LPS#15: Yeah or nay?

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Well, I saw this absolultely "as is" (i.e. I didn't stage it, it's simply a capture of the real thing) and it kinda hit me hard, so not only I took this image, but also decided to run with it.

However, I'm torn between two quite different approaches.
As you can see, a little crop changes the meaning 180 degrees. :deal
Life *is* weird... :dunno

#1: Protecting the faith:

#2: Life, Faith and Death:

#1 is my current entry.

What do you think?

Travis · October 20, 2007

Nikolai, I honestly love virtually every image that you produce but this one... I don't know... it just doesn't hit with the theme for me.

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Travis wrote:

Nikolai, I honestly love virtually every image that you produce but this one... I don't know... it just doesn't hit with the theme for me.

Travis,
thank you, appreciate the honesty!

Now, if you don't mind my asking: forget the themes

, which one makes you think more (if at all)?

Tentacion · October 20, 2007

Hey Nik, # 1 speaks "massive volume" to me (no pun intended

)

Travis · October 20, 2007

#1 Nik.

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Tentacion wrote:

Hey Nik, # 1 speaks "massive volume" to me (no pun intended )

Thank you!

But why?

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Travis wrote:

#1 Nik.

Thanks, man!

Tentacion · October 20, 2007

Nikolai wrote:

Thank you!
But why?

It speaks to me...that the person is a Fanatic or perhaps a Hypocrite...you can take it either way....

In once sense the bible says we should be one way, and you can see the person has religious teachings as we see multiple volumes religious readings, but on the other hand..there is a weapon of destruction that is known for killing or defending....but the gun is in a tight boxed area sort to speak, ...the person could be torn with his thoughts and is keeping a tight lid on it, so the gun is wedged in to keep from being able to use it easily??

Lots more I read into this composition....I hope I was able to type what my minds eye was seeing...

Donna

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Tentacion wrote:

It speaks to me...that the person is a Fanatic or perhaps a Hypocrite...you can take it either way....

In once sense the bible says we should be one way, and you can see the person has religious teachings as we see multiple volumes religious readings, but on the other hand..there is a weapon of destruction that is known for killing or defending....but the gun is in a tight boxed area sort to speak, ...the person could be torn with his thoughts and is keeping a tight lid on it, so the gun is wedged in to keep from being able to use it easily??

Lots more I read into this composition....I hope I was able to type what my minds eye was seeing...

Donna

Donna,
fair enough, I do appreciate your time and thoughts!

VisualXpressions · October 20, 2007

Number one makes me think I might see something like this on David Koresh's shelf, the Branch Davidean leader who was killed along with a bunch of his followers in the ATF Wako Texas incident... Not a main stream Christian belief that we protect our faith with lethal force... So definately an emotional shot, it isn't monochromatic though and not very colorful...

2 on the other hand is great with the Russian nested doll thing and the entire cross visible... I would just add one word to the title "death"

colors of life, the doll, colors of faith the black and white bibles, color of death, red dot on your gun, which signifies the safety is off...:D

Good luck
Winston

Flyinggina · October 20, 2007

Well, my first reaction was that I think you picked the right one. Visually, adding the colorful Russian doll dilutes the immediate impact - it lends a sort of discordant note. Which is why now I'm not sure. As I continue to look at both pictures I find that #2 draws me in emotionally in a way that #1 does not. It may have two instead of one focal points (maybe even three with the cross) and the light reflection on the doll is distracting (and presumably fixable), the overall composition makes me think and wonder. About Elena, about the cheerful Russian doll, about why a gun in the context of scriptures, and the interaction between all of these elements. The more I think about it, the more powerful the impact of #2 on me. I think I just talked myself into #2.

Virginia

Tentacion · October 20, 2007

VisualXpressions wrote:

color of death, red dot on your gun, which signifies the safety is off...:D

Good luck
Winston

I'll remember this next time I see a gun...look for the red dot....

I don't know nuttun about guns..

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

VisualXpressions wrote:

Number one makes me think I might see something like this on David Koresh's shelf, the Branch Davidean leader who was killed along with a bunch of his followers in the ATF Wako Texas incident... Not a main stream Christian belief that we protect our faith with lethal force... So definately an emotional shot, it isn't monochromatic though and not very colorful...

2 on the other hand is great with the Russian nested doll thing and the entire cross visible... I would just add one word to the title "death"

colors of life, the doll, colors of faith the black and white bibles, color of death, red dot on your gun, which signifies the safety is off...:D

Good luck
Winston

Winston,
great idea with the second caption, changed it!

Thank you very much for your thoughts!

VisualXpressions · October 20, 2007

Tentacion wrote:

I'll remember this next time I see a gun...look for the red dot.... I don't know nuttun about guns..

That's how I was taught... "when you see red your dead" so red means dead...

Winston

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Flyinggina wrote:

Well, my first reaction was that I think you picked the right one. Visually, adding the colorful Russian doll dilutes the immediate impact - it lends a sort of discordant note. Which is why now I'm not sure. As I continue to look at both pictures I find that #2 draws me in emotionally in a way that #1 does not. It may have two instead of one focal points (maybe even three with the cross) and the light reflection on the doll is distracting (and presumably fixable), the overall composition makes me think and wonder. About Elena, about the cheerful Russian doll, about why a gun in the context of scriptures, and the interaction between all of these elements. The more I think about it, the more powerful the impact of #2 on me. I think I just talked myself into #2.

Virginia

Virginia,
thank you very much for your time!
Appreciate your feedback, as always!

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

VisualXpressions wrote:

That's how I was taught... "when you see red your dead" so red means dead...

Winston

FWIW, safety was OFF, and I signified in post on purpose

VisualXpressions · October 20, 2007

great idea witht he second caption, changed it!
Thank you very much for your thoughts!

[/QUOTE]

Glad I could help, any time... One question, you said this wasn't contrived, and I believe you... I just hope this isn't how you normally store your gun???

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

Glad I could help, any time... One question, you said this wasn't contrived, and I believe you... I just hope this isn't how you normally store your gun???

It's an airsoft thingie, shoots plastic pellets

pyroPrints.com · October 20, 2007

I rather like #1

Nikolai · October 20, 2007

pyroPrints.com wrote:

I rather like #1

Thanks man!

pemmett · October 21, 2007

Nik,

Number 2 gets me thinking the most, especially about the Russian doll and the gun - Russian roulette etc. There seems to be something quite sinister about it.

Number 1 just makes me go huhhh?

Both of the images make me think - what an interesting chap you must be

Cheers / Peter

Nikolai · October 21, 2007

pemmett wrote:

Nik,

Number 2 gets me thinking the most, especially about the Russian doll and the gun - Russian roulette etc. There seems to be something quite sinister about it.

Number 1 just makes me go huhhh?

Both of the images make me think - what an interesting chap you must be

Cheers / Peter

Peter, thank you!

And if you go to Arches next year you will definitely find if your last question holds any water

saurora · October 21, 2007

Both of these images get me thinking Nik! Just shows how much a difference in cropping/composing can do. I have to admit I was initially put off because I am very uncomfortable around guns. There is so much to look at in the 2nd shot, I find something new each time I view. But, for myself, the doll is very distracting in an annoying kind of way. I guess it represents the (strong) "color" part of the theme in this one. I'm not sold on the theme for the first one. It doesn't really come across as monochromatic to me and then there is that really red dot....but it is such an intriguing shot that the judges may just go for it! I would love to see the shot fall somewhere inbetween....without the doll mainly. I love the cross and then there's all those interesting books...like one on the left with skull on the binding!!!!

All-in-all, very interesting, strong and graphic shots that (for me) are a bit soft in theme.

Nikolai · October 21, 2007

Susan,

saurora wrote:

Both of these images get me thinking Nik! Just shows how much a difference in cropping/composing can do. I have to admit I was initially put off because I am very uncomfortable around guns. There is so much to look at in the 2nd shot, I find something new each time I view. But, for myself, the doll is very distracting in an annoying kind of way. I guess it represents the (strong) "color" part of the theme in this one. I'm not sold on the theme for the first one. It doesn't really come across as monochromatic to me and then there is that really red dot....but it is such an intriguing shot that the judges may just go for it! I would love to see the shot fall somewhere inbetween....without the doll mainly. I love the cross and then there's all those interesting books...like one on the left with skull on the binding!!!! All-in-all, very interesting, strong and graphic shots that (for me) are a bit soft in theme.

Thank you for your detailed comments!

I realize it's not very strong theme contender, but I keep thinking it carries enough of the controversy to be considered seriously.

saurora · October 21, 2007

Nikolai wrote:

Thank you for your detailed comments!
I realize it's not very strong theme contender, but I keep thinking it carries enough of the controversy to be considered seriously.

I agree that it is strong enough to be considered!

sherstone · October 21, 2007

Plastic pellets or real bullets,
I find it interesting how an image of a gun can stir so much emotion in each of us.

I agree with you Nikolia, that this has enough thought and content to be considered seriously, it is an interesting interpretation of the theme.

The above is in reference to #1

#2 loses something.

Nikolai · October 21, 2007

sherstone wrote:

Plastic pellets or real bullets,
I find it interesting how an image of a gun can stir so much emotion in each of us.

I agree with you Nikolia, that this has enough thought and content to be considered seriously, it is an interesting interpretation of the theme.

The above is in reference to #1

#2 loses something.

Sean, thank you!
#2 adds a third element. It can be considered as adding a third dimension, or as dilluting the first two

sherstone · October 21, 2007

Nikolai wrote:

... dilluting the first two

exactly!

LPS#15: Yeah or nay?

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