).

To Infinity… - Simonmac. Wot – no vulgar fractions in the platform numbers? This image is the classic convergence: so many lines, all heading to the vanishing point. Your mono treatment enhances the focus on the edges and lines (totalling around the mid-teens at last count), and I couldn’t have picked a better exemplar. PS – is this taken with the DA21 Ltd? Nice lens.

Cornish Sunset – MikeInDevon. That’s almost a roll cloud – certainly something frontal. A lovely sunset, and the cloud serves you well as a subject for this comp. Good spotting. There’s almost a chevron-like pattern either side of the roll too, and that enhances the vanishing point for mine.


I wanted this week to make a further comment about the diversity of Pentax cameras used to create these images. No image stood out to me solely due to the model of camera used – no “Wow, that was an X model”. It serves to demonstrate what others have said repeatedly – the real difference is made in the 12 inches behind the camera!

So to the results (my apologies, work got in the way):

3rd place: Shine – Ramseybuckeye.

2nd place: Evening Express – JAK.

1st place: To Infinity… - Simonmac.

This week, the HCs go to Mudge for ‘Out-of-focus background’ and to Tim for his ‘Fines Bulles’.

As you can see, the first three places used rail or railway infrastructure as the dominant compositional elements. It’s not hard to see why – they are extremely effective!

Thank you again for participating – I’ve enjoyed thinking about what you’ve provided and offering my thoughts.

Congrats Simon, great capture

Congrats Simon, worthy winner there, and I like that there is a "starting" point before heading to infinity. B/W I thought also very suitable, and not to forget the wonderful crisscrossing angled lines across the image. And congrats extended to JAK and Ramseybuckeye, for deserved 2nd and 3rd spots, and the HC's Mudge and Dromfit, the latter I thought has high impact interest and a different approach to the subject . And thanks to our judge for comments and critiques, another learning curve on this one. Always appreciated.

Thank you judging my shot the winner.

And congratulations to the runners up and HCs.

A lovely contest, great photographs and insightful commentaries!

ps The photograph was taken with the original Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5.

Thinking cap on!

All the best

Thank you Simon - the focal length in your EXIF piqued my interest. Clearly the Sigma is also a cracker.

Thanks for the second placing i-Berg and congrats the the other podiums and HCs. Thanks too for the judging and prompt publishing of the comments.
As to my photo, I did enhance the evening look in PP and I wonder if I'll have to do something for this week's golden hour photo too!

Hi i-Berg, many thanks for running a fun competition.

Great winners etc., railways were just made for this topic!

Cheers
Mike

Congratulations to the Winner and other places. Thanks to I-Berg for the interesting subject the judging and the comprehensive comments.

Many thanks for my image's HC, Simon!
Congratulations to you for an interesting challenge, and for your comprehensive well thought out feedback.
Also congratulations to all participating members who stepped up to the challenge, with some interesting interpretations / results, particularly those on podium!