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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 149 - Breaking the Rules >> Challange 149 - Exhibition > Hanging On
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06-OCT-2007 Michael Shealy

Hanging On

Colorado Springs, CO

1) Out of focus 2) No Rule of Thirds in play 3) Subject and Background indistinguishable 4) Spots of light compete for attention 5) No details in either highlights or shadows 6) Subject is not complete (cut-off foot).
The scene is better viewed in this form, for me, without sharp focus/detail. The reason being: The whole scene is an unattractive, almost humorous, dichotomy. She is "high-society", quite overweight, wearing fancy clothes, jewelry and hairdo. He is a greasy, long-haired, Hell's Angel type. The bike is a stock Harley-Davidson with "ape-hanger" bars. In that focus is so "out", the Rule of Thirds becomes irrelevant, as subject and background are merged, without definition. The shot becomes an abstract of riders and bike, neither in nor out of motion.

Canon EOS 20D ,Tamron SP AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR DiII
1/1600s f/3.2 at 39.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge29-Dec-2007 16:58
Thanks so much, Penny, Tommy & Lonnit. This image was for me, at the same time both compelling and repelling, so, I must admit that those who've commented unfavorably are well within their good senses to do that. Lonnit - Thanks for looking again. It took me a few looks to get a good feeling from it, as well. Thinking back on this I wish now I'd taken an in-focus shot along with this one. Oh, well, next time. Cheers, -mikey
ctfchallenge24-Dec-2007 21:22
Ok, I will compliment the depth of the image. I love how the bubbles are right in our face, smack up against the lens, and the cycle is further back, but his leg seems to be stretching way out towards us, and that black area on the left creates almost a tunnel. The depth is fantastic! The image is growing on me. ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge23-Dec-2007 01:48
Playing with bokeh. Brilliantly done. -tv
ctfchallenge23-Dec-2007 00:51
Whether there was a "reason" for this or not, I like it. Especially the spots.
Penny Street
ctfchallenge22-Dec-2007 07:23
See, Rod, Lonnit doesn't approve, but this picy smacks so many rules to SMITHERINES that she can't do but let it stay here. Thanks, Lonnit. I won't hold it against you, ... not everybody likes abstract blur. ":^D Cheers, -mikey
ctfchallenge22-Dec-2007 02:19
You aren't really breaking the rule of thirds. :) The others will qualify you. Personally, I don't care for the image - that's just my taste. ~ Lonnit
Rod 21-Dec-2007 13:37
Now Lonnit has approved this picy I can now come out of the closet & say I really like the effect this creates. The bokeh circles hugging the bike look terrific. Nicely done you rebel you:-)
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:54
Thanks for your comments, Techo & Maurice. It was a struggle to overcome the urge to focus properly when I took this shot. I think I'll try some more OOF shots for Eligible in this Challenge. The whole idea of going against the rules is liberating, fun and sort of a rush. This is just about the only one in my library that I can enter in Exhibition, and call "art" for any reason I could think of. Anyway, thanks again, -mikey
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:47
Say, that's a nice bike. Really like what the bokeh circles (aka Circles Of Confusion, hehe) have done to the overall effect. Cool shot, Michael.
This does work quite nicely for an abstract.

-Techo
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:47
Michael, I like the abstract qualities of this picture, created by being so OOF it is irrelevant what the subject is! works very well for me! I think this is also the only way I'll manage to get a picture thats on topic! ;) ....Maurice
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:46
Thanks, John. The statement of rules for the Challenge is, "IF YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK A RULE, DON'T JUST BEND IT, SHATTER IT TO SMITHERINES, OTHERWISE IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A MISTAKE!". In fact, this was not a mistake. I shot this OOF intentionally for CSLR Challenge 104. Like I tell the missus when an approaching car's lights are too bright for her to look at, ..."Don't look at them". ";^D) ... Cheers, -mikey
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:45
Michael, it seems from your explanation that the absurdity of the content wouldn't need help from out of focus. I like this as a thumbnail but the highlights hurt my eyes. John
ctfchallenge21-Dec-2007 06:44
So what's your justification? Start 'splainin' quickly! ~ Lonnit