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Kafka's
Kafka's "The Castle"
RyanW


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Classic Novels (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED
Date: Oct 12, 2013
Aperture: 7.1
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/200
Date Uploaded: Oct 15, 2013

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[Oct. 21st, 2013 02:21:48 PM]

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After all of the comments received so far, and some serious examining of the image, i have the following to say on my thoughts why this works as the castle:
1) The top of the building is reminiscent of a crown
2) The height of the building is apparently tall from both the reflections in it as well as the tree in the bottom corner - it is a "larger than life" building that looks down on those in the vacinity.
3) The faceted sides give different views from different angles, much the same way that society can be viewed by the low, middle and upper classes.
4) The reflected buildings look to be from two previous eras (when viewed from left to right - top down - it appears to transition from a stone building to modern metal/glass), this to me is like looking into the 'castle' and seeing castles of the past, so it's showing the progression from stone and mortar to metal and glass, and how the rulers of the land evolve over time.
5) The angle is not straight, and that works well with the source because nothing about trying to navigate life is straight forward, those in charge are always setting up processes and procedures to navigate through, these cannot be linear for 'security' reasons, thus adding a permanent skew to life.
6) The sky itself is an important part of this for me: when you are atop the 'castle', it is blue skies and sunshine all around, what many envision as heavenly; while as you go lower down, there is less and less visible, giving the draw to climb as high as possible for a better view of the world and heavens around you.

Statistics
Place: 40 out of 86
Avg (all users): 5.8476
Avg (commenters): 5.8333
Avg (participants): 5.9250
Avg (non-participants): 5.8000
Views since voting: 600
Views during voting: 226
Votes: 105
Comments: 18
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/22/2013 11:42:56 PM
well, yes and no. the modern city IS the castle in a sense, but I feel this is just a view of form and sky and light which is its own music. 4
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 10:25:39 PM
I like the angle and POV on this. Gives the feeling of power. -6-
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 08:43:41 PM
I like the composition of the image. I like the reflection of the other building in it.

Too bad this didn't say Enron in front of it. Acting like a well oiled machine, but shredding paperwork to appear that way.

Gave it a 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 05:44:14 PM
It's the image pov that makes this very effective in depicting the remotness of the unknown authorities residing in these towers of power that is such an important theme of the novel. Technically the image is well executed - sharp and detailed without any hint of processing artifacts. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2013 04:42:46 PM
Nice POV, great reflections and beautiful colours
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/21/2013 09:49:56 PM
I like it a lot and wonder if Kafka would not have loved it also.
Yes, this is about alienation, about bureaucracy, about the closing of the government ...ha, ha but it's shown with an artist's eye, and that's our saving grace
9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/20/2013 09:30:34 PM
I have to admit I̢۪m finding it difficult to make the connection with this picture of a building with the novel. I haven̢۪t read this book but I have now read some reviews on line. There isn̢۪t a lot of emotion for me from this image. However, I guess architectural photos aren̢۪t meant to create emotion. I do like the colours, perspective and deep DoF though. 4.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 10:43:56 PM
Never have thought that the castle looks like this. But I can take it. I would have tried a diagonal composition and to get rid of the tree on the bottom. 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 09:55:06 PM
6...it's a all technically nice, it just doesn't move me in any sort of way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 03:55:17 PM
I can kind of see the tie here. If this is a government building it would help tie it to the story in a modern way, but I can't tell if that is the case. Otherwise an interesting shot. The colors and angles play well, and the sky gives it a sense of height. Still, it seems forced in this challenge. 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/19/2013 12:15:58 AM
Strange book.

I can see where you were coming from, but it seems to me that this really nice image might have found a better fit with a different novel.

Image is good, might suggest a few changes in composition, but overall good. Fit is less good.

5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 12:18:11 PM
A slight evocation of a castle, and I suppose any office building evokes Kafka-esque bureaucracy... plus the windows within windows present a Kafka-esque sort of maze. Outside of the challenge, though, the photo isn't exciting. 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 12:57:24 AM
I think this would have done better had you cropped out the sky and just made the entire photo the buildings. Still, nice shot! 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/18/2013 12:26:01 AM
Wow
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2013 05:53:16 PM
Great idea for the title. I love the contrary blues and golds and the tilt works really well IMO.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2013 03:36:22 AM
I always find it hard to grade tall buildings, most buildings actually. They always look great, but sterile. You have shown technical proficiency, and I can see that the golden reflections look like a castle which is a nice touch.5.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 07:33:03 PM
Very appropriate image for the chosen book! Wish there was a little more dramatic feel to the sky or building, "something" extra to give it the dark, moody feel present in the book.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/16/2013 12:44:42 PM
I like what you've chosen to depict your title.
I like the angle of the shot. But it seems it's missing something to make the photo truly pop.
Gave it a 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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