Drive

System

Shot these from my balcony in a short burst of sun between today's storms. the gentleman has lived in the building for 5 or 6 years now and god bless him he makes the most of every day. I see him flying solo all over the city. His strength shames me and fills me with pride simultaneously. These are RAW conversions with only minor cropping and the Adobe Lightroom default tonal adjustment applied. C & C is most welcome as I try to polish these images.

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4

Richard

I guess it's a guy in a wheel chair, but he is so small that it is hard to tell. I think you need to get in closer.

Regards,

DJ-S1

Honestly, without your explanation I had no idea what point you were trying to make. To me the figure in the wheelchair is not recognizable, so I didn't get the connection. It just looked like a shot of a parking lot next to a highway.

Of the 4 I like the 2nd one the best, but I wish there was some way to make the guy in the wheelchair more distinguishable to give the shot the power you are looking for.

System

The smumug L size is just too damn small. Printed at 20 x 30 it's not going to be an issue. The size and scope are why this image works for me. The isolation, the real and precieved barriers and distances, the hope and despair. The small size really hurts here.

System

Replaced the images with 600 x 900 versions from my server. Hopefully that helps.

Seefutlung

In #1 and #2, the small size of your center of interest (the guy in the wheelchair) and that he is facing away from the camera, has made it very difficult to match your text with the image.

#3 has too much street and cars ... one's eye/mind flips between which item is the principal intent of the image ... the cars or the guy in the wheel chair.

#4 is better on the cars but now he and his shadow are crowding the edge of the pix. I think you are making a statement of mobility, the contrast and similarities between cars and wheelchair ... by limiting his movement (border-wise), IMO, you are hurting the statement of his mobility.

So, all that being said, I would like the fourth if:
1) the wheelchair guy had more room to move into ...
2) the wheelchair was not so dark (backlighted).

System

Seefutlung wrote:

In #1 and #2, the small size of your center of interest (the guy in the wheelchair) and that he is facing away from the camera, has made it very difficult to match your text with the image.

#3 has too much street and cars ... one's eye/mind flips between which item is the principal intent of the image ... the cars or the guy in the wheel chair.

#4 is better on the cars but now he and his shadow are crowding the edge of the pix. I think you are making a statement of mobility, the contrast and similarities between cars and wheelchair ... by limiting his movement (border-wise), IMO, you are hurting the statement of his mobility.

So, all that being said, I would like the fourth if:
1) the wheelchair guy had more room to move into ...
2) the wheelchair was not so dark (backlighted).

Thanks. Not sure why but there's something in these I want to bring out. It was a totally spur of the moment thing. I was shooting the storm and had the camera set up for it. The sun was out for no more than 5 minutes and I ahd maybe 30 seconds in which to capture all 4 exposures here. I never even adjusted the exposure on the cam or dialed in the CP filter. I saw the scene, grabbed the camera from inside and fired off the frames. The lighting and the angles where so intersting, as was this spacing and the wet pavement. Dunno, something about it just works for me. I'll keep messing with these for a while.

Ric Grupe

I'd reshoot if I were you.

Antonio Correia

3

I would like to comment.
Here it goes.
I think the 3.ed is the strongest. If the handicaped is doing this exercise everiday it is more easy for you to repeat the photo.
Well, to begin with I think the cars are important, unlike Gary.
The cars and the guy.
You should preciselly contrast/show/enhance the motion of the cars and the stillness (quite/non movement) of the man.
Try a better composition taking advantage of the round thing, the sweege (can you guess what I mean ?)
Try to compose the round thing, the man, and the cars in motion with a long exposure.
Use a ND filter to slow down the shutter.

I look like a master which I am not.
That's it.
Too hard ?
Hope not.
No hard fiellings I hope.
Regards.

Mike Lane

1

None of them really do much for me. I'm not sure what message you're trying to convey. The first one has a lot of empty space and the road running parallel to the frame of the pic doesn't really do much for me. When I finally noticed the guy in a wheel chair, I couldn't help but wonder why he was looking at the traffic.

The 2nd one is him looking at even more traffic (again, why? what is this telling me? is he longing to drive somewhere or something?) but at least it has less blank space at the bottom. But this puts the guy just a hair above mid frame. meh...

The 3rd one has the guy facing away from the traffic. I can't help but get the feeling that he is dejected and wandering away from the traffic. This impression is heightened (I think) by the fact that the cars have a bit of motion blur to them. As if to say, ha ha we can drive and you can't. So I can't really identify with that. Plus now with the zoom from above, it just looks like it was taken by someone who was afraid to get caught taking pictures of a disabled person. That may be the only actual story these shots are telling.

The 4th one is pretty much the same as the 3rd one. But for some reason I get the feeling that the guy is dejected again. But this time it's a God's eye view and God is mocking him by giving him what looks to be a georgeous sunset that he can look at but only if he also looks at the traffic flying by. Now that I think of it, that is kind of sadistic, but at least it elicits some emotion.

Anyhow, I'm not sure what the intent was, but maybe you should be taking pics of him right down there with him. Maybe that way it would come off as a man enjoying life the best he can rather than some kind of peep show into someone's tragic life.

System

No peep show MIke, and there's no fear in me. Look at some of my homeless pics to grasp that. Was a moment I happened to see and grabbed the cam. Thanks for your thoughts. Empty space scares you huh? Sorry about that.

Ric Grupe

Antonio's idea somewhat modified....



Reshoot!

System

You can't reshoot light and rain. It was there, I shot it. Recreating the past is silly.

Ric Grupe

truth wrote:

You can't reshoot light and rain. It was there, I shot it. Recreating the past is silly.

As long as you maintain your bullheaded attitude.....you ain't gonna learn nothing......oh, sorry I guess you know it all.

The people that responded to this post were trying to be helpful. These shots suck....and that's the truth.

Mike Lane

1

truth wrote:

No peep show MIke, and there's no fear in me. Look at some of my homeless pics to grasp that.

You asked for comments about these shots. I'm not going to go through your entire portfolio to find out what kind of photographer you are. I gave my opinion about these shots, and I stand by it. Clearly you don't want an opinion unless it's a positive opinion. Maybe you should make that a bit more clear.

truth wrote:

Was a moment I happened to see and grabbed the cam.

So is a picture of my cat yawning. But I don't post it on dgrin asking for comments.

truth wrote:

Thanks for your thoughts. Empty space scares you huh? Sorry about that.

Ahh, putting words in my mouth. Nice one.

System

Mike Lane wrote:

You asked for comments about these shots. I'm not going to go through your entire portfolio to find out what kind of photographer you are. I gave my opinion about these shots, and I stand by it. Clearly you don't want an opinion unless it's a positive opinion. Maybe you should make that a bit more clear.

So is a picture of my cat yawning. But I don't post it on dgrin asking for comments.

Ahh, putting words in my mouth. Nice one.

I aprreciated all your comments Mike, even the snide ones. Thanks again for your time and honesty. Now about this fascination with cats...

wxwax

Truth, I think you need to work on your bedside manner.

You ask for C&C but respond as though you don't really want it. Kinda dissuades folks from giving it, eh?

Andy

truth wrote:

The smumug L size is just too damn small.

Custom Image Sizes to the Rescue!
http://blogs.smugmug.com/release-notes/2006/05/16/new-features-may-16th-2006/

Antonio Correia

3

Ric Grupe wrote:

Antonio's idea somewhat modified....



Reshoot!

Motion blur missing. I can hadly do it ...
Any better ?

System

Andy wrote:

Custom Image Sizes to the Rescue!
http://blogs.smugmug.com/release-notes/2006/05/16/new-features-may-16th-2006/

Well whaddya know. Thanks Andy.

SpeshulEd

1

I personally like the first one, I think the negative space helps the image and my eye still moves around the image fairly easy without falling off the edge...well at least until you get to the car on the left. I find it to be a bit distracting with just the nose out of the picture. It leads my eye off the image. Maybe photoshop it out, but I'd almost still like to see something there to keep the eye moving.

The cars on top, don't bother me, but maybe crop them a bit. I think I'd crop so the sidewalk on the left is at the very top and that last little bit of road on the top is gone. (make sense?) That way the cars at the top wouldn't be too distracting.

I'd also lighten the guy in the wheelchair so it draws more attention to it and you can make out what it is since it is the focus of the picture.

I'd also crop out a bit of the bottom too, so there isn't that definite line from the shade or different color pavement or whatever.

*shrug*

I dig the emptiness though. If I had more time, I'd mess with it a bit in photoshop, but its friday night and I need to be getting my drink on. Good luck.

saurora

4

Seefutlung wrote:

In #1 and #2, the small size of your center of interest (the guy in the wheelchair) and that he is facing away from the camera, has made it very difficult to match your text with the image.

What Seefutlung concludes hits home with me. Your comments regarding your admiration towards the gentleman do not follow what the images seem to portray. Although the lighting is interesting there are several things that prevent this from coming across in the way that I imagine you wish to convey.

The large distance and the empty space gives me a deep sense of isolation. Simultaneously, the downward angle, particularly on a wheelchair-bound person, evokes a certain amount of pity. Certain viewers might even feel superior because of the downward angle shot...that is just a hunch, certainly not my own reaction. The shots where he is facing the cars suggest envy. Of the shots I prefer he has his back turned away which suggests a feeling of dejection. So for the viewer, these photos probably tell an entirely different story than you may wish to convey.

So....to entirely ignore the intended message and go along with the message the shots seem to convey, I would do some further editing on #3. I studied it for a while, with the thoughts that he had very little space in front of him and it hit me that it was his shadow that was taking up so much valuable breathing room. I think it would be possible to clone out part of his shadow (and the shadow at the bottom to the right) and gain some room. He is still very much in the dark, but perhaps that is his life. (Now we are talking about a whole different person, I believe!). I can clearly see the frame on the back of his chair, so the darkness does not bother me. It may even add to the mood. I also would clone out the shadow of the invisible car at the top of the frame as it keeps pulling my eyes away from the subject. It would appear that I am practicing for the Whipping Post! These are not criticisms, merely observations...and I'm still and always will be learning!

System

saurora wrote:

What Seefutlung concludes hits home with me. Your comments regarding your admiration towards the gentleman do not follow what the images seem to portray. Although the lighting is interesting there are several things that prevent this from coming across in the way that I imagine you wish to convey.

The large distance and the empty space gives me a deep sense of isolation. Simultaneously, the downward angle, particularly on a wheelchair-bound person, evokes a certain amount of pity. Certain viewers might even feel superior because of the downward angle shot...that is just a hunch, certainly not my own reaction. The shots where he is facing the cars suggest envy. Of the shots I prefer he has his back turned away which suggests a feeling of dejection. So for the viewer, these photos probably tell an entirely different story than you may wish to convey.

So....to entirely ignore the intended message and go along with the message the shots seem to convey, I would do some further editing on #3. I studied it for a while, with the thoughts that he had very little space in front of him and it hit me that it was his shadow that was taking up so much valuable breathing room. I think it would be possible to clone out part of his shadow (and the shadow at the bottom to the right) and gain some room. He is still very much in the dark, but perhaps that is his life. (Now we are talking about a whole different person, I believe!). I can clearly see the frame on the back of his chair, so the darkness does not bother me. It may even add to the mood. I also would clone out the shadow of the invisible car at the top of the frame as it keeps pulling my eyes away from the subject. It would appear that I am practicing for the Whipping Post! These are not criticisms, merely observations...and I'm still and always will be learning!

In no way did I intend to capture anything other than the depsair, isolation and impotence the man must deal with on a daily basis. My comments reflect my feelings towrds him, not those captured in these pics. I should have made that clear.

Thanks for the feedback. I have done alomst no post pros work on these and wanted thoughts on what to focus on. I have a few ideas that I'm looking forward to exploring.