#43 - Layers (Congrats Erno James)

On behalf of HAM this is assignment 43: Layers

"This is a fairly open assignment, but it's something I'm trying to concentrate on myself, so let's see how you can all do. The idea of layering is to build visual information up in layers from front to back so that the eye never truly rests on one aspect of the image. Sometimes however it's pushed to the other extreme, and multiple layers are used to create a flat image which isn't what it first seems to be.

Thanks all for the entries. In hindsight the onset of Winter was never going to get a great number of street entries, but the landscapes and abstracts (neuro) have made it all the more worthwhile. I had to be really picky to get it to a fair 5, so sorry if yours didn't make it.

In no particular order. Here're my selections:


Name: Jayson
Motivation: Despite being an older shot, the foreground, midground and background all have interest. It's very nicely processed and portrays a calm feeling despite the jaggy obstacles in your way.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...sed%20copy.jpg



Name: Neuroanatomist
Motivation: Spectacular colours, details and enough mystique to really hold the eye. The reflections, the lillies the bright shore, the reeds, I'd love to see this printed huge on a wall.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8...fc3903cf_c.jpg




Name: btaylor
Motivation: Even the heavens conspired to help Ben get as many layers in as possible. Despite the vivid colours, I'd be interested to see this in B&W to really draw attention to the stark contrast between the main subject and the other outcrops.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8...10690274_c.jpg



Name: Bouwy
Motivation: Wally nailed my original intention with this street shot. Not only have you got a fantastic arrangement of people, but the forground rock is textured to perfection, and the hills in the background tell the story whilst completing the assignment to a T.

http://community.the-digital-picture...6&d=1351904128



Name: erno james
Motivation: Another seascape littered with obstacles. And also another with gorgeous sunrays making sure the sea doesn't get the better of you and bring you back to shore.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7...0ec0abaf_c.jpg

Ham, This is going to be tough or the "imagination challenged" folks, like me:confused:. Hmmmm, How do I even start to think about this??

Cool Idea,

Bob

I'm thinking the 135 F2L is not going to be the lens of choice for this one. :cool:

Yep, it's definitely going to be a challenging one (already i know that I don't have anything available to fall back on, so it'll have to be a new one for me).
Coincidental too, I've been really getting into Street lately (at least trying, not sure if i'm succeeding). Tried last weekend with my Dad's old Rangefinder I inherited with 100 TMax, and some Efke 100 in the 3 with the Shorty Forty, and I pick them up from the developers tonight so I can see if i've got anything decent.

But for this I'm going to resist the Shorty Forty on the EOS 3, instead try one of my many 28/2.8s on the 7D, f/8 and hyperfocal, walkaround and start shooting...

That's the spirit. It doesn't have to be street if you don't want it to be, I know how some people feel about shooting the public, but if it's something you've fancied trying or are recently getting into then it's a great excuse. The theme will work just as well in more formal (group) portraiture, macro or landscape, so hopefully we'll still get lots of entries.

Gave it a try this morning. The water was not as calm as I would have liked in order to get better reflections of the buildings, but I hope this fits the assignment.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8...b2bddee0_c.jpg
Montague at Sunrise-2641 by westmichigan, on Flickr

This is an older photo, but I think the only one that I have at the moment. My purpose was to capture the frosted trees that morning, but tried to get some rocks in the foreground with ice around them. I didn't notice the bottle cap in the water until later. I hope this is what we are looking for here???

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...sed%20copy.jpg

This is what I went out for that morning.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...sed%20copy.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by conropl

Gave it a try this morning. The water was not as calm as I would have liked in order to get better reflections of the buildings, but I hope this fits the assignment.

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I really like this one!

I'm excited to go out and try to get a few shots. I have a few ideas, but I'm kicking myself for not having a tripod yet (I left mine in the states).

Another post for inspiration:

http://www.eye5.org/multiple-layers/

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8...933c780709.jpg
IMG_0135 by clemmb60, on Flickr

Unless I come up with something better, I'll go with this one.

http://bimmermail.com/ROTD/rotd39-sm.jpg

I had this assignment in mind when shooting on Tuesday:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8...24f42548_b.jpg
Sandy-0117 by kayaker72, on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8...ea4e6afa_b.jpg
Sandy-0154 by kayaker72, on Flickr

Hopefully I am not far off the concept....

This is my entry, the "street" life out here is highly disinteresting so I'm going to run with a landscape.

As with every photo, analysing it is completely subjective. But for me there are a number of aspects of this photo you can focus on - the interesting shape and semi-burnt colour of the tree in the foreground, the solitary tuft of spinifex grass to the right of frame that managed to survive the fire, the patches of scarred/burnt land in the middle ground, the sulfur smoke billowing from the mine site in the centre of frame, the purple haze across the hills in the background from all of the smoke still in the air, the sun rays peeking through the clouds etc etc.

So yeah, here's my entry, taken yesterday afternoon.

Enjoy, Ben.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8...10690274_c.jpg
..........Y..... by Ben__Taylor, on Flickr

I'm liking the entries so far, I'm hoping to go out this afternoon, if not tomorrow, layer-hunting.

This is obviously not my photo, but when I saw it, I instantly thought of this assignment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/8145764539/

Yes, spot on. Although a bit more DOF would go a long way.

Here is my entry. I like the interplay of the fall colors, the mix of sunlight and shadow, and the way the reflected elements interweave with the leaves and lily pads on the surface of the water and the branches in the foreground.

"Watercolors"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8...fc3903cf_b.jpg
EOS 1D X, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, 1/100 s, f/5.6, ISO 200

^^^Sweeeet.

Man have there been some great images submitted in this assignment. Conropl- those layers go on forever! Neuro- Monet would be proud to call your image his own artwork!

I'll try to get out this weekend to find some layers in nature, but this will have to do for now. This is Bandon Beach in Oregon.
[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/7...0ec0abaf_b.jpg
Divergence (ver 1.1) - - - Bandon Beach, Oregon by ernogy, on Flickr[/img]

Trying not to say anything about individual images, but I'm enjoying this thread a lot so far.

Took this snap shot of my family trying to get down very carefully around the rocks at Mt Buffalo Victoria

Attachment 1536

I think this will be my entry unless I come up with something better by the 8th.

I chose this one because of the layer of clouds and layers showing the change in seasons. Fall colors on the tree in front and trees that are still green in the background and then the pink flowers along the background depicting still a hint of summer. In the far background are many of the yachts still docked at the Kenosha harbor.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8...99e7f13e_c.jpg
My favorite season has arrived! by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ham

Trying not to say anything about individual images, but I'm enjoying this thread a lot so far.

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I know the feeling Ham, I had the same problem with the last contest. But since I am not the initial Judge, I just can't help myself this time.

Great work from all.

John, Beautiful work, the combo of the colors, reflections and depth in this shot are stunning.

Erno, the mood and quality of that seascape is just gorgeaous

and JRW---way to stick with the theme of the contest, so much happening in that shot. Very nice work


Good luck to all,

Bob

I didn't get out today, instead I've injured my back bending over to pick up my laptop, so I don't think I'll be putting anything forward...

Well, I haven't managed to get out and about with the 7D and 28mm like I was hoping (depending on for how long this assignment runs, maybe next weekend). So this is my entry for now.

Taken 2 weeks ago at one of my best mate's wedding, with the P6 and Zeiss Biometar 120/2.8 on Neopan 100.
It doesn't count much for a good wedding photo, the people in the background (especially right between their heads) kinda ruined it a bit for that.
But for this assignment it kinda fits (or it's the best I can do for now), there's different 'layers' of people in the background, the ones on the left are lining up for the next photo, and the chick on the right was herding people to line up for the next shots (in english and cantonese), I managed to grab the happy couple just in time between set-shots. And I think a few in the background are looking at the huge silver beast of a camera i'm carrying, everyone else had new digitals (I saw no less than 10 5Dmk3s that day, with alternately 24-70, 24-105, and one or two 70-200). Still, was fun limiting myself to 'only' 12 shots on the roll, means I tried to make each shot count (which was the point).

Anyway, enough blabbing, more linking:
http://croubie.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-zcNnjP3-L.jpg
(only sharing small version for now, it's a bit soft until I get my BetterScanning holder in a few weeks, then I might give the groom a copy...)

layers of beautiful british design!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8...f2b8ac27_c.jpg

I'm going to post this one here as suggested because I haven't been able to get out and shoot anything new for this assignment. I had a few ideas, but the weather has just been horrible and now it looks like I won't have time this week.

From the original post, "The idea of layering is to build visual information up in layers from front to back so that the eye never truly rests on one aspect of the image." I'm not sure if it is just me trying to critique my own work, but when I look at this image my eyes keep jumping around from one thing to the next. My view snaps between the overturned kayak, the row boat, the island, the tree on the right, the treeline on the left, and the clouds overhead.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/8...2cd5d227_c.jpg
Priest Lake evening by Poik242, on Flickr

Back to my other image. I think it shows some pretty good depth with a definite foreground, middleground and background.

To really see the detail it needs to be viewed larger here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freelan...ream/lightbox/

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/8...dbb66692_c.jpg

I've decided to change my entry for this assignment. I was so happy that I was able to pull this shot off! I pretty much took the layer concept from my ultimate idol Sal Cincotta using the urban look of an extremely old beach house in Kenosha. Using visual layering of the bride, the groom, the rocks and Lake Michigan, I thought it turned out pretty well for a first attempt at this sort of concept.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8...1b86d9f9_b.jpg
Wedding_1 by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Last Saturday we visited my best friend's daughter at her resting place to light a candle for her. I really like this shot of sad beauty (as do her parents). (I gave them copies that they already showed on the Internet, so they're OK with the photo on the web. Still I chose to blur her name here.)

Attachment 1554

Beautiful photo Claes. Also...

The entryperiod has come to an end. I will notify Ham(Darren) to start judging all the entries and hopefully we'll have some finalists soon. Good luck all!

Darren, great idea for the assignment. I did not participate, but will keep my eyes open for layers.
I hope your back is better!

The finalists have already been chosen and the poll is now open for 3 days. Congrats and good luck!!

Voted, Wow, That was tough. Good luck to all

I have to post a vote for Neuroanatomist's photo. That is over the top. Great capture and a good eye for spotting it!

First off, congratulations to the finalists. All five shots are great.

But I did want to bump this thread in case someone hasn't voted. I believe voting is ending very soon and it is a tight race.

I have to thank Ham for choosing my photo as one of the finalist. I have entered a few and this is the first to actually make it this far. I appreciate the vote I received since it wasn't my own! Congrats to the finalist! Good luck everyone!

And the winner is...Erno James! Congratulations!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jayson

I have to thank Ham for choosing my photo as one of the finalist. I have entered a few and this is the first to actually make it this far. I appreciate the vote I received since it wasn't my own! Congrats to the finalist! Good luck everyone!

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I think your photo was a great finalist photo. Better luck next time!

Congrats, Erno!