Uang

[Th1nk3r]

Hi all,

This photo was taken with Minolta SRT Super, MC Rokkor 50mm f/1.7 and Lucky 100 film . I shot it in the morning with sun light from the right side.

The building is a indoor stadium in my city, Istora Senayan, and that is one of it's gate that never used for a long time. Actually I dont understand why someone write the graffiti "uang" (= money) at that gate.




I like this photo because of its side light and tight DOF , but I still dont know how to make it better photograph and be enjoyed by everybody... crop, tittle or other things I do?

can you give some suggestion and critics ?


didon.-

[nikkortorokkor]

Hi Didon,

I'm really enjoying your posts, and am quite jealous of your skill with a camera.

This is superb use of a standard lens - I really like the way you've isolated the gate and the graffiti. An ordinary subject made special.

You have really made me determined to pack my own Minolta manual gear when I shift countries later this month.

Michael.

[Th1nk3r]

Michael,

thank you Michael..... I love Rokkors manual lens more than other lens, they are sharp with 'thick' color reproduction, and cheaper than Nikkor or Canon lens in my country. Still cannot decide which one is better, Rokkor or Takumar ....


didon.-

[daveh]

Didon, I really like you B&W photos. As regards "UANG" the one thing I find distracting is the (?) stone cylinder in the foreground. For me it looks better without it:



I'm not sure if a square format is right, but it was the quick way of removing it.

Dave.

[Th1nk3r]

Daveh

cool..... never think to remove the stone before, it makes a better POI .

thanks


didon.-

[PeterW]

I know I’m a long time commenting on this shot but I’ve been interested in other comments. I get the feeling that people are trying hard to be kind about it, looking for good things to say.

Well, I’m going to be more brutal. As a technical exercise in differential focus and range of tones it’s fine. But ...

To use some garbled grammar: what’s it a picture of? A locked gate? Some graffiti? What??

Forget conventional ”rules” of composition, thirds, golden means and the rest. Like many “Rules” they’re for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men. More important in my mind are lines of sight that take your eye to various points of the picture and eventually back to the main subject.

Here, my eye goes straight to the word Uang because that’s all there is to look at.

Sorry, Didon, as a technical exercise it’s great. But as a picture? It just isn’t one.

PeterW

[Deleted]

I'll have to disagree with Peter on this one. I like the composition--especially with the stone in the foreground removed as Dave suggested. Even though the word on the post is foreign to me, it "makes" the picture. Without it there is no focal point. I like photos with sharp foregrounds and soft backgrounds. That's the great thing about photography. It's a very subjective art form. As a American rock star once said in a song, "You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself." (Garden Party--Rick Nelson).

W.

[daveh]

In some ways it is a shame we know what "UANG" means. Not knowing would add a little mystery to the picture.

In the original I found my eye constantly going to that cylinder at the bottom of the picture. Without it "UANG" becomes the main focus which I think is as it should be.

It wouldn't do for us all to like the same things. I suppose I'm nearer to Wayne than I am to Peter on this one. I do think many photos on here suffer due the constraints of size and presentation (while others look better than they really are).

[Th1nk3r]

Peter

sadly... I am agree with you.... that pict has no exact POI at all.

but after Dave removed the stone, I think the word UANG become the most chosen target, but it still too many lines ...

other than missing POI and the absurd composition, I still cant find a good title for this photo..... how I can make a title if I dont know what is the POI ? ...shame on me...

Dave has already discussed the power of what UANG means and try to remove the stone to make it 'bright' enough, and even Wayne said "we can't please everyone..", but I still hope that the pict can become a photograph with a message if I can choose a right title for that.

any suggestion about that? .... or I hope somebody can tell me how to make a good title for our photos, because title is the most difficult part for me..

thank you to all of you..


didon.-