I was actually at wits end a few hours before the deadline for this challenge was about to expire. I had looked in our shoe closet at least a dozen times and just could not figure out any exciting or unusual idea to photograph. Then I googled "art with shoes" and came across this chap's work which is where I got my "inspiration" from.
//www.apple.com/pro/profiles/tcherevkoff/index2.html //www.shoefleur.com/ I must admit that his work is much, much more perfected and accomplished then my hastily put together attempt. Also I was limited to these particular rather weed-like flowers which I purchased at our local florist. They had nothing in stock like what I really wanted. I actually wanted lilies with nice straight flexible stems. The light had faded by the time I got home and evening was setting in so I used my onboard flash which explains the hard edges some voters remarked on. I arranged the flowers in the shape of a high heeled pump on a flesh colored piece of carton. I realized when I entered this that it would probably score relatively low but I liked the idea of it being something quite different and that many voters would be left guessing. Sometimes getting lots of comments can be more satisfying then getting high score.
Statistics
Place: 132 out of 138 Avg (all users): 4.3720 Avg (commenters): 5.8000 Avg (participants): 4.4474 Avg (non-participants): 4.3068 Views since voting: 1494 Views during voting: 372 Votes: 164 Comments: 43 Favorites: 1 (view)
Perhaps I should have embellished a bit more on my "imbeciles below 5" comment.
There were a lot of great during voting comments mostly from voters who got it.
Those that vote(d) below 5 I feel should justify their vote. I do. After all it's not the pats on the back that let us learn.
Voting 1 (or 2, 3, 4) on an image without providing constructive criticism does nothing to help your fellow photographer. If you just can't bring yourself to comment, can't find the words, haven't got the time, or the balls self confidence, be fair to yourself and the photographer, don't vote...
Ray, you may now strike yourself from my list.
Aaah it's so refreshing for me not to have to adhere to American Political Correctness.
I can't image what it must be like to not be able to speak your mind for fear of having a lawyer haul your ass into court...
First of all I would like to thank Magnum_za for bringing to my attention that I am an imbecile, as I am one of those people who dared vote this a sub 5 image.
My reasons for doing so have nothing to do with my not seeing the shape of a shoe in an image. Also, considering that I am fully bilingual, the title alone would have brought to my attention the fact that the shoe image consisted of strategically placed flowers.
It is a quantum leap to assume that all I did was "Look, assume, vote and move on" as I can assure you that I make several passes whenever I vote on images.
I voted this image a 4, which I earnestly believed was what it merited. Some may not like it, but it is my vote and no amount of finger pointing or name calling will get me to alter my decision... a decision that I rendered after a careful consideration.
The image was indeed innovative, creative and something out of the normal interpretation... unfortunately it was not all that well done, hence my decision for scoring it the way I did.
Did the image merit 19 scores of one... apparently yes in the views of those who doled those scores out, just as others earnestly believed the image merited scores of 7 to 10.
Probably the most important facet of being on this site is the learning experience, and improving one's skills is or should be the primary objectives for all.
Excellent PHOTOGRAPH and high marks.
For the imbeciles who voted below 5, ask them if they would still shoot with a Sony Mavica 0.3 MP or would they rather benefit from some innovation and advancement in their "craft"??
Thanks to the digital fast food age, we look, assume, vote, move on.
Why be here in the first place if you can't judge an image like this on it's merits?
One good thing has come out of it. You have opened up a lot of people to another photographic art form, including me. WD
So cute and creative, also well executed. I didn't vote on this challenge, but I certainly would have given it at least an 8 for innovation and excellence.
4.3 ?? That's got to be the best looking 4.3 out there.
Not much consolation I know. A shot like this is always a gamble - if people click into your way off thinking then you have a unique shot with no direct competition - on the other hand if they don't . .
Proud to say I gave you your 10. Love the image and the out of the box approach to the challenge. Thanks for the link....I couldn't think of the guys name...but have seen his work in some magazines.
For those who might be interested in the link and the name of the site:
Shoefleur is phonetic for chou-fleur or cauliflower in English
I like the way of thinking behind this.
Photography is an art and so many people fake up being photographers just because they lack artistic imagination. And not appreciating your shot is a very good example. Thanks for this lesson!!
Well I must say, I am overwhelmed at the many comments this image garnered. Thanks to all who commented. As I suspected beforehand many failed to recognize the shape of a high heel shoe/pump.
Not surprised to find it down here near the bottom. You did receive a good number of high votes, however. I'm sure you knew it was a risky shot when you entered it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
Lemme tell ya, I've looked at it several times and was totally lost! Then I thought "Google"! lol so I googled it and found a pair of heels that had a "flower" as the heel - then I came back and now I can see the "shoe" in this photo; Now I can say, man! What a great take on this challenge instead of DNMC! Love the colors you choose too. I never woulda thought of this so great creativity as well - and now that I'm looking that flower makes the perfect toe! Ok, this is just too much!
I can see the shape of a high heel shoe. I have to wonder how many others are seeing it, though. Nice OOTB thinking. Hope you don't get creamed too badly for it.
I'll give you a 7 for the creativity, background, details and colors in general. You will probably get low votes because the voters are normaly more literal with shots like yours. Anyway, i hope you do well. Good luck!
Sorry, but I'm not quite getting how this meets the challegne (probably through ignorance). However, I also found the harsh edges/shadows destracting. Perhaps the flash was the cause or the plants proximity to the background. Hopefully, someone more qualified to cretique may provide a solution to this.
I hope your note getting killed on this image. It is a 10 from me. I can't think for the life of me the photographer that does these brilliant images of flowers in shoe shapes. Brilliant image.....good luck in this challenge.
Ok, I finally get it now, and it's nice, but I think the heel isn't looking enough like a heel. The toe works, because there's a place to insert the imaginary toe, but the heel should be open and rounded, so I'm afraid you're probably getting hit by a lot of people who just aren't seeing the shoe.
What an imagination!! :) I'm curious on how this will do. I hand out a *7* for your originality. I think that other voters will not agree with me on this, but hell: you took the risk, so do I now.
Nice graphic treatment but leaves the world of photography for me. Be careful on cutting out your parts as I can see quite a few edges still showing on the flowers and leaves. Good use of color. Nice design work and your quite creative.
I'm going to give you an 9 for unique creativity, but I had to work really hard to figure this out. I had to Google the phrase, then I still couldn't see the shoe once I looked at it again. Finally....I saw it! Very well done, unique & creative, but I'll be surprised if you don't get slammed by this crowd.....8>).....Good luck!
I must confess, I didn't get this at first. I was looking on a small screen and didn't see it all at once. I like it though. Out of the box, creative thinking is good in my opinion. I'm bumping up the score.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
