Reflection under the F.D.R.Drive

[gahspidy]

This is a shot I took while I was off shooting the Brooklyn Bridge in the wee hours.There had been some standing water from rain and the puddles reflections under the drive attracted me. What do you think?

[livin4lax09]

needs more symmetry. I'd like to see the top half of the photo, if you know what I mean.

[Seb]

This is a shot I took while I was off shooting the Brooklyn Bridge in the wee hours.There had been some standing water from rain and the puddles reflections under the drive attracted me. What do you think?

I think that this is neat, really neat! It screams "Gary" yet it seems to be a departure from your previous night scenes such the Chinatown series.

I wouldn't change a thing about it. (Sorry Brent but I see no issue about symmetry here.It seems to me that the top part gives just enough information about the context without distracting from the reflection).

Seb

[McMadCow]

I agree that this is a very nice looking shot. I think the only thing I would suggest changing is to wait until that car is no longer in frame. The shot would take on a completely different feel without any signs of activity in it. Still, tht's just a personal preference.
Nice shot!

[Ronnoco]

To be rather blunt, rude, confrontational, whatever, you all must be blind! It is much too busy, with no clear centre of interest and elements that all distract the eye. From a compositional or technique point of view, it is definitely one for the can!

Ronnoco

[CLKunst]

Gary I think this looks a little like an Escher. The puddle makes it look like the road is leading to a gaping pot hole. I like the car in the shot as it gives me something to worry about driving off over the edge.

[Ronnoco]

Gary I think this looks a little like an Escher. The puddle makes it look like the road is leading to a gaping pot hole. I like the car in the shot as it gives me something to worry about driving off over the edge.

The fact that you need to input that much imagination into a photo, indicates how weak the photo is. The elements in the photo should be so well organized and supporting the impact and centre of interest that very little over-active imaginative input should be necessary.

Ronnoco

[CLKunst]

I still like to use my imagination and find things which leave little to it dull and uninteresting. :arf:

Thanks for playing, next caller please.

[Ronnoco]

I still like to use my imagination and find things which leave little to it dull and uninteresting. :arf:

Thanks for playing, next caller please.

You want to try repeating the first sentence and making it a little more coherent. A comma might help. At the same time however, as before, if you have to use an over-active imagination to make a photo remotely interesting then to use your words it IS "dull and uninteresting".

Ronnoco

[Don Schaeffer]

I usually don't like automobile and road photos. This one has a grundy quality as most of them do. I can almost taste the road grunge and smell the exhaust under there. There is little romance to the world of highway.

[Seb]

To be rather blunt, rude, confrontational, whatever, you all must be blind! It is much too busy, with no clear centre of interest and elements that all distract the eye. From a compositional or technique point of view, it is definitely one for the can!

Ronnoco

Ron, I am starting to think that you are quite a stand up comic. Keep up the good work, you've put a smile on my face more than once lately. :thumbsup:

Seb

[gahspidy]

As always, the comments, good and bad, are very helpful to me. I'll start by saying that I rather like this image and feel the composition came out strong.

Brent . . .I appreciate your thoughts on this, but I do not think symetry is a problem here. As for showing more of the top portion of the image, I can see what you mean but I wanted the emphasis to be on the reflection with just the top portion there for context, as Seb described. My concern here really was that I am showing a bit more than needed and was considering a crop, which I will post. Thanks for your time.

Seb . . .You and I usually see things through a similiar point of view and it always encourages me when you feel something is working. Thanks

McMadCow . . .Funny thing is I waited for that car to come and rest at the light as i wanted it there for further context and tension ( as CLKunst described) but I can see how it might be appealing in a way without it. thanks for your time.

ronnoco . . .You are entitled to your opinion.. Do not call out others on their opinions as they are entitled to their own as well.

CLKunst . . .I was trying to achieve that tension as you describe and glad you find it worked., I think McMadCows thoughts on the car not being there would be interesting as I think about it. Thanks as always

Don . . .there certainly is alot of grunge and grit going on under the roadway, especially with a wet street. It smelled of a mixture of sea air, stale urine, and exhaust. Definetely not your cup of tea, huh? Thanks for your time to comment.

[gahspidy]

This is a tighter cropped version that I had thought might work best.
Although I liked the information that was in the original , I think the tighter crop works better. what do you think?

[CLKunst]

I was going to come back to this one and say that I thought it would need a crop to remove the extra bit of darkness at the bottom of the frame, but here you have already gone and done it. I think the crop is an improvement.

[Seb]

This is a tighter cropped version that I had thought might work best.
Although I liked the information that was in the original , I think the tighter crop works better. what do you think?

I like both but I would vote for the crop too. I think that it is even more effective than the original.

Seb

[photophorous]

Hi Gary,

Nice to see you posting again.

I prefer the tighter crop. I liked the orignal too, but it did have more distractions. I like the subtle tones you got in the reflections. Was this shot on color film? Just curious. With the oblique lines giving a dynamic feeling to the image, I think I would prefer to see the car/truck moving rather than sitting still. That's all I can think of that I would change. Very nice image.

Paul

[Ronnoco]

[QUOTE=gahspidy]ronnoco . . .You are entitled to your opinion.. Do not call out others on their opinions as they are entitled to their own as well.
QUOTE]

If you had more experience, Gary, you would realize that opinion is the beginner's view of photos. It is limited.

If you progress beyond that point, you might learn that there is a very complex area of artistic composition and technique that is much more objective and much less personal and that is what Critique is all about.

With more experience, Gary, you would also have a better idea of what the current standards are in various areas of photography and know what level of photo you are looking at.

No one is being helpful to any amateur or pro. by suggesting that poor composition or poor technique has produced a great shot. I certainly WILL draw that poor opinion to their attention. That is what learning and improvement of critique is all about.

Ronnoco

[readingr]

This is a tighter cropped version that I had thought might work best.
Although I liked the information that was in the original , I think the tighter crop works better. what do you think?

Hi Gary,

Your photos teach me so much about composition and the use of imagination when looking through the view finder. Welcome back.

The crop is much better than the original in that in concentrates the idea of grittiness that appears on roads, especially under bridges rarely seen in art or photos.

What really appeals to me are the lines that lead you from right to left, barrier, girders, walls which lead you up to the edge of the frame and then the cross members, which lead from left to right into the gap in the barrier, which allows the eye to cross over and see what is beyond and into that secluded doorway, which leads to who knows where.

The lights and the traffic light under the roadway add to the feel of an area which needs to be controlled and secured for passers by. However, I think one car would have been better, leading out of the picture towards a better place, giving more of an impression of someone wanting to get out of the place quickly, presented by the tree at the edge of the wall.

Perhaps a little more grain would spice it up even more adding to the gritty feel.

As always they are my views and feel free to disregard.

Ronnoco, Tried to include correct spelling (English UK), grammar, and punctuation, as Shakespear would have wanted it. Hope it passes you stringent rules, may you long abide by them and give us all a jolly day.

Roger

PS Gary - appologies for using your thread to take a dig at Ronnoco but I couldn't resist.

[gahspidy]

CLKunst, Paul, Seb, Roger.. I appreciate your comments and glad to find that you also think the crop is stronger. Hey Roger, no sweat, and i think that you are right about the image having some grain could enhance the gritty feel here. thanks all for the good words and time spent.