EPJ - 1st Place Winner

Your talent far exceeds your age Joe. This is way different than your fauna posts but you have done a fantastic job with it. A touch more room on the right and less on the left is all I can "complain" about

- Luke

Thanks Luke, this kind of photography is a bit out of my comfort zone, and I really appreciate your comments. I can also see how the composition could have been better by putting the car more to the left in the frame, and it really helps having a fresh pair of eyes to pick up on things Ive completely missed

I'm going to "go the other way" and probably make you a little crazy in the process. For my eye, one of the strengths of the image is the way you have framed it. Being off-center keeps my eye moving, and in fact leads me back to the dwelling in the back, the sky, and those great trees in the background. Yeah, it might be more "soothing" with the car centered, but I think you'd lose the connection with the background. That's always a problem with flatland photography and one of the greatest challenges.

The master of flatland photography in my book is Sam Abell, and he relies on subtle techniques just like your used here to move the viewers' eyes through flat sceens and to tie together foreground, background and midground. Having taken a couple of long workshops from him and spent a lot of off-hours discussing photography, I'm certain he'd be bowled over by this shot. You should google him and spend time looking at his photos. Better yet would be to pick up one or more of his books. Best of all would be to take a workshop with him.

I'd love to see you spend more time outside your comfort zone, especially if we can see the results here!

As for an environmental messge in this, I think it raises the interesting question about when "trash" becomes art.

Very nice work! Keep it coming.

Thanks Hank, after studying the image some more I think I see what you mean. By positioning the car off centered and to the right in the frame, it makes the viewers eyes wander from the car to the background, instead of being anchored on the car alone. I tried looking up Sam Abell, and I'm going to try to find some of his books at the local library.

Congradulations. This is great comp and shot.

Joe, congrats for a great EP!

Sandy r

That poor thing is really bent up. I love these kinds of photos. Sadly the scene is all too common, so I'm glad you posted this in Env.PJ. It's a great shot. Congrats on the EP.

Joe,

Very strong image, nice Black and white conversion not a nit here. It gerat you getting an early start, keep up the good work.

Paul

Joe, BIG congrats for the EPJ 2010 First Place award!
Sandy