** Official Bimmerpost Photo Contest #64 | Color as Subject

[xDrive35i]

Hello everyone!

Your task is challenging, if a little vague. Your goal is to compose a photograph that uses color as subject, similar to the works of William Eggleston.

The actual content of your photograph, rather than dominating the physical scene, will serve to inform the colors you see, providing a context for why those colors are relevant to the message you are trying to send.

Loosen up--forget everything you've been told about physical space. Approach every photograph you wish to take in the context of what the colors mean to you. You can photograph the most mundane, dry, even unpleasant objects or spaces--if done right, the colors will do all the talking.

Some of Eggleston's work:





SUBMISSION WILL CLOSE BY SUNDAY 11/11/2012 11:59PM PST --I know this is short, so if people need more time, we can extend it--

RULES:

1. Any interpretation of the theme that falls within Bimmerpost.com rules is welcome.
2. You must be the person that took the photo. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image.
3. One submission per contest, and you cannot resubmit a photo that you've submitted before in a previous contest.
4. Images must be no larger than 1024 px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 1024 px for the poll.
5. All contestants must host their own pictures (which includes hosting them on Bimmerpost).
6. All images must have a title.
7. While post processing in Photoshop is allowed, adding or removing parts of the picture is not. In the event a photo is suspected to be "photo-chopped," the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.

For this contest, rule #7 is tricky. Post-processing is absolutely allowed as always, but when it comes to editing color and light, step back and make sure that the aesthetic hasn't crossed the fine line between ethereal and digitally surreal.

[ddk632]

Challenge accepted.

[MaximusJ]

Would HDR be crossing that line? If colors are not altered?

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

Would HDR be crossing that line? If colors are not altered?

That's why this is a tough challenge. Use your best judgment. There is no such thing as a photo that looked exactly like real life. Do your best to emulate your perception of reality as you saw it. What can you do with a camera and post-processing to show others how you perceive your reality...or how you would have liked it to look?

It doesn't mean you can't change colors. And it doesn't mean you can't use HDR at all. It means the photo shouldn't look outlandishly artificial. Rather than using HDR to illuminate what didn't exist, use some other controllable light source to show how your mind chose to capture that moment.

Look at the two photos below. The first one is the original. The second is edited--because that's how I wanted it to be seen. Of course, showing you the first shatters the dreamlike illusion. But this is what I mean.

[carve]

LOL- so HDR is OK, but no clown vomit- just expanded DR.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by carve

LOL- so HDR is OK, but no clown vomit- just expanded DR.

Long story short haha, yes.

[carve]

LOL- just noticed the diagrams on the wall and the black light in that first, red light-bulb photo. I'll bet some kinky shyt goes down in that room :P

[vachss]

Hamelin Pool, West Australia. Home of the Stromatolites - oldest life on Earth.

[ddk632]

Art Car Jeff Koons BMW M3 GT2 by ddk632, on Flickr

[spanner1751]

Montana sunset


Montana sunset by Spanner1751, on Flickr

[carve]

This is a tough one...so...my most colorful pics tend to be of very interesting subjects. If you want Eggleston-esque though, which I'm not really a fan of, you probably have in mind more solid surfaces that take up a large expanse of the frame.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by carve

This is a tough one...so...my most colorful pics tend to be of very interesting subjects. If you want Eggleston-esque though, which I'm not really a fan of, you probably have in mind more solid surfaces that take up a large expanse of the frame.

The frame doesn't have to be sparse. Emphasis on colors no matter what's in the frame is what I mean.

[panicos81]

!

[MARIO K]

Fiery Sky

[dcstep]

Rowing on molten lava


Rowing on molten lava by dcstep, on Flickr

[carve]

Damn...I have some sunset pics that I think might edge these out, but I'll go for something different.

Valparaiso, Chile...

[dcstep]

Carve... good stuff, but only one entry allowed.

Delete the images that you're not entering. Those might good in some other Threads.

Dave

[M_Six]

Dave, did you submit that one for another contest or am I just remembering it from Snapshot of the Day?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Dave, did you submit that one for another contest or am I just remembering it from Snapshot of the Day?

I think that it was only Snapshot of the Day. I'll try to be certain.

Dave

[M_Six]

No big deal. It certainly fits this theme well.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

No big deal. It certainly fits this theme well.

I can't find it in a prior contest.

I had an idea, to make it easier in the future, I'm going to add a Tag on this and future contest entries.

[SS32]

Post-Sunset by SS332, on Flickr