Thread: A few more?

Trying for some more abstract/minimalist with these. Some were more successful than others. As always, would love your input.

I think this is my weakest shot, any ideas on how to improve?




roofline, click to enlarge.


Leading lines. Felt this might be my strongest?



And mostly just for fun...

Well for one don't take any more shots like no. 1. couldn't resist.

The last has some potential possibilities. Again, even with minimalism you need some sense of scale I believe. All these shots lack that I think. Also I think framing, zooming and cropping of the shots become extremely important. The objects can almost take on an anthropomorphic feeling. They are what they are but become abstract in some manner.

I think of minimal as simpler subject matter. One item photographed on a persons clothing can be minimal a feature on a face or a car. A simple massive shape can be minimal. There seems to be many things (subject matter) going on in your shots, but no real focus on any one minimal item, detail, shape, form etc. I don't know if I'm even explaining it right, but it seems so to me.

Obviously minimal can take on many different thematic definitions, so it's all just conjecture on my part.

I agree not enough focus on what the subject of your shot is. My suggestion for #2 would be to focus in more on the pattern made by the siding or the shingles for an abstract.

The tilt in #3 and 4 bothers me

Originally Posted by Vinman

I agree not enough focus on what the subject of your shot is. My suggestion for #2 would be to focus in more on the pattern made by the siding or the shingles for an abstract.

The tilt in #3 and 4 bothers me

Ditto on the tilt thingy.

honest question...what inspires you to take these shots, whats your interest? Just seems like you are taking shots of random things...why the first shot..why bother?

1 & 2 are in need of subjects of interest, 3 & 4 have them - the Leading lines (stop, do not cross!) to the Manhole, the window frame and "The Frame." There's nothing to look for in the first two shots, nothing for the search to end on..

I like 3 & 4 though it bothers me that you cut the bottom of the window frame & sign off in #4.

1 & 2 are completely uninteresting.

JMO -worth about what you paid for it.

Thanks for the input. What inspires me to take these pictures? I see this stuff when I walk by and think it looks cool. I guess I am just trying some different things with this group, but yeah, looks as though most were pretty unsucessful. Thanks again.

#1 might work if you squared it up and shot it so the fence lines/parking space lines were vertical. It also might give the illusion that the boat was floating behind the fence. Right now it feels like a snapshot, which I believe is caused by the angle. And bring a stepladder or something so you can climb up a little - enabling you to get more boat and less fence. Reshoot in cooler light too. There is a photo there, find it!

But sorry, #2 just sucks

better? There is a house in the left half of the image, so there was a lot of clonework. I also need to straighten the horizon, but compositionally, does this have any potential?

Yes it's better because your composition has some things going for it. The semi symmetry thing with the strong vertical and horizontal lines makes for some interest and a little tension. I think you need to make the horizon dead on horizontal though. Wonder what wetting the blacktop would do ?? The step ladder thing is an idea worth looking into. Having a small "2 step" ladder handy can really alter a shots perception when height becomes a factor.

it is better - but i agree with osecs, the foreground needs something. I was thinking of applying a mask in photoshop and upping the contrast like crazy, really popping out the tire treads which look kinda cool. Or wet it down. But yeah, that's an improvement for sure.

edit: and increase your highlights too - there's no whites in this image.