Ariel Rios Courtyard

[Tuna]

Ariel Rios Federal Building, Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C.

Leica IIIc, 50mm Elmar, Ilford HP5 B&W film.

Tuna

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Tuna,
I like the elegant use of lines and curves in this shot. The walking lady adds some mystery to the shot.
yoyo

[Sebastien B]

Hi,

I like it! The lines and the woman's motion drag me into the picture.The tree balances the composition.

Great shot,

Seb

[gahspidy]

Great tones and contrast. Lighting and exposure looks very good as well. I also like your framing of the scene here. Great work

[Overbeyond]

The woman (if it is a woman) walking at right angles towards the building is great. A lot may have waited until she was out of the way and waited for the human interest to be walking away down the sidewalk or up towards the camera.
She has the look of someone that is hell bent on where she is going; this adds some tension and the position of her feet, especially her right, is great.
Tom

[villenadecorte]

Tuna, fantastic composition I love the contrast in this. The lines/building/trees really play off each other, and the woman, definitely is key here... wondering where she is going, what shes doing..
Awesome.
rebekah

[Lava Lamp]

Ariel Rios Federal Building, Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C.

Leica IIIc, 50mm Elmar, Ilford HP5 B&W film.

Tuna

Perfect. The best I've seen from you IMHO. Makes we want ot buy a Leica and try some zone focusing shoot from the hip set-ups.

[Seb]

[QUOTE=Tuna]Ariel Rios Federal Building, Federal Triangle, Washington, D.C.

Leica IIIc, 50mm Elmar, Ilford HP5 B&W film.

Tuna

I almost wish the trees weren't there (or that they were leafs less). You obviously don't have control on this (well perhaps a chainsaw might fit in your camera bag). I get the feel that these trees are too massive and that they block the view on the great building.

Other than that, I really like your picture. The angle is great, the tones are dead on and the walking ladie adds a lot as others have already noted.

regards

Seb

[Tuna]

Thanks to all for your critique and very kind words.

Seb - this image could have been cropped square, without the trees, and it looks OK that way. But my instinctual, in-camera crop at the time of capture was what we see and I went with it because, to me it is a much more interesting composition with the trees (and grassy area) adding weight or balance to the right side in both a structural and tonal manner. Others agree? Disagree?

Tuna

[Seb]

Thanks to all for your critique and very kind words.

Seb - this image could have been cropped square, without the trees, and it looks OK that way. But my instinctual, in-camera crop at the time of capture was what we see and I went with it because, to me it is a much more interesting composition with the trees (and grassy area) adding weight or balance to the right side in both a structural and tonal manner. Others agree? Disagree?

Tuna

Put this way, it definately make sense. The picture need a balancing element at the right. Nevertheless, I perceive the trees as being somewhat overwhelming as they currently stand. These trees leafless in autumn would look terrific. Obviously, this is just my take on it.

regards

Seb

[pez31]

Hi Tuna,

I have to agree that without the woman in the image it would have an entirely different felling to it. Her capture is what strikes me the most. It is not flattering, the way her clothing, face and body are draped, coupled with her leaving the scene; it looks as though she is caring a burden. I'm not sure if this was your intent but it works nicely. On the technical side I would bring down the highlights in the upper right hand corner they tend to draw you out of the image.

Regards

Phil

[Trevor Ash]

I always like Tuna's shots so figured I'd take a peek at this one. And since I'm here I might as well comment

I only partially read the comments and it appeared as though Seb started to say some things I am probably feeling too. (I don't like to read everyone's comments before I comment because I don't want to be "influenced". That's just my thing )

What's good about this photo to me is that the person stands out. Even with such a large dof she pops well from her surroundings. She is indeed the focus of this photo to me.

But that's pretty much where it stops getting interesting. I don't like the crop at all. Someone may have mentinoed the trees. I don't like them but I'm not too sure why. It's probably just their weight in the composition that is irking me.

Those lights above her head aren't working for me either..


You know, I could pick apart every little detail of any photo if I took the time so let me stop going that route and just say what my honest opinion is about this photo. The reason it doesn't work for me is that it "looks wrong". Maybe that was your intent, I don't know. It just doesn't balance well. She doesn't belong there. What on earth is she wearing? I thought it was a man at first wearing a robe. That short hair, small breasts....I dunno. Even the moment of capture is unsettling to me (her body position). She looks like she is posing for the evolution of man calendar. Is she going to walk into that wall over there?

Those are the thoughts that go through my head. I'm sorry I can't formulate them into a "What's good? What's bad?" kind of critique but I hope get use of this critique somehow

All the best, it's always good to see your photos.

BTW, if it were me, I'd probably crop the top half just below the lights so that you could still see some tree but would never know those lights were there. All that extra building architecture isn't necessary for this photo in my opinion.

[Trevor Ash]

Hi Tuna,

I have to agree that without the woman in the image it would have an entirely different felling to it. Her capture is what strikes me the most. It is not flattering, the way her clothing, face and body are draped, coupled with her leaving the scene; it looks as though she is caring a burden. I'm not sure if this was your intent but it works nicely. On the technical side I would bring down the highlights in the upper right hand corner they tend to draw you out of the image.

Regards

Phil

I agree with your critique Phil, very well worded.

[photophorous]

This is my first critique. Just thought you should know that before I say something stupid. I like this shot a lot. The linear patterns are great, especially when combined with the curvature of the building's facade. I think the trees are a necessary part of the image too. It would be nice if they weren't so dark, and you could see more detail, but that's not really were you are looking anyway, so it might actually be distracting if they were. I hope this women is not someone you know, because I'm about to be the first to say she's just plain weird looking. That's why she's so interesting though. Showing her full stride in profile creates that sense of determination. My first thoughts when I saw this image where, ' who is that lady and where is she going?' But, I would not have stopped to think about it if it weren't for the nice patterns. Very well done. Makes me wonder if you sat there waiting or just happened accross it.

Paul