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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2007 > 4th Place~The Red Chair~Sharon Elips
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4/11/07 elips

4th Place~The Red Chair~Sharon Elips

Sutherland Pond, NY

In the style of "The Red Couch".
I don't know how many of you remember this book from the 1980's but I was very intrigued by it when I first looked through it.
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Couch-Portrait-America/dp/0912383054/ref=sr_1_1/104-0462996-8111968?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176447833&sr=1-1
It is out of print now and I took this shot as being the kind of thing I remembered from the book. A piece of red furniture that was photographed in different locations and situations across the United States. I didn't have a couch to use so substituted a chair. What I didn't remember when I further googled the book is that there were people in many, maybe all, of the photos. Perhaps I will have to reshoot my image. Here is the photographer's website: http://www.kevinclarke.com/red_couch1.html


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Canon DSLR Challenge18-Apr-2007 14:15
I love it. Beautiful lines, color, and depth. --Melanie
Canon DSLR Challenge15-Apr-2007 10:35
Fantastic Sharon, and 'good on ya' Pieter, love to hear about supportive partners. ~ Regards Melbob
elips14-Apr-2007 21:33
Thanks, Tom! ~Sharon
elips14-Apr-2007 21:32
Thanks, Melbob! You are too kind! As for struggling along, I brought my favorite porter to carry the chair. My husband, Pieter, is very supportive, in more ways than one, of my photographic efforts. All I had to carry was my camera bag. Of the other walkers, one thought I was taking pictures for an ad for the Nature Conservancy and the other thought someone should be sitting in the chair. Perhaps she was right! ~Sharon

Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 20:26
amazing looking image.
very nice use of wide angle.instant "message delivery"
:))
tom
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 17:29
This is great Sharon, I was concerned for your safety thinking the tractor/mower might be on its way back... but you explained that!

I would like to have seen the expressions of the walkers as you struggled along carrying a red chair and your camera gear???

I'm always impressed by your photographic skill and incredibly creative/original ideas and compositions. ~ Regards Melbob
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 09:23
Sharon, it is SUCH a Breath of Fresh Air to finally have someone to talk to about their image...a real person talking about what they did, why and how.

Still, a fabulous image. Best Wishes, Traveller
jnconradie14-Apr-2007 08:18
Thanks, Sharon. Sorry. I should have read the lens information. Well done again. Regards jnconradie
elips14-Apr-2007 08:00
Thanks, Traveller and Nico! Traveller, this is still a set up shot, just outdoors and I have you to thank for the different direction. By choosing this challenge you gave me the opportunity to think about what other photographers I have found interesting and might want to emulate. Man Ray came immediately to mind but he has been covered very well here. I still have another photographer I want to try but the weather has to cooperate, we will see! Nico, no I didn't have to stand on anything, the 15mm fisheye lens took care of that, lol! This is an old cow pasture that has been taken over by the Nature Conservancy and made into a place for walking. The path is mowed into the field, very pleasant indeed. Although, I did baffle the few other walkers that were out that day! ~Sharon
jnconradie14-Apr-2007 07:37
Compliments, Sharon. Beautiful work, as always. I like the line/path? up the hill and the contrasts between the yellowish grass and red chair. Did you have to stand on some ladder or something to shoot this? Regards jnconradie
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 06:45
Sharon, forgive me, but I just think of you as the master of Set-Up shots...God knows you're good at that....this seems to me, a different direction for you. Maybe I'm just wrong, but this is a great outdooor shot....truly. Best Wishes, T
elips14-Apr-2007 06:08
Yes she is, Traveller! We are lucky to have her! ~Sharon
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 05:34
No, no, it's no fun if you don't give any clues. What would a Detective Novel be like it there were no hints...and the bad guy turned out to be someone completely out of the loop? (This has happened and the reviews were severe, indeed) Best Wishes, Traveller

I would never, never, never have guessed this as yours, Sharon. Kiki is something else, isn't she?

Best Wishes, 2nd time
elips14-Apr-2007 03:56
Ahh, Kiki, you would make a fine detective! I thought, perhaps, I was talking too much, lol! ~Sharon
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 03:28
After thinking back and forth (extreme like Lonnit, clean like Iso, red/wide like JimH..) It struck me that the chair is quaker'ish and the landscape.. suddenly reminded me of elips. And THEN.. I went to Sharon's indiscret pbase site and there it was ;) The language here also reminded me of you, or rang a bell at least. And the M.O. in some way.. expressing doubts to whether reshoot, admitting that you didn't remember there were people in the image.. an honest, polite and civilized tone. NOT implying others don't share those features lol
-K2
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 03:17
To tell you the truth, I'm sick of guessing who did what...lol

This is not your fault because the image has only been up for a day.

But still...Okay, JimH?

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Apr-2007 02:47
Thank you, Traveller and Michael! I am honored that you like it! Any guesses as to the photographer?
Guest 13-Apr-2007 21:33
I wasn't familiar with Kevin Clarke or "The Red Couch", thanks for including links. This is a dynamite image, well done. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 18:40
I don't think it is necessary to emulate anyone...there is all kinds of stuff floating around in our subconscious that tickle us in this direction or that...this is a wonderful piece of work....By You.

Great conception and execution.

And the image makes a person think.

Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 16:22
Thanks everyone! So, in order to emulate Clarke I would have to include people or at least a person, I understand that. But, if what I remember of the images after more than 20 years is only the couch and the landscapes, for my art, do I have to include people for it to be legitimate? At least one other person I spoke to, who had seen the book when it came out, also didn't remember people being in the pictures, just the couch and various locations. How many of you did your images without looking at your source first and how different from what you remembered was it when you did look at the source?
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 15:28
Nice! POV.. colors.. lines.. and love the detail and horizon. (there's another lens for my wish list..)
-kiki2
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 15:15
Outstanding!! I love it! shu
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 14:59
Thanks for the link - I had never seen Kevin Clarke's work and found it to be hysterical! Amazing where he placed his red couch for many of those pictures and the one in the small boat was especially funny - it looked as if it might sink! Maybe to emulate Clarke you would need people in this shot, but it's a wonderful image as is! :-) CJ
Daniel Bollag13-Apr-2007 11:49
I do like your image, and I enjoyed enormously visiting the web-page your link leads to. And, yes, to emulate Kevin Clarke (whom I was not familiar with), you would have to include human beings in a meaningful way... But this is a nice photograph anyway. — db.
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Apr-2007 07:25
Thanks, Chris!
Chris Sofopoulos13-Apr-2007 07:18
Amazing simplicity and beauty of composing!