The Story of a Slide.... (looong)

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's a long story that I feel compelled to tell.  It all started one sunny 
day in Pittsburgh, exactly 3 years ago.  I was there for a professional 
conference, taking pictures at my spare time, and got captivated by the 
PPG building, an impressive modern monument.  From the many good pictures 
taken that day I particularly liked two pictures of this building taken 
with twin SLRs.

One, showing reflections through the glasses of one of the PPG towers, was 
entered as "Reflections IV" (yes, I do like reflections!) in an "open" 
night in Detroit two years ago and won a 3d place.  I was mildly 
disappointed because it looked better in projection at home (comes to show 
you that even specific projection setups can make a difference)... 
However, the same picture won a Honorable Mention (HM) at the "slide of 
the year" competition which was judged by a different club.  Now, that's 
an honor because only 10% of the slides that won 1st, 2nd and 3d places in 
the entire year in Detroit, get it. So, maybe I did have a good picture... 
I entered it in my very first PSA salon last year and got rejected....

I did not like the gray color and washed sky and tried film manipulation 
using color-reversal film.  There is no computer manipulation involved 
here.  Just copying the picture on a different film.  Color reversal gave 
it an impressive appearance, in deep gold color and almost black skies.  A 
new image was created and labeled "Portrait of a Building".  I loved it 
but my wife did not (no problem here ;)).  I made two copies.  One is 
circulating in Expo2.  The other was entered in a PSA salon and got 
rejected.  Confidence meter reads low again (Hi Allan C.!)... 

I took the slide out and circulated it in a PSA postal circuit.  One of 
the members of the group was a judge in the PSA salon who rejected it.  He 
made a comment regarding the "lack of center of interest" (he is from the 
"old school" ;)) which I found ironic because the picture only shows one 
object (PPG tower), nicely centered!  (In the same circuit this guy had 4 
table top close-ups of flowers which I did not like... He is not going to 
enjoy my comments which are my honest opinion... BTW, David Hutchison of 
this list had wonderful and inspiring fall pictures in the same circuit, 
which I thoroughly enjoyed!)

Six months later the slide came back from the circuit and was entered in 
Detroit last month. I felt it projected well and got 2d place.  (To my 
surprise, one member remembered the unreversed version and made a comment 
of getting my money's worth from this image!)  It was then entered in the 
second PSA salon and just returned with an HM.

Now, this "Portrait of a Building" is not just another pretty picture... 
Some people like it, others don't.  I love it and for me looks good both 
in a viewer but especially in projection due to the simple but imposing 
nature of the image.  

In contrast, my other good PPG picture "Modern Castle" has nice blue skies 
and more details in three PPG towers.  I did not even try to reverse this 
one which turned out to be a popular favorite.  It has won an award in a 
PSA postal circuit, HM in last year's non-star PSA competition, 1st place 
in Detroit,  HM in slide of the year competition and 2 acceptances (100%
rate so far) in regular PSA salons, including one HM.  

I still prefer the creative, enigmatic and controversial "Portrait" and 
will keep entering both to all PSA salons to see what happens.  Those who 
have seen the Expo2 image can tell me their opinion even if it is as 
simple as "it sucks!"  Those who think "if that junk gets a PSA award then 
my masterpieces have a chance too", should definitely try them!

Conclusion?  None from me... I'll let you draw your own this time, but 
will let you know how the story ends, a few years from now!... 

Thanks for listening!  -- George Themelis


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