All Forum Comments
G'day Kevin, and welcome. You've already noticed that teh Pentax systems are nice and clean, and lately at high ISOs also. The lenses are great too. Look forward to seeing some posts and images from you when you've had a look around.
Comment by i-Berg posted on Greetings From Denver, CO USA at 16/04/2010 - 06:17
#1 for me also - nicely processed, good nexus between owner and guinea-pig, and 'eyes up' to the camera by both subjects.
Comment by i-Berg posted on My Nephew (and his hamster) at 15/04/2010 - 13:07
And I liked that too - the background was only a minor suggestion, and I certainly respect your reasons for doing it the way you presented the image.
Comment by i-Berg posted on Discussion Thread for Fortnightly Competition # 39 - Order and Disorder at 15/04/2010 - 13:02
Anvh wrote:
And under the correct lighting, the AF will behave differently outside in full sun light then inside under tungsten lights.
Stefan,And under the correct lighting, the AF will behave differently outside in full sun light then inside under tungsten lights.
Would you please enlighten me on how THAT works?
Comment by i-Berg posted on Focus adustment on a K10D at 15/04/2010 - 12:04
Hey thanks for that Gareth - I wondered about it being a rock face, but then thought - nah, couldn't possibly be, because they don't build houses inside quarries...
It all makes perfect sense now
Now that sounds like a challenge to Stefan...
It all makes perfect sense now
Now that sounds like a challenge to Stefan...
Comment by i-Berg posted on Discussion Thread for Fortnightly Competition # 39 - Order and Disorder at 15/04/2010 - 12:01
Job's right folks - the results are now in the entries thread...
Comment by i-Berg posted on Discussion Thread for Fortnightly Competition # 39 - Order and Disorder at 15/04/2010 - 11:32
Firstly, thank you to those that participated. To those that ran out of opportunities or were precluded from entering due to more serious matters, commiserations to you.
I was pleased with these ten entries because I can see that plenty of thought and effort was made to capture the theme of ‘Order and Disorder’.
Secondly, please indulge my late(r) responses – 6 pm in the UK is 4 am the next morning here. Work for me starts at 7, so I’ve got stuck in as soon as I returned home.
So on to my thoughts on each of them – I won’t call it judging, as my level of expertise and technical knowledge makes it all quite subjective. Your own opinions may differ, and that’s likely a good thing!
Dougf8 – Garden plots
This first entry made it obvious just how closely order and disorder can be linked – we have potentially orderly set of beds or plots, and on account of the passage of time, perhaps benign neglect in some parts and even various individual approaches to gardening, the result is the appearance of chaos! This was a sentimental one for me, as I distinctly recall my great grandmother with a garden plot in Germany, where I grew up. For me, the risk of all that disorder is a shot that perhaps needs a little more focus on a particular aspect or object, to draw the eye. The three gardening implements dug into the ground in front of the flower do provide some of that, but the background competes for attention. The flowers, bright green grass and the sunshine make this a pleasant scene. The image certainly speaks to the topic – in spades…
(Do I get my coat now, or keep going?)
Tozza 47 – Wife’s favourite tailor shop in Chester
The real-world workplace – and in amongst what may appear to be disorder, there’s no doubt the tailor would have a system that works very well for him. Again, the link is there between order and disorder, so another complaint entry. As before, perhaps a more obvious (to me) unifying focal point on which to rest the eye may have served you? However, I readily acknowledge the challenge in trying to do that as well as showing the disorder aspect. I see there is an element of this in the image (the tailor), but the stand and cross-piece block the gentleman’s face and thus place a barrier between him and the viewer. Ultimately, it’s a study of all that is significant in the everyday life we live Tozza – thanks mate, and all the best.
Gareth – ‘Disorderly Houses’
Wot? No Romans? I was interested by your choice of title for this image Gareth – I’m seeing lots of order! So again, perhaps it’s both – either that or notions of order and disorder are entirely subjective (quite likely). I like the treatment of the BW shot, and the perspective. Perhaps the background (not sure what that even is, but I’m happy to be enlightened) could have been avoided in some way, as it distracts just a little from the rooftops and buildings – a fine shot nonetheless Gareth.
Andrew K – ‘Under a blue sky at Loch Lednock’
One could hardly achieve something more ordered that this engineering marvel Andrew, so you’re off to a flying start. The regularity and symmetry are immediately obvious to the eye, and the inclusion of the two ants (oh, sorry – are they people?!) really drive home the leviathan scale of this dam wall. As a photo, I wonder if you had tried it in BW? I’d have been interested to see that, as I believe mono would have lent itself to this stark, blocky concrete wall. Good capture.
Mikew – Beano jigsaw puzzle
Good choice Mike – I’ve also taken your advice and viewed it full-size. Plenty of disorder in a jigsaw puzzle that has only just been started. Clearly, colour is an essential element of such an image, and it’s certainly in there. The composition and depth of field have been cleverly arranged (tell me that it WAS intentional Mike!), so that the viewer can make out the nomenclature around the edges, and the frame of the jigsaw help drag the eye through the image to the back, away from the jumble of pieces closest to the lens. Clever image Mike – I like it.
pnjmcc – 100s and 1,000s on bread
Paul, another good choice. But – why no Vegemite ® ™ © Pat Pend.??? Again, a clear nexus with the theme and this image. Yet again, colour plays an essential role here. An attempt has been made to use depth of field (or perhaps lack of it) to isolate a particular aspect of the image, at or near the crust. I think that’s more or less worked, yet perhaps this is another example of the challenge inherent in demonstrating disorder while still retaining a focal point for the eye. Good work.
Stefan – The ‘disordered looking flock’
Collision avoidance par excellence Stefan – very well thought out. The order in disorder – again. While there is background, I don’t see it as detracting from the flock, and given it’s probably at or near a harbour or a bridge across water, that adds some context for the birds (even though they are not seagulls). The flock comes out from the side of the frame, shooting up into the top RHS. The motion blur to me forms an essential part of the tension and the dynamic between order and disorder. I like it a lot.
Mecrox – ‘Oxford Canal’
What a peaceful and idyllic scene. My interpretation is that there is much disorder in the weeping willow’s branches and leaves. I also see order in the calm water and the reflection of the boat there. The image could perhaps do with a little more ‘punch’, and the removal of the object peeking though the willow screen up on the bank (a wall?) so as to deal with the distraction. Very easy on the eyes, Mecrox – good stuff.
Hefty1 – ‘Racing Order (with disorderly spectator provisions)’
Hopefully, that was less than one pound per yard that your donkey was lagging behind H1! I had a smile at the deliberate contrast between the ‘order’ of the horses, against that of the crowd on the hill. A slightly different take on ‘order’, and a welcome one too. It looks like it was a dreary, cold day weatherwise, so there was obviously not much you could do about the resultant lighting. Nicely themed, shame about your wager!
JudithAnn – ‘The Order Of Scouts...or Not!’
This was a ROFL candidate, JudithAnn – until I saw that one of the scouts had decided to do just that, and apparently of his own accord no less! To me, it’s yet another good take on the notion of ‘order’ (surprised no-one here entered some shots of monks or nuns, actually). The circle provides you with a unifying theme, and a focal point for the eye without needing to do more than have the presence of mind to take the shot from that position. I might have left the prone student’s foot and hand in the frame, if that was possible (of course it may not have been), along with the bottom part of the circle. It’s a bit of a ‘classic’, especially for the student. Let’s hope they all do actually ‘experience some success’.
Summary
This whole comp has got me looking at Order and Disorder in a whole new light, thanks to our participants. I hope that the topic itself wasn’t unduly challenging – if it was, then unreserved apologies. It was intended as something to be used for a bit of fun.
So, some 17+ hours after the entries were closed (ten of those hours due to the time difference between ‘here and there’), here are the results (my entirely subjective opinions, as stated):
1st: Stefan – The ‘disordered looking flock’
Stefan – now that I’ve articulated my position, I’ve gone back and looked at your comment in the discussion thread – why so worried? Well done!
2nd: Gareth – ‘Disorderly Houses’
The houses got me in, helped by the superb processing. (I was also looking for ‘Romani Ite Domum’ slogans on the walls…)
3rd: Mike - Beano jigsaw puzzle
For the thought that’s gone into this deceptively simple shot – you can’t tell me that those elements happened by accident!
Commended – JudithAnn:
This is exactly why they say that one should never work with children or animals!
Please feel free to disagree!
And the winners are:
All of us, self included – we’re learning by doing. Well done all.
I was pleased with these ten entries because I can see that plenty of thought and effort was made to capture the theme of ‘Order and Disorder’.
Secondly, please indulge my late(r) responses – 6 pm in the UK is 4 am the next morning here. Work for me starts at 7, so I’ve got stuck in as soon as I returned home.
So on to my thoughts on each of them – I won’t call it judging, as my level of expertise and technical knowledge makes it all quite subjective. Your own opinions may differ, and that’s likely a good thing!
Dougf8 – Garden plots
This first entry made it obvious just how closely order and disorder can be linked – we have potentially orderly set of beds or plots, and on account of the passage of time, perhaps benign neglect in some parts and even various individual approaches to gardening, the result is the appearance of chaos! This was a sentimental one for me, as I distinctly recall my great grandmother with a garden plot in Germany, where I grew up. For me, the risk of all that disorder is a shot that perhaps needs a little more focus on a particular aspect or object, to draw the eye. The three gardening implements dug into the ground in front of the flower do provide some of that, but the background competes for attention. The flowers, bright green grass and the sunshine make this a pleasant scene. The image certainly speaks to the topic – in spades…
(Do I get my coat now, or keep going?)
Tozza 47 – Wife’s favourite tailor shop in Chester
The real-world workplace – and in amongst what may appear to be disorder, there’s no doubt the tailor would have a system that works very well for him. Again, the link is there between order and disorder, so another complaint entry. As before, perhaps a more obvious (to me) unifying focal point on which to rest the eye may have served you? However, I readily acknowledge the challenge in trying to do that as well as showing the disorder aspect. I see there is an element of this in the image (the tailor), but the stand and cross-piece block the gentleman’s face and thus place a barrier between him and the viewer. Ultimately, it’s a study of all that is significant in the everyday life we live Tozza – thanks mate, and all the best.
Gareth – ‘Disorderly Houses’
Wot? No Romans? I was interested by your choice of title for this image Gareth – I’m seeing lots of order! So again, perhaps it’s both – either that or notions of order and disorder are entirely subjective (quite likely). I like the treatment of the BW shot, and the perspective. Perhaps the background (not sure what that even is, but I’m happy to be enlightened) could have been avoided in some way, as it distracts just a little from the rooftops and buildings – a fine shot nonetheless Gareth.
Andrew K – ‘Under a blue sky at Loch Lednock’
One could hardly achieve something more ordered that this engineering marvel Andrew, so you’re off to a flying start. The regularity and symmetry are immediately obvious to the eye, and the inclusion of the two ants (oh, sorry – are they people?!) really drive home the leviathan scale of this dam wall. As a photo, I wonder if you had tried it in BW? I’d have been interested to see that, as I believe mono would have lent itself to this stark, blocky concrete wall. Good capture.
Mikew – Beano jigsaw puzzle
Good choice Mike – I’ve also taken your advice and viewed it full-size. Plenty of disorder in a jigsaw puzzle that has only just been started. Clearly, colour is an essential element of such an image, and it’s certainly in there. The composition and depth of field have been cleverly arranged (tell me that it WAS intentional Mike!), so that the viewer can make out the nomenclature around the edges, and the frame of the jigsaw help drag the eye through the image to the back, away from the jumble of pieces closest to the lens. Clever image Mike – I like it.
pnjmcc – 100s and 1,000s on bread
Paul, another good choice. But – why no Vegemite ® ™ © Pat Pend.??? Again, a clear nexus with the theme and this image. Yet again, colour plays an essential role here. An attempt has been made to use depth of field (or perhaps lack of it) to isolate a particular aspect of the image, at or near the crust. I think that’s more or less worked, yet perhaps this is another example of the challenge inherent in demonstrating disorder while still retaining a focal point for the eye. Good work.
Stefan – The ‘disordered looking flock’
Collision avoidance par excellence Stefan – very well thought out. The order in disorder – again. While there is background, I don’t see it as detracting from the flock, and given it’s probably at or near a harbour or a bridge across water, that adds some context for the birds (even though they are not seagulls). The flock comes out from the side of the frame, shooting up into the top RHS. The motion blur to me forms an essential part of the tension and the dynamic between order and disorder. I like it a lot.
Mecrox – ‘Oxford Canal’
What a peaceful and idyllic scene. My interpretation is that there is much disorder in the weeping willow’s branches and leaves. I also see order in the calm water and the reflection of the boat there. The image could perhaps do with a little more ‘punch’, and the removal of the object peeking though the willow screen up on the bank (a wall?) so as to deal with the distraction. Very easy on the eyes, Mecrox – good stuff.
Hefty1 – ‘Racing Order (with disorderly spectator provisions)’
Hopefully, that was less than one pound per yard that your donkey was lagging behind H1! I had a smile at the deliberate contrast between the ‘order’ of the horses, against that of the crowd on the hill. A slightly different take on ‘order’, and a welcome one too. It looks like it was a dreary, cold day weatherwise, so there was obviously not much you could do about the resultant lighting. Nicely themed, shame about your wager!
JudithAnn – ‘The Order Of Scouts...or Not!’
This was a ROFL candidate, JudithAnn – until I saw that one of the scouts had decided to do just that, and apparently of his own accord no less! To me, it’s yet another good take on the notion of ‘order’ (surprised no-one here entered some shots of monks or nuns, actually). The circle provides you with a unifying theme, and a focal point for the eye without needing to do more than have the presence of mind to take the shot from that position. I might have left the prone student’s foot and hand in the frame, if that was possible (of course it may not have been), along with the bottom part of the circle. It’s a bit of a ‘classic’, especially for the student. Let’s hope they all do actually ‘experience some success’.
Summary
This whole comp has got me looking at Order and Disorder in a whole new light, thanks to our participants. I hope that the topic itself wasn’t unduly challenging – if it was, then unreserved apologies. It was intended as something to be used for a bit of fun.
So, some 17+ hours after the entries were closed (ten of those hours due to the time difference between ‘here and there’), here are the results (my entirely subjective opinions, as stated):
1st: Stefan – The ‘disordered looking flock’
Stefan – now that I’ve articulated my position, I’ve gone back and looked at your comment in the discussion thread – why so worried? Well done!
2nd: Gareth – ‘Disorderly Houses’
The houses got me in, helped by the superb processing. (I was also looking for ‘Romani Ite Domum’ slogans on the walls…)
3rd: Mike - Beano jigsaw puzzle
For the thought that’s gone into this deceptively simple shot – you can’t tell me that those elements happened by accident!
Commended – JudithAnn:
This is exactly why they say that one should never work with children or animals!
Please feel free to disagree!
And the winners are:
All of us, self included – we’re learning by doing. Well done all.
Comment by i-Berg posted on Entries for Fortnightly Competition # 39 - Order and Disorder at 15/04/2010 - 11:31
Paul,
Thanks for participating. You're all good - these don't close til 4 am tonight our time here in Oz.
And on account of that, I won't sit down to evaluate them until after work tomorrow evening (our time again).
Thanks for participating. You're all good - these don't close til 4 am tonight our time here in Oz.
And on account of that, I won't sit down to evaluate them until after work tomorrow evening (our time again).
Comment by i-Berg posted on Entries for Fortnightly Competition # 39 - Order and Disorder at 14/04/2010 - 11:58
It is a beaut set of images Matt, and looks great in BW. If I had to pick a favourite (or two) from this set, it would be 4, 15, 18 and 19.
Comment by i-Berg posted on Newcastle Upon Tyne at 14/04/2010 - 11:53
I'm speculating here, Ipsy - perhaps from a USB flash drive?
Comment by i-Berg posted on Another pointless thread at 14/04/2010 - 10:09
