peaceful hands

[villenadecorte]

Any thoughts?
I added a bit of "cloud" from photoshop -How do you combat such an intensely bright clear sky? (ofcourse, being in a better position with the sun at my back would have helped tremendously!).
I am rethinking shooting again at sunset, as I like the position of the hands this way.
Taken on Ilford 400- this was weeks ago so I've forgotten the rest of my settings.

PS- location is a cemetary.

[Chunk]

I think the clouds were a good addition that leave a nice serene feeling.
Now I'm shamefully thinking of what you could have substituted for those clouds that would have given a different meaning to the shot...like a tornado...

[drg]

I like the subject and did you consider some kind of off camera fill flash?

A couple of ideas regarding compostition come to mind with the hands position in relation to the horizon, and I'll think about them a bit and come back.

Depending upon the color of the material of the hands, a contrast color filter might bring up the detail and of course the standard color filters for that b/w sky effect.

[opus]

OMG Chunk, this could turn out like that "funniest photoshop thread ever!" thread. Did you see the link to that posted here?

[jar_e]

Rebekah,

Interesting shot. I love the tones here, and the composition is very strong! Nice full shooting,

Jared

[villenadecorte]

Thanks Jared... these hands are so amazing, they just sit amongst the cemetary so peaceful like. I think they are cast with bronze? (DRG if you were asking what they were made of)

[jar_e]

Thanks Jared... these hands are so amazing, they just sit amongst the cemetary so peaceful like. I think they are cast with bronze? (DRG if you were asking what they were made of)

That's so neat. In the cementaries I have been in, I've never seen such a large statue of anything minus a cross. Great subject and wonderful shooting as always!

[villenadecorte]

Kelly are you saying my photoshopping sucks? ;)

[opus]

Kelly are you saying my photoshopping sucks? ;)

No no no no no! It's just a thread someone posted here once where people put different backgrounds behind a scene, and some of them were really funny. When Chunk wondered about putting a tornado in the background, it reminded me.

[villenadecorte]

Kelly- I'm just messing with ya!

No no no no no! It's just a thread someone posted here once where people put different backgrounds behind a scene, and some of them were really funny. When Chunk wondered about putting a tornado in the background, it reminded me.

[villenadecorte]

Gary and PT... thank you both for your input.
Been wanting to do a cemetary series.. there are some really great old ones out here and ... not to be too creepy... they are all ones where I have relatives buried so I wouldnt feel to weird about going in and shooting a cemetary. My mother's been on my case about going to visit the cemetaries where my father's parents are buried (as I never met them), and such, and constantly going to visit my greatgrandmother... where the hands were shot.
Here are a couple more from that day..

[jar_e]

Rebekah,

The kid on the tombstone is very moving and powerful. Subject matter is very strong, and seems like a shot I'd see in National Geographic or a news report.

Very touching,

Jared

[villenadecorte]

Jared thanks. Not to ruin the "magic" of the shot.. but thats one of my clan I have three boys.
My greatgram passed when I was 7... and I wish they could have known her. She was awesome... so I make them come along with me when I visit, and I tell them stories about her. (thats the stone we're on in that shot).

[jar_e]

Jared thanks. Not to ruin the "magic" of the shot.. but thats one of my clan I have three boys.
My greatgram passed when I was 7... and I wish they could have known her. She was awesome... so I make them come along with me when I visit, and I tell them stories about her. (thats the stone we're on in that shot).

Adds to it IMO. Having the great-grandson standing on his great-grandma's tombstone, very moving.

[gahspidy]

Villena, I too think the great grandson on the great grandma tombstone shot is a great one. Great shot ( I could use a thesaurus, heh Chunk)?

[Chunk]

Villena, I too think the great grandson on the great grandma tombstone shot is a great one. Great shot ( I could use a thesaurus, heh Chunk)?

I thought your choice of words was just....er.....fine.


( was the Thesaurus one of the meat eating dinosours?)

[Tuna]

Rebekah, I agree that your initial shot is nice and full of greater potential. I also agree that the shot of the young man is a very nicely captured moment.

Tuna

[villenadecorte]

Rebekah, I agree that your initial shot is nice and full of greater potential. I also agree that the shot of the young man is a very nicely captured moment.

Tuna

Tuna,
Thanks for looking and your comments... always great (theres that word again) to hear from you!

Rebekah

[villenadecorte]

Gary and DZ-
Thanks guys for looking and commenting- always good to have your feedback!

-Rebekah

[paulnj]

Rebekah,

Sorry but I find an image of ANYONE on a grave stone/ plaque to be disrespectful to the grave owner. GREAT IMAGE none the less.

I am in no way saying your son doesn't have the right to stand there though, or that your son or you are disrespecting your great grandmother.

OH BTW.... HAPPY MOMMY's DAY ;)

[villenadecorte]

Rebekah,

Sorry but I find an image of ANYONE on a grave stone/ plaque to be disrespectful to the grave owner. GREAT IMAGE none the less.

I am in no way saying your son doesn't have the right to stand there though, or that your son or you are disrespecting your great grandmother.

OH BTW.... HAPPY MOMMY's DAY ;)

Paul- I couldnt agree with you more, that's why I dont let the kids stand on anyone elses grave/marker.
This however being my great-grandmothers grave, I feel brings a little closeness to them.
Its a place I'd go and sit to think about my Gram many times after she passed. And, sitting atop her grave and thinking out loud to her stone or whatnot usually always made me feel pretty good, like I had some sort of moment with my gram.

[Chunk]

I almost did that Kelly, but thankfully reconsidered when thinking about the solemn subject. I try not to crud up other peoples threads but it sure was tempting.

[Lava Lamp]

Any thoughts?
I added a bit of "cloud" from photoshop -How do you combat such an intensely bright clear sky? (ofcourse, being in a better position with the sun at my back would have helped tremendously!).
I am rethinking shooting again at sunset, as I like the position of the hands this way.
Taken on Ilford 400- this was weeks ago so I've forgotten the rest of my settings.

PS- location is a cemetary.

Filters can help with the intensely bight sky - graduated ND (neutral density). I think you have the subject for a great shot, but you don't quite have the angle and or the lighting to make it "pop" yet.

[villenadecorte]

LL Thanks for your input! This is definitely an area I'll be reshooting.

[gahspidy]

Villena, excellent subject. I like your framing as well, although if you do a reshoot I would stand back a bit more to let the base have some space in the left frame area. The hands are a bit too contrasty and underexposed, because of the bright sky as you stated. Lavalamp is right, an split Nuetral Density ND filter would keep the sky in check and allow for greater exposure in the foreground. I just picked up a color graduated ND filter (.6 . . . 2 stops). Good shot still .