<<< o >>>keep out #10 21 comments + add yours
chromasia.com

It's been a while since I posted a keep out shot, as I don't often come across a new angle that I think's worth photographing. And this one's not exactly the best one of the series but I'm determined to post a bit more regularly, even if that does mean posting stuff that's not quite as vibrant as usual.

On another note: I got an email this morning from the team at JPG Magazine:

"We've spent the last few months trying to make the business behind JPG sustain itself, and we've reached the end of the line. We all deeply believe in everything JPG represents, but we just weren't able to raise the money needed to keep JPG alive in these extraordinary economic times. We sought out buyers, spoke with numerous potential investors, and pitched several last-ditch creative efforts, all without success. As a result, jpgmag.com will shut down on Monday, January 5, 2009."

I wasn't a regular contributor (as you can see from my profile), but did have one photograph published in issue 10, and did enjoy browsing through the site - there were some really top class contributors.

Anyway, they're going to be shutting down their website on the 5th so I'd recommend you head over there and have a good look round before they do.

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10.57am on 31/12/08
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3x2 + piers [North pier]
comment by hixster at 12:22 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Hi Dave, love the boldness of the sign offset against the lower contrast background with all it's patterns and lines and the pier in the background. Shame to hear about JPG, as a new business startup, I know it's tough, fingers crossed we're keeping our heads above water this next year.

On another note, I was looking through your client commissions just now, I really like the compositing work on the latest project with the architects, the integration of the CG is great, good choice to go with the B&W.

Happy New Year!

comment by djn1 at 12:30 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

hixter: they are worrying times, and we've got our fingers crossed for 2009.

As for the compositing: I've just reworded the entry on the commissions page as it was a bit misleading, insofar as I didn't do the compositing, just the post-production. The problem with the initial images was that the CG buildings looked very unnatural, hence the added grain and black and white treatment. The final images, in my opinion at least, look a lot more natural.

comment by EgoPimp at 12:46 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Such sad times, business going tits up all over the place :(

I really like the processing on this shot, and its not a huge stretch of the imagination to tie it in with the economic troubles we are all facing. Keep out, closed for business....

Gary.

comment by Abhijit Dharmadhikari at 01:26 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Dave, you have made the subject stand out very nicely. Loved the creative use of DOF!
It's very sad to know that JpgMag is closing down:-(

comment by Andrew at 01:29 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Love the tone here, and the “keep out” theme is a clever subject to follow. This image has three interesting layers of visual depth. Excellent work.

comment by LightningPaul at 01:58 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Nice shot anyway! I would have straighten the KEEP OUT sign (just a small turn of the image to the right). The winter colors are very present, which I like a lot.
I'm also sad with the news of JPG magazine. There were so many cool images.

comment by moonhead at 02:10 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Yes - worrying times - I was a contributor to jpegmag.

Olan Mills (high street photographers) has closed all 35 branches across the UK: see http://www.olanmills.co.uk/

I've been involved/working in the photographic industry since 1981 and have never seen it this bad.

One of my clients has decided to source its images from micro-stock sites - at 3.00 GBP for a hi-res file its certainly cheaper than using me! These micro sites are killing photography.

comment by djn1 at 02:16 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

LightningPaul: I did think about straightening the sign, but I decided that I quite liked it off-kilter.

moonhead: I agree, the micro-stock sites may be good for the contributors self-esteem, and for the clients who buy their work, but they are certainly undermining the profession of photography.

comment by Polydactyle at 03:11 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Nice foggy shot and atmosphere!

comment by Roland at 03:19 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Inviting! :)

comment by ondro at 05:08 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

great picture, love the tones

comment by Albert at 06:50 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Fantastic composition!!

comment by rhys baker at 07:31 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Its a great shot, amazing exposure. I spent some time yesterday photographing our local Woolies before that goes too!

comment by Alex Caballero at 07:44 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Feliz año sea para usted este 2009, lleno de grandes fotografias con grandes tratamientos, con los cuales me sorprende cada dia mas, la verdad que sin lugar a duda hace un trabajo magnifico, saludos.

comment by Jennifer at 09:46 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Love it and actually think it IS one of the best in the series.

comment by Carlos Garcia at 10:45 PM (GMT) on 2 January, 2009

Serene and lonely. Again... wish I was there. Especially love fading pier in the background.

comment by Matt at 03:01 AM (GMT) on 3 January, 2009

Massive.

Shame about jpeg Mag but then internet businesses are almost impossible to prop up as there is no actual income other than advertising, As a former lecturer in web design I used to say: "unless you're selling porn, making money off a pure internet site is almost impossible."

comment by Sumedh at 07:19 AM (GMT) on 3 January, 2009

Oh this is a truly, truly fantastic shot! Very powerful. And I think it's quite vibrant! :)

comment by djn1 at 07:11 PM (GMT) on 3 January, 2009

Thanks all.

comment by Rob at 05:01 PM (GMT) on 5 January, 2009

I like the simple nature of this shot, and the traditional style. Its nicely composed and also tells a simple "off-season" story.

comment by Robbie Veldwijk at 06:52 PM (GMT) on 19 January, 2009

Nice photo, great toning and DoF!