Category Archives: Charleston

Member Favorites from “Triptych” Assignment

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A triptych from the Greek adjective ‘three-fold’, is a work of art which is divided into three sections. Sometimes, a single picture just won’t do and a sequence of photos can do a better job in telling your story. So, a photographic triptych may consist of separate images that are variants on a theme, or may be one larger image split into three images with a plain border between them. It can be images from the same photo session taken in succession, or even opposing subjects showing contrasting ideas.

Yes, this was a challenging assignment – not only to spot the effective subject matter from which to create a triptych, but also to graphically piece the images together to create the final masterpiece. However, yet again, the ACC members were quite creative in their submittals and executed the assignment well! The following four received the most votes from the members.

First Place (17 Votes)

By far, the most liked triptych was created by Betty Rembert, a beautiful backlit feather. The backlighting highlights the softness in the feather down. The placement of the two close-up images, which accentuate the middle vane on either side, create leading lines that almost frame the middle image. You resist the urge to want to reach out and touch its softness.

Image #9

Betty Rembert, Backlit Feather Triptych

Second Place (12 Votes)

We have a tie for the next favorite photo, receiving 12 votes each.

Martin Seelig put an effective spin on the typical triptych layout creating a collage effect, rather than the long horizontal display. Showing off his favorite shooting spot, Grayson Highlands, he’s created a montage showing all the great aspects of the park – historic places, wild ponies and vistas! The three images compliment each other so well – not only with the complimenting colors, but the composition and placement of the photos. The fences create the leading lines and you just can’t take your eye off the almost velvet color in the pony.

Image #1

Martin Seelig, Grayson Triptych

Tied for the member’s second choice is Kim Hadley’s single shot of a huge live oak photographed in South Carolina. Triptych’s are not always made up of three separate images. In this layout, Kim was using the triptych format to convey the size of the subject. This tree is massive and the imagery of its size is much more pronounced as the branches extend from one image to the next, and the next, and further still beyond the edges.

Image #3

Kim Hadley, ‘Reaching out’ Triptych

Third Place (11 Votes)

Voted the third favorite is Kim Hadley’s tribute to Molly’s love of snow. Triptychs are great for showing the passing of time. As in this case, it’s obvious Molly was here, there an everywhere as she truly enjoyed her romp in the snow with her frisbee.

Image #23

Kim Hadley, Molly’s Snow Day

Photos of the Week – Christine McCarty and Nancy Bowers

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Two Photographers, Same Subject, Different Perspectives

Christine McCarty - Ravenel Bridge - Charleston SC

Christine McCarty - Ravenel Bridge - Charleston SC

Nancy Bowers - Ravenel Bridge - Charleston, SC

Nancy Bowers - Ravenel Bridge - Charleston, SC

The coastal sounds and ocean air seem to awaken the creative juices in Nancy and Christine. Remember Nancy’s “Princess” and the two women “Frolicking on the Beach“? And Christine’s recent “Dock Reflection” at the Outer Banks? The images above continue the tradition.
The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge in Charleston crosses over the Cooper River but does more than get you from point A to Point B. Like the Sydney Opera House in Australia, it has a life and grace that goes beyond the utilitarian and gives the impression that it is organic with it’s surroundings. One could easily take a photo every day for a year and not come close to exhausting the possibilities. Christine’s shot is all leading and converging lines, repeating pattens, shapes, reflections and sunrise colors balanced by the horizontal lines of the river bank, the horizon and the cloud patterns. The eye is inevitably drawn to the open area near the top of the support tower with the sun breaking through the clouds. Nancy’s view shows the bridge in a more gentle mood, quietly majestic in the distance. Even the bulk and size of the foreground ship can’t compete with the graceful form created by the shining cables and center support tower. Both images are perfect examples of how effective the Rule of Thirds can be and how important framing is to convey a scene just as the photographer intended.