Memories on a knife edge (Hitler Project)

[shmuckerz]

Brief Intro:
Ok well i liked the idea of taking pictures of pictures, so whilst trying to think of an emotive theme i decided WW2 and Hitler came to mind.
Initially i took the 3 pictures seen from different websites and edited them to the way i like, eg. The picture of Hitler has a slight texture to give an old effect.

1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Any suggestions for improvement as this is quite a early piece, i like the concept and would like to 'perfect' it.

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
Through the piece i would like to bring about a somewhat nostalgic feeling of WW2, and although my theme isnt very clear (even to me im afraid) i would say this picture deals with what hitler did to the ones he loved. (hence the german shephard)

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
The picture was taken using quite a small apeture (for both lighting reasons to reduce shake) but also i wanted to use focus and depth of field to highlight the more important sections of the picture.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
Mhmm well i actually like the image quite alot, and am continuing to experiment with the idea . I especially like the lighting, which was quite by accident as there was a small amount of light coming through from the window even though i was trying to shut them.

All critiques, ideas, suggestions welcome.

 

[reno77]

Replacing the kitchen knife with a bayonet will make the scene more military like.

 

[zac08]

Replacing the kitchen knife with a bayonet will make the scene more military like.

And if possible, get a german bayonet or the hitler youth knife replica. This will better fit the theme.

Else right now, it looks like a dog meat lover who has set his eyes on the german shepard as the next meal...

 

[shmuckerz]

Replacing the kitchen knife with a bayonet will make the scene more military like.

oooh thats a really good idea!
now i needa find out where i can get a bayonet from :dunno:

ty for the suggestion

 

[shmuckerz]

And if possible, get a german bayonet or the hitler youth knife replica. This will better fit the theme.

Else right now, it looks like a dog meat lover who has set his eyes on the german shepard as the next meal...

Thank you for your suggestion, yup will look into the replacement knife.
I actually have a slightly different version of this, where i replaced the picture of the german shephard with a picture of Jewish kids, which i feel has a deeper emotive feel.
Will work on the picture and submit a new version in a week

thanks alot for the suggestions.

 

[shmuckerz]

If anyone wants to have a look at the other picture with the replacement, please click the link below.
(sorry cannot add a second picture to the thread).

http://shmuckerz.deviantart.com/art/Memories-on-a-knife-edge-124657705

 

[denniskee]

Else right now, it looks like a dog meat lover who has set his eyes on the german shepard as the next meal...

i was about to say that.:bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[cabbySHE]

that German Cross and Swastika must not be left out too !

 

[shmuckerz]

that German Cross and Swastika must not be left out too !

Swastika is incorporated in the flag designed picture...
German Cross i shall look into

thanks for comments and suggestions

 

[liarliar]

Seriously i think you should read a lot more about Hitler and Nazi Germany not only during WW2 but also during WW1 and after and how the whole Party came to be.

It is okay to put a few ideas in your mind and piece them up into a photo. But please change the title. I am not impressed.

 

[daniellcs]

Thanks for the good work. In my humble opinion, I think the composition could use some touching up. At first glance, my view was turned to the knife, then to the German Shepherd (because it's in colour) then finally to Hitler. I couldn't really see the photo of Hitler properly because of its angle. You can definitely do more to bring justice to the title (e.g. Hitler project). Keep trying!

 

[cabbySHE]

this is kind like illustrative type of photography, getting the right props and accessories are sometime much more time consuming than actual shooting it.

 

[liarliar]

Not only props and ideas, photographer need to get the history and facts right. Even if a bayonet or the valor award of iron cross replicas were to be used it still will not bring out the Hitler project feeel. No not to people who had read and are in interest of Hitler, the Party and Socialism. Here we are more interested in Hitler, and the Party is nearer to potraiting this tyran than the military. So bayonet and Iron Cross are out. The Svastika insignia can be used. German Shephard is fine. The photo of 'Hitler' reminds me more of Albert Einstein instead.

I will still insist photographer to get the facts right first.

 

[cabbySHE]

Not only props and ideas, photographer need to get the history and facts right. Even if a bayonet or the valor award of iron cross replicas were to be used it still will not bring out the Hitler project feeel. No not to people who had read and are in interest of Hitler, the Party and Socialism. Here we are more interested in Hitler, and the Party is nearer to potraiting this tyran than the military. So bayonet and Iron Cross are out. The Svastika insignia can be used. German Shephard is fine. The photo of 'Hitler' reminds me more of Albert Einstein instead.

I will still insist photographer to get the facts right first.

Wow, that will mean a lot of research to be done first. History, Politics, Politcian, Party, autobiography, memoirs, critics etc in order to get all the correct fact and figure. Think our friend don't have this much of time.

 

[Johnsoo]

Actually, What about WW2 and Hitler did u want to portray? u dont need to put that many facts but rather the execution of the focus of your project. Consider the flow of the human eye in and around the picts and the story that it tells.

 

[viix]

hitler and that era was never about minimalism.. so set art direction is important.. more props will work better.. technical wise all good to go...

 

[liarliar]

Wow, that will mean a lot of research to be done first. History, Politics, Politcian, Party, autobiography, memoirs, critics etc in order to get all the correct fact and figure. Think our friend don't have this much of time.

Our friend started it. Its either time or a half-a** work. Now i don't mean the photographer's bad at his work but i see lots of photograhers using power themes to back up simplicity and hope for good comments. Outwardly it looked superb but to the more knowledgeable viewer its plainly 'half-a****'. No better word or phrase in the English dictionary best described that. Perhaps the German dictionary with have one.

'On a knife's edge' do not really mean you have to use a knife in your photo/s. Knife is just a plain to common noun for a name. See hitler's Propaganda back in the WW era in a long run will not benefit all of mankind. Yet he persisted in his practise and beliefs so wasn't that threading on a knife's edge. The nouns 'steel', 'iron', 'blade', 'sword' all are better fit for the title instead of 'knife'.

 

[liarliar]

hitler and that era was never about minimalism.. so set art direction is important.. more props will work better.. technical wise all good to go...

More props yes. But all props representative of Hitler. His beliefs, his life and his downfall.

 

[viix]

Our friend started it. Its either time or a half-a** work. Now i don't mean the photographer's bad at his work but i see lots of photograhers using power themes to back up simplicity and hope for good comments. Outwardly it looked superb but to the more knowledgeable viewer its plainly 'half-a****'. No better word or phrase in the English dictionary best described that. Perhaps the German dictionary with have one.

'On a knife's edge' do not really mean you have to use a knife in your photo/s. Knife is just a plain to common noun for a name. See hitler's Propaganda back in the WW era in a long run will not benefit all of mankind. Yet he persisted in his practise and beliefs so wasn't that threading on a knife's edge. The nouns 'steel', 'iron', 'blade', 'sword' all are better fit for the title instead of 'knife'.

More props yes. But all props representative of Hitler. His beliefs, his life and his downfall.

I totally agree on that point.. currently it looks as if the concept if not even quarter baked.. like TS thought of it only during the shoot.
it would work if this was a frame from an opening sequence but for still life is .....

 

[cabbySHE]

All the points raised by liarliar and viix are crucial, and it took me to go thro a seven vcd set on the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler, phew no easy task, lucky it is a documentary,if it is literature, most probably....

I do especially second the comment from liarliar about photographers using power theme title but with powdery content, perhaps it's of their social experience in life.( just my thought ).

As for this topic, the TS has chosen a title much heavier than his capabilities, not in photography but about the in depth research and study. Should be able to refine it when everything set right and correct.

It is a difficult title by no means anyone could have do it better.