Lynne Hollingsworth  


A simple socket by Lynne Hollingsworth

June 2020 - A simple socket

About the Image(s)


This electrical socket caught my eye because of its simplicity. Although simple, the electrical cord plugged into it is actually a power strip which powers all the electrical components of the TV. The shadows from the plug seem to create a subtle star. To me the plug is unassuming, yet provides a great deal of service. The spot on the textured wall was left in intentionally.

I'm interested in your thoughts on this image


This round’s discussion is now closed!
15 comments posted




Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
This is an absolutely fascinating shot.
The utter tranquil simplicity is arresting. I wonder if it would also work with nothing plugged in at all.
The socket plate observes golden mean proportions vertically, as does the entire frame horizontally.
I think the upper left corner of the plate should be placed on the diagonal of the frame. Then it would mark off smaller golden mean rectangular subsections of the frame above-left and below-right.   Posted: 06/05/2020 22:40:01
 
Thank you for your positive words Stephen. I reconfigured so that the socket plate corner on the upper left is on the diagonal with the corner of the frame. I'm not sure I like the result - what are your thoughts on the change?   Posted: 06/06/2020 12:43:18
Comment Image
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
I think in your new image the upper-right corner of the socket plate is on the diagonal. I was suggesting the upper-left corner to be on the diagonal. Here is a crop that would do it.   Posted: 06/06/2020 15:57:16
Comment Image



Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
Here are the golden mean rectangles, marked off. The socket plate and the whole frame are also golden mean rectangles.   Posted: 06/06/2020 16:01:59
Comment Image
 
Now I see what you mean...thanks for the visual - I was way off on my interpretation of what you meant.   Posted: 06/06/2020 22:08:02
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
Note that any point on the diagonal delimits rectangles of the same proportion as the main rectangle (back to 10th grade geometry).
But this is just my academic and abstract idea. Do you think it works as a guide for your composition?   Posted: 06/06/2020 22:17:09



Diana Magor   Diana Magor
Steve is quite right -the diagonal does need to go through the top left corner. I have recently seen a similar picture of a gangsocket against a white background which did well somewhere. Yes they are clever but they are not beautiful images I want on my wall. Should you slightly darken the shadow of the wire as it goes across the wall? There is a black spot to the right as well. Should it be emphasised or cloned out?   Posted: 06/07/2020 05:40:49
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
Diana, you raise an interesting point. Such images are not usually "wall-hangers," but are part of discussions about proportion (since and probably before the building of the Parthenon), and therefore, I think, tranquility.   Posted: 06/07/2020 16:06:33
Diana Magor   Diana Magor
True but sometimes I wonder why we take photos. We must have a reason in mind. Sometimes that is because we want a wall hanger and sometimes it is because the subject is beautiful although we would not want it on a wall. Sometimes it is just as a record or for identification, or to show a story. I also take photos as a technical exercise but I usually keep in mind that they might be suitable for competition, either locally or Internationally. This is especially true now when we can't get far from our own doorsteps. I still want to improve my technical skills and make good photos that other people will enjoy looking at.   Posted: 06/07/2020 16:45:20
 
When seeing a potential image, I often know it will not appeal to many and most likely never hung on a wall or sold. But in shooting simple things, sometimes the image will spark a discussion as it did here. And that is often my goal - to look beyond the object and let it lead us to where our mind goes.   Posted: 06/10/2020 17:27:01



 
Lynne,

The black spot caught my eye-- would I remove it? The answer is after Stephen put the "golden rectangles" on the photo, the answer is no, I would not remove itI would not remove the shadows either.

Good for you in trying something different and fascinating!

Gloria   Posted: 06/07/2020 10:05:10



 
Lynne - some times I take close up shots like this as well, In particular now, when our movements are so restricted. When I take my ship photos in the port areas, I also shoot ropes, shore lines, buoys, rusty anchors, etc. Never intended to hang on my walls, or submit to a contest - just playing with contrasts, cropping, lines, various monochrome, and so on. Well, if I have time   Posted: 06/13/2020 08:48:42



Tom McCreary   Tom McCreary
I think that it is an interesting image for a composition study as discussed above. And that should be the main point of the DD groups, to create discussion, not show our "wall hangers".   Posted: 06/13/2020 14:11:04
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
That is so well said, Tom.   Posted: 06/13/2020 18:45:38



Jennifer Doerrie   Jennifer Doerrie
I agree with others' suggestions to shift the image to place the outlet in the upper left portion of the image. I also played some with the contrast to better emphasize the shadows, which I like. Unlike the others, I think I would remove the black dot since it pulls my eye away from the outlet, but of course, you should do as you prefer.   Posted: 06/29/2020 00:13:39