Used - Shortened Pencil

Posted by kairospix (Singapore, Singapore) on 26 April 2007 in Miscellaneous and Portfolio.

It is precisely because the pencil gets shorter and shorter, and less and less of itself, that it remains useful.

If the pencil did not give up more and more of it's wood and lead to be shaved away so as to be sharpened continuously, then it will remain full of it's long self but not much use to others.

Sometimes to be useful, one needs to be willing to be given up, to lose more and more of oneself for the sake of another.

I like the contrast of the colours of the shortened pencil with that of the green fore/background. Interestingly, the yellow paper turned out more green like the green binding rings.

Camera - Canon Powershot G6
Lens - Canon 7.2 - 28.2mm (approx. 35 - 140mm)
Capture date - 26 April 2007
Aperture - f 8.0
Shutter speed - 1/25
Shooting mode - aperture priority
Exposure bias - 0EV
Metering mode - Pattern
ISO - 100
Focal length - 17.6mm (approx. 85mm with SuperMacro Mode)
Stablization - Hand-held
Cropped? - No
Post-processing? - PS CS2 a border
Lighting? - Table-top fluorescent lamp

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Comments (11)

Johnny Soedomo from United States

oh.. it was yellow paper and becomes green? interesting ... but the pencil.. must have been used a lot until it's short

26 Apr 2007 5:20pm

@Johnny Soedomo: yeah... i was surpirsed too about the yellpw paper turning out more green than yellow...

as for the pencil... haha i sort of helped it get shorter faster... used a pencil sharper to help quicken the shortening process...

then wore down the lead by drawing circles on a piece of paper to get a more used rounded tip...

JV from India, India

Very creative shot. Good colors and details.

26 Apr 2007 6:59pm

@JV: tks for your kind comments!

i do like the shot :)

Jerry from Tampa, United States

Creative play on the tones - compelling image - excellent detail! Very well done kairospix !

26 Apr 2007 8:23pm

@Jerry: tks for the feedback and words of encouragement!

Stephanie from Hesperia, United States

This is a fun picture. It almost is clown like because the pencil is so short but yet comes across as huge in the picture! It looks as though this could have been an oversized exhibit at an artshow or something of that nature. Does that make sense?? Anyway..great job!

26 Apr 2007 8:26pm

@Stephanie: Hi Stephanie,

I'm glad you found it fun! Now that you've mentioned it, yes it does look kinda fun having a short pencil and yet looks large due to the close-up effect.

Wow! Thanks for your kind and encouraging words about it looking like a piece at an art show! I do hope to be able to shoot more great photos that are more artistic, more fine-arts.

Yes, yes, yes! It makes a lot of sense and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction! Thank you! :)

Shar from Regina, SK, Canada

Nice close-up and good message!

26 Apr 2007 10:22pm

@Shar: Kairospix

Thanks Shar! Do you have a Aminus3 photoblog site too?

jamsheed from calicut, India

nice use of DOF...great colors...good job

27 Apr 2007 7:22am

@jamsheed: thanks!

yes, i do like the DOF effect and colours!

SPunkt from -, Germany

I like the colours here. And the sharp letters on the pencil. The whole pencil, to be honest. :)

27 Apr 2007 8:30pm

@SPunkt: thanks!

yep... it was the sharpest shot amonst the many i took... :)

thanks for visiting and commenting!

Xin Li from Singapore, Singapore

interesting, but the pencil have left its mark in so many places could be your exam papers or the little note you left on your fridge. yea. Anyway, interesting forms.

30 Apr 2007 12:24pm

@Xin Li: tks