The Final Essence...

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peterm1 said:
Firstly let me thank Helen for starting this wonderful thread.
OK its got me going now so I will chance my hand and try a couple more approaches to capturing the essence that I think work. (Hint - its all in the viewer's mind). ...


Another approach is to use a shaft of light to direct the viewer's eye and focus attention on the subject. The aim is to use what is there to suggest the bigger truth by suggesting what is not actually depicted - the essence.

A Darkening HIllside in Autumn by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

And another is to use something that distorts the image to merely suggest the elementary essence of the image.

Abstract Figures at the Water Wall 2 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Here is one where I had no choice but to make a virtue out of a necessity. I totally blew the focus. So, instead of throwing the image away I enhanced the blur with texture and vignette to hint at what's going on - busy, busy busy! I think it kind of works. Anyway I like like it.

Dark Street by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
...
Click to expand...

Fantastic work, Peter. These should be hanging on your wall...
 
Is it possible to capture the essence of a city in a photo? I do not know but sometimes I try..............When I do this I often (but not always) use reflections so as to get some detail and some wider more expansive elements in frame. Often I try to juxtapose old and new where both architectural styles are present. In any event I am, in this sort of photo, usually trying to somehow capture the essential elements of the city in question. Believe me though more often it fails than works. But it's all about experimenting.

This one has the old reflected in the new.

_DSC3351zzz by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

And this aims to capture the essence of Hong Kong - high rise and cranes. Everywhere, high rise and cranes.

Cranes on the skyline by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

I took several shots of this view and experimented with how to best represent this view of Melbourne Southbank from my hotel window. One shot was even more obscured than this, being shot through a translucent window blind. But I like this one which also gets the to keep some elemental details albeit in a fairly abstract way.

City Nocturne 2 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Another shot taken near the above location. I thought this also worked to capture the essence of a city full of tall buildings of various architectures and sizes.

Angles on angles by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

These are all reflected shots taken in my home town Adelaide and aim to capture the cities essential nature - old and new cohabiting together - for the most part reasonably successfully in the way they work together to create an atmosphere for the city.

Framed in Red by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Sky blue by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Spire and glass by Life in Shadows, on Flickr


Skyline 2 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

The world, reflected by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
 
Another day at home, due to covid skyrocketing in my area.

Listening to something strong in order to uplift my spirit...

U3692I1615070957.SEQ.0.jpg


M10, CV 50/2 Heliar
 
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