IPG January Challenge! a 2oo9 Photo Challenge!

Roy has determined the first challenge of the year for us!  Yes, it's the January challenge!  He selected an interesting one for us and will be judging which photo, in his opinion, best fits the project. Without further ado, he decided on "Reflection Distortions".

Since this is going to be judged by Roy, here's what he's considering (in his own words):  "Reflections - in water, in glass (especially windows), in mirrors, on polished metal (I've seen some great reflection shots taken of car hoods), anything that reflects. And the emphasis would be in distortions in the reflection - ripples in the water, uneven glass (like some of the old colonial era windows that were hand cast in sand molds, and especially bull's-eye windows), broken glass, that kind of thing."  How do you emphasize it?  How do you present it and where do you find it?  Obviously, there are a couple of conditions:

• Do NOT submit any photo unless it was taken in 2oo9.  Gayle and I are well aware that a lot of people already have some really good shots of buildings, etc., with distorted reflected images.  This group has always  been about taking new shots and taking shots specifically for the current challenge.  It's the honor system...all new shots.
• Let's not toss in PS-style edited special effects ripples, etc.  There's enough distortion in the world to find some without adding to a shot artificially.  :o)
• Although artistic and sometimes very cool to look at, no silhouetted reflections for this one. 
• Absolutely no photos of broken Bacardi Rum bottles.  Rum and I are old friends...we go waaaaay back.  I simply cannot have Rum being abused for the sake of a photo project or challenge and that includes the bottle in which it is packaged.  We also don't want the Royal Society for the Prevention of Photographer on Rum Bottle Violence coming down on our heads.  Trust me on that.  It's not pretty.
• Salt shakers shaped like animals will, at long last, be permitted.  Hey, it's a New Year!
• Incidentally...Gayle mentioned, and I quite agree, that everyone needs to take a step back and keep the composition in mind.  Let's see some appealing compositions!  You can have an unusual subject...you can have a quirky crop...you can have a real challenge trying to get a pile of broken glass to properly relected the distoted image of a praying mantis...but let's make it a priority to get the composition down to something that's appealing.  Mmm-Kay?

It's another difficult challenge.   Here, it's going to challenge you to see the shot and then capture it.  Reflections, especially distorted ones are ALL around us!. We now expect you to stretch those wings and give it a shot!

Any questions or advice needed can be asked of either Gayle or I and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Just add IPC to the e-mail tag. J

Some pointers...:

Keep in mind...Reflections can be beautiful...without being distorted.  We want distorted in some way shape of form.

Be cautious not to confuse distorted with abstract.  Here, for example, one could make a case for an abstract quality in the shot, but there is no distortion.  Not even a ripple.  Like the first shot, this was taken at the Madrona Marsh where, clearly, there wasn't even a whisper of wind.  A shot can be both abstract AND distorted, or both.  :o)

 Be creative and run with your ideas.  There are some shots that should just leap into your minds like this example of a ring-necked duck on the water.  Water...as long as you're not using a slow shutter speed and there's almost any kid of disturbance, will always be a great spot to look for the distorted reflections.  Of course, our duck example here is hogging all the attention.  This isn't about the reflection.

Another water example....This was never composed for this challenge but can you see where there might be a good idea for a shot with those docks in the background?  That's some potential and the type of thing to look for! 

But...it's not about water...it's about distorted reflections.  Roy mentioned glass...obviously there are a lot of places to find them.  

Here you see bar glasses and the warm colors of the fire (which was lit for ambience and while the air conditioner was running) are mixed with the cooler blues of the sky in the arched windows.  Incidentally...you cannot sit in the bar for free and take photos.  I had to have a rum and dt. pepsi...or two.  SEE the things I go through to get a shot?  Heh heh heh...I made a pun.

That's Mrs. Doyle's arm and pink watch on the back of the couch...a distorted reflection in the eye of a cat.  An old shot but a good example that you can find these things anywhere...our only limits are our imaginations.

And here you can see water distorted reflections of a tree in the La Brea Tar Pits.  While it has been mentioned that adding ripples, etc. is not permitted...this photo is actually upside down...and that's really bubbling methane you see there.

Have fun with the project and don't hesistate to ask questions!

(And show us what you got)

As always...NO photos will be accepted after midnight, Jan. 31, 2oo9; Gather time.