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Another addition to my ongoing series.
How do you feel about this image . . .
Thanks
Excellent stuff as usual! The fact that the backgound is almost washed out works very well here because it creates a sense of mystery ( "the guy" seems focused on something but we can't see what draw his attention).
However, I feel that the interior of the building is almost too dark in the upper part of the picture. It's still ok but I think that you pushed this aspect to the limit.
I like this one and which series? I'd like to see some more in this vein.
There's a little too much negative space at the right. It doesn't quite balance, even disproportionatly or asymmetricly for my taste. A little narrower image could really bring out the arch as it frames the man and the folding chair, nice touch by the way. The structures on the horizon I am not sure I care for as they are indistinct.
Overall, leaving my personal quibbles aside, This is a another fine effort. Particularly the use of the architectural features from the floor tile pattern to the chiaroscuro effect provided by the pillars! Certainly we get a view from within, or a voyeurs glimpse into an otherwise private moment.
That's a very interesting shot. It kept me staring for a while. For me though, I would like to see a little more of the sky. Tough exposure though... not sure if you could tease it out. I do think the exposure on the brick and tile is just perfect. Also, I'm also thinking to cut off a smidge off the bottom (looks good when I cover it with a card, but not sure).
BR,
Tim
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Edit: Now that I'm at work and looking at this with a CRT (and not the new laptop)... Pull my comment about the sky. In this monitor it's just right. Also with more detail present in the sky, the forground doesn't looks so out of balance. The crop looks good.
Hi Gary,
The photo is sharp and clean. The framing of the person is effective. I just wonder what the guy is doing because it seems odd to me that he sitting in front of the building.
yoyo
Gary,
This is very strong. You have almost captured perfectly an Echser-esq visual illusion within the columns on the far left. The details and exposure are beautifully balanced. I love that you can see so far into the distance but still can let your imagination loose on what exactly is to be seen by the folding chair fellow.
Beautiful work.
CLK
Seb . . thanks for the points . The ceiling is actually right above the arch and was not lit at all, but I did crop a bit from the top to lessen the darkest areas.
DRG . .thanks for your comments. I must say that the composition on this is what i feel most strongly about. I wanted to place the arch and "area of interest" in the upper left portion of the frame with the light coming in on the floor sweeping down to the lower right corner area. The negative space you refer to on the right side of the arch actually has some brick detail, which was not too evident in the first post but I have slightly brought out more of that in this edited version I hope I'm not getting into any issues here but the easiest way to view more of my works on this series would be to visit www.photo.net/photos/gahspidy Thanks for your thoughts
Tim . .thanks for sharing with me your view on this. This was actually a second attempt at this place as my first was the wrong time of day and exposure was just way off from what i hoped for then.
Yoyo. . .thanks as always for the thoughts. I wanted some mystery here as to what the man is doing sitting out there, in a sort of voyeuristic fashion. The scene in the distance is much more identifiable in print especially 8x 12 or 12 x 18
CLK. . .happy to know your feelings on this. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your Echser comparison. I'll google the name and look into that.
This edit is a slightly tighter crop, and more brick detail brought out
Last edited by gahspidy; 10-03-2005 at 09:40 AM.
Reason: reply to CLK
The web site answers many questions. Glad to know where it resides! The brick detail at the right changes everything (have to admit I looked at this first on an LCD, contrast wasn't what this image needed). It changes the whole comp for me.
You work takes on a whole different meaning when seen side by side, even at thumbnail sizes. I wonderd about the scene in the distance, and I can see that it would work in a larger size.
This one takes me back to your "inside looking out" photographs which I admired so much when I joined this forum. This one is technically fine but lacks the mystery and eerieness of those earlier ones. Perhaps this is an unfair comparison as you may well have been after something totally different. Without any doubt though, this is a fine shot.
Tom
I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan
Gary I have just visited your collection on Photo.Net and have to say what an excellent collection it is. Top drawer stuff. Photographs that in the past that I was unsure of take on a a lot more meaning when assembled with their "brothers and sisters".
You set a very high standard for me to follow and seeing these urges me to stay at it.
Tom
I have a total lack of respect for anything connected with society, except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper, and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan
I also like your work gary, its very good, i would have loved a little more foreground as the pattern is very appealing and would lift the guy up on the frame which would improve the composition even further.
I like the composition on this a lot. Just a thought - I would like to see the figure a bit darker (and perhaps the area outside the arch). Is it possible to include (another) making the figure more like a silhouette?
As I said - just a thought - nothing wrong with the original. ;)
I like your work.
Liz
Originally Posted by gahspidy
Seb . . thanks for the points . The ceiling is actually right above the arch and was not lit at all, but I did crop a bit from the top to lessen the darkest areas.
DRG . .thanks for your comments. I must say that the composition on this is what i feel most strongly about. I wanted to place the arch and "area of interest" in the upper left portion of the frame with the light coming in on the floor sweeping down to the lower right corner area. The negative space you refer to on the right side of the arch actually has some brick detail, which was not too evident in the first post but I have slightly brought out more of that in this edited version I hope I'm not getting into any issues here but the easiest way to view more of my works on this series would be to visit www.photo.net/photos/gahspidy Thanks for your thoughts
Tim . .thanks for sharing with me your view on this. This was actually a second attempt at this place as my first was the wrong time of day and exposure was just way off from what i hoped for then.
Yoyo. . .thanks as always for the thoughts. I wanted some mystery here as to what the man is doing sitting out there, in a sort of voyeuristic fashion. The scene in the distance is much more identifiable in print especially 8x 12 or 12 x 18
CLK. . .happy to know your feelings on this. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your Echser comparison. I'll google the name and look into that.
This edit is a slightly tighter crop, and more brick detail brought out
Tom . . .I really appreciate your looking and commenting on the collection. i agree that it helps to see certain images in their "collective bunch" as it helps put them in proper perpective .
BakedBeans . . .Welcome to the forum. thanks for your thoughts. You know, I agree with wanting there to be even more fg and i was trying to balance between the composition i would have liked to have ( with deeper fg) and with not having the arch and the bg get too small and distant. or the arch getting up too close to the frame. After about 45 min of setting up this one shot ( yes, somewhat ridiculous) , this was the balance that best gave me enough to satisfy me composition wise and still have the bg be visible enough to be relevant. I surely agree with you on that aspect.
Liz . .funny that you mention that detail, about the figure being more a silhouette. I had been considering doing that before final print, but was sort of on the fence about it. Now that you have suggested it, I feel you have pushed me on the side of doing so. i will not make it a pure silhouette, but darken just enough so that there is not as much detail evident and more focus on the shape of the figure as he sits gazing out. It will be a subtle change, but in the direction you suggest. Thanks for your comments, Liz.
why dont you consider a vertical panorama just to bring a little more into the fg? only a little amount, it would need to be a bent out of shape type panorama.
anyway, great shot, just some food for thought
You Can Find More Of My Work Under ALEX GODDEN GALLERY At WWW.PROPHOTOGRAPHYFORUM.COM
i will not make it a pure silhouette, but darken just enough so that there is not as much detail evident and more focus on the shape of the figure as he sits gazing out.
I look forward to seeing the results. I think it will give the image a bit more "mystique."
Liz
Originally Posted by gahspidy
Tom . . .I really appreciate your looking and commenting on the collection. i agree that it helps to see certain images in their "collective bunch" as it helps put them in proper perpective .
BakedBeans . . .Welcome to the forum. thanks for your thoughts. You know, I agree with wanting there to be even more fg and i was trying to balance between the composition i would have liked to have ( with deeper fg) and with not having the arch and the bg get too small and distant. or the arch getting up too close to the frame. After about 45 min of setting up this one shot ( yes, somewhat ridiculous) , this was the balance that best gave me enough to satisfy me composition wise and still have the bg be visible enough to be relevant. I surely agree with you on that aspect.
Liz . .funny that you mention that detail, about the figure being more a silhouette. I had been considering doing that before final print, but was sort of on the fence about it. Now that you have suggested it, I feel you have pushed me on the side of doing so. i will not make it a pure silhouette, but darken just enough so that there is not as much detail evident and more focus on the shape of the figure as he sits gazing out. It will be a subtle change, but in the direction you suggest. Thanks for your comments, Liz.
i will not make it a pure silhouette, but darken just enough so that there is not as much detail evident and more focus on the shape of the figure as he sits gazing out.
I look forward to seeing the results. I think it will give the image a bit more "mystique."
Liz
BakedBeans. . .I would like to keep the aspect ratio the same for all the comps in the series, but that is good food for thought. btw, I like your work as i checked out your gallery. Great .
Liz. . .ok, here is the edit . Only darkened the figure a bit, and I'm happy with not only the mystique it brings but I think it also brings stronger attention to the sitting man. I think it pulls the eye towrds him.
Gary, I am going to agree with Tom on this one. Though this last one has achieved a nice technical result, for me the aesthetics aren't as impactful as some of the earlier "View From Within" images. The comparison may be an unfair one as each image shouldn't have to achieve the feel of any of the previous ones - but I suppose that's what happens when you have spoiled us the way you have...
Tuna. . .yes, this shot is from within a much wider open area than most all of the other Views from within and most likely has alot to do with the lower level of "mystery" and aesthetic of the within area. Glad to know your thoughts on this , Tuna. Thank you.
Gary, I am going to agree with Tom on this one. Though this last one has achieved a nice technical result, for me the aesthetics aren't as impactful as some of the earlier "View From Within" images. The comparison may be an unfair one as each image shouldn't have to achieve the feel of any of the previous ones - but I suppose that's what happens when you have spoiled us the way you have...
Tuna
I am with Tuna, each individual photograph doesn't have to one up the last, but that is OK!
I LOVE this series Gary is doing. It's almost as if we are getting to know you through this series, I think that is why I like it the most.
You seem to getting a little more open with this one Gary, I LIKE!
I think I like the last one too, it's not so dark.
Glad to see something new with this one Gary!
Sorry I didn't comment sooner.
Brian
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed, and is, thereby, a true manifestation of what one feels about life in its entirety...” - Ansel Adams
This I really like. I think it's more striking - and for me, it changes the mood.
You should be pleased with your work, Gary. It's impressive. I may not always have the time to reply, but when I see your name, I always check your posts because I like your work. You definitely have the gift - the photographer's eye.
Liz
Originally Posted by gahspidy
BakedBeans. . .I would like to keep the aspect ratio the same for all the comps in the series, but that is good food for thought. btw, I like your work as i checked out your gallery. Great .
Liz. . .ok, here is the edit . Only darkened the figure a bit, and I'm happy with not only the mystique it brings but I think it also brings stronger attention to the sitting man. I think it pulls the eye towrds him.