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2020 May Entries
Topic: ABANDONED Judge: Ed O’Rourke Florence, OR
(Double Click on any image below to start slide show)
BASIC LEVEL ENTRIES
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- FIRST PLACE 7.2 I think this image is a good exemplification of the theme of “abandoned”. From a creative perspective I appreciate, what is in my mind, effective use of black and white that enhances the sense of age. I believe the focus is being sharp throughout and with good depth of filed. The building, for me, stands out as the point of interest. I think the composition is well done with the trees on the sides helping to frame the barn and keep my attention directed on it. The lighting is, in my opinion, is evenly done without creating harsh contrasts and allowing details of the barn to come out. I perceive the aspect of the image to be a bit off level as the line where the barn and ground meet is higher on the left; the roof line also looks to me as tilted and all the trees seem to lean to the right. I also think the sky portion is a little overexposed as to my eye some of the detail in the branches above the barn seem to be washed out.
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- SECOND PLACE 6.8 This photo leaves a positive impact on me as it seems to create a sense of a time long past which in my mind is in line with the theme for the contest. I think the composition is good as, for me, the island with the gas pumps create a nice point of interest and I like the way it is centered and I appreciate the way the diagonal lines draw my eye up to the point of interest. I also think the negative space of the driveway complements the overall scene. In my opinion I think the colors work well together with the brown and rust juxtaposed with the blue in the background. From a technical perspective I think there is good depth of field which helps me look at the entire scene. I think the exposure could be improved because for me the driveway is a little over exposed and lacking detail while I perceive the upper right corner lacking detail due to under exposure. I believe an increase in contrast could make the image “pop’ a bit more and I think the color tones could be adjusted a bit to make them stand our more.
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- 5.5 For me this is a pleasing picture. I like the color harmony with the red muted by time and rust contrasted with the green and brown of the dirt and foliage. I see the focus as being sharp throughout and with a good depth of field. The grill and headlights are, in my opinion the focal point for the picture and think they are positioned well in the frame showing good composition. I also like the way diagonal lines of the grill link the headlights. I believe the overall picture is underexposed such that there is detail in the shadows that isn’t brought out. For me, intensifying the highlights would help to bring out more color of the car and I think it would help accentuate the image. The branches of the shrub in the upper left corner is distracting to me because its rough texture is in opposition to the smooth surface of the hood. In my mind I don’t see what the cactus in front of the car adds to the image and I also consider it distracting.
ADVANCED LEVEL ENTRIES
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- FIRST PLACE 8.9 This photo has a very strong impact on me as it relates to how my kitchen often looks. Because of that it invokes many stories about how I have to clean up my messes. I think the composition is well done with the seemingly random placement of the items, with the vegetable refuse in the foreground and the empty cans forming a background. I really like the way the colors work together with the oranges and greens paired with the black of the avocado skins. With the lighting coming in from the side I believe that it adds to my perception dimension and depth of the scene. The black background helps all the items sand out more for me. I think the choice of a title does a good job of describing this photo.
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- SECOND PLACE 8.7 This photo has a strong impact on me. I like the vibrant colors and how well they work together and I like the contrast created by the yellow flowers on the bottom of the frame. I see the standing barn as the main point of interest and I think it is well positioned on the right side of the frame which allow me to see beyond to the mountains in the background. Having some texture in the sky with the clouds is a positive attribute in my opinion. I like the way the fence along the bottom and the tree on the right side help to frame the barn along with the mostly collapsed structure in front of it keep my eye looking at it. And I think the two small bird housed in the center are a nice addition to the image. For me I think the depth of field could be extended just a bit to provide sharper focus on the flowers in the front while maintaining good focus on the barn. On the bottom of the line of clouds there is something protruding from the left side which I consider distracting and perhaps that could have been removed in post processing.
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- THIRD PLACE 8.4 I see this as being a well composed photo with the positioning of the car on top and the one in the foreground against the jumble of the mass of old cars in the background and I think it helps to create a strong impact. I like the way the image is framed horizontally with the green of the shrubs on top and the grass on the bottom. From a technical perspective I think it is well done with good focus and depth of field throughout. I looks to me that the colors work well together with the blue car standing out against the predominately brown and rust colors of the rest of the cars and for me keeps attention on the blue car as the point of interest. I think the lighting is well done with no overexposed areas and I see good details in the shadows.
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- HM 8.2 I think this is a well composed photo with house centered and I like having it framed with the trees on each side of the image. The sense of abandonment is, in my opinion, enhanced with the line of weed along the bottom that partially obscure the lower floor. I see the focus as being sharp through out the image with a good dept of field so that I can see significant details. For me this is a creative use of black and white which is helped with the way some of the plywood sections on the roof reflect light. I like the lighting as is full but, to my eye, not overly harsh. I see window section on the upper floor with the vertical lines create a break in the horizontal lines of the roof which direct my eye to the window section which for me is the point of interest. The shadow on the front of the upper window section seem a little dark to me and perhaps in post processing that section could be masked and lightened. I see a power line coming from the right edge of the upper roof which distracts my eye from the center. I also consider the dead leafless tree on the left side of the house distracting and perhaps that could be removed in post processing.
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- HM 7.8 I think this photo captures the sense of an abandoned town very well. I like the framing of the image with the buildings centered and the sidewalk creating a nice base for the image. The overcast sky, in my opinion, provides a softer lighting store fronts which allows for a move even level of detail. For me the primary point of interest is the large floral window in the doorway of the first building and the surrounding darker wood tones help accentuate it. I believe the deep depth of field is important for my eye to appreciate the details of the entire scene. I like the way the colors work together help. I also thing the cactus on the side of the building, the weeds in the cracks of the sidewalk and the wires hanging down are important elements in creating the sense of an abandoned street. For me the sky is over exposed and lacking of any detail. I think a bit of cloud detail would add to the overall image.
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- 7.6 This photo presents to me a nice relaxing image and provides me with a base to think of a story line of what a small town of 130 years ago might be like. I like the positioning of the old tractor against the painted wall with as it accentuates the older date. Technically I think the photo is well executed having sharp focus with good depth of field and good exposure with, what I see as, even lighting that brings out detail throughout the entire frame. I perceive the colors as soft and adding to the relaxed image and I like the way the brown rust of the tractor seems to be accentuated by being set against the blue and gray of the sign. The image doesn’t appear level to me as demonstrated by the line of the wall at the top of the sign and I find it distracting. I also consider the branches coming down from the upper right corner as being distracting. I see the tractor as being the point of interest and I think it would be more effective to include all of it in the frame.
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- 7.0 I consider the use of colors in this photo very striking. The contrast of the colors of the wall and back of the car, in my opinion, work well with the black and silver colors of the front of the car and the bags on the ground. I see the focus and depth of field as good with nice detail throughout. I think that having the car raised on the garbage bags adds an interesting element to the photo and stimulates, for me, different kinds of questions. Having the car positioned vertically about a third up from the bottom is a positive composition element. I think the lighting on the lower portion is over exposed with “hot spots” on the garbage bags. Also I am distracted by the fact that the front and back of the car have been cut off. My mind has difficulty identifying a strong mood or emotion creating element within the point of interest
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- 6.5 This photo quickly captures my attention to the front of the building which I see as the point of interest. I like the composition as I think it is nicely balanced with the building slightly off center with the gas pump on the side providing a bit of asymmetry. The vegetation coming off the right side of the roof helps, in my opinion, to enforce the sense of abandonment. I like the depth of field. I think the focus is a little soft however for me it helps in enhance the sense of “time gone by”. The overall image has my mind thinking of “what kind of stories” have happened here? I see the lighting as being a bit uneven as the foliage in the background looks to me as being overexposed while the front of the building and shadows seems a bit too dark. I am not entirely comfortable with the color balance as I perceive overall scene as being somewhat washed out.
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- 6.4 I think the composition for this photo is well done as the main point of interest, which I see as the stone structure, placed in the upper right at approximately the point for the “rule-of-thirds”. I like the foliage in the foreground which I think helps to set off the structure from the rocky ground and makes it stand out a bit more. From my perspective the image very slightly underexposed which is a positive for me in that the variations of the colors of the stones of the structure stand out more. The depth of field is, in my opinion, a little shallow as the structure is in good focus however I see the foliage in the foreground as being a bit out of focus. I am distracted by the foliage coming into the frame from the right side as they obscure the front of the structure more than I would like. The overall coloring of the image seems a bit dull to me and perhaps that could be modified in post processing by increasing the color saturation and/or contrast.
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- 6.3 From my perspective this is a nice street scene with the graffiti on the side of the building giving a sense that it is not occupied. I think the focus and depth of field are good as I can see sharp details all the way down the sidewalk and sides of the buildings. Also I sense good exposure with no “hot spots” and even lighting in the shadow areas. I see the person with the skate board as being the primary point of interest and I like the way he is positioned in front of the graffiti on the wall which, for me, helps draw my eye to him. I also like the composition in the way the skate boarder is positioned in the lower right corner and is in from the right side by a similar amount that the person in front of him is in from the left. The colors work well for me and I consider the fall foliage from the branches on the upper right help offset the muted colors of the sidewalk and walls. For me I would like to see the photo cropped from the top just below the first balcony as I don’t consider the part above that adding to the image and I find it distracting. I don’t recognize any elements of the image that help “tell a story” and I only perceive a weak relationship to the theme of the contest which is “Abandoned”.
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- 1.0 (Judges Disqualification) The bikes along the fence to me all seem to be relatively well taken care of and I think they have been “parked” not “abandoned”. Thus I do not believe it satisfies the contest theme of “abandoned”. That is why I am only giving it a score of 1.0. With that said I will provided comments as to my general impression of the photo. This photo has me asking “why are all those bikes parked there?”. I think the line of bikes are the primary element of interest and I like the way they end with the flag. From my perspective lighting is well done allowing good detail to be seen in throughout. The depth of field provides, for me, the ability see good detail throughout the image. I like that the skyline is there so that the sky can provide an upper border for the image and I think it helps to have clouds in the sky providing texture. The grassy area in the front provides a large area of negative space which I don’t think is effective for this photo. I don’t see any elements or lines that draw my eye into the center or key elements of the photo and for me the line of bikes move off to the right edge of the photo and there is nothing there to bring me back. I don’t think the placement of the utility posts do anything to add to the image and I consider them distracting.
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- 1.0 (Judges Disqualification) The tracks in the sand don’t lead from any object which would have been “Left Behind” and without such an object there is for me no indication that anything (or person) has been abandoned. Thus I do not believe it satisfies the contest theme of “abandoned”. That is why I am only giving it a score of 1.0. With that said I will provided comments as to my general impression of the photo. I consider this an impressive artistic photo and I think that the contrast created by using black and white enhance it’s impact. I like the way the footprints in the sand create a curved line that lead my eye from the bottom of the frame and across the sand to the horizon. The lighting is, in my opinion, done very well allowing for the waves in the sand to be seen and the footprint to stand out as the points of interest. Having the clouds in the sky I think really add interest to the photo. I am impressed with what I see as an excellent use of negative space which then keeps my attention on the line of footprints.
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- 1.0 (Judges Disqualified) The building in this photo strikes me as being well maintained thus I do not believe it satisfies the contest theme of “abandoned”. That is why I am only giving it a score of 1.0. With that said I will provided comments as to my general impression of the photo. For me this is a nice relaxing image. I think the composition is well done with the placement of the building having it nicely framed by the foliage on the top and right side. I like that it is in sharp focus with good depth of field so that all the details are apparent. The colors work well for me with the pastel of the building contrasted with the green of the foliage and the inclusion of “accent” items with muted colors such as the Pegasus sign, fire wood, table top and signs on the window. The position from which the photo was taken creates, for me, a path between the the front wall and picnic table that draws me into the building. I think the lighting on the front wall is a bit over exposed leaving a harsh impression and lacks detail while I think the shadow area, and specifically the door are a bit under exposed. As I only see these as being slightly over and under exposed perhaps they could be adjusted in post processing. With the exception of the building itself my eye can’t seem to identify a unique point of interest for this image.
MASTERS LEVEL ENTRIES
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- FIRST PLACE 9.5 I like the way this photo invites me to conjure up story lines relating to where it has been and what it has seen. While I perceive the old truck itself as being the point of interest I think the headlights themselves create a more interesting point of interest as I personify them as looking out as time passed by. For me the lighting is very well done in that I see it as being nice and even along with the exposure that allows me to see all the details. I like the composition in that the truck is placed in the center of the frame and I appreciate that the headlights are positioned about one third in from the right edge. Having the truck positioned at a downward angle toward the right helps me think in terms of it “still going down-hill”. I think the browns of the roadway as the foreground and the green of the foliage as the background separate the parts of the image nicely and then I appreciated having the truck right on the line separating the foreground and background. And I also thing the title fits well and helps me think of stories.
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- SECOND PLACE 9.3 For me there is a lot to like in this photo. I appreciate the time of day that the photo was taken because shadows are present that, for me, help add depth to the image however I don’t think the shadows are strong enough to distract from the overall image. In my opinion the exposure is good such that the lighting bring out all the detail in the structures and texture of the brick walls. The green foliage along the bottom of the frame allows me to perceive a base for the pueblo and helps me get a sense of size and distance. For my eye the focus is sharp throughout with good depth of field. I also like the inclusion of the cliff along the top of the frame as it helps create an upper frame and keeps my eye looking at the pueblo. Finally this photo has my mind thinking of what it was like in Anasazi life and the history that passed in this settlement.a
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- THIRD PLACE 8.8 What impresses me most in this photo is the vibrant rainbow of colors in the “surfboard” fence. The composition is well done, in my opinion, with the diagonal lines of the fence lead from both sides to the corner which I think is well positioned in the frame. I think that the surfboard on the corner with the lettering on it stands out more because of the coloring and for me it creates its own point of interest. I also appreciate the line of painted trash cans on the right side as adding an extra element. The lighting is, I think, well done with minimal shadows and what to me is good balance throughout the image. I like the fact that the focus is sharp with a depth of field that covers the entire scene. The green of the grass in the lower right corner for me seems a bit over saturated. I also think that the sky in the upper right corner could benefit from some clouds. My eye seems to pick up some noise in the sky, which I find distracting.
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- HM 8.30 In my opinion this photo does a great job of creating an image of times past and things forgotten and helps my mind lots of stories about the people that have used that butter churn and crock. I think that having a monochrome image with sepia toning really helps in giving a sense of nostalgia. The positioning of the camera below the objects and looking up to them on a high shelf reinforces for me the thought that they have been abandoned for a while and just recently found. I like the composition in that the items of interest fill the frame which keeps my eye focused on them. To my eye this image has a lot of noise, which I think is a result of a high 6400 ISO. I perceive what I think is posterizing evidenced by the lighter tones around the edges of the churn and crock and I find this distracting
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- HM 7.8 I like the way the colors work together with the bluish tint for the front of the barn, the green of the grass and the light blue of the sky and then the rust red of the roof providing, for me, a bit of contrast. From a perspective of composition I think the image centers the barn well leaving an nice margin on each side and I like that vertically the barn creates a separation between the sky and the grass. I think the focus is good with a full depth of field throughout the image. The presence of the clouds in the sky are, for me, a positive addition as it adds texture to what otherwise would be empty space. For me the roof of the barn is slightly overexposed such that my eye is missing some detail and I also think the side is slightly underexposed. I believe both of these issues can be corrected in post processing by adjusting highlights and shadows. I am not identifying any specific item in the picture which would be an “attention grabber” for me and with that I don’t see anything that triggers my imagination for any stories associated with the barn.
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- 7.7 The position of the old grounded ship, which I see as the subject of the photo, with the modern cruse ships in the background create a strong image for me. The colors work well for me with the blue of the water and sky contrasting with the rust of the ship. I think the smaller ship behind the grounded ship to the right is a good addition to the scene as is helps provide perspective as to the size and distance of the other elements in the photo. I like the fact that a fast shutter speed was used (1/500s) so that the ripples in the water could be seen and provide texture for the foreground. I see the grounded ship in the foreground as the primary subject but for me its impact is diminished by the large cruise ships in the background. To make it appear more prominent I would crop it as shown below, which I have taken the liberty to do:
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- 7.0 I like the impression created of the bridge with the overgrown foliage and the worn boards in the foreground that, for me, indicate that it is not a well used structure. The composition is, in my opinion, well served by a symmetrical presentation with the dirt path up the center leading my eye across the bridge. The color harmony works well for me with the lush greens tying in with the rust red of the sides of the bridge and I think they tie in well with the browns of the road bed. Overall I think this photo present a relaxing and pleasing scene. The entire frame seems to me to have a soft focus while I think it would be better served with a sharp more defined focus. To my eye I think the greens are a little over saturated. I also think the lighting is a bit uneven with some of the highlight areas overexposed and the shadow areas underexposed which, perhaps could be corrected in post processing.
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- 6.9 I am positively impressed with the technical aspects of this photo. The focus is sharp from the front of the image past the grave stones and then the depth of field drops off so that the trees at the top of the image form a soft background. It is composed well, in my opinion, with the headstones as the primary interest in a diagonal line that brings my eye from the lower right corner into the center of the image. The colors work well together for me with the dull greens and browns projecting what I see as a late summer image. I like the way the large grassy area presents negative space which I think is effectively used and dissected by the line of headstones.
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- 6.8 I like the way the barn is positioned in the photo as to make it the point of interest. The foliage on the sides of the barn help frame the barn for me and keep my eye focused on it. I think the lighting is good which allows for me to see the details in the shadows while not having overexposed spots on the roof. The color contrast of the green of the foliage and the browns and grays of the barn work well for my eye to create a harmonious scene. I think the focus is a little soft and not as sharp as I would like to see. For me the cloudless sky creates negative space without detail which perhaps could be corrected in post processing by adding a cloud layer to the image. I am not comfortable with the colors as I perceive the greens to be flat and a little “washed out”. I think they would benefit with some enhancement in post processing and an increase in contrast. I am having trouble identifying elements that project a strong impact or have my mind imagining the stories that this barn has seen.
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- 6.7 From my perspective the top of the barn sticking up from the foliage in the front and surrounded by the forest have it living up to the title “Lost to Nature”. By just including the barn top and surrounding foliage my mind is able to conjure up scenarios such as “how do you get in there?” or “why is it out here by itself?”. I think the lighting is good with even exposure that allows me to see detail in the shadows as well as the well lite sections. The rust and brown of the barn work well for me in creating a positive contrast with the blue of the sky and green of the foliage. I like the positioning of the barn with the front peak of the roof at approximately the intersection point of the upper right area if using the “Rule of Thirds”. I find the horizon line of the ridge behind the barn comes a bit too close to the left end of the roof such that it distracts my eye from the barn and leads it off toward the sky. The depth of field is, for me, a bit too shallow in that the foliage in front of the barn is in good focus while I don’t think the trees above the barn on the left are quite sharp enough. The flat smooth texture of the roof does not add to a sense of impact for me and I am not able to perceive an exciting point of interest.
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- 6.6 I think the composition is good with the barn centered nicely and I like that the shrub on the right side helps to create a boundary which keeps my eye from moving off the frame. I like that the lighting is not too harsh so that there are no overexposed areas while I can still see details on the shadow side of the barn. For me the focus is sharp with a lot of the detail on the roof and front of the barn are apparent. I am perceiving a good contrast on the front of the barn which help the detail stand out for me. The colors compliment each well for me. The overall image seem, to me, a bit tilted to the left which I find distracting. I am not comfortable with the color of the grass seems a little off from the intensity of the other colors for me . I am having trouble identifying elements that project a strong impact or have my mind imagining the stories that this barn has seen.
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- 1.0 (Judges disqualified) From my perspective I see this truck as being an interestingly decorated and reasonably well maintained. I think is parked in a somewhat trafficked parking lot thus I do not believe it satisfies the contest theme of “abandoned”. That is why I am only giving it a score of 1.0. With that said I will provided comments as to my general impression of the photo. The paint job of this truck, with the bright yellow/orange against the black has a very strong impact for me. I like the composition whit the truck centered with a margin around it. From a creative perspective I think the flowering shrub in the bed of the truck and the rusted running board with the beer bottle increase the interest for me with the juxtaposition of these contradictory elements. I don’t see any underexposed areas and this allows me to see details in the dark areas of the image. My mind can envision many stories such as: how much work has been put into painting and restoration, and how much work is left to do?; What kind of action has this “hot rod” seen. Some of the areas of reflection off the hood of the truck seem to me as being over exposed. Perhaps this could be addressed with exposure bracketing. I know you have to work with the background your presented but I don’t think the building with the green roof adds to the picture and tends to pull my eye away from the truck.
