I liked it - the only problem I had was that it looked too real to be abstract! With the reflections and the shadow I could almost see what the object was. It didn't look 'surreal' enough, if that's the right word. I think the shadow kind of spoiled the effect for me.
Lovely vibrant colours though. An excellent interpretation of the challenge.
Perhaps part of the reason that abstracts are not popular in challenges is that they can be difficult to convey a message such as "Coffee Shop", "Pride", "Your Corner of the World", etc. Plus, they're pure aesthetics that can be extremely subjective to viewer taste (though I suppose that is basically true for pretty much any photograph, on some level or another).
I think Skip brings up a good point that the "What?!" challenge would certainly be well fit by an abstract - at least in my opinion.
Just my opinion, but I don't think it has that much to do with people not being able to appreciate the abstract.
I think it has more to do with a lot of abstracts being presented as being good shots simply because they are abstract, but just being an abstract doesn't make a shot good. Many abstracts are just as medriocre/boring as the endless drops, flowers, animals, nudes, bugs, whatever.
I think a good abstract is a lot of work. Just showing a part of something or an intentionally out of focus picture or a camera movement picture does not make the picture a good abstract. It has to have something else. I haven't figured out what that is though.
I think you did very well! Look where I ended up with my abstract!
I think you proved the opposite of what I would conclude with mine: that there is a place for abstracts. But perhaps not ones that look like they break the rules? (That's my theory anyway--I asked for validation at the start of the challenge but it took two whole days to get it validated, more than 1/2 the votes (around 145 out of 234) had already been cast before it was validated.
84th place with an
average vote of 5.509
40 votes out of 234 were three and under, despite the clear predominance of complementary colors green and red.
But the first color _I_ see is the bright yellow in the middle, so you have three colors not two, and the main color is not a complement of either of the others.
So for me, if you are gonna go for abstract in a complementary colors challenge, you had better get the colors right, and in this one, if you ask me, you didn't.
Here's food for thought. In as much as I am happy about my highest rated score, I have to ask the question.
Is there no room for ABSTRACTS on DPC?
Hello Rikki,
First I love your photography.
Second your picture Burn is outstanding.
Third I get tired of the same old same old too.
And furthermore, quit complaining. I am lost to find a 6 let alone a 6.461 and 14th place. Sure I get frustrated too when I take something I put a lot of thought into and it just scrapes out a 5 or so. I have a picture now in the “Pride” challenge which nobody is getting which proves one they are not too up on current and contemporary photographers (which there is nothing wrong with, just a kick to get people to use Google.) or two they are so arrogant they can’t be bothered, in which case I am glad they are not commenting on my photograph.
As you can see I have a habit of complaining about my scores, I guess that just makes me a pissy little sensitive artist. LOL but I think you get what I mean. I will say this, I owe you an apology, with all the entries there are, sometimes I do not have the patience of someone like Judy (Jutilda) to go back and give a fair view of an image. I regret I may have done that with this one. I had given you a 5 and was going to go back and recheck some of my votes but forgot. I hope I wasn’t the reason you didn’t get into the top ten.
I hope you continue to create even abstracts for our enjoyment and hopefully for a mural in Donald Trump’s new building lobby someday, after I do, :) fair enough? Be well.
I think you did very well! Look where I ended up with my abstract!
I think you proved the opposite of what I would conclude with mine: that there is a place for abstracts. But perhaps not ones that look like they break the rules? (That's my theory anyway--I asked for validation at the start of the challenge but it took two whole days to get it validated, more than 1/2 the votes (around 145 out of 234) had already been cast before it was validated.
84th place with an
average vote of 5.509
40 votes out of 234 were three and under, despite the clear predominance of complementary colors green and red.
But the first color _I_ see is the bright yellow in the middle, so you have three colors not two, and the main color is not a complement of either of the others.
So for me, if you are gonna go for abstract in a complementary colors challenge, you had better get the colors right, and in this one, if you ask me, you didn't.
Not to argue my score, since that wasn't my point here, but I take issue with the statement that the two complementary colors had to be the only colors, or even the focal point. The challenge said:
While colors are fresh on your mind, try to use two complementary colors to compose your photograph.
I did use two complementary colors to compose my photograph.
I think there is room for most types of photography here on DPC. Pure abstract photography is generally not popular and the same applies here on DPC. Abstract photographs that do not have identifiable objects generally don't rate high in challenges. Your entry in the Complementary Colors challenge rated exceptionally high considering that it's pure abstraction.
However images that have strong abstract qualities but still have identifiable subjects have a good chance of rating high. Here are some recent examples:
I do think what Ursula said makes a lot of sense:
Originally posted by ursula:
Just my opinion, but I don't think it has that much to do with people not being able to appreciate the abstract.
I think it has more to do with a lot of abstracts being presented as being good shots simply because they are abstract, but just being an abstract doesn't make a shot good. Many abstracts are just as medriocre/boring as the endless drops, flowers, animals, nudes, bugs, whatever.
I think a good abstract is a lot of work. Just showing a part of something or an intentionally out of focus picture or a camera movement picture does not make the picture a good abstract. It has to have something else. I haven't figured out what that is though.
Here's food for thought. In as much as I am happy about my highest rated score, I have to ask the question.
Is there no room for ABSTRACTS on DPC?
Hello Rikki,
First I love your photography.
Second your picture Burn is outstanding.
Third I get tired of the same old same old too.
And furthermore, quit complaining. I am lost to find a 6 let alone a 6.461 and 14th place. Sure I get frustrated too when I take something I put a lot of thought into and it just scrapes out a 5 or so. I have a picture now in the “Pride” challenge which nobody is getting which proves one they are not too up on current and contemporary photographers (which there is nothing wrong with, just a kick to get people to use Google.) or two they are so arrogant they can’t be bothered, in which case I am glad they are not commenting on my photograph.
As you can see I have a habit of complaining about my scores, I guess that just makes me a pissy little sensitive artist. LOL but I think you get what I mean. I will say this, I owe you an apology, with all the entries there are, sometimes I do not have the patience of someone like Judy (Jutilda) to go back and give a fair view of an image. I regret I may have done that with this one. I had given you a 5 and was going to go back and recheck some of my votes but forgot. I hope I wasn’t the reason you didn’t get into the top ten.
I hope you continue to create even abstracts for our enjoyment and hopefully for a mural in Donald Trump’s new building lobby someday, after I do, :) fair enough? Be well.
Michael
Michael-
On the contrary, I wasn't complaining about my scores. What I was merely alluding to was whether or not abstracts can really be received well in DPC. Well enough to break the top tier or probably even ribbon.
Like yourself and many others in this community, I too at times complain about my scores. It is the lore of being part of this group and being part of a challenge. I've learned to just shrug it aside and move on. And on that note, a few rogue scores of 1s and 2s and even 3s don't really hurt your score as much in the whole scheme of things. My complimentary image received a few but not so much as to sway the overall results of the votes.
I agree with what the others have said about abstracts and photography. I will keep this in mind as I move forward improving my skills and techniques with the help of everyone in this community.
