Untitled VII

[Cem_Usakligil]

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[Jerome Marot]

This is simply brilliant!

 

[Tom Robbins]

This is simply brilliant!

I agree. The spun orbs relate with the traces of the tree limbs, which in turn relate with the spokes of the giant wheel in the background. The result is a joy to behold.

 

[Asher Kelman]

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Cem,

This is your reward for all the pictures you've taken and the inner questioning. Wonderful curves and spheres that allow each other direction and movement. This is what OPF hopefully can be!

Here is no portal but a destination!

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

I still find this brilliant, but I made the mistake to show it to my young son. He is one of the worst critics I know, of course. He immediately pointed out that the pink color of the wheel hub clashes with the rest. So I pass the critic.

Luckily, this is easy to fix: either desaturate the hub or convert the whole to B&W. Or, if you can reshoot, move a tiny bit so that the hub is straight behind the globe which partially covers it. The picture is worth it, it reminds me of Lee Friedlander, the book "Flowers and trees".

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Jerome,

I still find this brilliant, but I made the mistake to show it to my young son. He is one of the worst critics I know, of course. He immediately pointed out that the pink color of the wheel hub clashes with the rest. So I pass the critic.

Luckily, this is easy to fix: either desaturate the hub or convert the whole to B&W. Or, if you can reshoot, move a tiny bit so that the hub is straight behind the globe which partially covers it. The picture is worth it, it reminds me of Lee Friedlander, the book "Flowers and trees".

Firstly, let me say that I am very much honored with such high praise from you, really appreciated. It is difficult for me to judge in isolation whether the image strikes the chords I thought it would or perhaps entirely different ones. That is why your feedback is extremely valuable. Not that I want to create art by consensus but for closing the loop and using the feedback going forward. Your son is absolutely right, he has a good eye. As you say, it is very easy to fix that in the post processing by selective desaturation. I also have a BW version but it misses the gloomy, quasi-cheery atmosphere I am trying to convey here. To me it is mainly about the depressive winter light during the shortest days of the year and how we (as a society) artificially (and in vain) try to create a fairy-tale like environment to forget about our worries such as the dooming economical recession above Europe. Within that context, the pink of the hub would have to stay, I think. But there is also the picture itself from a compositional point of view. As Asher and Tom have pointed out, I was drawn to the scene due to the coming together of the various compositional elements such as the branches and orbs and how the little gondolas hanging on the giant wheel relate to the orbs and how it all fits together. So if we strip the secondary message of gloominess, there is still a good photo from the compositional point of view. In that context, I would indeed lower the saturation of pink a little.

 

[Jerome Marot]

worries such as the dooming economical recession above Europe.

There is no dooming economical recession above Europe, more precisely not any more than above the rest of the planet and probably less. I would fix the hub.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

There is no dooming economical recession above Europe, more precisely not any more than above the rest of the planet and probably less. I would fix the hub.

I knew that you'd call my bluff. I will post an adjusted version soon.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Here is the version with the reduced saturation of the hub.

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[Asher Kelman]

Here is the version with the reduced saturation of the hub.

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Yes, Cem,

It's more peaceful, but does that really help the picture. I'm not sure it matters enough to change what you had. However, "now you cannot unring the bell!"

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

I think I prefer the second version, with reduced saturation. My son also prefers that second version.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

I think I prefer the second version, with reduced saturation. My son also prefers that second version.

We are all in agreement then, the second version stays. Thank your son on my behalf for his input please.

PS: is he too young to become an OPF member?

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Yes, Cem,

It's more peaceful, but does that really help the picture. I'm not sure it matters enough to change what you had. However, "now you cannot unring the bell!"

Asher

Well, as I just wrote to Jerome, no unringing will be necessary.

 

[Jerome Marot]

is he too young to become an OPF member?

He is more interested in criticism than in actually trying to take pictures with a camera. When that changes, I'll suggest him to join.