DGrin Mini-Challenge #133 - Tabletop Winners/Runners Up

TonyCooperTonyCooper Registered Users Posts: 2,276 Major grins
edited January 1, 2012 in The Dgrin Challenges
My first-place vote goes to tinamarie's "Orange you glad there's chocolate?".
I have some reservations about how the image looks at a larger size and
if the detail of the orange will stand up, but the subject and the composition
is a winner.

Runners-up are #2 JAG's "2 relics" and #3 BBstringer's "Saddle Up".
JAGS might have pulled first without the intrusive watermark.

Here are my views on some of the other entries:

patti - Nice arrangement and nice choice of subject matter on "untitled".
Needs something about it to "pop", though., It's a soft looking scene that
would enlarge much better than it shows at this size.

bdcolon - The elderly lady with her head down on the table is a shot that
suggests the frustration of the aged, but its not something I consider to be
a tabletop photo. It's captured, rather than arranged. Very nice image
for some other theme. Same for the others in this group, but they have
less interest.

photo-fusion - The bottles on the table would have made an interesting
arrangement, but the view is too wide. I would like to see those bottles
as a central subject much the same as slpollett arranged her wine
bottles. The artsy-filtered shot from Barvaria is composed nicely, but it
lacks oomph as a photo.

kwickers - I like that cryptex and think it would make an outstanding
image if positioned and lighted more effectively. An emphasis on a part
of an object (the letter wheels, in this case) works if the entire object
is rather ordinary. This entire object deserves to be featured.

JAG - Again, an object that could be featured but isn't in "eternity".
Old watches are always a good tabletop subject, but this arrangement
just doesn't work.

One of my early favorites was "2 relics". I really like the subject matter
and the post treatment. One of my personal biases, though, is a water-
mark that obscures the image. I understand why people watermark
images, but when the watermark becomes more noticeable than the
subject matter, I have to downgrade the image. The faded appearance
of the image fits so well with the subject matter.

ghinson - Outstanding representation of a bacon, lettuce and tomato
sandwich. Well done. The fishing image is a bit too carefully arranged
for me.

BBstringer - Three strong entries. A bit of a miss in the composition on
the cup and watch because the cup's lighting makes the watch far too
secondary in the image. I wish the watch chain end was in the image.
Bits that touch the edge of the image, or go outside the image, are a
distraction to me if they are somewhat important to the image.

The fly-tying table is well done, but shares the problem of items cut off.
Expand that left and right, and cut the top a bit.

"Saddle up" is a very good image, but I think too many items were
included in the arrangement. I'd leave out the sword even though it is
an interesting subject on its own. Good lighting for this type of image.

tinamarie - Love all three. The chocolate orange deserves to shown
larger in the forum, but I wonder if the detail of the orange segments
will hold up. "Blue" does a good job of breaking rules by effectively being
divided in half horizontally and having part of the main subject(s) cut off.
ibid earlier comments on the watermark. "Garden Peas" is excellent
even with that watermark.

billseye - Tabletop is not just arranging objects; it is arranging objects the
provide a cohesive and interesting scene.

All above opinions are my own and there is absolutely no expectation
that they will be shared by anyone else.

Thank you for the submissions and special thanks to any of you who
went outside your normal shooting interests to participate in this.
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
http://tonycooper.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • tinamarie52tinamarie52 Registered Users Posts: 954 Major grins
    edited December 22, 2011
    Tony, thanks for the nod. I'd like to thank my set designer, my glass washer and those that keep the countertops so clean that we can see a reflection in them... and of course, my hairdresser and my parents for raising me to revere chocolate.... and...... and.....

    Actually, I think it was a Florida orange, probably from Orlando. That's why Tony picked it as a winner.

    I am off the grid for a few days to celebrate the holidays. Would anyone mind if I waited until Monday to post the next topic?

    Safe and healthy holiday wishes to all.

    Chris
    http://chrisadamczyk.smugmug.com

    When you come to a door... walk through it.
    If it's locked... find an open window.
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2011
    I always liked your chocolate shot Chris, Congratulations! clap.gif
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited December 24, 2011
    I am off the grid for a few days to celebrate the holidays. Would anyone mind if I waited until Monday to post the next topic?

    Safe and healthy holiday wishes to all.

    Chris

    Congratulations Chris! Just a quick post to say that it is fine with me to wait until Monday to post the next challenge. Happy holidays!

    Gretchen
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2011
    Congratulations! And Merry Christmas to all.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • BBstringerBBstringer Registered Users Posts: 101 Major grins
    edited December 25, 2011
    :D

    Thanks Tony, enjoyed it.
  • JAGJAG Super Moderators Posts: 9,088 moderator
    edited December 26, 2011
    Congrates Tina!

    Hey Tony, I apprieciate when someone takes their time to critique images for these challenges. Thank you!

    No worries about the water marks. I hate that I had to start putting the big obtusive ones on my images that get posted here on dgrin. But in previous years, I had dozens of my images that were stolen from Dgrin and posted in some unsavory sites as well as site that were trying to resell them. I have taken care of getting all those taken down with some strongly written letters to the webmasters, however since I have put the larger marks, I do not get people snatching my images as much. Its a bummer but it is what it is. Thus why I do not share often in any forum unless its connected directly to my smugmug account. I can keep track of where the images are going.
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited December 27, 2011
    JAG wrote: »

    Thus why I do not share often in any forum unless its connected directly to my smugmug account. I can keep track of where the images are going.

    Hi Joice, I don't know if you noticed, but you can insert photos in the forums (wherever on internet) that are directly related to your smugmug site.

    All you have to do is: on "Share - Get a Link" go from the top menu to "Embedable Links" and then, choose: "Blogs: small, medium or large"

    This is what I did now for the new mini - you can click on them and get to the original gallery.
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • JAGJAG Super Moderators Posts: 9,088 moderator
    edited December 27, 2011
    Yes Tatiana, I realize that and use that feature all the time! I was just saying that I do not share as much as I use to because of finding images that I post on dgrin, had ended up on unfavorable sites. But like I said also, I haven't had the problem as much since I started putting the large abnoxious watermarks on my images. ;)
  • billseyebillseye Registered Users Posts: 847 Major grins
    edited December 27, 2011
    JAG wrote: »
    Yes Tatiana, I realize that and use that feature all the time! I was just saying that I do not share as much as I use to because of finding images that I post on dgrin, had ended up on unfavorable sites. But like I said also, I haven't had the problem as much since I started putting the large abnoxious watermarks on my images. ;)

    Joyce,

    I'm curious how you tracked down your images on the web....
    Bill Banning

    Check out billseye photos on SmugMug
  • kwickerskwickers Registered Users Posts: 310 Major grins
    edited December 27, 2011
    Hey Tony, I apprieciate when someone takes their time to critique images for these challenges. Thank you!
    15524779-Ti.gif
    Photos.KeithWickersham.com
  • JAGJAG Super Moderators Posts: 9,088 moderator
    edited December 27, 2011
    billseye wrote: »
    Joyce,

    I'm curious how you tracked down your images on the web....

    Bill, on my pro account with smugmug, they have a tool in statistics that gives lists of links where your images are being displayed on the net. I had found a few that were snagged from one of the forums that I was a regular on at one time, and the links went to websites that were not somewhere I wanted my pics to be! Its a great tool and really helps me know where my images are being posted.

    Thats the risk we run when putting our copywrited materials out on public forums. Thus why I have slowed down tremendously and just post challenge images.thumb.gif
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2011
    JAG wrote: »
    Bill, on my pro account with smugmug, they have a tool in statistics that gives lists of links where your images are being displayed on the net. I had found a few that were snagged from one of the forums that I was a regular on at one time, and the links went to websites that were not somewhere I wanted my pics to be! Its a great tool and really helps me know where my images are being posted.

    Thats the risk we run when putting our copywrited materials out on public forums. Thus why I have slowed down tremendously and just post challenge images.thumb.gif

    I have a pro account, but I had no idea that is built in.
    Where would I need to go to find and setup this function.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • kwickerskwickers Registered Users Posts: 310 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2011
    davev wrote: »
    I have a pro account, but I had no idea that is built in.
    Where would I need to go to find and setup this function.

    go to: control panel - statistics - referrers
    Photos.KeithWickersham.com
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2011
    kwickers wrote: »
    go to: control panel - statistics - referrers

    Thanks, found it.
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited December 29, 2011
    Joyce, thank you for the reminder that this kind of thing happens. I just checked and found a couple of my photos being used in interesting ways. One was my first attempt to photograph the moon with a long lens. The other was my "Haste makes waste" broken pottery shot (for one of the challenges) - found on an internet dating site.
  • WhatSheSawWhatSheSaw Registered Users Posts: 2,221 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2012
    Congrats, Chris! Great choice on the new challenge.
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