It's that time again, time to vote for the monthly winner. Please keep the topic of "Lights" and/or "Black and White" in mind when voting.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

 

Great pics!

 

#2 is a nice picture.. but I'm finding it hard to believe that its actually winning...
its a bit over exposed, as is noted by how bright the tail lights are, how washed out the main focus of the beam is, and definately shown by how lit up the licence plate is (if anyones licence plate is that bright id hate to be driving behind you, same for the tail lights...) showing that this is much brighter than what would be seen by the human eye.
personally to me it should have been more exposed like this shot...

i do liek the rest of it though. good composition and the black and white goes well, but like i said, just a bit too washed out.
(my shots not washed out and has a similar light dispersal due to the fact that my light bar is all HID's btw...)

 

I agree with soccerbummer, it's a great picture put definatley not contest winner.

 

I think you're both being a bit harsh, and that the scene in front of the car is nicely done. The rear lights are overbright, but you can really only get a scene like this balanced by dealing with the car separately in software (or with additional light sources, I guess). soccerbummer1104's image has great atmosphere, but ideally the car would be brightened up a bit - might be less realistic but I think works better.
But - it's all opinion and ultimately it's just what each person likes...

 

+1

I also think it took a bit more planning. I love that it includes the "curves" road sign. It made me smile, and that's why it earned my vote.

 

jmo, but soccerbummer's is mostly black and really, you can't even tell it is a MINI in the shot unless you are very knowledgeable. #2 is much more artistic and staged very well.

But then, I don't consider the contest to be one that produces "professional" grade photos with the exact "right" things done. I look for the photo that makes me think "MINI" and brings the biggest smile to my face (any technical nits notwithstanding).

 

I don't know what #1 is a picture of, maybe a Hubble telescope view of another galaxy? What's it got to do with Mini's?

#2 is a neat neat photo of a car entering a twisty road at night, it is obvious it is a Mini. It's hard to take good night shots, this one does it well.

#3 is not remarkable, it cuts off much of the car.

#4 big woop, a Mini headlight. If I were selling headlights, it'd be good for a catalog

Dave

 

#1 is a picture of my minis front end and a nice light trail going under a bridge with nice blue lights, hence the contest was for lights. I'm not sure why it's so pixelated, I'm pretty sure I sent the right size.

 

Regarding Pic.#1,
OK, I see it now! Still, it's a little too abstract for me.

Dave

 

I think the exposure for #2 is perfect. If you try to avoid blown out highlights then you get a super dark image. Often you find yourself in a situation where you can't have perfect detail in your lights and darks but it doesn't matter. I would have exposed it exactly the same. It is a very captivating shot.

I didn't get around to making my entry because I ran out of time when I was out shooting this car. I was going to do just about the same thing with my car.

 

That is a GREAT photograph!

 

you have to realize the data loss that comes with re-sizing these photos.
i posted the full res version on my car club forum, and our club photographer said it was a brilliant shot (he is going with nismo to sema next year with a press pas... this guy is good )

as for cutting off the left half of the car, it actually imo makes for a better shot, as a photograph is all about what you want it to focus on, mine was the exterior line of the car and the lights. your eyes just kind of follow the lines and get lost in the lights (though ill admit its not a "moving" shot )
personally some of my best shots exclude most of the car (they just dont have to do with that months topic :P
ex


ill try and upload the full res later as a lot of the color depth and detail was lost in the resizing and upload.
also keep in mind when you say my car is dark... its BLACK! and i was using a central polarizing filter.. and it was back lit, of course the black paint is going to be dark :P
if the car was front lit, it would have added detail to the car, something i didnt want to do as the focus was on the topic, LIGHTS!
your more than welcome to re-create my image in the fasion you in-visioned, and if it is in fact better, i will yield to you.

 

Nothing to do with the competition, as I took it ages ago, but here's another take on Lights FWIW. Being Just-a-Cooper meant there was more chrome to give some definition to the car in the near-dark.