DSS 31....Go with it? or scrap it?

ic4u

Here's one idea that I have running thru my head, wondering what your initial reactions are....
basically same photo, just different crops.
For titles I'm thinking about...
Anticipation, or
You've Got Mail
but I'm open to suggestions!

1.



2.


3.

The Curious Camel

I think this is a great idea.

It is a bit busy. If you could go to maybe a trailer park or go into a big apartment building and get the metal mail box's all along the wall. Again it's a great idea I just don't know how you could reduce the business of it. Maybe do a treatment like a midnight gold sepia?


I hope it helped.


g

Katmitchell

Hi Miss Karin,

I like the idea you have here for the theme. It is effective and fits the theme well

I agree with Gail. The composition is very busy, and all that busy is taking away from the impact of the "open" mailbox...

Can you find just a "single" mailbox with the flora trimmed around it so that it does not distract? Perhaps you can place some mail sticking out from the open mailbox resting in it? Perhaps some colored envelopes to kick it up a notch and give it color and contrast...

I think if you can find this single mailbox and then shoot it with a more shallow DOF to pull the focus onto it and not the surroundings, then that would work too..

OR

As Gail suggested, if you want "several" mailboxes, and perhaps only "one" in the row opened, then try to find a row of them with less clutter surrounding them, or the metal mailboxes in an apartment complex would work too for closed..

I like the idea and I love the title "you've got mail" witty and fitting both..

Kat

The Curious Camel

Katmitchell wrote:

Hi Miss Karin,

I like the idea you have here for the theme. It is effective and fits the theme well

I agree with Gail. The composition is very busy, and all that busy is taking away from the impact of the "open" mailbox...

Can you find just a "single" mailbox with the flora trimmed around it so that it does not distract? Perhaps you can place some mail sticking out from the open mailbox resting in it? Perhaps some colored envelopes to kick it up a notch and give it color and contrast...

I think if you can find this single mailbox and then shoot it with a more shallow DOF to pull the focus onto it and not the surroundings, then that would work too..

OR

As Gail suggested, if you want "several" mailboxes, and perhaps only "one" in the row opened, then try to find a row of them with less clutter surrounding them, or the metal mailboxes in an apartment complex would work too for closed..

I like the idea and I love the title "you've got mail" witty and fitting both..

Kat

Kat says it so much better. I know what I want to say but don't always find the right words. I certainly don't want to offend you. Like I said I really do like the idea. I think finding a single one is even better. Very simplistic and an easy find. Good luck to you.

g

kds1

I think it's a really good idea. I'd go with a row of them all open or all closed.

Kara

ic4u

Hmmmmm...well dang! I was worried it might feel a bit cluttered, so you all certainly confirmed that, shucks
I was hoping that it gave it "character", but I hear ya on the busyness.
Gail, absolutely no offense taken, I was surprised you thought that, after re-reading it, I found nothing offensive, just great advice! so thanks.
Kat, thanks for your thoughts, I have some other ideas I'm hoping to try.
I'm not so sure I could pull off a single mailbox without it being a bit boring, but we'll see, maybe the right mailbox could do it?
Thanks for your input too Kara. I actually intended for the one open mailbox amongst the closed, but didn't get it framed in a way to accentuate it. Ah well, back to the drawing board for me

whiterice

Hi Karin! This is an excellent idea for the theme. (BTW, I've come to appreciate the "country charm" that you're able to capture in so many of your shots!)

To add to what everyone else has said, IMO a single mailbox is not as powerful or visually interesting. And though I do think that image 1 is a tad busy, I do like seeing both the mailbox and a portion of the pole. I'm a big fan of weathered and rusty and wish all of the mailboxes had that worn look. Perhaps you could do a little PS magic and remove the newer ones and add older mailboxes you've found elsewhere?

ic4u

whiterice wrote:

Hi Karin! This is an excellent idea for the theme. (BTW, I've come to appreciate the "country charm" that you're able to capture in so many of your shots!)

To add to what everyone else has said, IMO a single mailbox is not as powerful or visually interesting. And though I do think that image 1 is a tad busy, I do like seeing both the mailbox and a portion of the pole. I'm a big fan of weathered and rusty and wish all of the mailboxes had that worn look. Perhaps you could do a little PS magic and remove the newer ones and add older mailboxes you've found elsewhere?

Well thanks for the kind words Chris!
I'm with you on the weathered and rusty...I don't know that my PS skills can accomplish that, but on my out and abouts today, I scouted some other options, so we'll see

jwear

well I like #2 maybe busy as they say but holds open and closed and looks good

Katmitchell

ic4u wrote:

Well thanks for the kind words Chris!
I'm with you on the weathered and rusty...I don't know that my PS skills can accomplish that, but on my out and abouts today, I scouted some other options, so we'll see

You will pull it off, you always do..ivar

ic4u

jwear wrote:

well I like #2 maybe busy as they say but holds open and closed and looks good

Thanks Jeff! I actually had done some cloning on that one to remove some of the clutter, but, it's just not strong enough:cry Thanks for your input:D

ic4u

Katmitchell wrote:

You will pull it off, you always do..ivar

Thanks Kat, hope I can measure up to that this time around!

divamum

I love this idea

Can you play with the angle and DOF, thus keeping a few in sharp focus while letting the rest blur out? If you have a telephoto (sorry, don't know your gear) the compression factor would also play into the repetition nicely. I'd probably move around to the right if possible, and shoot straighter down the line. Close-crop that, and you could get some really intersting compositions, I think...

travelways

Hi Karin,

The idea is very good indeed, but I would try different angles and dof's
to help the background being less obvious...

ic4u

divamum wrote:

I love this idea

Can you play with the angle and DOF, thus keeping a few in sharp focus while letting the rest blur out? If you have a telephoto (sorry, don't know your gear) the compression factor would also play into the repetition nicely. I'd probably move around to the right if possible, and shoot straighter down the line. Close-crop that, and you could get some really intersting compositions, I think...

Thanks for your ideas Diva, I will keep those in mind when I get out to shoot again...won't be today, gotta work:cry

ic4u

photo-bug wrote:

Hi Karin,

The idea is very good indeed, but I would try different angles and dof's
to help the background being less obvious...

Thanks Tatiana:D

adbsgicom

Like the idea, very clever. Hopefully you can find the perfect group of boxes. I like that one is open and the other shut, though all shut certainly works. All open would not (IMO). You might get some better luck w/ B&W if you don't get a chance to reshoot. I look forward to seeing how this plays out.

ic4u

adbsgicom wrote:

Like the idea, very clever. Hopefully you can find the perfect group of boxes. I like that one is open and the other shut, though all shut certainly works. All open would not (IMO). You might get some better luck w/ B&W if you don't get a chance to reshoot. I look forward to seeing how this plays out.

Thanks Andrew:D