DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
A bee-line to the grave.
A bee-line to the grave.
koltrane75


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Lines (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Nikon D100
Lens: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon
Location: Nashville, TN
Date: Mar 11, 2005
Aperture: 11
ISO: 200
Shutter: 3 sec
Galleries: Black and White, Macro
Date Uploaded: Mar 13, 2005

 I know that this will get a lot of DQ requests.
I am not trying to glorify or promote drug use in any way. I just thought a different take on the challenge might be in order.
Knowing that DPChallenge voters typically focus on technical skill over and subject and subtext, I don't expect to do especailly well in this challenge. I only hope that people can get past there objections and give this photo a fair vote.


Two side-notes:
1) I had the SC give me pre-approval before submitting to try and avoid some of the controversy.

2) I am a person who has personnally struggled with drug abuse in the past, and have now been clean and sober for over 10 years. I have also worked in the field of alcohol and drug rehabilitation... So I do not take this topic lightly.

Statistics
Place: 313 out of 338
Avg (all users): 4.3596
Avg (commenters): 4.9000
Avg (participants): 4.1250
Avg (non-participants): 4.8358
Views since voting: 845
Votes: 203
Comments: 11
Favorites: 1 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 03/23/2005 10:14:02 PM
Greetings from the Critique Club!

You're a brave man to post this, as it is a pretty controversial shot. However, I love the many sides of photography I get to see here at DPC, so thanks for doing it.

When it comes to meeting the challenge, "Lines" is a very wide topic, so it's difficult to say anything else than that you have done.
Black and white is probably the best thing for this shot, but there's nothing that screams "Wow!" about the technical or compositional parts of this image. It's done well, but nothing extraordinary - I think you know that, though.
The composition is a little tight in my opinion. The image is also a little busy and disturbing, because of all the small white spots and a lot of reflections. I don't know what you have thought though, getting it messy might have been your pure intention, and thus it's done right. Composition isn't a rule-based art anyhow. But anyhow, maybe the use of some negative space and a slightly less cropped image would help to give the eye a natural point of rest. What I'm attempting to say is that I don't think it's a fantastic photograph in itself, mainly because of the composition and somewhat because the post processing is a little dullish - some more contrast and highlights could help.

But was an exciting image your intention? I don't think it was. You wanted to tell a story, and you've experienced drug abuse yourself in the past. You're telling me to stay away from the damn things, because it doesn't do you well at all. It's a mess, and in the end it leads you to the grave.

By telling the viewer this, you've done a good image. The title and image work well together. But, as you know, I doubt that a DPC entry is the right medium to push this message.

With that, I wish you happy easter and thanks for keeping controversiality and photography together. If you have any comments on my critique, feel free to PM me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/20/2005 09:51:57 PM
Good idea, poor composition. Love the contract, and there werent too many of these in the challenge so far....but I wish you arranged things a little differently
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/19/2005 10:23:20 AM
i really hope this is not real ... this stuff will kill you !!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2005 10:13:58 PM
Black and white works well here. You're brave!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2005 02:08:39 PM
Would have been more dramatic with a $100 bill. Kidding...nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2005 12:01:36 AM
I think there's too much of the one big blob of powder and not enough of the lines. Brushing away some of the random powder might make some of the lines stand out more clearly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2005 05:22:39 PM
A good workmanlike photo. Composition seems okay. Reflections in the blade distract. It feels oversharpened to me. Could have used more light and multiple lights to improve contrast. Possibly violates terms of use.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2005 06:34:32 PM
that's pretty realisitc looking!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2005 06:18:06 PM
looks tooooo much like powdered sugar in this one
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2005 01:50:37 PM
You might get sick snorting THAT much flour!! hehe. interesting thou.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2005 11:38:38 AM
I really like this - it's very thought provoking and you've composed it very well. I almost wish the highlights were a little lighter though - maybe with some extra light. It really suits black and white. well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/03/2025 09:31:39 PM EDT.