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anotherscotsman

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Aug 2, 2014
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June 23-30 weekly photo contest.

This weeks theme - In Context

Whilst architecture and architectural details are very interesting in their own right, buildings (loose use of term) don't exist in isolation. Looking for examples of buildings in their environment to show some context of how they interact with their surroundings.


Standard rules apply:

· The photographs must be your own work.

· Be creative and have fun.

· You may only submit one photo per contest.

· Please do not comment on photos until after the judging has taken place.

· The contest runs for a week and starts now!

· At the end of the week, last week’s winner will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.

· If the winner is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline for close, then a vote will be carried out to select a winner. This will be based on the number of "likes" each image has. In the event of a draw, the second place winner from the previous week will choose the tiebreaker.

· The 1st place winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).

· Please update the Weekly Contest Master List when you post a new contest.

Something to get you started - mill worker's housing from an 18th-century water-powered cotton mill in Scotland.


Sun going down on the Clyde
by another scotsman, on Flickr
 
Original Florida Tourist Welcome Station

DSC_7381-2500px.jpg
 
Right ladies and gents, will be closing the doors in a couple of hours so time for any last minute entries. Not looking forward to judging such a classy set of entries.
 
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Sorry if the commentary is a bit less comprehensive than usual but hopefully I can do your entries justice. Remember these are simply the personal views and opinions of a rank amateur - I recommend you seek professional advice before acting on the comments :)

@tizeye - a good example of the 'context' angle and I like the commanding view of the river estuary. Could perhaps do with a bit more of a view of the fort itself but certainly Florida from that sky and white sands.

@mollyc - I wouldn't like to clear up the leaves from the garden in fall here! Lush with nice contrast between the red flowers and the dominant green of the folliage.

@kenoh - I've lost count of the number of wet Saturday afternoons I spent in the botanical gardens in Glasgow. Really good use of the pano format to capture the grandeur of the building. I like the tree on the left 'in the wild' to contrast with what I know is inside. A little surprised that the B&W treatment works so well but it's great.

@Janichsan - I like the contrasting textures of the three bands in the composition - barley(?), trees and sky. The house nestled in the trees puts it nicely in context.

@AllergyDoc - I thought at first glance that this was one of those quintessential covered bridges you get in the US but a second look reveals the picnic area. Lovely fall scene with the wooden construction tying-in to the surrounding woodland. Nice photo.

@Hughmac - Moody! Nice use of colour tone that emphasises the isolation of the barn. If I was looking to improve then I'd clone-out the tree on the upper right just to give a bit more space around the barn.

@Apple fanboy - a real punchy shot with plenty of colour and texture contrast. Although I've never been there, I'd guess the positioning of the pond was no accident. Trees are a recurring theme - I'd be inclined to clone-out the tree on the right but that's just me.

@redshifted - I like the framing you use here and the contrasting colours and exposure of the hide and the greenery outside. A different take on putting the hide in context.

@Darmok N Jalad - nice composition with lots of interesting details. Pity the surface of the pool was a bit too choppy for a strong building reflection at the shutter speed you used. Nice illustration of the context of the dome.

@someoldguy - the combination of the big sky and the low-angle road put the roadside cafe into real context. Very 'Route 66' with a nice mono treatment.

@MacDonaldTrump - lovely sunset scene with good reflections of the temple and trees in the lake. Difficult lighting conditions and atmosphere make a clear view of the temple buildings difficult without overdoing an HDR treatment. Might be worth a look at making the temple almost a silhouette - dark with little or no detail?

@Indydenny - no doubt about the context of this set of buildings! If I had to be critical it would be that the light is a bit flat but being in a gorge like this it would require exceptional timing to get something more dramatic that still lets enough light in to illuminate the buildings.

@Somepix - isolated both physically and in terms of colour. Quite a different picture of isolation from say @Hughmac's entry but just as effective.

@oblomow - I've always been impressed by these buildings but not yet had the chance to visit myself. Nice mono treatment and composition but perhaps a little short of 'context'.

@deep diver - I remember you posting a series of these historic building and photographic method shots. Most impressed by your patience in completing the process. Nice use of techniques to capture the old barn in context both spatial and temporal.

@cogi0490 - rather topical given the recent D-Day commemoration. Very contextual with the bunker amongst the dunes - ominous and I can't imagine having to approach one of these in the heat of battle.

Given the very subjective nature of the topic and the quality of the submissions, this has been very difficult to give any sort of ranking, but here goes:


Special Mentions to @kenoh @redshifted and @deep diver
3rd place @someoldguy & @MacDonaldTrump
2nd place @Hughmac
1st place @Apple fanboy


Sorry AFB, over to you.
 
Sorry if the commentary is a bit less comprehensive than usual but hopefully I can do your entries justice. Remember these are simply the personal views and opinions of a rank amateur - I recommend you seek professional advice before acting on the comments :)

@tizeye - a good example of the 'context' angle and I like the commanding view of the river estuary. Could perhaps do with a bit more of a view of the fort itself but certainly Florida from that sky and white sands.

@mollyc - I wouldn't like to clear up the leaves from the garden in fall here! Lush with nice contrast between the red flowers and the dominant green of the folliage.

@kenoh - I've lost count of the number of wet Saturday afternoons I spent in the botanical gardens in Glasgow. Really good use of the pano format to capture the grandeur of the building. I like the tree on the left 'in the wild' to contrast with what I know is inside. A little surprised that the B&W treatment works so well but it's great.

@Janichsan - I like the contrasting textures of the three bands in the composition - barley(?), trees and sky. The house nestled in the trees puts it nicely in context.

@AllergyDoc - I thought at first glance that this was one of those quintessential covered bridges you get in the US but a second look reveals the picnic area. Lovely fall scene with the wooden construction tying-in to the surrounding woodland. Nice photo.

@Hughmac - Moody! Nice use of colour tone that emphasises the isolation of the barn. If I was looking to improve then I'd clone-out the tree on the upper right just to give a bit more space around the barn.

@Apple fanboy - a real punchy shot with plenty of colour and texture contrast. Although I've never been there, I'd guess the positioning of the pond was no accident. Trees are a recurring theme - I'd be inclined to clone-out the tree on the right but that's just me.

@redshifted - I like the framing you use here and the contrasting colours and exposure of the hide and the greenery outside. A different take on putting the hide in context.

@Darmok N Jalad - nice composition with lots of interesting details. Pity the surface of the pool was a bit too choppy for a strong building reflection at the shutter speed you used. Nice illustration of the context of the dome.

@someoldguy - the combination of the big sky and the low-angle road put the roadside cafe into real context. Very 'Route 66' with a nice mono treatment.

@MacDonaldTrump - lovely sunset scene with good reflections of the temple and trees in the lake. Difficult lighting conditions and atmosphere make a clear view of the temple buildings difficult without overdoing an HDR treatment. Might be worth a look at making the temple almost a silhouette - dark with little or no detail?

@Indydenny - no doubt about the context of this set of buildings! If I had to be critical it would be that the light is a bit flat but being in a gorge like this it would require exceptional timing to get something more dramatic that still lets enough light in to illuminate the buildings.

@Somepix - isolated both physically and in terms of colour. Quite a different picture of isolation from say @Hughmac's entry but just as effective.

@oblomow - I've always been impressed by these buildings but not yet had the chance to visit myself. Nice mono treatment and composition but perhaps a little short of 'context'.

@deep diver - I remember you posting a series of these historic building and photographic method shots. Most impressed by your patience in completing the process. Nice use of techniques to capture the old barn in context both spatial and temporal.

@cogi0490 - rather topical given the recent D-Day commemoration. Very contextual with the bunker amongst the dunes - ominous and I can't imagine having to approach one of these in the heat of battle.

Given the very subjective nature of the topic and the quality of the submissions, this has been very difficult to give any sort of ranking, but here goes:


Special Mentions to @kenoh @redshifted and @deep diver
3rd place @someoldguy & @MacDonaldTrump
2nd place @Hughmac
1st place @Apple fanboy


Sorry AFB, over to you.
Oh dear. Now I’ve got to come up with an idea!

Your right on the tree. This was a composite of three photos. I’d already cloaned out scaffolding, cranes and the like.

Well done everyone. There were some great entries as always.
[doublepost=1562016375][/doublepost]
Thanks very much for the podium, and congrats to the winners - as soon as I saw AFB's entry I knew it would make top place ;)

Cheers :)

Hugh
Thank you.
 
Thank you for allowing me to stand next to the podium. I had a lot of fun that day. I spent several hours there is 95 degree fahrenheit heat (35 celsius), lots of humidity, and no real shade. It was worth the pain.

AFB is a very worthy winner. Looking forward to seeing what pain he has in store for us.
 
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Thanks for the 3rd !!! and my sympathies to AFB . You're right , my entry looks like Rt. 66 . Actually it is the old Rt. 66 . I passed this place on my way from Las Vegas to Joshua Tree N.P. and was going to pull over and explore some , but figured I'd hit it later on the way back , not realizing I'd be shooting into the sun . The B&W conversion was my way out of some really messed up exposure . Anyway , I didn't realize this place had a story , see here....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy's_Motel_and_Café
The motel's defunct , as is the snack bar , the school next door , and the rest of the town . Maybe the Post Office across the street is still functional .
 
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Reactions: anotherscotsman
Thanks very much for the podium, and congrats to the winners - as soon as I saw AFB's entry I knew it would make top place ;)

Cheers :)

Hugh
Yeah, he could have at least had the decency to make it a sleeper entry at the last minute so we could feel like we had a chance! I guess we shouldn’t feel sorry for him earning the burden of judging the next contest? ;)

In all seriousness, what an incredible shot.
 
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