Marathon Abstract

Although most of the favorable photography here seems to be realist, I decided to post an abstract piece. I am really interested in taking a different perspective on otherwise real and ordinary scenes, so I really fell in love with this shot. It is purposely overexposed, but I played with the saturation and contrast to bring this image out.

f 27, 100ISO, .7s, 55mm

The colors and implied motion are strong. The framing of the image is a bit random perhaps, and there's far more white space in the lower portion than is effective or needed.

The contrast adjustments could be adjusted to maybe produce a better image? It may bring out more texture/detail in the otherwise completely blown out area.

With this type of image blown out regions are fine, yet they must contribute something to final product. This abstract needs a different balance to the empty space (blown out area) and the color to have a greater visual impact.

I have to agree with drg totally. I can see what you are doing, and the general feel is very effective. However, the eye is constantly drawn to the bottom of the picture - I think there is just too much of the blown out area for it really to work.

Mike

Did you lose all the detail in the white areas or was it just removed in processing? Overall I like this but there is just too much empty white.

yes, the white bothers me too. I wasn't able to bring any detail out. I would crop it, but I dont want to lose the bottom half of the runner on the right. Thanks for your replies.

The title here caught me cause I run these things.

I don't know about this one. The shot is definitely abstract, but like others have commented, there is just so much vacant space.. This tends to force you to the other areas, but they're so blurred etc that I can't make anything out at all.

I think that there may be a threshold to abstractness - interesting to a point, but beyond that it becomes more frustrating than fun. I think it's over that line unfortunately. Nice expt though.
G