Mini Challenge #164: Juxtaposition

sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
edited May 19, 2013 in The Dgrin Challenges
Welcome to Mini-Challenge #164! The theme of this challenge will be Juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition is defined as "placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast." My family helped me brainstorm ideas for this mini, and this is one of several ideas that resonated with me. I am interested in seeing photos that naturally show a juxtaposition of two subjects/objects in a way that compares or contrasts them. Images may show an unexpected combination of subjects or a more subtle juxtaposition. Another approach would be to look for images - or take fresh images - with a surprising element, something that is unexpected or seems out of place, or an inherent contradiction.

I am hoping that these parameters will give folks plenty of room to have fun with this! Please focus on images with natural juxtapositions rather than forcing a composition or combining two or more images. Your title can suggest the juxtaposition or you can let the viewer discover it. Thanks!

This challenge starts now and will close at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (This follows the recent trend to shorten the time frame for the mini to about ten days instead of two weeks.)

(Please note that I have posted some images below that could fit this theme, but I'm confident that a lot of you will have captured even better examples of juxtaposition!)

Gretchen

OUR UN-OFFICIAL GENERAL RULES
1. Have fun sharing and seeing what others share!
2. The host supplies a topic and YOU POST 1-3 IMAGES. The host judges the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and is not eligible to enter. The 1st place winner becomes the next host, chooses the next topic and becomes the next judge.
3. Any photo you’ve taken is eligible, regardless of when taken or camera used.
4. Any amount of post-processing is allowed. However, it is helpful if you list your camera and lens along with your photo.
5. You may comment on other contestant's images. If you want someone to leave you some critique or criticism, just ask within your post.
6. The winner has up to three days (72 hours) to begin a new mini-challenge, or the honor goes to the #2 finisher and so forth.

Guidelines:
1. Enter 1-3 photos and put them in a single post.
2. Either embed your image in the thread or, if you must, supply a link to it. Keep in mind, however, most people don't want to click to open photos hosted elsewhere (i.e. on your website).
3. Also try and resize your photos prior to posting so they're sized appropriately for viewing without having to scroll (~800 pixels on the longest side works best.)
4. Give each image you enter a title.
5. Enjoy discussion with members about their images, don't let this just be an entry thread!
6. When quoting a post, change the IMG urls to a 200x200 size picture so it is clear your post is feedback and not another entry. (See here for help).
7. Don't be hesitant; share 'em and enter!

Mini-Challenge pointers:
1. Upon winning a mini-challenge round, your first step is coming up with a new theme and starting a new thread using the same format as others have used.
2. Make sure to notify the admin of this thread to update the main thread links with your entry thread.
3. Feel free to watch the thread as it grows or wait to the end time and look at all the entries all at once.
4. After the time/date has passed, then officially close the thread with a single post notifying everyone of the fact.
5. After you're finished judging, start a new thread (again using the prior formats) and post your Winner and runners-up. It is important to have runners up in case the winner does not show within the 72-hour window.
6. PM the winner with this info above and let them know they have 72 hours to set up the next mini-challenge.
7. If the winner does not show/start the next mini-challenge after 72 hours, notify the next runner-up and post a message on the Winner thread of the fact.
8. Remember, if you're the Winner, you run the next mini challenge!

Here are a few examples to get you started.... (You can also view more examples here.)

Fire and Ice
Fire%20and%20Ice-8641-%20dgrin-1798627377-O-L.jpg

Strong and Helpless (my newborn grand-daughter with her father, a martial arts sensei)
Peyton%20and%20Jim-6842-pse%20bw-2327823929-O-L.jpg

Tokyo Skyscrapers Seen from Park with Traditional Teahouse on the Water
Korea%202013%20-%20Tokyo%20Buildings%20from%20Park-8116-pse-L.jpg

[and just for fun] Tractor Repurposed
Juxtaposition%20-%20Tractor%20in%20Playground%202-081%20copy-L.jpg
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Comments

  • DawnyaLynnDawnyaLynn Registered Users Posts: 42 Big grins
    edited May 8, 2013
    How to embed photos
    I have tried to post some photos, but can not figure it out. How do you embed photos in the post? Thanks
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2013
    From the top right menu of your smugmug gallery, choose Share -> scroll down to: Get a Link -> Embeddable Links -> Large

    I hope this helps :)
    DawnyaLynn wrote: »
    I have tried to post some photos, but can not figure it out. How do you embed photos in the post? Thanks
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • DawnyaLynnDawnyaLynn Registered Users Posts: 42 Big grins
    edited May 8, 2013
    Nature amidst ruins
    This is my first time entering a challenge. I chose these photos because to me they are contrasting, you have the elements of a building being reclaimed by nature. Nature is not supposed to be inside of a building. Please let me know what you think.

    Taking Over (I am standing outside the building, what you see through the window would be a main room in the building)
    i-dRPPnDq-L.jpg


    Overgrown (Part of the building does not exist anymore, and the trees are running rampant)
    i-sbXKrkh-L.jpg


    Inside Out (I am also standing outside on this one)
    i-TThwzGb-L.jpg
  • juanherediajuanheredia Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2013
    Hi everybody, this is my first time entering a challenge too. I will try to show some photos contrasting some elements. I'll apreciate your comments.

    Sky and earth
    _DSC1745-L.jpg

    Nature and Buildings
    _DSC1823-L.jpg

    Live and Death
    _DSC0010-L.jpg
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 8, 2013
    Ok here is my interpretation of the theme

    1. Old and Young
    1847-00320020.JPG

    This was taken in the vegetable market in Lisbon in 1964. I think this is the father of the child, so probably not as old as he looks

    2. Angry - Calm
    x3593-00690009-8.jpg

    My oldest two children (now 50 and 52 years old) in Yosemite camping.

    3. Huge - tiny

    3224-00140092.jpg

    (Tree - Sequoia is huge - children - tiny)

    I am realizing as I post these that they are all old photos. Maybe I will switch them out if I come up with better ones that are more recent.
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    1) Nature, human nature

    IMG_1914-XL.jpg

    2) Old and New - Floating monster from hell.

    IMG_3147-XL.jpg

    Good luck everyone,

    Alan
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited May 9, 2013
    Great to see some entries here already! Always fun to see how people respond to the various challenges and what they've captured at one time or another.

    Please note that while fresh photos are always welcome, I have always appreciated the opportunity to use old or new photos in the minis. So I am more interested in what you think best fits the challenge than whether your entries were taken recently.

    Gretchen
  • CHANDLERJACHANDLERJA Registered Users Posts: 400 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    1. Elderly Youth

    GOOD-1349-L.jpg

    2. Blind Site

    GOOD-7789FINAL-L.jpg

    3. Nature vs Man

    HISTTEST-3327-HDR2-L.jpg
    Jeromy
    http://snaptx.smugmug.com/
    Light is everything in life and photography.
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    IMG_1914-XL.jpg

    Love the two circles - a photo I wish I had taken
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    grandmaR wrote: »

    Love the two circles - a photo I wish I had taken

    Thanks grandmaR,

    However, I don't feel I have quite got the quality out of it that I should have given I had plenty of time, tripod etc.

    Alan.

    PS - Just returned from a long weekend at Badminton, shame about Michael Jung.
    Really brings home the expression "Falling at the last hurdle"
  • kentwallerkentwaller Registered Users Posts: 158 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    great theme!

    1. Old and new skyscrapers
    IMG_9804%20-1-L.jpg



    2. destruction and hope
    IMG_1860_59_1_Localtone-L.jpg



    3. ancient tradition, modern habit
    IMG_2508-L.jpg
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    Thanks grandmaR,

    However, I don't feel I have quite got the quality out of it that I should have given I had plenty of time, tripod etc.

    Alan.

    PS - Just returned from a long weekend at Badminton, shame about Michael Jung.
    Really brings home the expression "Falling at the last hurdle"


    Yes it does look a little pixelated in the water. But still an arresting image.

    I know riders tend to relax at the end. Or their energy runs out. My daughter was waiting in the start box on a pony and the start was discussing another pony that was finishing up the course and at the last fence the pony pecked and the rider went cartwheeling off. Very reassuring for Beth who was starting the course on the same size pony.
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • TravelnLassTravelnLass Registered Users Posts: 87 Big grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    IMG_3147-S.jpg

    Goodness Alan - a monstrous indeed. No way would I ever want to spend a week on such floating city!
    "I am not the same, having seen the moon rise on the other side of the world."
    TravelnLass.com
  • TravelnLassTravelnLass Registered Users Posts: 87 Big grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    O.k. I theeeeenk I have a trio of "juxtapositions". One of my favorite things about participating in these MCs is wading through my archives, each new MC theme forcing me to look at every blessed one of my images a bit differently.

    In no particular order, and deliberately untitled in hopes the viewer can discern the relationships:

    1. )
    misc-0022-opt-L.jpg



    2.)
    costarica-0265-opt-L.jpg




    3.)
    costarica-0056opt-L.jpg
    "I am not the same, having seen the moon rise on the other side of the world."
    TravelnLass.com
  • Alans GrinAlans Grin Registered Users Posts: 346 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013

    Goodness Alan - a monstrous indeed. No way would I ever want to spend a week on such floating city!

    I appreciate many people enjoy being on these things, but definitely not my style either.
    No trick of scale or perspective here ... this monster floated into Venice and literally dwarfed the place!

    Alan
  • TravelnLassTravelnLass Registered Users Posts: 87 Big grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    I appreciate many people enjoy being on these things, but definitely not my style either.
    No trick of scale or perspective here ... this monster floated into Venice and literally dwarfed the place!

    Alan

    Yep Alan - it looks like it could haul off the whole of San Marco Piazza!
    "I am not the same, having seen the moon rise on the other side of the world."
    TravelnLass.com
  • kentwallerkentwaller Registered Users Posts: 158 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    I appreciate many people enjoy being on these things, but definitely not my style either.
    No trick of scale or perspective here ... this monster floated into Venice and literally dwarfed the place!

    Alan

    i have a similar pic from venice as well. one of several reasons i really just didn't care much for venice. nothing but crowds, commercialism, cruise ships, etc.
  • fjcvisualfjcvisual Registered Users Posts: 201 Major grins
    edited May 9, 2013
    Juxtaposition
    What a great theme. Thanks Gretchen.

    I have been working with different treatments of certain photos, but sometimes I think it goes over the top. So I am posting two of my images with multiple treatments looking for all of your feedback as to which versions are more appealing.

    If its not appropriate to have c&c here I will remove.

    Thanks, Jim

    1. Not everyone keeps up with progress


    2. The Price of Convenience


    3. Making do
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2013
    Alans Grin wrote: »
    I appreciate many people enjoy being on these things, but definitely not my style either.
    No trick of scale or perspective here ... this monster floated into Venice and literally dwarfed the place!

    Alan

    I don't like the big ships, but I do like to go on cruises. If I'm going anyplace that Bob can't drive to (and he won't fly), I more or less have to have someone with me who can manage the luggage or else be on a ship where I don't have to do that. I'm not of an age to backpack and since I can only walk a little bit, I'm not able to even do elderhostel.

    We went on a two week cruise in January and I visited at least 12 cemeteries and took photos documenting them - probably between the two of us 1200 photos.

    Bob would rather travel on our boat, but since I can't even walk all the way out the dock to where it is anymore without stopping to rest a couple of times, I think that's probably not going to be happening that much.

    It's not a good idea IMHO to say that you would NEVER do anything while looking down your nose at people who do. Eventually you may have to eat your words. It's like a childless person saying "I would never xxxx with my child."
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • DonRicklinDonRicklin Registered Users Posts: 5,551 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2013
    Just shot at the MFA in Boston. ynaze2yh.jpg

    Will insert DSL shot later.

    thumb.gif
    Don
    NOTE:
    Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk 2

    This was a tease.

    I have reposted final of above and two others in a further post.

    :D

    Don
    Don Ricklin - Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, was Pentax K7
    'I was older then, I'm younger than that now' ....
    My Blog | Q+ | Moderator, Lightroom Forums | My Amateur Smugmug Stuff | My Blurb book Rust and Whimsy. More Rust , FaceBook
    .
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2013
    #1 - WWII versus 2010
    IMG_2038%20copy-XL.jpg


    #2 - 18th and 21st Centuries Meet
    i-pX26qcV-L.jpg


    #3 - Land of the Lost
    BW_IMG_2805-L.jpg
  • superduckzsuperduckz Registered Users Posts: 377 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2013
    p1255186952-5.jpg

    p1258601070-5.jpg

    p1581912204-4.jpg
    Accidents and Inspiration
    One of these days I'll have to figure out what my "style" is..
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited May 11, 2013
    fjcvisual wrote: »
    I have been working with different treatments of certain photos, but sometimes I think it goes over the top. So I am posting two of my images with multiple treatments looking for all of your feedback as to which versions are more appealing.

    If its not appropriate to have c&c here I will remove.

    Thanks, Jim

    Hi Jim,

    The guidelines say "You may comment on other contestant's images. If you want someone to leave you some critique or criticism, just ask within your post." Not sure whether you will get the kind of feedback you are seeking in the mini or not, but you are welcome to ask. Just be sure to come back before the mini ends and remove all but 3 entries. :D

    Anyone else have thoughts on this?

    Gretchen
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2013
    sapphire73 wrote: »
    Hi Jim,

    The guidelines say "You may comment on other contestant's images. If you want someone to leave you some critique or criticism, just ask within your post." Not sure whether you will get the kind of feedback you are seeking in the mini or not, but you are welcome to ask. Just be sure to come back before the mini ends and remove all but 3 entries. :D

    Anyone else have thoughts on this?

    Gretchen

    I was puzzled by a couple of the entries including Jims as to what the juxtaposition was - especially his third one. I wasn't sure what the dichotomy was in that/those photos and I don't know which I like better.

    I can see the juxtapostion on his second one, I liked the idea of the flower with the industrial (refinery?) complex in the background. I like the second one with the more yellow flower better, because I think the orange is too intense.

    I hesitated to comment because I generally don't care much for photos pretending to be paintings and I know that I am pretty much alone in this - too much of a Luddite for most people in this group.

    I thought that one of the entries would have been better in one of the previous minis and I didn't know how to say that tactfully.
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
  • travelwaystravelways Registered Users Posts: 7,854 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2013
    Here are mine:
    (For larger versions, please click on the photos)

    1. April Fools' Day, Canada 2013

    April Fools' Day, Canada 2013

    2. Panajachel, Guatemala - a friendly place

    Tourists and Natives

    3. Supplementing his pension... Nuremberg, Germany

    On his own way

    * I just thought to change some of the photos :)
    Tatiana - Seeing the world through my camera
    TravelwaysPhotos.com ...... Facebook
    VegasGreatAttractions.com
    Travelways.com
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited May 11, 2013
    travelways wrote: »
    Here are mine:
    (For larger versions, please click on the photos)

    Thank you for giving the option to see larger versions! I looked through the gallery the other night and could see larger versions of some but not all. (I do understand the pros and cons in making larger photos available though, so no problem if it is not an option to open a larger version with all entries.)
  • DonRicklinDonRicklin Registered Users Posts: 5,551 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2013
    Here for consideration is my non-cellphone image of this juxtaposition:

    1) Young ballerina and man at bath:
    IMGP5266-L.jpg

    Also
    2) Swan in squalor:
    IMGP1169-L.jpg

    3) Man and nature:
    IMGP2044-L.jpg

    C&C welcome!

    Don
    Don Ricklin - Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, was Pentax K7
    'I was older then, I'm younger than that now' ....
    My Blog | Q+ | Moderator, Lightroom Forums | My Amateur Smugmug Stuff | My Blurb book Rust and Whimsy. More Rust , FaceBook
    .
  • fjcvisualfjcvisual Registered Users Posts: 201 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2013
    grandmaR wrote: »
    I was puzzled by a couple of the entries including Jims as to what the juxtaposition was - especially his third one. I wasn't sure what the dichotomy was in that/those photos and I don't know which I like better.

    You know, as I was selecting my images, I asked my self what the difference was between Juxtaposition and opposite. I concluded the difference has something to do with context and interaction. In my first image, I thought Tinker Bell looking up at Christina Aguilera was an interesting contradiction in style.

    My second image as you say is the flower with the refinery in the background. I added the treatment because of the over saturation of the orange. I even toned down the orange in the image you see. Having said that it almost seems like the surreal look to the second image takes away from the stronger point which is the conservation aspect of the juxtaposition.

    My third image may be harder to see. What I liked was two drivers traveling on the same road, one with an old pedal powered three wheeler, the other with a new engine power motorcycle. I thought the driver of the older three wheeler's glance towards the motorcycle added to it, albeit subtly.

    So, I may not be interpreting the use of Juxtaposition correctly, but it seems to be a bit grey.

    And thank you GrandmaR for your comments, you said it just fine. thumb.gif
  • sapphire73sapphire73 Registered Users, Super Moderators Posts: 1,942 moderator
    edited May 11, 2013
    Wondering whether folks might find "Using Juxtaposition to Enhance Your Photography" helpful? Before posting the new mini, I googled this theme as it relates to photography - just to see what's out there. I was intrigued with this blog post and accompanying images. (I provided a link to it in the original post but it is somewhat inconspicuous.)

    Jim, I hadn't planned on commenting on any photos until the end of the challenge but will say that in my opinion, your second and third images fit the juxtaposition theme very well and the first one, less so. But I purposely expanded the theme a bit by suggesting that another approach would be to enter images in this mini that have a "surprising element, something that is unexpected or seems out of place, or an inherent contradiction." You have mentioned that your rationale for entering the first image is the contradiction in style, so all of your images fit the current challenge. :D Hope this is helpful!

    Lots of great entries here already and hopefully, more will appear this next week!

    Gretchen
  • grandmaRgrandmaR Registered Users Posts: 1,942 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2013
    fjcvisual wrote: »
    You know, as I was selecting my images, I asked my self what the difference was between Juxtaposition and opposite. I concluded the difference has something to do with context and interaction. In my first image, I thought Tinker Bell looking up at Christina Aguilera was an interesting contradiction in style.

    My second image as you say is the flower with the refinery in the background. I added the treatment because of the over saturation of the orange. I even toned down the orange in the image you see. Having said that it almost seems like the surreal look to the second image takes away from the stronger point which is the conservation aspect of the juxtaposition.

    My third image may be harder to see. What I liked was two drivers traveling on the same road, one with an old pedal powered three wheeler, the other with a new engine power motorcycle. I thought the driver of the older three wheeler's glance towards the motorcycle added to it, albeit subtly.

    So, I may not be interpreting the use of Juxtaposition correctly, but it seems to be a bit grey.

    And thank you GrandmaR for your comments, you said it just fine. thumb.gif

    In #1, I didn't know who the poster represented but I figured it was something like that.

    In #2, I recognized the irony because I have a similar (although not nearly as good) photo of a cemetery where a refinery has been built beside it

    IMG_6654.JPG

    But in #3 I totally missed that one bike was powered by an engine. I was too distracted by the long diagonal of the rider closest to us. It was too subtle for me. ne_nau.gif

    The entries that I thought might have been better in an earlier mini (the one about nature overcoming man's buildings - decay or something- don't remember the name of it now) weren't yours, but were Dawn's pictures. I felt that she was putting all her eggs in one basket by entering three of the same thing. I would want three different ones. I didn't know whether to suggest that she could enter different ones if she wants to do that before the end of the mini.

    Although my three are very old, and I have wondered whether to substitute this one of the cat playing computer games on my husband's iPad for one of them

    IMG_7874.JPG

    but I don't know which one I would substitute or if I should just let them stand.
    “"..an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." G.K. Chesterton”
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