Enveloping

Part of an ongoing series on symmetry. Thanks for any thoughts.

 

Cheers,

Aaron

Muy bien vistas esas lineas.

Saludos.

While I find the image compelling, well captured and a joy to look at, I am a bit confused as to how this is a study in symmetry. Isn't virtually anything going to be symmetrical if you flip it horizontally at the mid point in PS ?

I think Gordon's right. It's an arresting image but the concept doesn't play out for me and it's also sort of impersonal.

A very nice composition. Bravo!

It is Gordon, but it may not have unity. Here, by virtue of a symmetrical arrangement it underlines the harmonious and rhythmical nature of the furrows. I tend to think it becomes more than just the sum of its parts.

If the distillate of your response amounts to " some images look better mirrored than others" I agree whole heartily. At any rate a fine shot, congratulation.

It's hard to get one over on Gordon these days. I'm looking forward to more from the series. Aliens looking for a place to land might take this for a bull's eye.

 

You know, just for the sake of argument, if there were something a wee bit asymmetrical about this photo, it could possibly pass for a real scene. What I mean is, I didn't become fully convinced it was an unnatural image until I saw the trees on either side and realized it was mirrored. If one of the trees were removed (again, for the sake of argument) it would appear as a natural scene, and challenge the viewer's sense that it should be symmetrical.

That's funny, crop circles were the first thing that came to mind upon seeing this image, although I suppose it ends up being the antithesis of conventional crop circles, with the circle being the only crop not flattened.

Gordon, that's a truism and you know it. Aside from that, I hinted that creating symmetries opens up for a possibility of patterns and forms not perceived from the single image, thus being greater than the sum of its parts. I have in mind many of my "ice form" symmetries, one of which is in the folder. Interesting discussion, so far. I like your last comment.

 

Cheers,

Aaron

Doug, you're dead right. It could easily be made to "walk the line," so to speak.

The ice image stands out because of the use of a more conventional aspect ratio. This one above seems to take greatest advantage of your concept. The boldness of the lines plays out well. I like Doug's suggestion. Taking the mirroring of the image as a first step for the purpose of creating involved patterns and then going a step further and removing some of the more obvious tell tale elements or even adding elements to break the symmetry. Fertile ground for certain, if you'll forgive a bad pun.

"The ice image stands out because of the use of a more conventional aspect ratio."

 

I'm not quite sure I understand. They are both pans. One from 4x5, the other from 645.

Here's what I'm talking about. In this case, removing one of the trees makes me question whether it's flipped, or not, and therefore keeps me involved. I'm not sure if that still counts as a "study" in symmetry, but it helps me to think there was something more in the mind of the photographer than flipping a negative.

Doug, no need for the illustration, I knew exactly what you meant, and it's something I will continue to consider.

Judging by your response I must have phrased my comment quite poorly for which I will apologize.

 

I do find a difference in visual impact, as regards symmetry, between an 4X5 neg shot and flipped horizontally and sized to 678 X 261 and a 6X4.5 neg composed and flipped vertically and sized to 679 X 549. I realize that they are all panos but VoS #2 does stand out amongst the other photos in that folder, in terms of aspect ratio, for obvious reasons. I hope that clarifies somewhat.

 

Farewell and the best of success with your adventures in symmetry.

Oh, yeah, that one. I thought I had deleted it from the folder, and you were refering to VoS No.1. My bad. Incidentally, this makes an absolutely smashing 16x40" print on aluminum. Incredibly 3 dimensional.

 

Cheers,

Aaron

Keep it up, guys.This is better than Wimbledon. BTW, Aaron, what 's the scoop on aluminium printing?

Wow

 

Wonderful scene.Wonderful composition and well captured.Great position you have choosed and clever choose of B&W .

 

All the best

 

Afshin