Fortnightly Competition #57: Mono/Chrome

Apologies for the late posting of the fortnightly competition, I was a bit surprised to find I had won the last one, in fact a PM from JudithAnn alerted me to the fact! Also, I got back from work late Wednesday and yesterday was my 50th birthday, so I spent the day organising a party and had a few too many last night!

As some people have not been able to get out and take pictures due to the UK weather recently, I thought I would set a subject that can be done anywhere!

I love how chrome and silver looks when converted to mono, so I am asking for entries showing shiny things in mono, to be interpreted however you like, as long as they are mono and show shiny things!

Normal rules apply, all entries must have exif attached or shown under the picture, and be taken on Pentax or equivalent Samsung equipment during the period of the competition, which closes 6pm BST on 22nd Decemeber. I look forward to seeing your entries!

Jon.

Edited for hungover spelling mistakes!

Running Tap

[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w20/GlynM/Misc/IMGP8737-c3-bw-small.jpg[/IMG]

Pentax K-7 with DA35 Macro
1.3sec, F22 & ISO 200

Converted to B&W using Photoshop Elements.

Shot on 14/12/10.

Glyn

One day....maybe

[IMG]http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv154/bforbes/ChromeBWresize.jpg[/IMG]

Pentax K20 with DA*50-135@58mm
1.5s@F16(-0.5EV) ISO800
B&w conversion PSE8
Taken 14/12/2010

Waiters' Friend

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

Pentax K-x
SMC DFA 1:2.8 100mm Macro
0.6s F5.0 ISO200
BW conversion PSE8
Taken 14/12/2010

Olmeca




Just now
K5, DFA100mm macro
Silver plated (the head not the K5).

Chrome Fish

[IMG]http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s30/Hyram_Hare/IMGP0810-1.jpg[/IMG]

Taken: Saturday 11th December 2010.
Location: Carrefour, St. Malo, France
Camera: Pentax Optio P70
Lens: Built-in.
ISO: 64
f: 3.7 (Optio terminology).
Shutter: 1/40 second.
Lighting: Rubbish supermarket lighting.
Hindrances: Jostling Christmas shoppers and hangover from the night before

Super Ag Cat A/450

[IMG]http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy9/i_berg/Pentax%20User%20Forum%20Images/_IGP2394-1R.jpg[/IMG]

Taken 15th December 2010 in country Victoria. Kx with DA21; 1/15 @f8, ISO100, -0.5 Ev, handheld. Post in LR3.3.

Christmas bauble
[IMG]http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/Prieni/Pentax%20user/_PRI0498a.jpg[/IMG]

EXIF:
Camera Maker: PENTAX
Camera Model: PENTAX K-5
Image Date: 2010-12-19 15:45:30 +0100
Focal Length: 190.0mm (35mm equivalent: 285mm)
Aperture: f/16.0
Exposure Time: 8.000 s
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
Flash Fired: No (Manual)
Color Space: sRGB

Thanks for all the great entries: I've really enjoyed judging my first competition. The subject I chose is one of the areas where I would like to improve my own technique. I love the look of chrome/silver in mono, but it's a difficult subject to get the lighting right for: it seems very easy to get blown highlights from the reflections, especially when using an artificial light-source. I have had great difficulty deciding on a top three. Although I wanted pictures of shiny things, it was open to interpretation, and there were some very creative interpretations of the theme.


Running Tap by GlynM

I really like the inclusion of the running water in this shot, and the chrome of the tap itself looks lovely! It's this sort of chrome look I had in mind when I set the competition; it suits mono conversions so well. The exposure is perfect, and brings out the chrome really well. However, I think it would perhaps have looked better with a darker background, to make it stand out from the background more. I also find the crop at the bottom of the picture a bit tight. Overall, though, a very nice shot that fits the theme of the competition perfectly!

One day...maybe by Bforbes

I like bikes myself, having nearly bought a Harley recently. (the roundabouts of Doha putting me off!) I love the reflection in the marble table-top, but the bike itself is a bit devoid of detail which no doubt helped cause the blown out highlights on the tank and seat. As I mentioned, I always find this is one of the problems of photographing metallic/silver objects, especially against a dark background that you want to keep the detail in. I think this shot would look very striking if it was just the reflection.

Waiter's Friend by Sandanista.

I like this picture, but almost wish I hadn't seen the first version which was replaced due to it being taken before the comp began. That version had a darker background, which I think worked better. The background here is a bit distracting, being a similar tone to the bottle-opener and with a strong texture. However, I do like this shot, it looks almost like some sea-creature. There are some blown highlights on the handle, but not enough to detract from the overall image. The composition is very nice too.

The Killer Knife by Cardiff Gareth.

The exposure on this is very low-key, and brings out the surface of the blade very well. I really like the shadow and the dark background, though I feel it could do with a bit cropped off the bottom, and perhaps a bit off the left-hand side to bring the blade onto a third, but that's just personal preference: it's a very graphic image. It's also a bit sinister, which I believe from the title was probably your intention! I also like the light-painting technique you've used, it's something I have tried myself and I know how difficult it is to get it right.

Olmeca by Dr Orloff.

The lighting, composition and background of this shot, together with the subject itself, make for a very striking image, and I like the composition. I am guessing it was lit with a table lamp or something similar, and the angle of the lighting brings out the features very well and also the texture of the silver-plating itself. Excellent.


Chrome Fish by Hyram.

Great out-of -the-box thinking on this picture. It is not what I expected to see in this competition at all, but it fits the theme. Well done; considering the challenging conditions under which it was shot, it is very well composed and taken. For a shot from a compact using supermarket lighting, especially so. The silver of the fish gleams without any burnt-out highlights, and the way the fish are packed together makes it almost abstract.

Super Ag-Cat A/450 by i-Berg.

One of my favourite aircraft, in fact the first ever purpose-built agricultural aircraft. I do like this picture, but, perhaps knowing this aircraft as I do, I know it is yellow (they all are), and it's very dirty, so the chrome-like feel to the picture is more a result of processing than showing what is actually there. I would have preferred to see more of the engine and the cylinder heads, push-rods and constant-speed unit on the prop, and less of the aircraft itself. However, overall it's a great picture of a classic aircraft!

Christmas Bauble by Prieni.

A festive shot that fits the theme of the competition perfectly! What impresses me the most with this picture is that the reflections are in focus yet the foreground and background are not. The exposure is spot-on, and my only criticism is the slightly distracting background on the left hand side, and, if I was to be finicky, the cropping off of the top of the loop attaching the bauble to the tree. Overall, though, a very nice picture.


So, after much deliberation, the winners.

1st place: Olmeca by Dr Orloff
2nd Place: Chrome Fish by Hyram
3rd Place: Christmas bauble by Prieni
Special commendations: Everyone else, for entering!

Over to you, Dr Orloff!

Many thanks Jon for choosing such a great subject that lead to quite a range of interpretations. Congratulations for your great set of comments and judging.

I take on board your comments about having a darker background. The crop at the bottom of my shot was however forced as it was just above where the worktop edge falls away into the sink

Congratulations also for our winners. I thought Hyram's fish were fantastic.

Well done everyone for another great set of images.

Glyn

Congratulations to Dr Orloff from Dr Prieni! Great winner shot.
Thanks to aliengrove for swift and competent judging and thanks also for my third place. Hadn't taken part in a while and didn't expect much but thought I had a fitting entry (by chance, I have to admit).

The distracting background on the left hand side is the tree trunk, I thought it quite fitting to the Christmas tree theme.
The loop had another, thicker wire going through it, that's why I cut it off.

Prieni

Congratulations to Dr. Orloff for a most original winning entry.

Excellent entries all round I thought

Many thanks to aliengrove for the competition and for my 2nd place.

Having decided that a K20 + DA 16-50 lens might get me arrested in a French supermarket, I thought that the Optio coped very well with the challenge

Hopefully my computer will be rebuilt in time for the next competition.

p.s. Good to see Ralf back

Thank you to aliengrove for the competition and the detailed comments. Well done to the winners of what was a challenging topic.

Thanks Jon - you're spot on about the aircraft of course, and the colour and 'feel' of it. It was the only shot that went close to the criteria taken in this fortnight on my travels.

Congratulations Adrian, Hyram and Ralf, and a good comp Jon.

Congratulations Adrian, Hyram and Ralf, and thanks for setting a great comp and subject Jon.

I know what you mean about my picture, it did (the original) look much better against a darker background.