Monday 11 August 2008

Fun Monday - Photographs

I am your hostess this week and this is the assignment I set you:

Show me your favourite photograph and tell me why it's your favourite.

It can be one you've taken yourself or one someone else has taken, a snapshot or a more professional image. Is there a story behind it? Do you love it for the memories it gives or just because it's pleasing to the eye?

Show me and tell me!

A few people have already mentioned that choosing just one photograph has been difficult. And they're not wrong! But far be it from me to cheat on my own assignment! But if you want to, go right ahead, I don't really mind how many you choose!

I have been able to narrow it down to one. I can't say this image has any particular emotional meaning to me, nor does it evoke any memories. The story behind it is quite simple. I belong to a wonderful online community for photographers, Pixalo, and every month, there is a competition with a theme. The theme for January 2007 was was "Silhouette". I knew immediately the image I wanted to capture - I wanted a man on a horse with the sun setting behind him. I knew the "how" of taking the photograph but had never attempted it before. I grabbed one of my colleagues and his horse, headed for the one and only hill in the vicinity, and started shooting.

Now, when you take photographs, you know when you've got the shot in the bag. And I knew as soon as I pressed the shutter that this was the one. Being a rank amateur photographer, this hasn't happened very often; I set out with an image in my head and that was the image I came home with. Let me tell you, it was an epiphanous moment.



The image won the competition and this was the critique that I received for it:

Man and Horse – the thing that makes this jump out at you is the sharpness of the outline of the subject. Every detail is crisp, there is nothing to distract you about it and it positioning with the shape of the horse from its back leg, up its hind onto its neck and finally off its left ear, almost form a perfect diagonal across the page to lead the eyes. There is some ground and small amounts of shrubs/bushes to set the scene but these are suitably positions so that they will never interfere or distract from the main subject. Everything is backed by that wonderful sky. The shot is not perfect though…the sun is blown out and the picture would have benefited from a second exposure of just that area and a combination of the two. Unlike some other images though Angela has got away with it to some degree because the rest of the image is so strong.

Whenever I struggle with my photography, I just look back at this image and tell myself "you can do it" and it keeps me going.


Now, click on the list of Fun Monday participants in my sidebar and see everyone else's favourite images!

46 comments:

  1. Had to click to get your photo to come up and when I did gave an involuntary "Ah"! This is photo is wonderful for so many reasons. Do you keep it where you can enjoy it all the time?

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  2. Ahhhh. Eye candy!

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  3. This is a wonderful shot. How great of your friend to pitch in with it.

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  4. Your photograph is wonderful with the fabulous silhoulette highlighted by the setting sun and beautiful sky. Thank you for hosting this Fun Monday. I am sure that we will see some great pictures. However, it will be difficult to top your picture.

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  5. I agree with your review - the crispness of the image is very impressive! The man looks like a soldier astride his horse. I can see why this is your favorite!

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  6. You've set the bar high. That would do well as a centerpiece on my wall!

    I'm glad I didn't go with artsy fartsy. I just went with fartsy. hee hee.
    (my little fartsys.)

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  7. This is indeed a beautiful picture, and I can see why it is your favorite. It is awe inspiring.

    One of my photos (yes, I said one of...I cheated haha), also has a man astride a horse...but that's about where the similarities end with yours. ;-)

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  8. ohhh, this is BEAUTIFUL, hon!

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  9. That's beautiful!

    Can you sign me up please? I'll get it posted in the morning! Thanks.

    mamalang.blogspot.com

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  10. beautiful shot...it is breathtaking!! I loved this assignment and I can't wait to visit everyone...thanks so much for hosting!

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  11. Stunning! I love it! Congratulations on winning the comp as well, you sure deserved it.

    Sorry Im a bit late with my post (we have had a relapse of sick people in our house this weekend and I have been running around like a mad chook looking after everyone and denying the fact that I may just have it myself! I DONT I TELL YOU! Nothing a good glass of wine won't fix! Except maybe, my need to sleep! :-) ) I will try very hard to post something tonight before I succumb to a blissful slumber!

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  12. That is a lovely shot! I really love the sky! It does lend a perfect backdrop to your silhoutte. Of course, you can do it!

    epiphanous - Loved this word, made me deja vu from last FM. :)

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  13. What a lovely picture,and I love the light in it.

    Tell me, can I still join?
    I forgot to post a comment, but this really sounds like fun! Could you add me in the sidebar please?

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  14. well done you!! it's a brilliant photo and you deserve to win. Judyx

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  15. I like the colours the most, they are my colours.

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  16. Brilliant! Fantastic! Perfect! I haven't ever seen a silhouette photo like this, it's so crisp and clear. Just beautiful.

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  17. I had to come back and look at it again, such a strong picture!
    No wonder you got such good critics!

    I have my post up now too!

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  18. That is a beautiful photo and a great critique. Simply lovely.

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  19. Only one word for it...Stunning.

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  20. I must say,.........it's a 'delicious' photo. Perfect in every way.

    Thanks for hosting. [do we know who will be the host next week?]

    My FM favorite photos are shared also, I do hope you can find time to stop by.

    ....wishing you a glorious week.

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  21. awesome. of course i see no reason to be so critical, a picture's a picture right? apparently not.. anyway, I love it, it's simple and gorgeous. what more could you want? Anyway, i'm back after a VERY long hiatus and would appreciate lots of visitors, I'm SO glad to be back

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  22. Unbelievably gorgeous photo!! You are an wonderfully talented artist!

    Oh, I joined in Fun Monday, too, even though I didn't sign up. I'm spontaneous that way sometimes...

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  23. Just gorgeous! I also chose a silhouette for my favorite too!

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  24. Beautiful picture.

    1 of my favourite pictures is a favourite because of the background ~ my younger daughter & her adoptive Russian Romano Dado, but is only on film. The picture wouldn't win any prizes for composition, but I love it & all that it means for us

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  25. Lovely Pic but I was expecting a Lurcher or two in the shot.

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  26. hey the ipost poster has an error preventing it from opening correctly. i think it's the missing "g" in blogspot at the end there.

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  27. What? Did I not comment on this last night? See what plurking does to your brain. Don't do plurk!

    This is a gorgeous photo, Angela! Absolutely perfect.

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  28. I didn't realize you were doing fun monday. sigh! But it's okay, I had something else on the brain. LOL!
    Enjoyed your pic and your theme for this week! I have enjoyed looking at everybody's FM pics!

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  29. Iam late but I joined in!!
    I love that photo!! It is breathtaking and makes me wanna go out riding!!

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  30. Oooooh, that really is a super picture! Love it...any picture that make me smile or grabs my attention is a good one, and this is definitely one of those.

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  31. Yeah, if I had taken a photo like that, I would've had a measure of confidence, too. You absolutely captured what you imagined, or at least it sounds like it to me. If you were so inclined, I think you could market that shot...it's that beautiful!

    Thanks for hosting :).

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  32. Congratulations ! you really earned this price it is a wonderful picture !

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  33. Wow! That's a BEAUTIFUL silhouette photo ... well-deserving of a price and of sharing as a favorite photo today. If I had such a photo myelf, I might have had an easier time with this week's challenge. Alas, indecision plagued me and I 'cheated' ... but now I see you've given us permission to share more than one, so I feel a bit better. Sorry to be publishing mid-day, but the Olympics is even more distracting than Molly. Thank goodness I'm retired ;--)
    Hugs and blessings,

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  34. Stunning photo!! I love it. It makes me feel good inside in a way I'm not sure I can explain.

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  35. Ah ... that should have been PRIZE! Sigh ...
    I notice the Small Reflections link in your sidebar takes one to my Blogger Profile page rather than to my Small Reflections blog. This is a direct link to Small Reflections and a direct link to my Fun Monday Favorite Photo post ... either of which will make it simpler for others to find it. Hope this helps everyone.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  36. You should have won that contest. That is a job well done.

    My favorite photo is up. Hope you can visit.

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  37. Hi AOJ, today I am combining my favorite picture that shows one of our bloggers with her Dragon Hunt..
    Have a fun Monday..
    Baba

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  38. Great photo...I would have no idea how to do that! Thanks for hosting this week!

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  39. Wonderful, wonderful picture. I wish I could do something like that, but so far, no luck.

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  40. Gorgeous photo. You deserved to win!!! Thanks for hosting.

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  41. Gorgeous photo. You deserved to win!!! Thanks for hosting.

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  42. Lovely. Definitely prize-worthy.

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  43. Found & scanned photo yesterday & am still trying to upload it to my weblog blog

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  44. that is a great photo, thanks for hosting, it was a fun fun topic

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  45. OMG!!!! I can not believe I missed this one!!!! I have the perfect photo and I've just been waiting for the excuse to show it off.
    Being sick sucks...
    Off to my sulking chair.

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  46. I posted this on my blog a couple months ago -

    http://flickr.com/photos/mrsdarcy/2514763109/

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