What do you think of these pictures?

[Mutley]

I'm not sure I'll have time to go out and take new pics for the contest so these are a few I have on file. What do you all think?

[TahitiNut]

1. I like the pagoda tower ... a lot.

The magic of three's ... main colors, composition, phases, balconies. The perfect time of year - cherry blossom time. The right sky. The right position of the sun.

'Ikebana' photography. By far, it's a superior shot in an 'architecture' theme, imho.

Very good!! :thumbsup:

[Mutley]

2. Why thank you!

:D

[TahitiNut]

4. Well, thank you. I haven't been very optimistic ...

... that I'd see many image candidates where the photograph itself was what I could focus upon rather than merely the subject itself. Too much of what I see is overwhelmingly based on the geometry and texture of the subject, without a photographic treatment that synergizes with it or manages to shift perspective in a complimentary fashion.

The pagoda photo incorporates a composition that's synergistic with the aesthetics of Asian architecture and is taken at an angle that uses the orientation of the sun like Ikebana implies a location of the sun (you have to know a little of Ikebana to understand this). Indeed, I'm only able to point out the elements that appeal to me that I'm able to bring to my consciousness - there're many that're subliminal, I think.

Again, however, it's a photo where the image-taking/making is itself significant enough in complimenting the subject matter that I find myself able to appreciate the photo rather than merely the subject alone.

The other photos, while getting the basics of focus and exposure nice, just don't let me see where the photography itself accentuates something in the subject matter.

Stated another way, I don't think we should be choosing which subject matter we like best ... but what photographic effort best conveys the thematic aspects, almost independent of the subject. IOW, this isn't an architectural forum. (If the theme were 'women,' I don't think I'd pick based on most attractive woman.)

I'm rambling ... and probably not making much sense. I'm just not expert enough to succinctly describe what I'm sensing, I guess. :shrug:

[F.Gordon]

5. You're a tough bird to please

:hi:

Too much of what I see is overwhelmingly based on the geometry and texture of the subject, without a photographic treatment that synergizes with it or manages to shift perspective in a complimentary fashion.

Ideally it'd be great to have these kinds of discussions prior to a contest and then have everyone go out and look for architectural shots that incorporate a little of that synergy stuff. However, few here have the time to do that. Most of us, myself included this month, just browse through what we already have lookin' for something decent to enter in the contest. But I understand what you're sayin'....

Take intheflow's Staircase shot. I really like it as is but it would take on a whole different perspective if it had say one person walking up/down the stairs. It would have synergy. It would give life to the geometry/texture.

I have a ton of old building snaps... some interesting... some not. But I'm always looking for some way to bring synergy into the snap when I can. Most of the time it's very difficult. This is one bad example. It "could" work as an Architectural snap if I'd reversed it and had put the farm in focus (and shot in landscape perspective).....



The "contest" is hardly much of a real "contest". The prize for winning sucks. Only thing I look forward to each month is seeing what people come up with so I can hopefully learn something from them. Oh, and I could probably count on one hand the number of people that vote in the Lounge that put the level of thought/critique into "judging" that you do.

That's my incoherent rambling for the day. I'll see your rambling and raise you....
:crazy:

[TahitiNut]

6. I really like that shot. "The plow yearns for rest."

Or ... "... many rows to hoe before I sleep." (A loose Robert Frost allusion.)

Yes. That's EXACTLY what I mean. It's not about the Chamber of Commerce or real estate offerings or some tourism brochure. It's about photography.

I'm shitty at it, but I often know what I like and I merely try to understand WHY and find more.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. I will be forced to do "photography" this time...

...because Anchorage has no architecture. :(

[TahitiNut]

8. I guess igloos are a myth these days, huh?

:evilgrin:

I'm not being as much as a smart-ass as it might seem. I'd think there's something about cold-weather buildings that might be worth showcasing. The slope of roofs made to shed the weight of snow? Externals made for great depths of snw? Accommodation for ice? Dunno - I'm not that familiar with Alaska other than cartoonishly.

I'm obviously not qualified to put my photos where my keyboard is ... or quite in a position right now to do it, either. So, I should probably just "shut up since I can't put up." I'm sounding arrogant/pretentious even to myself.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. That's what we love about you, TahitiNut... :-)

No, there are really no igloos anymore, and most of the buildings are just so damned "functional" -- not much beauty at all. Sadly, Anchorage is pretty much a city of big boxes. I am planning to go out tomorrow though and have a look St. Innocent's Russian Orthodox church which is fairly new and apparently quite fine, although I haven't seen it yet. I also just posted a photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe's new building which is weirdly incongruous here, but quite attractive nonetheless.

[Mutley]

9. No, no, that's a great help.

Thanks for your input. I didn't know I had it in me. :P :blush:

[CC]

3. Love the first two best

though they have different feels to them. Not sure you can ever go wrong with Baltimore Harbor. Where is the Pagoda at?

[Mutley]

10. I love Federal Hill, and stand up there taking pictures all the time.

I had one of the back of the Visionary Art Museum with the giant gold hand coming off the side of the building, but I couldn't find it. x(

The pagoda is at Patterson Park on the Gough St entrance. I think that's the right entrance. :P

[CC]

11. I guess when we get windows

replaced, walls replaced and drywalled, floors laid and the deck around the pool we should take a day or two and go to Baltimore for something more than a ballgame or trip to the zoo. lol Inner Harbor is usually after the ballgame. Was mean this year and told Ter no trips until the house is done. And he thought he was taking a week or two bike trip in June. He keeps trying to make plans and I keep being stubborn. :rofl:

[Mutley]

12. Lol. There are actually a few things to do downtown besides the harbor

if you know where to find it. :rofl: Good luck getting the house done. :P

[CC]

14. Oh that I know. Its just been a long time

since we have gone to do others. DC usually wins out over Baltimore if we go for a long day. But Baltimore wins out over Philadelphia. Just too many choices from here and too little time.

[Fovea]

15. Rotate #2 2Deg CW

and crop the left/bottom about 15% or so.
Sometimes tilt works, not so much here, IMO.

[Mutley]

16. Unfortunately, I have no idea what any of that means.

:D