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"Mundane" subjects


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#1
sunshine

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I've been reading more articles on composition lately, and trying to practice.  There are lots of words written, even complete books, on making "mundane", everyday subjects into compelling photographs.  I have lots of mundane subjects around my house, so as part of an exercise in a Thom Hogan blog post, I followed directions and came up with the following set of photos.  I appreciate whatever any of you would care to contribute.  One thing I read recently that has stuck with me was the question: "What was the last thing you photographed? (Hint - the answer should not be a noun)".  The context there was that a photo should convey some sort of emotional aspect, i.e., "tranquility".

 

1. "aged".  My intent here was to capture the texture and sense of age in this statue.  Technically, I think I should have used f/4 rather than f/2.8 so the tip of her nose was in focus along with the eyes and cheekbones.  I think the background would have still been sufficiently out of focus.  But I'm mostly interested in the non-technical.  Does anything jump out at you as "I would have done this differently."?  More centered?  Less centered?  Farther away?  Other suggestions that might better convey "weathered"?

36545657020_a43f8f9f25_b.jpg

aged by Mark, on Flickr

 

2. "happy"  This caught my eye from inside the house as a bright spot in a rather dark setting (it's been sitting under our deck for weeks).  The sun-yellow color and cartoon-like depiction of the sun just needs a smiley drawn in.  If this photo were on a page of images that you were scrolling through, would you stop for a longer look?  Click for a larger view?  Or is a mundane subject a mundane subject?

36770420322_56969f4ed4_b.jpg

happy by Mark, on Flickr

 

3. "morning sunlight"  It's not cold outside yet, and the leaves have not started to turn here, but this scene made me think of a crisp fall day when the sun is still warm but you can feel that summer is fading.  Would you get that from this photo without someone telling you first?  Personally, I think probably not, it's just a pile of wood after all.  But that's what I was going for.

36770419622_dabfa701a4_b.jpg

morning sunlight by Mark, on Flickr

 

4. "autumn is coming"  This was my favorite from the morning's exercise.  A few leaves have fallen and were caught on the hammock.  The sun was highlighting the hammock and cushion, and the background is in heavy shadow.  This was taken at f/4, 1/640", and ISO 64.  The foreground is very bright with all the white netting, and even with matrix metering the background is very dark and underexposed.  I like the contrast and the lines radiating from the top.  To me, this is a photo of the line between summer and fall.  I'm curious, though, whether this does anything for anyone else.

36133405353_36f71b3732_b.jpg

autumn is coming by Mark, on Flickr

 

I have never considered myself artistic and developing that aspect of photography is a real challenge for me.  I enjoy challenges, though, so I'll probably bother you all again and again with similar postings.  Part of my brain can easily look at all of these photos and go "ho hum, boring stuff around the house".  Another part can assemble words such as those above in an attempt to attach some significance and meaning to boring stuff around the house.  I'm afraid that part may be stretching things a bit...  I would love to hear your reactions.  That tells me which part of my brain was correct.  If you feel like typing a little and have some suggestions on how to improve one or more of these, or can contribute some of your own examples of how to turn mundane subjects into compelling photos, please do share.  I have an overabundance of mundane subjects.

 

Thanks for coming this far and suffering through so many instances of the word "mundane".  :)

Mark



#2
deano

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Sunshine,

 

1) I like the statue.  Maybe a mustahse to make the viewer think a bit.  Centered or off-center is in the eye of the beholder.  This one could be off-center as well as the background is pleasing, at least to me.

2) The off-center flower works.  Good color and detail.  Reminds me of flowers at Costco

3)I like the stacked wood idea to convey fall, but I think it is to dark.  The lines in wood are beautiful and photograph well., Less shadow could have shown more of the wood pile and still conveyed the mood.

3) You nailed it.  Great photo.  i like the leading lines, draws my eyes into the photo.

 

Looking forward to more "Mundane" shots.



#3
ScottinPollock

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Great photos. I'd like to have seen you backup a bit on the statue. Flower is beautiful, and the hammock is amazing!

#4
sunshine

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Thanks for the comments.  Deano - wish I'd thought of the mustache idea.  :)   I did try bringing up the exposure on the wood pile a little.  I didn't like the result as much as the darker version.  Scottinpollock - I actually had to crop the statue photo a little to remove some distracting features in the original.  I would have to rearrange the scene a little to show more of it.

 

Overall, either you guys are being nice or my attempt at applying artistic interpretations to these photos isn't too far off the mark.  I appreciate the encouragement.



#5
ScottinPollock

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actually had to crop the statue photo a little to remove some distracting features in the original.  I would have to rearrange the scene a little to show more of it.


Aha... it looks cropped. Something distracting about the chin so far from the bottom, but the top of the head so close to the top. No big deal though.

#6
TBonz

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I might have gone portrait on the statue (shooting or in crop later) but overall like the exposure...

The flower is nicely done...it stands out because of the color / lighting but to me is still somewhat mundane...but, that doesn't mean bad, just not my kind of thing...

I like the idea of the wood...I do think it needs more light on the wood itself - my come in by increasing Shadow or "burning" a bit selectively in that area so you get some additional detail.

I really like the hammock...I probably would have shot at a higher ISO and adjusted accordingly, but I don't think it would have improved the image...



#7
sunshine

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Thanks Tom.  I didn't think to try a portrait orientation.  The colors of the flower are what attracted my eye originally, but it's tough to turn that sort of subject into something compelling.  I posted the hammock to my 500px account.  It didn't get much of a reaction there either.  All in all I think this exercise just confirms the importance of subject.  I appreciate you taking the time to comment.



#8
Ron

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I also like the statue. But rather than give it a mustache I think I would have put a pair of sunglasses on it.  :D 

 

The only thing that really bothers me about it is the blob of light in the upper right hand corner. That should go... either in camera or in post. It competes with the subject and at the very least is detracting.

 

The flower photo... yeah, mundane. Nice exposure tho.

 

For some reason I like the wood pile photo. Also, nice exposure.

 

My fave... maybe fave is the leaf on hammock photo. That one hits most of the right buttons. Good exposure... mostly good composition... leading lines, etc. Nice. 

 

--Ron



#9
sunshine

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I also like the statue. But rather than give it a mustache I think I would have put a pair of sunglasses on it.  :D

 

The only thing that really bothers me about it is the blob of light in the upper right hand corner. That should go... either in camera or in post. It competes with the subject and at the very least is detracting.

 

The flower photo... yeah, mundane. Nice exposure tho.

 

For some reason I like the wood pile photo. Also, nice exposure.

 

My fave... maybe fave is the leaf on hammock photo. That one hits most of the right buttons. Good exposure... mostly good composition... leading lines, etc. Nice. 

 

--Ron

 

Thanks for the comments Ron.  I have an account on 500px where I occasionally post something to gauge reaction.  I posted the hammock photo there and it garnered a whopping 11 favorites (one of which came from my brother, so it doesn't really count).  Not a stellar performer.  I'll keep trying.  Maybe add sunglasses and a fake mustache to my bag.  If they don't enhance my photos I can wear them myself to stay incognito.  :)

 

Mark



#10
Steve M

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Thanks for the comments Ron.  I have an account on 500px where I occasionally post something to gauge reaction.  I posted the hammock photo there and it garnered a whopping 11 favorites (one of which came from my brother, so it doesn't really count).  Not a stellar performer.  I'll keep trying.  Maybe add sunglasses and a fake mustache to my bag.  If they don't enhance my photos I can wear them myself to stay incognito.  :)

 

Mark

The Hammock photo is an awesome photo.   I love it.   I am a member at 500PX also but I sure don't know why you didn't get more likes on it.  That photo is something that you should even be able to sell.



#11
sunshine

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The Hammock photo is an awesome photo.   I love it.   I am a member at 500PX also but I sure don't know why you didn't get more likes on it.  That photo is something that you should even be able to sell.

 

Thanks for the comments and encouragement.  Landscapes seem to generate much more attention on 500px than anything else I have tried.  Of course, bikini (and less) models generally get the highest "pulse" scores, but I don't have any of those available so I have to settle for landscapes and still life scenes.  :)

I posted this one a few days ago and it got the highest score (92) to date of any of my photos.  The hammock score still stands at 77.8.



#12
Steve M

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Thanks for the comments and encouragement.  Landscapes seem to generate much more attention on 500px than anything else I have tried.  Of course, bikini (and less) models generally get the highest "pulse" scores, but I don't have any of those available so I have to settle for landscapes and still life scenes.  :)
I posted this one a few days ago and it got the highest score (92) to date of any of my photos.  The hammock score still stands at 77.8.


I started following you! I think you will get more likes on your photos if you have more people following you. You have some great photos on your page.

Here is my most popular. I guess from my iPad I can’t place a link.

https://500px.com/ph...-oil-by-steve-m

Yes the nude get the most attention. If they show up on my feed I make sure I am not following them. That has eliminated so match of it

#13
sunshine

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That's a great photo!  And a 98.9 score!  Congrats.  I love how the heat waves from the exhaust distort the air.  Thanks for the follow.