Photography - - Let's post to a theme: "Strong/Strength"

CJ Swartz · #1 01-31-2007, 12:48 AM

People make photographic images to paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. Our subjects might be nature, people, products/processes created by people, but the image can provoke a similar reaction -- a feeling expressed by the subject, the lighting, the composition within the image.

Let's each post one or more images that fit a theme -- look in your files and pick something you like that fits, or take your camera out today and shoot something new.

I'll start it off with the theme of "Strong/Strength", and someone else can choose the next theme.

Now I've got to look through some files and see if I have anything "strong"...

CJ Swartz · #2 01-31-2007, 02:54 AM

This tiger lives at "Out of Africa", a wildlife park in Arizona. Some of the tigers get their exercise in a pool, playing with inflatable toys (until they go "poof") and their handlers -- all in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Not as good as being free, but better than pacing back and forth in a concrete cage. All cats are impressive predators, and this tiger shows the strong body and strong spirit of his species even while relaxing in front of his pool (cropped out). It was shot midday, in restricted quarters with an Olympus 2100 UZ fixed lens camera. (100 ISO, f4.5). The park has new quarters with more natural living quarters for many of the animals now, but I haven't gotten out to their new location yet. This reminds me of why I should go. I'd love to see this beautiful animal free to use his strength in the wilds of India, etc., but I'd be too chicken to get this close there.

Gary Richardson · #3 01-31-2007, 03:27 AM

This is the Money Tree at Bolton Abbey, close to where I live.

You'd have to be really strong to pull out all those pennies (I know cos I was tired out by the time I'd got 10 quid out of it

).

We Yorkshire folk don't idly throw away money, and when we do we make sure that no one's gonna profit from it without having to work *%!&? hard.

Janet Petty · #4 01-31-2007, 06:13 AM

An olive press has to be strong and well made to bring olives to their ultimate potential. This one has been around since the time of Christ and currently resides in Cana of Galilee.

Janet

CathyH · #5 01-31-2007, 06:43 AM

Janet this is an interesting subject.
I took you olive press and cropped it and I think it might look even heaver now?/
I will check and see what I can post later.
cathy

Swampy · #6 01-31-2007, 07:44 AM

One of my first photo manipulations here on RTP, this image, to me, invokes the power and strength of the gods. The chariot photo is of a statue on a government building in Rome.

chrishoggy · #7 01-31-2007, 08:18 AM

This is one of my macro photographs. The strength of water surface tension

Swampy · #8 01-31-2007, 09:33 AM

Fantastic, Chris! Well done.

CJ Swartz · #9 01-31-2007, 10:41 AM

Wide range of images! I picked "Strength" because I hoped it could include people, animals, landscapes, AND created objects, and your images show great variety.

Gary, I'd never heard about a real money tree! If you could only get 10 quid, I'm not even going to try!

Janet -- an olive press from the time of Christ! Isn't it amazing to see something that has endured thru so much of our history!

Swampy, I remember this image -- it is a mesmerizing sight!

Chris, you make "water surface tension" much more exciting in person than it sounds on the pages of a science book!

Hmmm, with all this variety, I wonder what will get posted next?!

Steve Conway · #10 01-31-2007, 10:49 AM

How about the strength and force of a locomotive???

Steve C.

chrishoggy · #11 01-31-2007, 11:20 AM

Thanks for the comments, it's the photo I am most happy with out of the 1000's I've taken.
On the strength theme, how about measuring the strength in horse power

Taken last year at Woolley Horse Show, West Yorkshire, UK.

discinque · #12 02-06-2007, 03:59 PM

Hi all! I haunt retouchpro now and again looking for help or just inspiration through the other forums, but was sometimes frustrated that it was mostly aimed at creating something new from photographs. I'm so happy to see this forum!

Although I've played around with cameras for most of my life, I'm still a beginner - digital has renewed my love of photography.

Anyway... this little guy seems to scream "strong".

(now gotta figure out how to attach the picture....)

CJ Swartz · #13 02-07-2007, 12:07 AM

Steve, there are few things that match the strength of a locomotive ("more powerful than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet -- it's Superman!"). I have a fondness for trains since my brother built HO scale models, and a lot of wonderful '40's movies contained scenes on trains -- makes me want to take a ride on the Grand Canyon Express! Okay, this is a freight train,...

Chris - I love horses - they're my favorite form of horsepower! Jumping contests are one of our favorites. Timing the shot can be tricky, and I think you really got your best capture on the third image.

discinque -- what a gorgeous snake -- I love the lighting and the colors/texture/patterns, and the EYE. Is it a boa?

I'm also very happy that Doug Nelson added a photography forum -- I enjoy doing some retouching and I learned to enjoy photo art, but when I'm out with my camera, I'm trying to come home with some memorable photographs. We can improve our images with post-processing, but the best place to improve them is while we've still got the shutter button under our finger, waiting for the right light, the right composition, the right timing, the right combination of shutter speed and aperture. Hopefully, we'll all get more practice and create more memorable photos.

discinque · #14 02-07-2007, 05:27 AM

I couldn't agree more CJ - Photoshop is one of the things that got me back into photography. I always read about the post processing that was available to film - but never had the money or resources to do any of it. Now with PS I can do all that and more. I'm really not sure WHAT it is that bugs me about photo art... heck - I like to do it too. Maybe it's like taking another artists work and saying "ohhh I can make that better". Seems wrong somehow... but sure is fun... lol

Thank you for the kind words about the photo... yes, it's a boa.

Steve Conway · #15 02-07-2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ Swartz

Steve, there are few things that match the strength of a locomotive ("more powerful than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet -- it's Superman!"). I have a fondness for trains since my brother built HO scale models, and a lot of wonderful '40's movies contained scenes on trains -- makes me want to take a ride on the Grand Canyon Express! Okay, this is a freight train,...

Yes, trains are great. Will pass up a plane trip for the railroad anytime. Probably only a cruise offers a more relaxing trip. There are still some good trips to be had on AMTRAK and if you are "in the chips", the American Orient Express.

I am also partial to "train" movies.

Steve C.