Ok, time to learn, ... help... - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/14/2004 07:35:02 PM · #1

I am humbled by my performance in Yellow (not that I've ever been anything but humbled here). I'll admit I like this shot; so I am not unhappy, even with the low score. And it did get a favorite pick, which, is something that gives me a lot of satisfaction. But I also like movement blur. Perhaps that's not something I should enter on this site? Or just not yellow peppers (actually, I see one yellow pepper did very well.)

So, let's speculate, or tell me straight, if you know, What was my mistake? I am seriously looking for some people to be critical here. I won't take offense. Why do you think it did so (relatively) poorly? Getting seven twos and twenty three 3's is high, even for me!

I would have probably gotten the brown with my favorite pic for the challenge (but chickened out last minute, figuring the one I entered was a more conservative choice:

Or should I have taken the bigger risk and entered that one?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to think about the question and respond.

Regards--Neil

Message edited by author 2004-12-15 00:35:31.

snackwells

Canon EOS-20D

12/14/2004 07:42:58 PM · #2

Hi there. I think there were a lot of peppers, bannanas, and lemons which made not too subtle subjects for this challenge. I think your entry certainly was creative, and helped to differentiate it from the rest. However, in the end, I think the subject matter influenced many voters who perhaps became glazed over at seeing yet another pepper. That, coupled with the fact that some people don't appreciate motion blur, may have lowered your score somewhat. It may be more difficult to pull off, but I think if you were slower with the trails at the outset and increased the speed of descent, to create a gradient detail in the trails, it may have been more distinctive, artistically.

gruvin

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/14/2004 07:54:06 PM · #3

For me, when I saw this pic I instantly liked it, but then instantly "felt" it was completely un-natural, then quit quickly disliked it in spite of the excellent technical execution. "Peppers do not typically fall in dead straight lines without so much as a twist or rotation and nothing falls at an angle in a straight line either."

Motion blur is a fun thing to set up and capture, but sometimes it just doesn't seem to fit the picture. If it's something that *is* in motion (or would normally be), like a car or a bullet or a swing or something - then motion blur fits well. If it were a knife cutting a yellow pepper in half - that would have "fit" for me.

I'm personally not a fan of dead black backgrounds either - unless they seem to be "real." Solid, deep black over-does the contrast imo. But I try not to let that influence the way I vote by more than half a point.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/14/2004 07:54:37 PM · #4

It doesn't seem like so bad a score to me, and a better placement : )

Motion blur doesn't usually do well here unless there's a really good reason for it, obvious to even the three-second voter. Some people may not have liked or gotten your title, but I think it's clever (and like clever).

proxima centauri

Canon PowerShot A60

12/14/2004 07:59:57 PM · #5

Gave it a 5.
I don't know why you are so disapointed, I think it did fairly... fair :D.

To me, it's rather dark (meaning luminosity could have been improved), and I didn't think the motion blur added anything to it. Should the pepper have been very saturated and super sharp, then maybe the blur might have added to it, but right now, to me, it's just a "good" picture, not a "wow" picture.

graphicfunk

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/14/2004 08:02:22 PM · #6

Here are my feelings on this image: The object here is not to create motion but rather an artistic design study. The image has good color. I therefore place it on an artistic level and such images tend to falter because many viewers are not being taken by the immediate beauty but rather try to find another justification for the image. Yes, I like it and I think the execution is good. These are the images we die by with pride.

gruvin

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/14/2004 08:11:04 PM · #7

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Or should I have taken the bigger risk and entered that one?

Forgot to mention... This would have got an 8 from me. I'm a fan of impressionism, especially when it's not faked using PS effects. And, in fact, after that many clear, yellow things gone past my eyes on the day, it might have even got a ten just for being so different. :) BUT... be warned, I do not seem to agree with the vast majority of voters.

12/14/2004 08:36:08 PM · #8

Thanks to all who responded.

@gruvin: Good points. Yes, for me it was mostly about color--I really liked the color mixes in the trails, and the semi solid appearance in the trails I was able to achieve through experimentation. I did do some on white backgrounds as well, but black worked best. And I'm with you on impressionism! Love the effect in photos.

@generalE: Yes, I am getting the point about needing a reason here. I'm not really unhappy with my score, just thought it would do better, and trying to learn.

@snackwells: yes, I figured it was partly a pepper issue. I also wondered whether this was being perceived as outside the rules, so I had it validated, but not until the third day, and it did badly the first two days. (Though I don't know if that's why).

@graphicfunck: Daniel, you've got me perfectly pegged. For me, it was indeed about color and aesthetics. I guess that's part of the impressionism bug I caught. Maybe I need a vaccination! LOL.

Thanks again to all who've commented so far. I appreciate your insights.

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

12/14/2004 08:45:26 PM · #9

I wish I could answer this more intelligently tonight. I am a huge lover of color and form, so that part of the image I appreciate. It only failed in my eyes because it wasn't MY form and color - those that speak to me. I hope this makes sense in a roundabout way. I hope that you and others will continue to put out what really moves you - instead of for mass appeal. This one fell a little short for me (6), but for purely personal taste reasons. Artistically, I admired it and appreciated it. At that point, it then comes down to personal connections.

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

12/15/2004 04:47:27 AM · #10

@Kyle, that makes sense. There's always the personal side of how a photo moves you.

@proxima centauri, thanks. I think same comment applies, the wow is sometimes personal. I personally think the motion blur is a "Wow", but that's personal taste.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

12/15/2004 06:38:45 AM · #11

The pepper image seems dark on my home monitor (not the one I vote on). could your score have suffered from uncalibrated-viewers-monitors-syndrom? Many darkish images do.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/15/2004 10:57:43 AM · #12

I never got around to this image while voting, but I would probably have scored it at a seven on my scale. Six is just above average, and the execution here is beyond that. I like the stong diagonals because they make the image more dynamic. The colors are bold, although it does say red a bit more than yellow to me. The motion freeze is good and at the right point in the frame. I thinks it's better than my image, which managed to score just a few positions higher.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

12/15/2004 11:10:28 AM · #13

Left a comment. :)

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/15/2004 11:14:55 AM · #14

I like the pepper...I just do. I like the motion, it's not unintentional blur, you did a good job.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

12/15/2004 11:18:40 AM · #15

I'd have given it a 6, maybe 7, if I voted in this challenge. It meets the challenge well and it's an attractive image. I like the creativity in the use of motion blur. It wasn't just a picture of something yellow. The colors are vibrant too. I could see this hanging in someone's kitchen.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/15/2004 02:39:22 PM · #16

Thanks for all the latest comments, David, Daryl, Lori, and Ellen, and Owen.

@Ellen: I use LCD's which tend to be hard to separate out darker colors, but it doesn't look dark here on either monitor. Anyone else think it's too dark?

@Owen: I left a response to your comment on the photo, so it would be with it for others who visit, but basically what I said was: ...no I didn't use flash, I used two halogen work lights and styrofoam to fill/bounce the light. I'll have to try that though, it's a great idea, and thanks for reminding me about your image--which proves that motion blur CAN do well in a challenge (I thought I'd remembered seeing some)!

drydoc

Canon EOS-7D

12/15/2004 03:25:55 PM · #17

(I have attempted a motion entry myself which got varied comments.) Couple of thoughts off the top of my head as I view this image: The title says, " Halley's Pepper" spoofing Halley's Comet. . . but the red is leading underneath. Usually the comets burning mass is in the lead with the vapor trail behind it. The final image of the comet (pepper) itself should be sharp because, at this point, the camera should catch it and freeze it. Suggestion for another approach: connect a nylon filament to the pepper's tail. Place the pepper where you would like it to end up and focus you camera on it making sure you have a long exposure setting. Start the photograph then yank the pepper (or peppers) straight back creating the blur. The nylon filament wshould be onscured in the process. In other words, move the pepper not the camera. Final result should be the same but with the ending image of the pepper clear and sharp.
I did not vote in the yellow challenge so my comments are not influenced by the other entries. BOL