This is one from Grizzly Peak road in Berkeley from last June that I was never satisfied with. Have done a little more work on it to bring it out more. Hopefully not too much! Frank C&C welcome.
I think this image has great mood. I think if you could just lighten the rider (just a little more so he doesn't disappear in there). If you can crop out the left side bush area there it might bring the image more impact. I would convert this to black and white and really work on the light rays. I think this image has great potential for BW.
Looks great 'as is' to me. The bush, the visible hump in the road, the light intersecting with the rider and top of the road provide a whole lot of interest. I'd rate it 'Very Cool'.
I agree with Ed about "very cool," and also with Jason that the rider is getting a bit lost in the frame. I probably wouldn't lighten him, however, since the shaft of light behind him is lighter than he is (so making him lighter probably wouldn't help). Instead you might consider cropping a lot off of the top and left to give him some more presence in the frame. That upper left corner isn't adding a lot anyway.
OK, probably going counter to the direction this thread is taking.
I remember the original shot & like it very much, as-is.
The mood & shading were fine, especially the rider silhouette.
Also, the "smallness" of the rider, riding just at the cusp of the day.
Maybe it's just become I'm a cyclist and have ridden in conditions like this.
Phrasikleia wrote:
I agree with Ed about "very cool," and also with Jason that the rider is getting a bit lost in the frame. I probably wouldn't lighten him, however, since the shaft of light behind him is lighter than he is (so making him lighter probably wouldn't help). Instead you might consider cropping a lot off of the top and left to give him some more presence in the frame. That upper left corner isn't adding a lot anyway.
Second that - title: "Dedication"
Nice work - Mark
I think this image has great mood. I think if you could just lighten the rider (just a little more so he doesn't disappear in there). If you can crop out the left side bush area there it might bring the image more impact. I would convert this to black and white and really work on the light rays. I think this image has great potential for BW.
Jason
Hi Jason - Thanks for your kind words and sugestions! Your website has some great shots.
Phil
Nov 30, 2012 at 08:40 PM
Charlie Shugart Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Well- I thoroughly LOVE this, Phil.
With this title, you indicate that the rider is the most important element in the image. Yet he is tiny compared to all else. So that's something of a contradiction (theoretically).
Personally, I looked at the image before reading the title- and the shot worked perfectly.
Possibly a different title might subtly direct viewer's attention away from the fact that the rider does sort of disappear in the shadows. Well, maybe .
Or- as suggested- lighten the rider.
Or do nothing more at all .
Either way- a terrific image!
Charlie
Looks great 'as is' to me. The bush, the visible hump in the road, the light intersecting with the rider and top of the road provide a whole lot of interest. I'd rate it 'Very Cool'.
Phrasikleia wrote:
I agree with Ed about "very cool," and also with Jason that the rider is getting a bit lost in the frame. I probably wouldn't lighten him, however, since the shaft of light behind him is lighter than he is (so making him lighter probably wouldn't help). Instead you might consider cropping a lot off of the top and left to give him some more presence in the frame. That upper left corner isn't adding a lot anyway.
Thanks for the suggestion - it's a photo that seems to lend itself to different crops.
dswiger wrote:
OK, probably going counter to the direction this thread is taking.
I remember the original shot & like it very much, as-is.
The mood & shading were fine, especially the rider silhouette.
Also, the "smallness" of the rider, riding just at the cusp of the day.
Maybe it's just become I'm a cyclist and have ridden in conditions like this.
Dan
Hi Dan - I'm impresed that you remember the original - it's been a while! My original thought was to emphasize the smallness of the rider by having a lot of surrounding fog. I'm glad that works for you.
Charlie Shugart wrote:
Well- I thoroughly LOVE this, Phil.
With this title, you indicate that the rider is the most important element in the image. Yet he is tiny compared to all else. So that's something of a contradiction (theoretically).
Personally, I looked at the image before reading the title- and the shot worked perfectly.
Possibly a different title might subtly direct viewer's attention away from the fact that the rider does sort of disappear in the shadows. Well, maybe .
Or- as suggested- lighten the rider.
Or do nothing more at all .
Either way- a terrific image!
Charlie
I think you're on to something Charlie - the title may be directing toomuch attention to the rider when it might be better if the viewer just stumbled across him...good insight!
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