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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 149 - Breaking the Rules >> Challenge 149 - Eligible > Christmas from the Porch
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25-DEC-2007 Brent

Christmas from the Porch

Front Porch, Seattle, WA

Too many distracting elements, shutter speed too low for not using a tripod, not enough coffee yet. Still... I think it works as a portrait of an everyday look so many Seattleites see from their neighborhoods a couple of blocks away from the vantage points all the tourist buses stop at.
This was the first shot taken from my new apartment I'm mostly moved into as of a week ago. Haven't had much time to shoot or participate lately- felt good to press a shutter again :-)

Canon EOS 30D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/8s f/8.0 at 40.0mm iso400 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time25-Dec-2007 07:47:53
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 30D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length40 mm
Exposure Time1/8 sec
Aperturef/8
ISO Equivalent400
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 19:10
And if only one person learns one thing..... :) ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 16:35
Thanks for pointing out my now corrected typo Lonnit (see it was the lack of coffee). Thanks for your comment Penny; it is nice to have won over some stiff competition to get this vintage apartment. Having a cheery place with a view (it is the same also with views of the water from the living room) really helps when I start to think about the house I just moved out of that in addition to a nice view had a girlfriend and two dogs to greet me when I came home. On the very bright side I just found the moving box I put my camera battery charger in! Thanks Sue Anne and Charlie whom I’m sure also feels like I do in that the Space Needle seems to follow him everywhere around town. I appreciate your comments John and am now hoping to capture a shot with a bank robber ;-) I’m afraid I can’t make claim to the nice shot of the boy with slumped shoulders though.
~Brent
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 14:03
Brent, I do like your shot on the parts I can see. I just remember you having a great picture of a boy in front of a field walking home with his shoulders partially shrugged that you took out of the competition -- at least I think this was you. John
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 13:55
Ok. I think I am getting this.
1) If taken from the roof in front = Superb shot of a classic landmark
2) If taken from the porch of said photographer's home = shot looks good even though it has tons of clutter because it is from a vantage point that can't be moved and a real person's home thus setting ambiance of the shot.
3) If taken from a street or somewhere else when you want the shot but you are going to miss the sky if you don't take it right now but it has all of this street clutter in it = crap shot, why did you take it fool

Lesson learned from an engineer's perspective: crap can be in the shot as long as it sets an ambiance, a mood, or documents some important facts. For example: Brent is on the street and photographs someone getting robbed at gunpoint but has this great landmark (maybe partially obscured but clearly recognizable) in the background with a great sky = he has an award winning shot because it documents a crime, sets off an emotion response, or says this great statement that crime exists even in pretty tourist destinations ... it could even be a lead picture for some new reporter wishing to report on the under current of a city

Got it. John
sue anne27-Dec-2007 11:43
A great view of the famous landmark.
Charlie Beck27-Dec-2007 05:01
Well done, Brent. Makes me sort of feel at home, even though I don't have this view at my home (I'm a bit North of you, I surmise).
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 03:18
Ahhh, brilliant reasoning! LOL! "Shudder" speed? Guess that would be related to temperature and lack of coffee! LOL! No wonder I couldn't detect any camera shake... I thought you meant 'shutter' speed! LOL! ;) Qualified. ~ Lonnit
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 02:23
Beautiful. What a wonderful view from a new place. Must feel good.
Penny Street
ctfchallenge27-Dec-2007 01:55
Well okay then Lonnit :-) I found some time to make an excuse... er... uh...reason this image has merit ;-)
~Brent
ctfchallenge26-Dec-2007 17:51
NO BRENT! I want this image in the challenge! It's good and stands a very good chance of me voting for it! All you have to do is cut and paste my justification, if you don't have time to put it in your own words! It's just a technicality to get it back into the challenge. Please don't let it wither here! ~ Lonnit
Guest 25-Dec-2007 21:11
thanks, but a quick shot snd explanation was all I had time for Lonnit- may have to stay on the sidelines for this challenge.
-Brent
ctfchallenge25-Dec-2007 17:57
Yes, it has too many distracting elements, but I think it helps tell a story - sort of more like what it's like to live in a tourist destination, as opposed to getting that pristine tourist shot. That's your justification - which you failed to state, making the image unqualified until YOU state it. It works particularly well, in that I got it without explanation - as it should be. But, the challenge requires you to justify, so please do so. You can restate my words or come up with your own. ;) Yes, the shutter speed is low, but it appears to have had no effect on the image, so that is not a broken rule. Coffee doesn't count as a rule of photography! LOL! Please add your justification and resubmit. ~ Lonnit