i like things that are trivial ...isnt' life too complex for our own good ? (reminds me of this shot i took a while back http://www.myfourthirds.com/document.php?id=26148 ) ... cheers ;-))

Doesn't look trivial to me, Klaus! I think this is fabulous. I've seen a lot of abstracted giraffes in my time, but this one really stands out. My only quibble is that there are a couple of smudgy grey areas that I think should be pure black next to the top edges of the hair (lower left and also one near the mid to upper right). But those would be easily fixed and don't affect my rating. This is really clever and quite beautiful.

Hi Klaus,

Clever and beautiful is what comes to mind as well when I look at this. What I find particularly attractive is the way you have framed this. Excellent work!

Very unusual and interesting solution ... Good work.

This is really great Klaus. I like the simplicity and the fact that we can all recognise this beast from a small portion of the body. The right hand side does seem a little soft for perfection but it's pretty damn close. I tried something similar once with a shot of a duck but this is much better.

No, this is certainly not trivial in any way. It demonstrates your ability to see the world around you, and proves that real abstractions can be found all around us if we are visually sensitive enough as photographers to see them. No, this is a brilliant image in every way, from the wonderful chosen framing to make an abstract image if what is a rather typical thing, in this case a giraffe (probably in a zoo?), maybe not a common object, but certainly not an unknown one to any viewer.

Wonderful photo! Great idea and perfect realiztion. This image reminds me of the series "Animals" by Nine Francois. Did you plan to get something like this or this is just a chance?

Love it!

Simple, abstract, fine conversion!!

Andy

There isn't anything trivial about this one. Its simplicity, lack of tone and overall shape are top notch.

I like it also...it has been spoken.

Quite nice, Klaus. Love the composition and tonal range. Very simple, but compelling.

Regards, Chris

sorry guys, I did NOT format my reply to your comments like that. The link to the original low res jpeg must have done something to my comment.

and can only add my admiration.

Best wishes,

Excellent capture.

The simplicity intriques me...

It's fascinating to see such a large and complex animal portrayed in this way.

/epigraf

Klaus, yes--I suspected those spots don't show up on your monitor; probably need to double-check the calibration of my monitor. (Thanks also for posting your original photo.) Enjoyed looking at this one again!

Thank you Horst, Alan, Kenny and Elisabeth (again. I am sure that I have to fine tune the calibration of my monitor, too, as much as this is possible).

My only complain is already adress in other comments. You should reedit this one, and adress the comment Elisabeth made she's right, it is a shame those zone that were incomplete dodged in PP. I'll come back to rate it. Otherwise, the best giraffe B/W in a long time. Best wishes!

Joao - I sure would repair it if I saw where. I have "calibrated" my monitor with using this site (http://www.photofriday.com/calibrate.php). I am afraid if I started burning some areas I would create new areas which do not look "right". We will probably never solve the problem of different monitor properties. At some point I will get a real calibrated monitor (but will then everybody see the pictures like I see them?) ...

Don't worry! Its quiet easy my friend. You don't need a well calibrated monitor to see imperfections on our PP workflow...just invert this photo in photoshop and work your way there, when your finish in burning/dodgind just invert again, its an old tip for PP. Best wishes! ;)

Simple, ultra effective - excellent shot.

Don't know how I missed this.

Joao - thank you for your help. Inverting seemed to me a good idea, it did not help very much on a monochrome picture though. I tried to work on it in 600% magnification and I hope I repaired a couple of spots (and I hope these spots are not worse now, LOL).

Steven, Esmee - thank you very much!

Klaus, great eye. One needs to be creative to even image taking this shot!

Congatulations on this one entering the HOF. Well deserved.