Surveying The Tank

[Overbeyond]

My most recent outing was to London's Imperial War Museum. I welcome your comments on this one.

[MB1]

A nice point of view, a good catch and perfectly exposed but I would like to see a little more at the top of the image so the viewer could tell without your title that the thing is a tank.

I might also like to see their legs.......

[Mr Yuck]

whoa, that was a confusing picture...at first I thought it was a straight on side shot, and I was thinking that tank is huge!

Then I looked at the picture closer. Great shot, the perspective really demands a second look.

[SmartWombat]

Such an odd viewpoint, I was momentarily totally disoriented.
Then I saw the people looking in, and worked it out.

Finally I realised it's a self propelled gun rather than a tank as we know it today, no turret !
Plus there are holes cut in the side to show the interior.
That reveals relatively light side armour, unlike a tank.

[gahspidy]

Tom, as all have said already, the unique viewpoint here had me scratching my head until I sorted it out. It makes for an interesting image no doubt. I get the feeling I would like to see a bit more of the couple that is leaning on the machine. I think seeing them in full might have been better, but who can say without being able to compare.
Also, the colors in this are not adding anything, and so I think a b&w image of this might work somehow.
Your work is always strong because of your creative points of view, and this photo has your touch as well.

[GB1]

Tom - I applaud your angle on this. The sharpness and exposure seem to be on too. However, I just find there not enough to grab ahold off: the angles of the tank and the way the two people and main gun are being squeezed out of the frame makes it feel claustrophobic to me. Sorry - but I do think it's worth a reshoot using a similar angle if and when you make it back there. G

[Overbeyond]

Thanks everyone. Yes things are a bit tight here but I did not want any of the surrounds other than the "tank" (tanks Paul) to appear in the frame and also of course not to make things too obvious. I liked the viewpoint too and I think this may have been the best 'shot' of the day. I will post a couple more as we go along.
I have to admit that I actually like the sort of mild camouflage colours here and did not even consider B/W. But now that you mention it Gary I will give it a go.

[SmartWombat]

I thought at first the darker camouflage paint was shadow.
It's a lot better image seen on my home (calibrated) monitor than my laptop.

There may be a problem with going B&W with this that you lose the colour, you lose the clues that give you what the subject is. Though I suppose as camouflage if I can't tell what it is, it's worked !

I'd like to see more of the barrel, perhaps out to the far side of the plate around the hole for the barrel.

I'm curious to know what this is, as the construction looks like plate (not cast like the Sherman) and the squares on the surface baffle me.

[freygr]

It looks like an assault tank. With 2-3" side armor and 4-6" front plate most likely a WWII vintage. Great photo.

[threelions usa]

i went looking for a camouflaged tank to photo once but i couldn't find one..

[jgredline]

I agree that it requires a second and third look..For me it is the shadows...
Perhaps fill flash would have worked or maybe some editing in cs2 would work..I too would have liked to have seen more of the tank.

[Overbeyond]

Thanks Paul, 3lions, freygr,jgredline. for your comments here. I assume the shadows you refer to are actually the greens of the camouflage or the inside of the tank?

[Greg McCary]

Tom, I have looked at this several times and feel that it is crowded some at the bottom but I like your perspective. You always seem to come up with a unique angle as you did here.
Greg