Rusty engine from an abandoned gold mine on the Salmon Glacier road running north from Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK.

Colorful, abstract and dynamic are just a couple of things that pop into my mind when I see this photograph. I don't usually tend to like this type of photograph, but in this case you did an excelent job, executing a strong balance between detail in color and texture and subject. Good Show.

Great abstract image with good contrast of colours and textures. It's a shame the symmetry is spoilt by the part of the engine that has broken away, leaving an out of focus area in the bottom right corner.

Colors and contrast is nice but..............

Nice colours, and contrast of shape etc. But doesn't quite do anything for me.

 

Can we have a really bad photo chosen for pic of the week (maybe I'll send in one of mine!)? Then the vitriol can flow, makes for both entertainment and education.

 

 

Unfortunately, does not do anything for me. Couldnt identify the purpose of the pic

At what point in time does a picture need to be functional? I'm beginning to believe that only the esthetically challenged comment on the POW. Not only is this a good composition (frame usage) comprised of wonderful texture, form (metal

as organic and inorganic) and palette, but the artist's vision (based upon most of the pictures in the folder) is really developed. Best of all he uses a 20 year old camera. To think he could produce a technically sound photograph with a primitive club like a Nikon FE2.

 

JDC,

By purpose, I don't mean functional. a picture needs to convey something. To me,this doesnt. Now a few of the other pictures in this portfolio are nice. but understand that we are critiquing this picture, not the others and definately not the equipment in use. As you say, this is technically sound, but to what end?? This pic scores above avg on technique, not much in esthetics.

btw - If you think FE2 is primitive, you have to see mine ;-) I honestly think the FE2's metering is excellent. Just needs a little getting used to.

I also own an FE2. My comment was a jab at the tendency among some on photo.net to obsess about equipment. ;-Þ

Looking at your folder all your work has a certain sureal quality that is hard to explain. It is the same combination of imagination, color, texture and composition that makes a really good painting.

 

I don't think all pictures need to say something, some are so well done that the individual elements make a statement.

This abstract should answer all the skirmishes, and "it's good, but......." sort of responses of puritans. In fact, this pic is nothing but a brilliant composition, bright colors and texture make it appealing. Did anyone else see so much beauty in an old engine? Philip, you got it!

I liked your picture of the "toe of the bear glacier" too. And, the "lily pads" has tremendous

scientific value in explaining nucleation & crack development, even though the picture is not appealing. Good work!

I just think its great that when there is a great picture, we get "oh wow great picture" and like 5 people say something. But when "in your opinion" its not up to snuff...god save the editors of photo.net. Maybe they choose it because you don't talk otherwise. However, I think this is a fine picture. I like the comp, its complex so you have to find out what it is. All and all, a really nice picture.

I don't care if I can't figure out what I'm looking at; I like the image because of the shapes and the contrasting colours. Well done! The "purpose" of this picture, for me, is something intriguing to look at and that makes it a successful picture for me.

What a wonderfully sharp picture. I also doesn't usually care for abstracts very much but this is an exception. I like the contrast between the top portion and the bottom portion of the shot. The composition is also spot on, making it difficult to recognize what the subject is. What is make this shot work for me. My brain is constantly searching and searching for details.

This is a very good abstract image that challenges you to look closer. Even though it is not technically perfect due to a little out of focus foreground and soft edges, I find this to be a good exercise in color and texture. I love to do extreme macro images and this is one that I would be proud of if it were mine. Good show!

I like this and the other photos in this folder. people in the forground to give a sense of scale.

 

Does a picture have to say something? This is about color and texture and I like the juxtaposition of colors and textures in this one.

 

You have a great sense for design and color, I think.

 

-eric

This is a nice picture, I particularly like the colors and textures captured. The subject is good too, its usually interesting to crop out most of the context and just capture a small section of the subject, doing macro really makes you see things in a different way, it almost educates you on how to see, well in my opinion anyway. I looked at his other photos, take a look at Freezing Lillys its incredible, and the lone skier entitled Solitude. Very good photos.

Very nice and rich color and texture. These make me want to know more about this section of an old engine. What does the rest look like? In what setting was it found? How did it get that way?

 

I think if you were marketing this image, you would need to include more information, either graphically or as text.

I'd like to have seen the hexogonal bolt at the bottom be the focal point of the picture, with the curves from above sweeping into and around the bolt. Just focus on the bolt.

 

But, still, a pleasing photo. Fewer colors, obviously, but more movement and a stronger fixation point.

I don't understand the picture. True, it features different light and colour values, but I believe it is a "forced shot" ie "Different is not always best".

 

To imppove the shot, I would have gotten rid of the "blue spaghetti" , and also would have cropped the thin blue openings at the centre top of the shot. Finally, I would have splashed the rusty metal with water, to pick up highlights, and feature the rusting bolt.

 

Steve Ward

 

 

How about a womans point of view? I don't get "revved up" over engines, but I love photos! I am a baby at photography, just starting out, getting ready to buy my first Nikon. I think the pic is super! I have lots to learn, but I know a visually pleasing pic when I see one, great work!

I like it the way it is.

As many others have already commented, the textures, colour and composition really are superb. I love the curls of the 'blue spaghetti', in fact that was what initially drew my interest. The forms and how they are positioned in the frame are high on aesthetics for me.

I really like this image. Every time it pops up on photo.net I find myself clicking on it and looking at it for a minute.

Chris Grady
http://grady.org

Thank you, I love the blues and browns in this image. It's actually a very pleasing, almost calming image, probably more so given it's rusty nuts and bent metal subject matter. Well done.

This is the kind of subject that made me fall in love with my camera 16 years ago. In a moment on the ground there would be a visual spectacle; texture, light, color - existing at once without my direction or interference. When the film saw what I saw, I learned NOTHING when it didnt I wanted to know why; thus a photographer was born.

 

The invention of photography came from the drive to FIX an image to hold it still so that we could look longer - marvel and wonder before the movement of the sun and the clouds took it away. This picture happened on its own. The photographer simply fixed this moment to paper and we like idiots ask for purpose?! It need not serve purpose when beauty is purpose enough.