Entries for fortnightly competition #72 BARRIERS

Hopefully, nothing called Barriers has ever been a subject for the fortnightly assignment.

I would like to see photos which have a Barrier, or Barriers, in any sense of the word, as the main, or very important, subject of the composition.

Shots are to be taken from now until 6 pm bst 20/7/11 Pentax cameras or Samsung clones only please.

EXIF data to be provided.

Good luck!

DS

A Dull Day in St Mary's Harbour

[IMG]http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx49/df8/ca862932.jpg[/IMG]

K-7
Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di-II LD at 30mm handheld
F6.3
1/250s
ISO 100
08/07/2011

Barrier Opened:




9th July
K5, DA55-300 @ 77mm
1/1250th sec @ f5, ISO320
Yee Ha

Gate No. 4



Modified Samsung GX1L, 18-55mm kit lens at 18mm, 1/350th at f/8 ISO 200. 11th July. Hot.

Barbed Barrier

[IMG]http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g370/jimbo_609/IMGP5106.jpg[/IMG]

Pentax K-x
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 3.20
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 200
DateTimeOriginal - 2011:07:10 13:50:28
DateTimeDigitized - 2011:07:10 13:50:28
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/640 seconds
ApertureValue - F 3.20
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 100.00 mm

Rising Barriers

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Competition%20Entries/IMGP0602-c1-small.jpg[/IMG]

The Barriers are lifting at Ash Station in Surrey after a train has passed. (A frustrating wait by the ambulance who had arrived in a hurry just as the barriers went down and had to wait for two trains to pass .)

Pentax K-5 with DA50-200WR @ 50mm
1/1000sec, F9.0 & ISO400
Taken at 2:40pm on Friday 15th July 2011

Glyn

Subtle Hint

[IMG]http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff444/Frogherder/IMGP6745a.jpg[/IMG]

Date taken 14/7/2011 @ 13:16
Camera K10D
Lens Pentax 18-55mm
Focal length 38mm
Aperture f6.7
Exposure 1/350 sec
Speed ISO 100
Metering mode Pattern
Program Aperture priority


That's why the traffics is quiet, Note the sweating workers

Bernard

Groyne




Camera Maker: PENTAX
Camera Model: PENTAX K-5
Lens: smc PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR
Image Date: 2011-07-15 at 7.51pm BST
Focal Length: 18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
Aperture: f/14.0
Exposure Time: 240 secs
ISO equiv: 100

BANDSTAND WALL

[IMG]http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd72/geordie2831/parkwall-1.jpg[/IMG]

Taken today
Pentax K-r
DA 18-55@31mm
f11
1/320sec
ISO-200

The fortnightly competition, Barriers, is now closed. Thank you to those that entered, although, like the previous competition, I was surprised there weren’t more.

So, here are the results and critiques, with the normal proviso that I haven’t a clue what I’m talking about!

dougf8 – A Dull Day in St Mary’s Harbour

Well, the wall does make up most of the frame, so it is definitely a very important part of the scene. I can imagine a small boy reaching to see over the wall to see what was on the other side, and the out of focus wall and in focus boat make this seem real.

It’s a good idea, one which I’ll probably nick at some point, and makes an interesting shot.

DrOrloff – Barrier Opened

The gate is obviously an important part of the story as without it being opened there would be no bull rushing out into the arena. While this is a really good action shot, the gate itself doesn’t play that great a part in the photo. I’d have preferred, for this comp, that the action were captured slightly earlier. Good photo, though. I love the expressions on the faces, but the bull’s expression takes the biscuit!

karma mechanic – Gate No. 4

This is excellent composition, with the gatepost being very strong in the foreground. Not only that, the gate and fence lead you through the photo from left to right and back to front. The gate and fence aren’t particularly exciting in themselves, but the IR treatment (I assume that’s what it is) makes the whole scene, including the trees and the sky, much more interesting than colour would have, probably. I think high contrast b&w would have worked well too. I really like it.

sandinista – Barbed Barrier

I like this simple compo. The fact that most of the scene is out of focus makes you look straight at the barb that is in focus. The metal bar (of a gate?) also leads you through the scene very nicely. The fuzzy backgound is nice too. B&w is ideal also for this. Well seen, thought out, and well taken.

GlynM – Rising Barriers

I guess a typical British scene, traffic jams, something which I see very rarely where I live in the depths of France. Can’t say I miss them. There’s no doubt that the level crossing barriers are barriers in themselves, and traffic jams in the UK are barriers to stress free living, so I guess it tells a story.

frogherder – Subtle Hint

Subtle hint maybe, but I bet someone still runs straight into that barrier. An amusing photo, and I like it. Another reminder, for me, of the life we left behind. Maybe taking this from slightly further away and from the left would improve the composition? Just a thought.

Blythman – Groyne

Very strong composition, with the character-full groyne forming the main subject of the scene and focus, and the long exposure flattening out the sea. The pastel colours are lovely. There is a ship out there and, actually, I’m not sure whether I would have preferred that it wasn’t there. Perhaps the minimalism of a blank horizon would have been even better. Still, the shot works very well.

geordie01 – Bandstand Wall

I like shots of walls etc disappearing into the distance, either focussed or unfocussed at the far end. So, this one is a subject I like. I would have preferred the first column to be in focus and the remainder fading away from that one. It would seem more balanced to me like that. But this shot suits the b&w treatment, and it works well.


1st – karma mechanic – Gate No. 4
2nd – Blythman – Groyne
3rd (joint) – sandinista – Barbed Barrier
3rd (joint) – DrOrloff – Barrier Opened

Please refer all complaints to Rupert Murdoch!

Most interesting competition and a well deserved accolades to the winners.

From further away the tarmac is scarred and smudged by HGV tyres as they make an abrupt right turn, so I cropped those out to make it look nearer and any further left and I would have been in the hedge.

I'll keep trying

Regards
Bernard

Thanks for the judging Darkskies, and well done all those who entered. Must say Karma's IR shots have generally blown me away.

As for my shot. I will probably re-visit sometime, but I was tickled by the ship that stayed reasonably still for all of 4 minutes

Well done Karma et al, well done too Darkskies on your virgin judging.

Many thanks for a new and unusual subject. I agree that it is a little bit disappointing that we didn't get many entries and I don't think this is any fault of the subject. I guess it is probably just because it is the start of the holiday season.

Congrats to Karam for the brilliant IR winning shot, the runners up and every one else for a great range of interpretations.

Glyn

Well done Karma, I love the way the little trees in the background are rendered, please no IR only challenge! Dr O got the decisive moment.

Thanks for the judging Darkskies.