Creating supposed art where there isn't any is an art form in itself and those, who by viewing supposed art, invent art in their minds for the purpose of being able to see art, are not seeing what is there in front of them but imagining it for fear of feeling left out for not seeing anything.
That's what I see.
***note 26/08/09
I must have been drunk
Though I do not drink
While I wrote this junk
Did I bother to think?
Funny thing: I first saw this as an abstract study on shape and light. I started thinking an 8, then went with 7 as a 'benefit of the doubt' since I was wavering between 6 and 7.
Then I kept looking and I didn't find anything else compelling about it, so voted it down as an entry of that style.
I came back to this a final time during voting and looked closer. The depth that is shown on what appears to be a bench made me wonder if this was actually a kitchen table setting masquerading as a picture of something spiritual.
I decided that I was overanalyzing (because it wouldn't matter if it was a kitchen table or even a couple of pieces of paper and a light bulb) and took a step back and viewed it again as an abstract study on shape and light and I decided that I had given it a score simply because it "looked like something artistically presented as more than it is".
I decided that I was looking for an emotional impact to bring meaning to the effort of going through the exercise of making an abstract like this. Since I could not find anything, I voted this a 1.
I very seldom vote 1 and even more seldom on an image of this complexity. I chose the vote to indicate the picture's impact on me as an individual rather than a picture in a field of 1133 other pictures vying for first place, so I hope you understand that just as the pic itself is not trying to compete, my vote was not intended to indicate its value within a competition.
I can see quite a few areas of skill in the pic, but for this type of pic (for me), the content outweighs that.
Risky, ballsy entry. I had to put my glasses on to get the full effect. Just kidding about that. Seriously though, this is one I would print large and put on the wall.
Wow, I knew this wouldn't be a popular shot when I saw it in voting, but I never imagined it would be one away from the brown! From all the posthumous threads and side challenges where people seem to appreciate the more oob entries, I thought those voters would pull this one through. Anyone can manage to take an out of focus shot (and some people just do it without trying), but you've captured something very pleasing here in this scene. Thanks for putting this one in the challenge!
When I saw this one, I expected it to finish at the low end...but not this low. What a shame. Any fool can point a camera at a scene and record it, but it takes a special knack to be able to distill its essence into an abstract.
Unbelievable, that score. For what it's worth, I gave you a 10. More people should know that defocusing can be a deliberate artistic choice, and your photo, and more importantly your inclusion of the photo in a "gem" challenge, teaches us this.
Great work, Gordon. I had suspected this might be yours. It finished about as bad as one wo0uld expect, I guess, and it's a pity, but heck y'all knew that going in, right? Lovely image regardless. I'm one of your 9's.
Yup - I'm not too surprised. Lots of positive comments. Lots of interesting comments too. The vote spread is quite different to the company it is keeping down here at the end.
Great work, Gordon. I had suspected this might be yours. It finished about as bad as one wo0uld expect, I guess, and it's a pity, but heck y'all knew that going in, right? Lovely image regardless. I'm one of your 9's.
I wonder... you were kidding, right? I just checked your profile and you are a multi-ribboned!
This one cannot be in any way your best photo.
I think you were aiming at the brown ribbon, isnt'it?
No, not kidding. I think it is one of the more interesting and more successful pictures I've ever taken. Just look at the comments... Some people even have this hanging on their wall. An interesting spread of comments :) Thanks to everyone who left one, positive or negative.
This is all in camera, no post processing, pretty much as seen/ shot.
You're brave, very brave, I don't expect this to do well in the challenge because it's so unconventional but I think the colors all work really well together.
...so daring of you. I can hardly wait to read the comments this is getting. But I must admit I find this oddly soothing, the longer I stare, the more calming it becomes, and I'm pretty sure I heard some footsteps off in the distance echoing on the stone floor. So very peaceful.
nice abstract, very pleasing color scheme and composition, can imagine this in XXXXL format on canvas hanging on my wall. courageous to enter this, will not be honored by the other voters though. 10
Probably won't get you a high score, but there is something appealing about the softness, contrast and lines here. A broken line? Pieces coming together? Tables next to each other in a restaurant waiting for customers? So many questions, yet so simple.
I'm afraid you lost me with this one. Abbazia di Sant'Antimo is a beautiful abbey in Tuscany isn't it?? I don't know what it is or what its meant to be, therefore I don't even think it can be abstract either. I have no choice but to give this a 1. Sorry. I look forward to the description after the challenge is over. All the best.
Beautiful coffee colours. The shapes are suggestive of a path and very comforting. The heavier masses on each side fold together smoothly, and the lighter, nearly invisible shapes seen between them beckon the viewer. The whole effect is of an invitation. I like it. 7.
I had to look this up - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo in South Tuscany, a 12th-century Romanesque abbey, a gem of pale stone in the silvery green of an olive grove. Knowing that, this is an excellent capture of light and color in an heavenly abstract fashion. It has captured my attention and I hope others have noticed it as well. Nice job!
I figured as soon as this popped up that it was Gordon's. I just saw that you posted a 3.something in the scores thread, so now I'm sure it's yours. It's strange how people let their expectations determine whether or not they like something. "A photo should have something in focus, so this is bad." I wonder how many "There's nothing in focus." comments you're getting! Personally, I love the composition and soothing warm tones. I also enjoy images that are simultaneously abstract yet recognizable. Your title got me wondering, too, and I learned some things I didn't know before. I had you at a 7, but I'm bumping you to an 8 on my second pass.
What a startlingly different take on Tuscany's most beautiful Benedictine Abbey. The luminosity of this is so in keeping with the spirit of reaching towards the Lord that will have informed this holy place from the beginning.
I'm sure you're getting hammered by the voters, and that's understandable I guess, but a little sad. I'd like to think that anyone who knows this palce, has visited it, will understand and appreciate this iage.
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