#69 First Contest -- C&C please

bbjones

Well, I'm pretty new around here, but I'll take a crack at this challenge.

To me, ordinary is interesting when it points to a shared experience that we can all relate to. So, that's what I was going for here.

#1: "Kids' Commute"


This is also my first attempt at some quasi-photoshop (that is to say, GIMPshop) post-processing. I added some grain, but not nearly as much comes through in the jpg as there is in the GIMPshop file.

#2: "Fueled up and ready to face the day"


#3: "Another Day, another dollar."


I'd love to hear which one you like best and why. And I've got plenty to learn, so I'm listening.

Thanks!
-Brian

slpollett

Take any advice I give with a grain of salt because I'm no expert. I'm torn between #2 and #3. I like both ideas a lot. #2 is a great comp, but it bugs me just a bit that the focal point is on the reflection in the back instead of the keys & cup in the foreground. That's just me.

I like #3. It is a nice comp of an everyday (ordinary) scene at a daycare or elementary school. I like the b&w conversion and that all the backpacks are sharp and in focus.

Great way to get started in the challenges for sure!!

Sherry

WhatSheSaw

There is something about #3.

I think I would like #1 better if their heads were not chopped off.

#2 has a bit of a yellowish cast that detracts for me. It might work in B&W.

And welcome to the challenges!

bbjones

WhatSheSaw wrote: »

There is something about #3.

I think I would like #1 better if their heads were not chopped off.

#2 has a bit of a yellowish cast that detracts for me. It might work in B&W.

And welcome to the challenges!

Thanks for the comments!

I took about a million, many of which have the heads on. My thought was that the cropped head makes it more general and ordinary -- it could be anyone. But, maybe that didn't come through as much as I hoped. Like they say, if you have to explain it, it didn't work.

Thanks!

travelways

I too like #3 best.

- Maybe a kid hanging his backpack would give more story and interest to the image.

rteest42

Three, definitely....possibly two, if your DOF was really shallow, the items farther away from the mirror? (but, WHY the mirror?)....one, I agree the lack of heads is a problem, but probably because one child is beheaded, while the other is taller and not as bothersome? Does that make sense?
Welcome to the challenges!

SeascapeS

Yes, it's the height difference that makes #1 seem not quite right. Cutting heads off in a shot can work, but this one is off-kilter. Too bad, because it would have been a cute idea.

#2 is cute, but the better focus in the mirror bothers me and the fact that the top of the cup is cut off.

I agree with #3 as the best!

bbjones

Thanks for your input, everybody! It really does help a lot.

I'm leaning towards #3, as you have suggested, but a couple of questions first:

I'm not in love with the keys and cup either, and I actually like the focus in the mirror (which side of the looking glass are we on?) I expected people would not like the blown top of the real cup. Is that not a problem, or just not the biggest problem?

Also, thanks for the feedback on the cutoff heads. Here's two possible solutions.

First, get serious about the crop, and make it very deliberate. You all have emboldened me not to worry about cropping to sizes that Michael's carries frames for.


Second, here's a different shot of the same scene, this one with heads on:


I'm pretty sure your enjoyment of the second one depends on how well you happen to know those kids.

Do either of these work better? I really appreciate the help -- improving is fun!

Thanks,
-Brian

Froch

Although I don't really get unique or ordinary, there's something about this one that I really, really like. Because it hits the edges of the frame, it has me visualizing the rack continuing well beyond the boundry of the frame. I really like that style of shot..

rteest42

I have no problem with seeing your kids heads here! (We LIKE photos....even of other people's kids, lol)....I think the full body works better than the crop...Still think 3 is the best of the bunch however...

MrsCue

I've posted plenty of my kids lol.
I like both your BW images, especially the picture of your children. My kinda style. I'm not a lover of anyone looking into my lens. I prefer it to look like a moment captured in time. Lovely.

rbustraen

I also like the one of the backpacks. Just catches the eye some way.

Ty Pleas Fotographie

I love #3. The main reason is that it really shines the light on what's ordinary to us as a society. Even at an early age, we're taught to carry around too many things lol. I love the b&w, and by you cutting the frame, it leaves to the imagination just how many bookbags and things were actually on that rack.

bbjones

Ty Pleas Fotographie wrote: »

I love #3. The main reason is that it really shines the light on what's ordinary to us as a society. Even at an early age, we're taught to carry around too many things lol. I love the b&w, and by you cutting the frame, it leaves to the imagination just how many bookbags and things were actually on that rack.

Thanks, Ty! That's a lot of what I was going for -- I'm glad it came through.

Tentacion

I like 2 and 3

# 2 because it does seem like you were in the reflection shooting the pic as you said, which side of the looking glass are you on....VERY interesting... The way you captured the detail and lighting in the reflection and it does not appear on the other side, plus the very prominent seam, really can make a person wonder....lol

#3 - I like it because it is just an everyday event, very ordinary. Something we see probably all the time (parents) and we don't think twice about it...GRAB the kids, GET the bookbag, and LET'S GO....