Comp #130 - Spooks! - Vote Here

[Oldthumbs]

Well, I'll have to admit that I didn't think this would be nearly as hard as it was. Only a few brave souls entered this time, so it won't take long to go through them, and it certainly wouldn't take long to critique them.

Here's the relevant details from the topic thread, gleaned from a few posts -

The subject is "Spooks."

By this I mean that I want a picture of a ghostly or ghastly being(s). I do NOT want something real life, like a grisly car accident or a picture of someone who has actually just lost an arm or something. I want something appropriate to Halloween - a little scary in a fun kind of way, if that makes any sense. Use your imagination. Any questions, feel free to ask.

. . . a double exposure technique will be acceptable.

I expect some type of person/being/creature in the picture.

As I said, the only acceptable "manip" is to create the effect of a double exposure if you feel the need for it.

My intention was for a living "person/being/creature" (or plurals) to be in the image. This doesn't mean it has to be human. There are lots of living things that can be "ghostly or ghastly being(s)." Don't interpret this that it can't be human, though.

To further clarify, it does not need to be a whole "person/being/creature" - it can be a part of same, such as just a head, hand, etc.

It is up to you to decide what is on topic in this comp. I will state, so that no one has to question it, that there are no manipulations in these entries, though the double-exposure effect is present.

Thank you to those who entered. For a little bit I thought we would come up dry for this comp. With no further delay, here they are -


1) Buzzards





2) Have an apple, dearie





3) Arachnaphobia





4) Halloween Ghost





5) Ghost Writer




That's it, folks. Evaluate and vote - and take a minute to critique, too.

Ray

(BTW - since we are running these every two weeks, as a test I extended the voting on this comp to five days.)

[Oldthumbs]

Wow, such enthusiasm! Not a single critique? As I've stated before, I don't like to critique when I'm hosting because I know which image belongs to which member, but that's not stopping the rest of you. Any takers out there?

Ray

[DesertDarlene]

I'll do a short critique. I like the idea and composition of #1, but you can't see any of the details. The lights are too light and the darks are too dark. It's possible that this was intended, though, to make it more spooky.

#2 is probably the most spooky and on topic. The red on the apple really stands out.

#3 has too many reflections and is too busy. It looks out of focus.

#4 doesn't seem spooky enough to me and the image is a little soft.

I really like #5, but I wonder if it, also, is spooky enough.

So, there are the crits and I don't know who I am voting for yet. I don't say these things about the photos to be mean, and anyone can disagree with them if they want.

[DesertDarlene]

Oh, man, I was writing my critique and I just realized the poll just closed. Oh, well.

Edited to add: I was still able to vote, yay

[Oldthumbs]

Originally Posted by DesertDarlene

Oh, man, I was writing my critique and I just realized the poll just closed. Oh, well.

I don't think so, Darlene. I actually have the poll set to close two days later than usual. If it says it is closed, please let me know because that means something is screwed up.

Thanks for the critique. Anyone else? Not too many entries to critique.

Ray

[Manstein]

A Few Biased Comments.


1, An interesting shot but what’s happening with the yellowish haze that follows the line of the branches. I think the branches have been burned in to get a silhouette effect and it hasn’t quite worked. Nothing really frightening about birds.

2, I like this, simple construction and the red sets off the fingers nicely.

3, Too much going on here, slightly blurred and spiders are friendly creatures.

4, Can’t really work this one out looks like a lift from a comic book?

5, A bit contrived but I like its tones.

[Oldthumbs]

Thanks, Chris. These be slow times in the old photo comp.

[Manstein]

Keep your nose firmly against the grindstone Ray!

[kaleidoscope eyes]

Originally Posted by Manstein

and spiders are friendly creatures

Oh really? I'll have to stop flattening them then.

Unfortunately I didn't have any time to think about this comp but I was looking forward to seeing some interesting double exposures.
Here's my two cents worth anyway:

1. I quite like this shot, don't mind the burned in effect but don't think it really fits the topic.

2. A good concept and the hand is very goulishly coloured but the composition doesn't really work for me. Plus the top knuckle is OOF.
I'd like to have seen the grisly fingers holding up the bright apple rather than obscuring it.

3. Sorry, way too busy and fuzzy. The camera suggests interest in the spider rather than fear of it.

4. Interesting sort of abstract, looks like old print to me too. Doesn't feel particularly spooky or ghostly though.

5. Another good idea and I too like the tones. Someone had some fun with this.

All in all the ol' WOW factor seems to be missing from all of these entries.
I thought you lot'd be way spookier!

[Dreamin]

Thanks, Carol. Oh, I did, I did have fun! I took over 50 takes on this....pressing the shutter button and running out to the corncrib and spelling BOO with the flashlight in the air and then trying to get a spooky face in the bargain.....it's hard to do air writing .....I have a state police man for a neighbor, and he rode by on his way home, then I saw him turn around and come back and run his headlights slowly over my property.....I hid behind a tree...and he eventually went home...sheesh...I could have been arrested for this!! LOL!! and yes, Chris...it was contrived...but as I couldn't get the local ghosts to cooperate, I had to settle for a counterfeit one!!



Congratulations, you old buzzard!! whoever you are! Seriously, nice job....those buzzards sitting a roof or in trees give me the willies...makes my arm hair stand on end....

[Oldthumbs]

And the winners are -

First Place - Buzzards - Terry (ticktock01)

Second Place - Have an apple, dearie - Sue (moccasin)

Tie for Third -
Halloween Ghost - Retha (perel)
Ghost Writer - Natalie (Dreamin)

and finally - Arachnaphobia - Wendy (Windy)

Sorry I picked such a tough topic for this comp. I obviously didn't realize it would be such a challenge. Thank you all for entering and voting, and thank you to those few brave souls who took the time to do a critique. Now, on to the next comp - let's get a little WOW into things.

Ray

[perel]

thanks for the challenge, Ray.

Terry and Sue congratulations, Natalie and Wendy congratulations too.

Thanks for voting Guys.

Retha

[Manstein]

Sue I'd get some lanolin on your hands before its too late!

[ticktock01]

Thanks Retha

[moccasin]

Originally Posted by Manstein

Sue I'd get some lanolin on your hands before its too late!

It's already too late, Mr C. You think that's bad, you should see my feet!!!

This was tough - ever tried to change a lens with only one hand and an elbow?

Thanks for the votes, Folks!

Cheers,
Me