MSA July/August 2015 - "Suggest"

[peter k.]

Suggest: Focus

ONE




or Two

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Is the boy dreaming of the bridge, or is it real?

As I'm sure you know, I've been having an absolute blast shooting with my Rolleis. I'm REALLY loving my Tele-Rollei (it is worth every penny!), and now with the Rolleinar 0.35 close-up attachment, I'm really getting the photos I've envisioned in my head with it. THIS was exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of when I got the camera.

 

[MattKing]

The End is Near!

This assignment is drawing to a close. Thanks to everyone who has already contributed.

And just a bit of encouragement to those who might be able to add one or more last minute entries.

To avoid problems with time zone differences, I'll wait until noon, Pacific Daylight time before cutting off entries.

 

[TheToadMen]

This assignment is drawing to a close. Thanks to everyone who has already contributed.

And just a bit of encouragement to those who might be able to add one or more last minute entries.

To avoid problems with time zone differences, I'll wait until noon, Pacific Daylight time before cutting off entries.

Okay, stop twisting my arm ... I'll hit the scanners instead of my bed ....

I shot several films this month and had it all developed, but couldn't find the time to scan yet.
But I'll scan my first film shot with my new Widelux F7.

 

[NedL]

...I shot several films this month and had it all developed, but couldn't find the time to scan yet....

Still 21 hours left!

I have one or two frames made for MSA that are still in my camera. I often end up with "leftover" MSA photos, but I think these will be good for something else too.

 

[TheToadMen]

May I suggest ....

... to go off center and make a series of street photography?

I made these images during a walk in the city of Utrecht, The Netherlands, at the back side of Central Station, were no tourist will boldly go.

This is my first roll shot with my new Widelux F7 panorama camera. No view finder, no light meter, no tripod - just handheld point and shoot.
(Fuji Neopan 400 (expired) developed in Ilford Ilfotec DD-X)

Old streets and neighborhoods disappearing...

and new squares and buildings arising ...

Bert from Holland

(BTW, the angle of view is that big that you can easily shoot your finger - can you find it?)

 

[TheToadMen]

And may I suggest ....

... to shoot vertical panoramas as well?

(the new entrance to Central Station at the back)

Bert from Holland

 

[TheToadMen]

May I suggest ...

... to shoot a self portrait and a domestic landscape with a panorama camera as well?

Same camera, same roll of film (Neopan 400 in Ilfotec DD-X)

(very first image after loading the Widelux F7 in the car while driving, to see if the shutter and film transport do work - isn't that angle of view impressive?)

(a domestic landscape at my parents, the second shot with this camera)

 

[TheToadMen]

BTW: one is allowed to upload only 5 images per day to the gallery.
So I'll upload the rest to the MSA Gallery tomorrow (after the deadline?).

 

[MattKing]

BTW: one is allowed to upload only 5 images per day to the gallery.
So I'll upload the rest to the MSA Gallery tomorrow (after the deadline?).

I'm flexible .

But what time today?

Otherwise, I would say there is just under four hours to go.

 

[TheToadMen]

I'm flexible .

But what time today?

Otherwise, I would say there is just under four hours to go.

I don't know how the clock of APUG works: one calendar day or exactly 24 hours?

Thanks,
Bert from Holland

[ EDIT: I just uploaded my last 4 images to the Gallery, all within the deadline ]

 

[MattKing]

I'm working on it ....

 

[MattKing]

Hi folks, I’ve come to a decision!

I’d like to thank everyone who participated this round, particularly in light of the conversation at the beginning. I trust that subscribers and non-subscribers alike will be keen to continue participating in the future.

Thanks as well to NedL, for helping barbara ann with the process of loading to the thread.

I’ve carefully reviewed all the submissions, and my comments follow:

First, the 25 images in the APUG gallery:

Member - Title - Comment
nsouto - Holiday - Great timing, nice colour and it does tend to transport one to another place
macfred - under construction - More great colour, and it certainly suggests “play” to me
Bertus - Suggestion of a Ruin - A wonderfully dark and somber image, with a nice sense of photographic tension and some mystery - when I thought of this theme, I expected to see mystery!
JPJackson - Old Chestnut Shack - It suggests permanence, and is a very attractive shot
nsouto - The Power of Suggestion - Nice colour, and it is a great illustration of how photography can suggest that things are one way (of similar size), when in fact they are different. Nice use of the photographic medium
TheFlyingCamera - Lamp Post, Kennedy Center - A nice use of abstraction. It is a photograph of the somewhat commonplace, but without the title, it probably would have suggested many different things to different people.
barbara ann - Champagne for two - This was untitled, so I’ve given it a title. It does a fine job of suggesting celebration. Or maybe something more intimate as well.
barbara ann - Fungi - Again, this was untitled, so I’ve given it a title. Nothing like the suggestion of warm and dark and moist ....
barbara ann - Netting - Again, this was untitled, so I’ve given it a title. The netting in front, with the blurred details behind suggests capture to me - another effective use of mystery.
NedL - kick back - A fun pinhole image. It suggests the beach to me, but even more it suggests a dog’s view of the beach (to me!)
TheFlyingCamera - Gravelly Bend, Rock Creek, Rock Creek Park - This suggests serenity to me.
NedL - Sand, Sea and Sky - Another fun pinhole image. It suggests another world to me!
sly - How About A Bike Ride? - I like the shapes and detail and symmetry of this photograph. I really like the mystery as well - where are the riders? Are they kids enjoying their summer, or? I’d bet this would work well with lith printing (hint!)
sly - An Ocean View - This is highly suggestive . There are so many things that aren’t there, but are hinted at. Even the title could be accurate, or ironic.
NedL - Smokey - Dreamlike, and subtly suggestive too.
bergytone - muscle..lots of muscle - Nicely framed, and I can almost hear the growl.
TheToadMen - An Off Center Series-#s 1 through 7 - I’m going to go out on a limb here and deal with this entire series as individual parts of a single whole. Individually, each image is interesting, but the series together is stronger than the sum of its parts. Together, they suggest the movement and energy and diversity of the city of Utrecht, The Netherlands in a way that “normal”, non-panoramic images seem to do. They sweep.
If I had to pick one image to stand alone, it would be number 3. The shop window “suggests” a turning of the corner in life.
TheToadMen - Self-panorama portrait #1 - I’m not sure how well this photo deals with the theme, but I like it a lot.
TheToadMen - Couple-panorama Portrait #2 - This portrait does deal with the theme well, because it does a better than average job of suggesting a relationship between the subjects of the portrait, and their environment. I would suggest experimenting further with this.

Next, the 6 images posted only to the thread.

Member - Title - Comment
peter k. - Let it Go - An evocative image, that suggests childhood, and summers and games.
peter k. - Light at the end of the Tunnel - A strong image that suggests many things: escape, warmth from cold, Gollum”
peter k. - On To The Reception - There is so much here that is in accord with the theme. It suggests an important event - either a wedding, or an anointment, or even a ritual sacrifice, or ???, but we wonder what happened. Has the celebration moved on, leaving the scene lonely and forgotten, or did it never happen? The image itself is visually appealing, and the mystery seems real.
peter k. - FOCUS - One - This is confusing and mysterious and beautiful all in one. It suggests a faerie world to me.
peter k. - FOCUS - Two - I like this one too, but it isn’t as mysterious, so it is less suggestive and more literal. It looks really good though.
TheFlyingCamera - Bridge - This is striking visually, and has great mysterious tension. It is all about a suggestion - questions and only hints of answers.

After reviewing all the above, it was a difficult task indeed to come to a decision, but here is the result.

Second runner up (third place) goes to barbara ann for “Netting”. It is subtle, it hints, and it looks great.

First runner up (second place) goes to TheFlyingCamera for “Bridge”. Visually it is almost the opposite of barbara ann’s photograph, because it is dark and almost foreboding.

AND

The “winner" (first place) goes to peter k. for “On to the “Reception”. The mystery is strong, and the image is striking. And there is always at least something suggestive about weddings.

This of course brings rise to the question we started with. peter k. is not a subscriber. I will send him a private message to ask him if he wishes to either:
1) subscribe himself;
2) accept the generosity of those who have offered to buy a six month subscription for him; or
3) accept the “winner” status as awarded, but defer to TheFlyingCamera for the purpose of choosing the next theme and judging the results.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[TheToadMen]

The “winner" (first place) goes to peter k. for “On to the “Reception”. The mystery is strong, and the image is striking. And there is always at least something suggestive about weddings.

Congratulations, Peter. An excellent image indeed and a perfect winner for this theme. I had a lot of fun in this MSA and I can't wait to see what you have in store for the next MSA.

TheToadMen - Couple-panorama Portrait #2 - This portrait does deal with the theme well, because it does a better than average job of suggesting a relationship between the subjects of the portrait, and their environment. I would suggest experimenting further with this.

Matt,
Thank you for hosting this fine MSA with a great theme. It was fun to do!
And thank you for your kind and extensive comments. Especially your comment on my Couple-panorama Portrait #2 was appreciated. It's what I would call a domestic landscape inspired by the work of Dead Link Removed. I saw an exhibition of his work about 13 years ago in Amsterdam and bought his excellent book Domestic Landscapes. I was caught and the theme kept me bussy all these years, wanting to pursue it myself somehow sometimes. And now - having bought the Widelux - it finally came together. I made this first shot of my parents to show them in their own natural domestic landscape.
So thank you for your encouragement and I will be "experimenting further with this".

Thanks,
Bert from Holland

 

[barbara ann]

Matt King! Thanks for a superlative job of commenting on each and every image submitted, as well as choosing a really fun topic!
(Also for using lower case for my username which is the way I intended it.) Sorry I forgot titles. I plead senior moment but the ones
you gave were fine.
I am looking forward to the next round of MSA...

 

[peter k.]

Oh this is funner than 'ell... hahaha.. what a gas...
Thank you very much... I'm still a bit stunned...

Off to the Reception was a wedding of course, an Indian Wedding, a first for me, that was done in, I believe in Hindi, and very interesting and detailed.
The gentleman, I do not know the proper tearm to define him, would very nicely and descriptively give a translation as it progressed.
The two benches you see where needed, as it was a progression of not only the Bride and Groom being married, but the two families also, and lasted three hours. One bench was for Bride and Groom, second one, for brides mother and father.
Really enjoyed it.
Arista 400 in a 3x4 using D~76 and yes .. shot at 400, because of the shade and no sky.
I was trying to shoot that day as a press cameraman, and have to admit to tripod withdrawal.
This shot was one of the easiest, as no one was moving, and I could get a good exposure without having to worry about depth of field.

Focus #1 is my favorite.. and an oh my.. Its a double exposure. Some how in March I was testing D~76 development with some shots of a canyon that I could look down into, with highlights and shade, with the 4x5, but had the 3x4 with me, and must have taken a shot vertically, and did not put the dark slice back in properly, with the dark side out. So,when I shot the Magnifier AKA Focus shot, it was double exposed, which worked out perfectly.
Turn the top to the left, and you may see the small water stream in the bottom of the canyon.
It really made the shot mystical, with the rooks intertwined with the leaves and vertical railroad ties.

~~~ Next

As becoming the winner I thank you very much, and am over ... ah can't think of a word, other than shocked.
But alas there is a conflict.
I will not be here for most of the month of October and the beginning of November... so thankfully I will not be able to judge the entries.
So I will have to sorrowfully decline...

Thank you very much... and I have really enjoyed, and will enjoy the next MSA challenge... p

BTW... At this time I feel no need to become a subscriber, for I'm not one who is inclined to place pictures in Galleries on line.. as basically I'm retarded, (retired) and doing this for my own enjoyment, learning and fun. Yet, I understand and realize, that APUG needs our support, so when I get back, I most likely will subscribe, but then any entries I make, will most likely just be placed in the session taking place at that time.
Thanks again...

 

[MattKing]

Peter:
I'm sorry you cannot be available because I'm sure you would have chosen an excellent topic.

So, to use a baseball analogy (because I'm really enjoying the run the Toronto Blue Jays are putting together), TheFlyingCamera is now up to bat. barbara Ann should be on deck, just in case.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Matt-

thank you once again for appreciating my work. Even in "just" a social setting like the MSA, the approbation of my peers is always greatly enjoyed and deeply felt. Since it appears that Peter K will not judge, and it falls to me, while I'd love to take another crack at running the MSA, I don't think it's fair for me to judge two effectively back-to-back. So I'll pass and nominate Barbara Ann to choose the topic!

 

[NedL]

Matt, thanks for the great topic, admirable patience near the beginning of it , and for the efforts of judging. Peter k's photograph was excellent for this topic, congratulations Peter and looking forward to seeing more from you.

And looking forward to the next MSA theme from barbara ann!

 

[TheToadMen]

... looking forward to the next MSA theme from barbara ann!

Me too!

 

[TheToadMen]

barbara ann posted the (there was a url link here which no longer exists).