rust and paint Black Spring

one of my favorite "rust and paint" shots.

nice one carl! happy new year 2 u :)

Cool image, Carl, though I can't wrap my head around where the heck all that red came from. I'm not sure what to think of this image in all honesty, partly because my abstract "eye" isn't the finest, and as a result I can't draw conclusions regarding whether or not it works. Visually, I find it a little cluttered and kinda busy - and definitely confusing.

 

However, I enjoy the sunlight you have captured on the rusty metal, and the spring's shadow on the right hand side.

 

Anyhow, just my $0.02. Neat stuff, just hard for me to fully grasp and appreciate. Regards,

Carl, Matt used a good word. Confusing. I agree but have to admit I am having a ton of fun trying to figure it out. Not sure of scale. It could be a big spring or small. I think its a door spring. Not sure where the color is coming from either.

 

I am sure if you explain it I will band my head and say 'of course' but as it stands now I am a bit perplexed.

Rusty metal, sunlight, door spring . . . where's the confusion? Between the two of you, you've covered it.

I think without something to convey scale it is harder to tell. I have only seen one door spring like that in my life. If I hadn't I could think this is very small. That's all. No real big deal.

 

Thanks for clearing it up.

Here's a question that bothers me . . . . oh maybe once or twice a day . . .when it comes to deciding how/if to market my images.

 

Why is it important to understand what you're looking at? In this case it's a matter of scale, as you say, but does your ability to scale the image add to your appreciation of image content? It doesn't for me, but I seem to be in a small minority.

Far be it for me to answer your marketing question. Marketing my own images isn't even on my radar screen, probably because I shoot what I like when I like without regard to pre-conceived purpose or self-assigned theme. Don't think the cogniscentis would appreciate that. And I wouldn't know how to go about it, and even if I did it would seem like more trouble than it would be worth to me given that MY TIME is what I value second to loved ones and my day job career.

 

But I do know why a particular photograph might be interesting to most viewers or buyers. SIMPLICITY and INTEREST. And it is the profusion of straight vertical lines that distract and bore the heck out of me and de-abstract the image to my eye. So keep it interesting by keeping it simple; but you already know that ...

I think Hot Spring might be a better title - this is a very sexual and sexy abstract. (Don't ask me to explain any deeper ;-)

Sandeha, although you've declined to elaborate (maybe a good idea), your interpretation of this image is exactly the kind of approach I wish others would consider. The sensual curve is hard to miss, I would have thought. How come the rest of y'all are so literal?

 

Gary, what is an interesting line, as opposed to a boring one?

 

As with many images, maybe this works better as part of a series. This brings us back to the idea of shooting themes, which actually appeals to me for a variety of reasons, reinforcement of a concept to assist the viewer being only one of them.

while I was waiting for this shot to download I scanned the comments and noticed Sandeha's sexy comment and I thought whoa...Carl, sexy shot..hmm cant wait to see it.

 

The curve is certainly right there and sensual in nature as is the shadow and the spring. The curve mimicking the silhouette of a breast, the shadow if examined closely - resembles that of a stretching torso, the shadow of the spring- a corset.

 

I find the entire left hand side very appealing and I am tempted to want the right side shaved off completely except the final shape of the shot doesnt work as well without the right.

 

I do like the shadow play off the spring on the right side.

 

You state this is rust- but you get a cherry cool-aid color.

 

Knicki

Knicki ... isn't it lip gloss?

I've shot this dumpster several times. It is a fixture at the fire training facility, so has been subjected to fire from the inside, hence the black area. The pinkish brown is not color corrected and is a combination of the lighting, exposure, and processing . . . . mostly the end result of dealing with highlights and shadows. It's actually more of a dull reddish brown.

 

Funny, I saw a black torso, but now I see a red breast. Nothing is obvious, I guess. . . . .

 

Oh yes, the title 'Hot Spring' is under consideration . . . any other provocative suggestions from the gallery?

Yes, Sandeha, lip gloss is it. There's a title for you Carl- Lip Gloss.

 

Knicki

I have a suspicion this is one that will grow on me. For now, I like the left 3/4 a lot but the lower contrast in the right 1/4 bothers me a little (and possibly the fact that that region looks somehow more familiar/everyday). Maybe making the section to the right of the bright vertical bar would be worth a try. I don't suppose there was anything interesting on the left side allowing a shot panned 25% left for comparison?

I don't think there was anything to prevent me from including more of the left side. I'd reshoot it except the light angle has to be very precise, and I doubt I'd be as lucky as I was this time.