Thursday’s Special: How to tell a story through colour photography (response to guest challenge)

Taking part in challenges means stepping out of one’s comfort zone and trying something new. I have to admit that I took these photos before Allan suggested the theme. Let me show you my stories in photos and explain what I did wrong.

 

 

Goat Selfie

When I saw a goat at the petting Zoo in Maksimir (Zagreb) I went as I always do “awww…I must capture her”  –  and human figures were what they always are when it comes to photos with animals –  obstacles. So I aimed my camera at the goat and chose “spot metering” which cast a fair amount of light on the goat (its darker side to be exact), but overexposed the rest of the photo which left me with the blown-out highlights that made the guy in the photos look as if he has vitiligo (which he does not!).

Man: Who’s a pretty goat?
Gril: Why won’t she pose with me?
– MISTAKE No. 1 – light metering – a poor choice of spot metering for this interesting scene
(My argument: It is a funny story nevertheless, and I thought worth publishing).

 

Monkey Business

I am still at the Zoo watching mischievous capuchin monkey and a ring-tailed coati. They are always up to something.

Capuchin: I am not scared of you, fatso!
Woof!!!
I got you!!
-MISTAKE No. 2 – bad composition – a rule breaker. These two are never quiet, but still I could have made a better composition without cutting off half of the monkey, couldn’t have I?
(In my defence: they were monkeying around and I was lucky to get any capture at all.)

 

Free-loading

I knew that crows were crafty and street smart, but I never expected to see this. Look at her plucking that bison’s hair off to furnish her nest, or was it the bison that asked her to relieve him of his too warm coat? Whatever the motives, he was too numb to move and object, and I was too astounded to make sure that the shutter speed is correct. The crow is not in focus.

-MISTAKE No. 3 – inadequate shutter speed (1/25 sec was too slow for this scene, and for the lens I used). What was I thinking?! 
(In my defence: I had to snap as soon as I saw them, and did not have time to check out the camera settings)

 

Now that you’ve seen my pictured stories, and read the arguments, feel free to vote:

Which (if any) of the above do you like best:

This is another Thursday’s Special post, as a response to this week’s guest challenge by Mofman. 

Please join us with your stories in photos and leave links so that Allan can find you. Happy Thursday!

 

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To see the entries to this challenge click on the titles bellow:

Stories from the East

 Guardians of the Camargue

Colours may arise out of the blue

Vivid Randomness

Fish, fish, fish, fish. Fish!

Tell your fortune

The Cricket World Cup

Kafkaesque

Crunching numbers

By the lake

Greek Festival

Historia a través de una fotografía en color

 Category: Photography      Tagged: , ,

81 Comments on “Thursday’s Special: How to tell a story through colour photography (response to guest challenge)”

  2. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Stories from the East | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)

  3. A great guest challenge Paula. I enjoyed Allan’s explanation and I tried to get the emotion and aesthetics he talked about in mine but it is possible that the story will be seen only by me.
    I also enjoyed your entry and your explanation as to what you did incorrectly. It took me a long time to find the half monkey you cut off and I really enjoyed all your stories. The bison won my vote as it is not an animal we see here in Australia. We do see birds sitting on the cows backs and I guess that is a similar thing.
    Enjoyed your musical piece this week.
    http://irenewaters19.com/2015/05/28/thursdays-special-stories-from-the-east/
    Cheers Irene

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  5. Pingback: Colors may arise out of the blue | Le Drake Noir

  6. I haven’t yet written today’s post, but when I checked last night your subject matter I thought that telling stories with photos (and a few words) is very much what I like to do. Having read Mofman’s superb challenge post I’m no longer sure, because what I tend to do is weave the story around my photos. A different creature, I think you’ll agree, Paula. C’est la vie 🙂 Have a good Thursday. I enjoyed monkeying around with you (and learning in the process).

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    • Jo, just going through your pictures in my head I would imagine that some – if not most – of your walks would work as well without words as with them. I think that your approach is generally very narrative. The stories might, of course be different from those told verbally, and it would be the spectator’s job to realize the story. Just my two cents, of course…

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  7. Hehe…I love the way you have come at this, Paula, and explained your faults with these images. Monkeys won for me….

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  8. We are each our own worst critic, but it is better to leave with something than nothing. The monkey photos work best to me.

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  9. I see that I’m in the minority by liking the free-loading. The photo has some issues with burnt out areas in the background, but as you mention: sometimes you just have to hurry up and shoot before the scene is lost.

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  11. With things like this, you just have to react and make do. I’ve been shooting galloping white horses the last few days and you don’t have much time to think composition!

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  12. Pingback: VIVID Randomness 2015 (1) | Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera

  13. Amo la vivacità dell’istantanea con le caprette….
    Sembra ci sia movimento in questa foto e perfino pare di sentire la voce delle persone….

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  14. Paula, this is a sly answer to the challenge! I think that the pictures tell their stories quite well in spite of the “mistakes” you mention. Will be back with an attempt at some kind of narrative(s?) tomorrow. Ciao.

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  16. Funnily I preferred the monkey (despite past unpleasant encounters)
    True: composition could have ben better, and most of the body is hidden, but all that’s left is his/her expression.
    ‘Like it!
    🙂

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  17. PS. After living in Africa all or most of my childhood, I know animal photography is damn hard. I tend to click and click and then select the best (least worst) shot(s)
    Bon week-end ma chère.
    🙂

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    • Merci Brian. Yes, it is tricky. I don’t have concerns that someone might think I am lousy at shooting animals; I have plenty photos that I am happy with. I wanted to show that I am not embarassed to disclose my mistakes and the purpose of this challenge on my part was to show co-learners and to give them opportunity to learn from my mistakes. Thank you for telling me your preference. Te agradezco mucho. Buen fin de semana.

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      • Pra Você tambem! 🙂
        (PS. Admitting – and sharing – mistakes is the best way to learn. N’est-ce pas?)
        🙂

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  18. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: How to tell a story through colour photography (response to guest challenge) | Daffodil Hill Photography

  20. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: How to tell a story through colour photography | Middleton Road

  21. Pingback: Fish, fish, fish, fish. Fish! | artishorseshit

  24. I love the first of the first set – he has such a look of joy on his face while the goat simple stares ahead, so non-plussed. Also enjoy the freeloader who looks as though he is giving the bison a great feel-good treat!

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  25. Paula, thanks again for the invite into your challenges.

    I am enjoying this, and I’m glad that others are too.

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  26. what fun challenge – the colors adda different flair – and I voted for the fee loading shot – but all have a different energy P –

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  27. Pingback: On the move at Greek Festival | priorhouse blog

  30. Pingback: A Guest Challenge Awaits | Modes of Flight Blog

  32. I like the idea of this challenge and may join in the fun at a future date. I was torn between the Goat Selfie and Monkeying Around. Loved Allan’s guest post as well!

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    • Thank you very much Lisa. Monkey business seems to be the first choice for most bloggers. As for the next challenge – Allan is guest hosting again with the same theme but in black and white on 28 June. I hope that suits you. Have a good Sunday, and thank you so much for your visit and comment.

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