Winter grand

what do you think of the light?

The light: subtly directional. Verging on being low-key with few highlights. But the highlights that are there are at an appropriate level. Interesting composition, too. There's tension here, in more ways than one.

Gonna be difficult ... the only thingie's name I know is 'strings', and perhaps 'pegs' and 'screws' though they may not be the right technical names. The big main-frame thing (a sand-casting in brass?) looks like an interesting object in its own right, but what are the bright rectangles, dampers?

The cast iron plate is spray painted with lacquer with 'bronzing powder' in it. The pegs are pins. The dampers are properly named. The one off line is actually positioned correctly.

Ah, OK, that helps. The dampers may be the focal point of the image, but they bother me a bit. They are bright, yet too bright; should the other parts be closer in tone for the sake of the overall composition? Are they too bright for the richness and depth of the rest.

I'm also tantalised by that plate; not enough, or too much in the frame. My crop doesn't answer your question (perhaps indirectly) but it makes more sense to me not to see what lies behind the pins.

I'm not entirely in agreement with Sandeha's crop. The top acts as the primary focal point (or X, perhaps) from which my eye spreads across the frame encountering other engaging lines. The image is nicely "compartmentalized." Though, I think it has a bit more left/right balance wihtout the bolts on the left. Although, here I feel a little too much was taken from the left. What do you think Carl?

I've already toned down the dampers a bit and wouldn't object to a bit more.

 

The 'X' is important for me, including the plate bolts, and the compartmentlizing was intentional.

 

What does bother me is the the defect on the right side plate strut which competes with the odd damper. Maybe it stays in for the purists, but gets cloned if I sell it as a print.

I figured that blob couldn't have been an oversight, Carl, but yes, it is a major distraction.

A question that I pose for myself is whether I'm recording a moment or making a picture. Gut feeling tells me that as a philosophical question, it is a question that is better left unresolved so that ambiguity always remains a feature of human/creative input - a kind of 'rock and hard place' type stimulus. But at a practical level in image making, how differently would you prioritise color and tone over form? Change the color and the form disappears into the surface it rests on, just as burning or dodging items changes the ratio of profile and focus. To me, it seems equally justifiable to introduce a 'flaw' (tone, color, or form) as to remove one except in the (exceptional) case of a strict record shot.

color and tone over form . . .

 

I browsed through a forum discussion yesterday on B&W vs color and, as expected, there were a lot of folks making disparaging remarks about the latter. Perhaps in part because I lack darkroom experience, I'm very much drawn to color, but also to graphic elements, so I'm not aware of prioritizing color over form when I'm attracted to a potential shot.

 

In this case we have three things that tend to draw the eye away from the strings, pins, etc - the bright dampers section (which was part of the attraction initially), one offset damper, and plate defect. Each draws the eye due to clearly defined color (tone) and form. I see now that I'll have to let one element ride and feature it, but then subdue the other two.

In some ways, I think it is the 'imperfections' that sustain the interest. The graphic structure is of course very string here - but it's fairly easy to absorb. The little imperfections are like disccoveries to be found. I like the little bits of 'gunk' on the strings (how's that for a completely thorough understanding of piano construction...).

This image won an honorable mention the day before yesterday in a club competition ('altered'). I cloned out the 'ding' on the right side, but left everything else as is. I agree that the gunk (that's actually the technical term ;-)) fits because it's one of the many patterns that dominate the image.

Congratulations on honorable mention Carl. It does feel a bit left side heavy but i'm not sure whether any crop can improve it substantially. Regards,

Very interesting study of lines and textures. I have never seen the piano photographed this way, nice angle, unusal part. In my very subjective impression opinion, the second crop better composition wise. Textures, however, are preferable on original: on my screen dark areas almost loosing details on second one. In spite of this, very interesting and unique work.

My compliments.

PS: I just discovered your comment on my picture "Style". Many thanks for your opinion.

Best wishes.