[shuttertalk]

The theme for the August photo challenge is FROM A DISTANCE.

For some inspiration:
From a distance
The world looks blue and green
And the snow capped mountains white
From a distance
The ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance
There is harmony
And it echoes through the land
Its the voice of hope
Its the voice of peace
Its the voice of every man
("From A Distance", Lyrics by Bette Middler.)

Sorry if the song is now stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

How you interpret the theme is completely up to you, but feel free to be creative and have fun. While there are no right or wrong ways to interpret the theme, how well your photograph captures it will be considered in the judging.

For the CHALLENGE: You may enter up to three photos. The original images must have been recorded within the past three months, meaning on or after 1 May 2012. (Please note the new requirement for more recent photos.)

To submit an entry to be considered for judging, post it in this thread. You are also encouraged to post experimental, fun, or other thematically-appropriate photos here, so please indicate whether each one is for the competition or for more casual enjoyment. If that's not clear, then the judge(s) will be fed the last three photos posted by each person.

Thanks, everyone, and if anything's unclear, or if there are any questions, let me know!

[shuttertalk]

By the way, I should mention that our beloved Assignmentator has decided to take a break from organising the challenges, so I'm filling in for the interim.

I would personally like to thank Matthew for his stellar efforts - I'm sure everyone has really appreciated the time and thought he has put in to the challenges, and it is also encouraging to see the recent uptake in the number of entries/entrants. This is certainly a testament to his vision and hard work.

This will also mean that Matthew is now free to participate in the challenges - something I'm sure he has been itching to do for a long time. Watch out, I'm sure his D800 and 36 megapixels will give everyone a good run for their money.

[Pavel]

I am sorry to see Matthew go. He was good at picking topics and he knows plenty of capable photographers to draw on to judge the photos. He will be missed. I am looking forward to see how he manages to use his New York photos for ALL the competition topics that may come out

[matthew]

Well, New York is quite a distance from here…

I'm looking forward to being able to participate more directly now, and this should be quite the month for me. I don't own any really long lenses.

So thanks, Julian, for organizing the challenge. I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

[Pavel]

I'm looking forward to being able to participate more directly now, and this should be quite the month for me. I don't own any really long lenses.

I know somebody in Town who could probably lend you a long Nikon-compatible if your 150mm on a cropped D800 is not enough. How about some night photography with 150-500 (in the burbs)

[matthew]

I suppose I could break out my GH1 with its 14-140 (28-280) lens… I keep forgetting that I own that camera.

But I'm thinking that sticking with my usual 35-105 range might not be a problem after all. This photo is outside the eligible time period, but it is from New York:



Now all I need to do is wander the downtown streets at 6am with a wide-angle lens.
(That's happened exactly twice…)

[shuttertalk]

Great idea... you don't necessarily need a long lens to see something "from a distance"...

[Pavel]

I was thinking of this photo when you said that you do not have a long lens.

[matthew]

My first challenge entry!



(larger)

Nikon D800, of course, with the 60/2.8G lens, taken 29 July 2012.

…and I just found a roll of film from my last trip to Manhattan an Coney Island, which falls within the challenge period, so perhaps there'll be something good there. But I do also have a photo in mind that I just need to create…

[matthew]

Twenty-Third and Broadway, New York, 23 June 2012:

[smarti77]

After a break from photography I recently bought in a Sigma 150-500mm lens second hand on eBay. I didn't really appreciate the full size and weight of the lens until I used it for an hour without a tripod.

I love the capability of 500mm but a lens this size also really draws attention.

This was one of my first images with the new lens taken from my backyard zoomed all the way to 500mm.. it seemed to fit the theme and also a good way to drop in again..

[NT73]

Challenge entry.


Infinity.
   

[Pavel]

God's Fingers, a sunrise view from a terrace, Captain Cook cabin, York Harbor, Newfoundland DSC4569 by Pavel M, on Flickr

[shuttertalk]

Hi all, thank you for all your entries, contributions, comments and support for the challenge. I was very excited to see our beloved Matthew getting stuck right in after being ineligible for so long. Thank you as well to Pavel for your submission after returning from your trip - sadly the judges had already cast their votes mid last week.

Speaking of which, I roped in a couple of mature age photography students as judges here is what they had to say:

___________

#1. Member: matthew Image: Seagulls in sky

The theme talks about watching from a distance, which the seagull is certainly doing (watching the other gull and everything else from the sky), but we as the viewer are also seeing the seagull from a distance. It's a nice exposure, with the the seagull in sharp focus against an interesting sky. The details of the seagull (wings, feet, shadow on the belly) are excellent.

#2. Member: matthew Image: 23rd and Broadway

It's a nice pic and it's cool how there is almost a halo around the building, but I'm not sure if this fits in with theme.

#3. Member: smarti77 Image: Colourful bird in tree

Perfectly exposed, and vivid colour that just makes the image 'pop'. I love the sharpness of the details (eyes, feather texture, branch texture) and also great use of depth of field in isolating the subject. It fits in with the phrase 'from a distance' literally but lacks a deeper meaning in line with the theme. To me, it's a VERY nice picture of a bird in a tree, and that's all. If there was no theme, this would be the winner hands down.

#4. Member: NT73 Image: Infinity

This is similar to entry #3. It's a very nice picture of clouds in the sky, but it doesn't really say anything deeper to me about the theme other than 'distance'. You could argue that the sky can convey ideas of heaven, God, etc, but really, it's just a picture of the sky.

Additionally, it is a pity that Matthew's first pic was (by his own admission) outside of the dates for the entry criteria, otherwise that would have taken the cake hands down. Based on what we have so far I think only #1 has addressed the theme to my satisfaction, so I would rank them (first to last): #1 (winner, on theme and well exposed preserving detail), #3 (nicest looking pic), #2 and #4.

___________

Congratulations Matthew - very well deserved, and thank you again to all who participated.

I would love to hear any feedback on the challenge. What did you think of the theme - too airy fairy? Would you like something a bit less abstract and more direct - e.g. "Macros" vs "Bliss"? Also, was the 3 months requirement too restrictive?

[matthew]

Thanks very much; I appreciate the vote of confidence and appreciate being able to play 'for real' this time around.

It was an interesting challenge theme and a tough one to photograph for. It really made me rethink how space is represented; depth is something that I usually avoid. (Some would say 'more than pictorially'…) I do like having a theme that goes beyond simple technique, but they can be more intimidating.

[shuttertalk]

Thanks once again all, I've posted the conclusion on the main page:
http://www.shuttertalk.com/2012/09/photo...nners.html

[Pavel]

Matthew, congrats. The photo strikes me as something I would not quite expect from you and thus more kudos for that.

Julian, it would be helpful if the closure for entries was posted in the competition stream WHEN THAT TIME IS REACHED. It is a bummer if you enter the competition only to be disqualified. All other online groups that hold competitions I ever participated in do that.

[shuttertalk]

I apologies for that, it totally slipped my mind. Unfortunately the judges had already cast their votes by then.

[NT73]

Well done Matthew.


My intention was to see beyond the clouds ... to the edge of the universe. You can't get more distant than that , or can you.


Pavel - although a reminder is a help, if the problem is with your memory then a doctor would seem to be the answer. (Just a joke, don't take it the wrong way.)


The subject is always a challenge, and means different things to different people.

[Pavel]

NT, as a matter of fact, I do have problems with memory and no, doctors are not able to help me. You will therefore not be too surprised, if I find your comment unnecessarily offensive and your disclaimer somewhat lame. In any case, I was raising a procedural matter about competitions in a reasonable way, suggesting a change implemented elsewhere online. I certainly did not expect that this will trigger comments about my neurological status. I would have posted earlier, but I wanted to see what I bring from my trip to Newfoundland. I just got back Saturday.

[shuttertalk]

Hey guys, let's continue to be sensitive to each other's feelings. Sometimes when we get too familiar we can let our guard down and say things we don't really mean. I know I'm guilty of this too and I have to constantly remind myself that with the internet we don't have the benefit of body language or even a medium where we can react in real time to right any wrongs. Sometimes even the most innocent remarks can be taken out of context and the other party has hours or sometimes even days to mull over the meanings, whether intended or not.

[NT73]

.

NT, as a matter of fact, I do have problems with memory and no, doctors are not able to help me. You will therefore not be too surprised, if I find your comment unnecessarily offensive and your disclaimer somewhat lame.

My apologies if you are offended. I have a dodgy leg but am not offended by lame.