4th Place One Day Outside the Witch's House by jnconradie by Canon DSLR Challenge

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One Day Outside the Witch's House
by jnconradie


06-MAY-2006	jnconradie

Currently experimenting with black-and-white 'minimilist' type photographs.

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS
1/125s f/8.0 at 33.0mm iso1600 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

Please do not delete, update, or otherwise edit others' entries
* Submitter retains all copyrights *

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-May-2006 21:11
Well, JNC, you've inspired me and the result has been entered. I don't think anyone will confuse the two images. ;) LOL! This really is lovely. ~ Lonnit

Canon DSLR Challenge		09-May-2006 16:27
Puffy, we'll just have to go shooting together some day. You can join us when my fantasy of shooting with Iso, Grant, and Bisky comes true. :) I don't have the right props, or I would be doing the retro. :( ~ Lonnit

jnconradie		09-May-2006 05:20
Nothing I would like to see more than the "vision" realised. Go for it! :-) ~jnconradie

Guest		09-May-2006 05:05
Yes Lonnit, I had a big smile when I read your retro vision and had been thinking the same. I also really want to shoot the retro version of this excellent piece. One never really knows if the "vision" can be realized, but it sure would be fun to try. Of course, we'd owe all due inspiration to JNC. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-May-2006 21:23
Never a bad thing when I'm thinking like a Puff! LOL! Gotta say, I'm aching to do that shoot! LOL! ~ Lonnit

Guest		08-May-2006 18:29
Olaf, I had the same answer to your question as Lonnit did, "Yes". I too saw a retro look. Thought of chrome chair with vinyl seat (or perhaps a diner stool), black and white vinyl tile, plain wall or brushed stainless steel wall. All in all, I think the key would be to keep all the elements in the same style as they are in this image. -Michael

Vikas Malhotra		08-May-2006 17:32
Excellent; love the simplicity and the perfect composition. Cheers, Vikas

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-May-2006 16:38
JNC, you definitely picked the right one to enter. The sky version is intersting, although it's cropped a bit short. This is the hands down winner of all the versions though. :) ~ Lonnit

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-May-2006 16:34
Olaf - YES! I see a very clean, modern, hi-tech retro look! Very different feel, but still an excellent image. ~ Lonnit

Michael Kilpatrick		08-May-2006 11:46
Simple and elegant. There is just something satisfying about this image.

jnconradie		08-May-2006 10:35
The comments about the picture's title provided me much food for thought. Why did I give it a title? Was it what came up in my own mind as I was taking the picture? Or did the thought only come whilst post-processing? Or was it (perhaps innocently?) trying to "direct" or "channel" the viewers' thoughts and interpretations? I am not too sure, to be honest. Somewhere along the line, the picture made me think of something slightly dark and mysterious..., ominous..., the type of scene one could perhaps spot one autumn evening in Africa, whilst walking past a "witch's house" in the friendly neighbourhood? :-) I promise, though, that we do not have too many such houses around, at least not that I have noticed! :-) (Perhaps somebody will offer some advice on "the rules of the game" when it comes to titles?) Last comment: I had a great time messing around with brooms and chairs; some outtakes are posted in my "workshop" athttp://www.pbase.com/jnconradie/workshop Thanks again for all the feedback. ~jnconradie

Guest		08-May-2006 04:48
Lonnit, imagine this: A vinyl tile floor, a texture-free wall, a new chrome and plastic chair as well as a new broom à la what you'd find in the supermarket today, arranged to the same composition. Would it still work?

Canon DSLR Challenge		08-May-2006 00:00
I think the witch was called away because it was time for the well marinated children to be popped into the oven. Best Wishes, Traveller

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-May-2006 22:53
I just don't get it - why is such a simple picture of nothing so damn interesting? It's well done, well exposed, well composed, well focused... It can't just be good b/c it's all technically correct. What is it about this? I particularly love the texture of the floor, and secondly the chair, and then the broom as well, and it all fits nicely against the wall. I am looking and letting my mind ponder. I think, "Why is the broom there? Who was sweeping? Were they called away? Why? They mustn't be done or they'd have put the broom away. Did the phone ring? Are they gaily chatting with an old friend in favor of doing chores? I think they were called away for a pleasant reason.". :) Ok, so I guess that's why it works. :) ~ Lonnit

jnconradie		07-May-2006 21:33
Thank you for the feedback. I reposted after some minor tidying-up. Thanks, Traveller, for those "little nits". :-) ~jnconradie

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-May-2006 20:26
Well, I like the title, but I do have two little nits to pick. Next to the left chair leg there is a little dot of something...I think the healing brush should be used to remove it. And, I'd do less than a 5% added crop on the left side of the image...there is a little fall off in the tile that I find distracting. You understand that I wouldn't raise these unless I though that this was an exceptional image. Best Wishes, Traveller

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-May-2006 17:54
Awesome shot. I agree with Michael, this one would work untitled. Not that I'm saying the title should be removed. The b/w looks great with all these different tones and textures working here. A very nicely composed image. -Techo

Guest		07-May-2006 17:49
I like this type of simple image very much. Nice tones and textures everywhere you look. Frankly, I think this image could easily be untitled. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-May-2006 14:58
This is one case where the title makes a huge difference. I'd never have associated the picture with a witch without the title. -- Victor

Canon DSLR Challenge		07-May-2006 14:06
You are amazing... so simple yet so profound. Well done Bob.