Weekly Competition #127 - History Competition

This has been quite a tough comp to judge. I gave each photo marks as an historic image and as one more specifically reflecting the historical process of change over time as outlined in my brief. In the end several were tied – some of which scored more highly for the latter than the former, and it is those I’m leaning towards as this is after all what I asked for. It goes without saying that all that follows is only IMHO...

Mattox - Matera
Nice colours and light – though it looks like a middle of the day shot, and I’m sure these could have been even better closer to one (or both) of the golden hours. The composition’s almost there. I like the close crop on the houses, but it’s a shame that the houses at the bottom are unevenly cropped (might have been better to get all the houses on the left in, though it’s hard to say without being there). Scores quite highly on the change over time-front, as it’s clearly a historic town – but also one that’s been lived in.

Gartmore – Ilkley Moor
Nice b&w shot of some interesting prehistoric rock-doodles. Though I feel the b/g either needs to be more in focus or more blurred. I might have tried to get down lower to remove the boulders for a ‘cleaner’ image – I’m not sure they add to the scene as is. Seriously blown highlights in the sky, though as this is small it’s perhaps not critical. Like the context – helps a bit on the historical process front.

TOZZA27 – The Goodwife of Hamptonne
I suppose this does show change over time, in that it contrasts with a modern kitchen, but I still view it more as a snapshot of a particular time rather than of historical process. Compositionally I would have tried to decentre the figure and definitely would have got rid of the people emerging into the frame on either side.

Bill_And – The Cross & the Hill
A crisp, saturated (you must have used a polariser?) shot. I might even tone down the saturation a tad – or even try b&w. I quite like the juxtaposition of the hill fort(?) and the cross. But find the non-vertical angle of the latter very distracting (and the fact that the base is cut off). Does straightening this mess up the stairs?

John Riley – Grave of Edward Fitzgerald
Wonderfully crisp image, and excellent colours. Compositionally it’s not so exciting, though – while I see why you would choose to frame it this way, judging from your supplementary info, I find the b/g too busy, and it’s a real shame about the shed. As for reflected change over time - your added info perhaps hints at some change over time, but it’s not really evident in the photo.

mattcambs – Establishments
A clever shot for this comp, if it’s what I think it is – the ruins of a pre-dissolution abbey framing an Anglican cathedral. So there’s a clear sense of change over time. It’s quite appealing as a photo too. Though I think it’s lacking a little oomph, and more could be got out of it. For starters I’d play around with the b&w conversion, perhaps adding contrast, which might inject some oomph. Also, I think there’s more detail to be had out of the sky, which would add drama.

patrick – Roman temple
Good crispness, but rather harsh light shows how hard it is to get good shots of ruins like this on bright summer days. Compositionally, I’m not keen on having part of the fence in the foreground. Also, there’s too much sky for me.

JudithAnn – Forgotten Prairie Farm
A good clean image which nicely reflects the conditions under which it was shot (good to see the K-m performing so well in these circumstances). Looking at the larger image I would have liked to see a touch more contrast on the farmhouse (I’m wondering have you lost this here through the need to use the recover shadows tool?). And while it’s a lovely sky, I find the vertical band (of sunlight?) going up from the roof spoils it rather – perhaps try something in PP to remove (or tone down?) this. The adandonment of the farm in this wintry context definitely conveys a sense of change over time.

chelseablue – The Fallen
I like this shot and I think it meets the comp guidelines well. The list of soldiers is a record of a point in time, the poppies a nicely graphic representation of the present and how it interacts with the past. I’m not so keen on the large amount of ground in the bottom corner, though – I might have tried a different crop. And, something that I’m sure is easily rectifiable in PP – the left hand side should be stretched towards the bottom to remove the distracting angled line. In addition, I think you could have gone for more contrast on the memorial, which is a little flat tonally (though the detail on the poppies is good). I would also have played around to see what different depth of field would have resulted in – but I realise that is much more difficult with a compact camera like the one you’ve used here. With slight adjustments this could have been the winner.

David Trout – Becket’s shrine
A perfectly exposed image – the way you have handled the different light sources here is exemplary, David. But compositionally I’m not drawn to it in a way I usually am to your photos. Like the candle on the floor though. From a historical process point of view, it is rather static.

nathanever82 – 532
A nice moody shot. Am a bit perplexed by the Exif info which indicates a 2 second exposure. If a tripod was used I would have expected a sharper shot; if not I’d have thought it would be much more blurred. Did you use a monopod? If so, perhaps I should be considering one of these! But to get back to the judging. It’s certainly atmospheric, though a little more sharpness would have been good (obviously difficult in these shooting conditions). As for content, it does have a very historic feel, but I’ve a hunch that a pretty similar shot could have been taken after it was built – if they’d had Pentax in Byzantium – so I wouldn’t say this has a great sense of change over time. Interesting title choice Nathan!

GlynM – Not Forgotten
I like the receding lines of gravestones and the contrast between the plain ones on either side and the central one. This is rather too central though IMO – but I can see how you may have had to compose it with the main feature so central. Also, I feel there’s a little too much grass in the f/g – I’d like the shot shifted up a little, though I can see this probably would have resulted in distracting elements entering the top of the frame.

Doctor Jeff – The Plumber’s Apprentice
It’s probably a reflection on how sad I am, but this is the kind of thing that gets my pulse racing in an archive. A wonderful old document, with a certification card strategically placed and the character of the original shining through in the photo. No real evidence of change over time within the photo, although the archaic nature of the language/document does contrast with contemporary equivalents.

Aiki – Best school ink
Crisp still life with definite evidence of change over time – the wonderful old ink bottle next to the new biro(?) and post-it pad. Lovely colours in the ink bottle, post-it pad & b/g – not so keen on the pale pine(?) surface though.

Darlene – Over 2000 years ago
Not sure what to make of this. Yes, it’s a portrayal of a historical event but, what with the contemporary ceramics used, this doesn’t have a very historic feel. Are these supposed to convey change in how an event has been commemorated? If so, for me this isn’t clear from the photo.

Thoughton – New over old
Great image – were you waiting for this plane or was it completely serendipitous? Love the building too, which is full of character and oozing history. Shame the light on the right wall isn’t on all the wall facing the camera – this would have produced a really stunning shot. The question is does this reflect change over time? If it does then it’s a contender. But I can’t make my mind up – perhaps it could be interpreted as just a juxtaposition of something old and new, but with no real connection between them.

Frogherder – Family Tree
This one definitely scores for change over time – a composition of generations. The image lacks a little oomph, though. You might get some by adjusting the levels in PP – if you haven’t already done so. Also, perhaps flash would have been advisable here (doesn’t look like it was used).

Hyram, Le Fort National
Lovely image and it’s good to see entrants going to such expense for the comp! Great light on the fort, and a nicely moody sky. I like the composition too with the foreground contrast. However, I do find the position of the fort rather central in the frame. I think I would have cropped off some of the right of the image. Also, without your additional info, there’s not so much evidence of change over time.

Mike W, History for sale
A clever take on the theme. Some characterful masonry extracted from its original context (presumably a church) and now up for grabs. A sign of contemporary secularity. It’s also a pleasing image – a good b&w conversion, and the figures are just great. Two caveats – I find the area to the bottom left unsightly (would have cropped this off, though I think I can see why you haven’t for compositional reasons – but IMO it’s better without); and I think it might have been better if you’d got the whole price tag in the frame (by moving it perhaps?).

Ben76 – Jumieges Abbey
I quite like the composition of this – with the different layers of the ruin. And as you say, the ruin certainly looks pretty spectacular. The inclusion of the tree does give some contrast between the present and past, but I wouldn’t say this image has a real sense of change over time – in the end it’s still a ruin that probably hasn’t changed much in centuries.

sbh – Recycled
This definitely fits the bill theme-wise. An interesting example of the old being incorporated into the new(er). Love the stone with the figures on it (what period is this?). As an image I find it a little flat – sidelight would have been god* (though maybe not possible).
*Kept this spelling mistake in, as I rather liked it!

DRM098 – Door
Wonderful, characterful old door and historic and quirky graffiti. Like the composition too. However, as with the last image, better light would have resulted in a more dramatic shot. Also, there’s not much evidence of change over time within the frame.

Alun – Tired barge, River Dart
No problems with the light here! Wonderful, subtle colours and textures in this shot. Not so sure about the dark area bottom right, though. And for this comp, while the wood is nicely aged, I do think the composition’s a little too abstract.

davem – waiting for repair
Like it! Those Mesolithic builders were invariably cowboys, hence the short lifespan!

Oppenheimer45 – Ipswich Docklands Regeneration
I think you’ve captured the theme as well as anyone here. A great mix of buildings from different ages – a historical hodge-podge in fact. Prince Charles wouldn’t be happy! As an image it’s not particularly attractive, but for this theme it is highly effective. I would have probably cloned out the severed traffic light and car at either end of the frame, though.

Sandy – Battle Abbey
Lovely image and nice light here (was fill-in flash used?). It’s a really beautiful vaulted roof and the shot is well composed. However, there’s no real sense of change over time.

And to the results:

Overall winner: thoughton In the end I decided this does do quite literally what I asked – show ‘change’ over ‘time’! The fact that it’s such a nice graphic image sealed it.

Second: MikeW So close to meeting both parts of the brief to successfully reflect historical process with an aesthetically pleasing image. Just a shame about the bottom left corner!

Third equal: mattcambs & Oppenheimer45 Although these weren’t necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing shots, they were for me the two most successful images in meeting the competition brief of showing change over time, and for this they get third.

HCs for reflecting change over time to: mattox and chelseablue

Aesthetics (not content) award: Hyram

Humour award: davem

Wow...Thank to Dr Mhuni for all his hard work. Congrats to our winner Thoughton...Tip of the hat to the other winners.

.....I do not know what you mean...I did not use any tool..the picture is, as is...I do not own Photo Shop..but I can sometimes touch up pictures using Picasa..Many times I simply use my K-m's built in filters if I want a certian effect.In this case I did not use anything at all.

Yes it is the sunlight shooting up...infact if you look at the photo...it almost looked like three sunrises, as three streaks of light where ruling the sky that morning..one to the left and one to the right of the old farm house. It was stunning....I rather liked the light...an I am not sure I would get the chance to capture it again....it is like getting that," once in a blue moon!"

I think I will see if I can tone down the light and then see what I think.!! It is always nice to try things...again thanks for all your time and adjudications!

PS...Today it was 43 below zero here...I DID NOT take any pictures out doors!!!..skin freeze in 2.3minutes

Thanks Dr Mhuni for the speedy judging. Congratulations to the winner. You right about the car and the traffic light, should have cropped it a bit closer. The picture was one that I had been meaning to take as the setting had caught my eye a couple of weeks before the competition came up.

regards

Rob.

Thanks for judging and your comments on my photo. I did not use fill in flash it was a lovely building. Congratulations to the winner.

Sandy

Very good judging and a good winning shot matching the brief and delivering a quality image. Congratulations to Mhuni and Thoughton.

As to my own shot - nothing I could do about the bottom left really and the price tag was partially obscured at the request of the yard owner and also to be a little subtle. I had moved it once to get it in plain view.

The yard owner was nice but quite touchy. Based on this experience I don't recommend reclamation yards as a source of images!

Mike

Mike

At JudithAnn 43 below! I can't begin to imagine how cold that is!

Mike

Congratulations to thoughton for an excellent winning shot that really meets the brief and congratulations to the other podium finishers.

Many thanks to Dr. Mhuni for my Aesthetics Award and for setting an interesting & challenging topic.

Comprehensive, speedy and sound judging as always from Dr. M.

p.s. How does JudithAnn and her camera keep working in those temperatures :

Thanks to the Doc for his speedy judging and congrats to Thoughton!

Nice one and not the easiest of subjects, but handled with panache.

The winner does clearly fulfill the competition absolutely and with a great image as well!

Congratulations to Tim on a winning entry and to Dr Mhuni for a very interesting subject and really well considered adjudication. I enjoyed a lot of the entries and was especially fascinated by JudithAnn's freezing cold prairie scene. Well done to all those in the top placings.
OK Tim, sock it to us, what's next?
david

Wowzers! Thanks for the nod Dr M, I feel all warm and cuddly inside now Thanks also for the great judging and considered comments. Also congrats to the other entries. Lots of great historical juxtapositions! From a purely aesthetic viewpoint I particularly liked davidtrout's image.

My shot was taken last spring, and is a shot of the 14th century Cutlers Guild House in Thaxted, Essex. I knew the plane would be flying overhead and waited for it (Thaxted is slap bang on the flight path for Stansted Airport, so you only have to wait a couple of minutes).

Will now spend the next few hours daydreaming at work while I think up a new competition topic!!!!

THank you for the great judging and congratulations to the winner!


- just on a technical note -
'resting on a rail' and no, 1477 years ago the CIstern was not illuminated as it is today with halogen lights... but it doesn't matter, its in the PPG, so i guess others have considered the photograph differently

Well done Tim

Thanks Dr. Mhuni for the excellent judging and constructive criticism of my entry. I've just sat down with a professional photographer friend of mine to discuss how (using the powers of PS) I could improve the image and composition.

Congrats to Thoughton and others for winning! and Dr. Mhuni for the quick judging with detail...

I have to say I loved JudithAnn forgotten prairie farm...as is...

Over 2000 years...An old event in a modern context...Just an idea.

....Just to tell how I took a picture at 27 below....

My camera was in a nice warm house...I bundled up real warm, tucked my camera under my coat, headed across the feild. Once I found the spot, I dug my camera out and took three shots. My cheeks were starting to sting so I tucked the camera back into my coat, pulled my scarf up around my face headed back to the house. The house was only a few minutes away.

As for yesterday and today being below 40...It is so cold that when you spit...it freezes before it hits the ground! THAT'S COLD

The cool thing about being this cold on the Prairies is the sky. It is never blocked by trees or mountains or hill ect...Once it is below 30, the frost hangs in the air much the way fog does...I call it frozen fog! The way that, this frost hit the sunrise, makes for fasinating skies. But expose skin freeze so fast it makes picture taking really hard. Yesterday my Sons eyelids froze....as he was working in the oil feild. It was the only exposed part of him

I am determinded to capture a few more shots over the next few days...they will have to be quick!