1st Place~Magritte~Michael Puff photo - Canon DSLR Challenge photos at pbase.com

photo sharing and upload

picture albums

photo forums

search pictures

popular photos

photography help

login

Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2007 > 1st Place~Magritte~Michael Puff

previous | next


14-APR-2007	Michael Puff

1st Place~Magritte~Michael Puff

La reproduction interdite

other sizes: small medium original auto

previous | next

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

Canon DSLR Challenge		20-Apr-2007 17:46
Yes, it does seem to be optical illusion. Perhaps it's because of the shadow at the top - one tends to think of shadows in the bottom, not the top. The frame and mat appear as if they are leaning slightly off the wall at the top, as would be the case if hung on wire. With that in mind, we'd tend to think the top should look slightly larger because it is closer to us than the bottom. However, it is trying to recede because it is in shadow, so we have a contradictory message that it is coming forward, yet getting darker. Odd bit of illusion! But, as we've agreed, this is so much more comfortable now. :) ~ Lonnit

Guest		19-Apr-2007 04:34
Lonnit, agreed about the perception of a bit of remaining distortion. But I think the remaining distortion is optical illusion (at least everything lines up on grid lines). Note that the top of the frame has less gold than the majority of the frame. Also, the mat is "floating" in the frame so its shadow varies the edge lines. I think I can work the image a bit more and resolve the issue. It is amazing what an impact it made, but the image is very dependant on those lines and I agree they need to be spot on. Thanks again. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		18-Apr-2007 23:00
There is still a slight distortion (possibly that the horizontal top of the mat is an iota off level?) but greatly improved, to the point that I am no longer uncomfortable with the composition. I would have liked to have preferred this composition over my suggested crop - now I can. Amazing how that bit of imperfection impacted the entire image. Now all is fine and we can sleep undisturbed. :) Excellent image, very well done. Kudos! ~ Lonnit

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Apr-2007 20:58
Beautiful Image!!!!!Best wishes,Elena Kalis.

jnconradie		16-Apr-2007 16:32
Michael, you certainly had me fooled completely. And I agree, it is great to see how well you do colours as well as the bw's we have become accustomed to. I take my proverbial hat off to you... no puns intended. Regards jnconradie

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Apr-2007 14:58
Kudos, Michael....I love the pale blues, the gold, the crispness of the gentleman, and the attention to detail....such as the quarter moon. Also, as wonderful as your B&W's are, you are good in color also. Best Wishes, Traveller

Guest		16-Apr-2007 14:45
Not wanting to test Traveller's patience, I'll reveal that this image is mine. Again, thank you all for the comments. Lonnit, I know you and I don't always see eye to eye on composition. I do still have a version of the image with all of it's individual elements on layers and I experimented with your suggestions. I'll simply say that you and I have a very different aesthetic regarding this image. -Michael

Canon DSLR Challenge		16-Apr-2007 12:40
iso3200? Uh, did I mention how much I like this? Sam Attal

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 23:08
Uploaded a new version to take care of the vertical distortion on the left side of the frame which Lonnit noted. I don't know how I missed that, but it was clearly distorted. Thank you all, very much, for your comments. ~Artist

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 21:07
I think the concept of the image is wonderful, however, I find the distortion of the upper left hand corner, and the slightly off center placement of the man in the foreground, cause this to be a very uncomfortable and off balance image. It seems the frame of the picture is a bit curved near the top, which is causing the mat to look like it widens as it gets closer to the top, which is the opposite of what one would expect with natural perspective. The rear seam of the man's coat should have either been directly on the center line of the image, or off at the left thirds line, for balance. Slightly off, as I always say, feels uneasy, as if in error. The image would therefor be far more comfortable if the left hand wall were to be cropped out. Perhaps, if cropping the wall, one must also consider cropping the wall out of the bottom, for uniformity. Otherwise, a nicely done image. :) ~ Lonnit

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 16:51
Not me, certainly not Mr. Mofta and not MPuff either I think.. his work is usually much more complicated. This is mostly a very simple "cutout" job.. and visually most striking. The amount of air and an excellent montage helps a centered and somewhat loose composition. I had to look hard to find technical flaws, and didn't find anything noteworthy. Very nice and clean job. Could be Amy Medina. Magritte painted "La Reproduction Interdit" in 1937 - “Not to be Reproduced”. It is also known as "Portrait of Edward James". -K2

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 15:25
Traveller, I had the same reaction when I saw this - please, someone just take me out in the pasture and put me out of my misery! This is just wonderful! While there is more than one photographer here with the vision and talent in every area to produce this terrific interpretation of Magritte, my first guess would be Mr. Puff. I'm just blown away by this - excellent in every way! ;-) CJ

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 13:06
Excellent! I was playing with a couple of Magritte-ish ideas, but nothing as good as this. Is this possibly Matt? --Melanie

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 12:14
Matt, Mr. Puff or Autumnsky....I had three purposes in atributing this to Mr. Moftah: 1. If it is his, I'm being gracious. 2. It is kind of cool to spread the word and look at Mr. Moftah's work in any case. 3. By praising someone other than the actual author, I flush out who really did this and would naturally want to claim credit for it. (as a final thought, K2, little that we know about her, probably has the talent and background to acomplish this also. Oh, and there is a British feel to this...iso?) It will be interesting to see who actually did this. Best Wishes, Traveller

ctfchallenge		15-Apr-2007 11:54
My vote would be that it is a Mr. Puff image. theFly

ctfchallenge		15-Apr-2007 11:48
well done. theFly

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 08:12
I've been exploring Mr. Moftah across the web, if this is his....let me be the first to welcome him to the Challenges. Such a talent, such an Artist he is. Best Wishes, Traveller

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 08:04
Nice find, Emad...thanks for posting the link. He does have some dynamite images in his gallery, doesn't he? http://www.pbase.com/moftah/mind_voyage Best Wishes, Traveller

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 08:01
I was just having fun with you, Nico, as you were with me in responding to my initial praise. That's the way conversations go, how they happen...and it is always a pleasure to talk to you...about damned near anything. Be Good. Traveller

Emad Omar		15-Apr-2007 07:58
see this http://www.pbase.com/moftah/image/59334659

jnconradie		15-Apr-2007 07:50
I would venture a guess and say this is an "autumnsky"? And yes, of course, Traveller, I trust neither you nor any of the other Challenger friends thought I was insulting their entries. It was not that way intended. I guess my comment was more just comparing my own with this one, and feeling "out-classed". :-) Regards jnconradie

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 07:38
Nico, I don't think I ever congratulated you for your, Grafitti...that was pretty good also. Nah, this is admittedly great, but Sam Attel and Cat and CJ and of Course Sharon and Mr. Puff (is this a Puff?), Melanie, Melbob, K2, JimH as well as Jim H2, and myself have produced stirking images... True, this is different, but none of us should fold our heads under our wings either. This is Great, I confess, but there are lots of stand alone images that people should be proud of...This is a Gallery, full of all kinds of impressions and intentions and efforts real and substantial...this is just up there among the best, nothing more. After that pep talk can I go weep now?.....lol Very Best Wishes, Traveller

jnconradie		15-Apr-2007 07:08
Traveller, I can understand your sentiments. It feels a bit as if our Artist (capitals used as a sign of respect!) gave "the kids" some time to have fun and to mess around a bit... and then entered the scene with a "if you want to do serious stuff, this is how it is done" entry. Wow! Heartiest congratulations on a superb piece of work. Please reveal yourself, Artist, so that I can know whom I salute. Regards jnconradie

Canon DSLR Challenge		15-Apr-2007 06:45
Would someone please just take me out and shoot me right now...I'll never, ever, not in this lifetime or the next do anything this good. Exhale...take a deep breath, admit that some people will always be better than you. This is...just stupendous, and stupendous in a Gallery that is already pretty damned full of really great images. Kudos for the imagination, the vision, the execution. Best Wishes, Traveller

elips		15-Apr-2007 06:15
Fabulous! I was waiting for someone to do Magritte and you have done it to perfection! Bravo!!! ~Sharon