Challenge:Symmetry (Classic Editing) Camera:Kodak LS443 Location: Spring Lake, NC Date: Mar 26, 2003 Aperture: 4.7 Shutter: 1/180 Date Uploaded: Mar 26, 2003
Composition: Purple Flame Ice (great title, by the way!) is an interesting composition. While I like the close-in feel in the photograph, I wonder if the composition might be stronger if the ice were not crowding so close to the edges of the frame. Also, I think the composition could be improved by including the upper right section of ice that runs out of the frame.
Technical: The lighting and exposure work very well and help to capture the wonderful colors from the flame. It is sometimes difficult to get a tight focus on a translucent object like ice. I think this photograph could be improved by working with different aperture settings, to try and get more of the ice in focus. The outer edges of the ice are in soft focus. It would be interesting to see how this photograph would look if the edges of the ice were more tightly in focus.
Meet the Challenge Objective? This is a bold entry for the symmetry challenge. I see elements of light and color that form a symmetrical pattern, but I don't see symmetry in the shape of the ice. I think this is a creative exploration of symmetry in light, but many DP voters were probably looking for symmetry that is more "in your face" and that could account for the lower score for this challenge. Note that lower scores in DPChallenge are necessarily a bad thing -- it usually means that you've pushed certain creative elements outside the boundaries of what the "quick reviewer" is expecting to see.
The lighting refracted within the ice is very nice. Stunning to look at, but even with your hint, it's hard to see this as an example of symmetry. Creativity is great, but on average, you have about 5 seconds to capture your audience. If you ask them to think more than 5 seconds, you're in trouble, score-wise. I didn't vote this challenge, but had I, I doubt I would have scored this higher than a 5, but then again, I'm an easy grader and feel that if I'm missing something, it's me.
For beauty alone, this is a very nice, colorful shot.
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