Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/10/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have to say this one simply doesn't work at all for me - Looking at it very carefully, I can see what Steve had in mind when he shot it, but what he had in mind - the solitary figure in the landscape - simply doesn't translate to the printed image, because the figure is too small to have any significance in the finished image - you have to really look to find the figure. In fact, the figure is so small and insignificant that one could look at this image and think it was just a landscape, and then notice the figure and think, 'oh, look at that - I wonder if the photographer noticed that person. This image, on the other hand, is a wonderful shot of an isolated figure in a land/city scape; an individual, alone with her dog, isolated from her fellow Parisians. The owner and dog are small, but they are still central to the image, and the curving path takes the eye right to them. This is a lovely image - in fact it's one of my favorite "Steve's." http://www.leica-gallery.net/barbour/image-74754.html B. D. -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Steve Barbour Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 10:55 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] solo by the Seine... 44 Beddoe, Neil wrote: > I don't agree. I like the fact that the person is small in relation > to the size of the frame; it forces you spend a little longer looking > at and therefore thinking about the photograph and actually emphasises > the title. Also, waiting for a boat would have just meant that the > picture would look like the photographer waited for a boat. The way > it is now, there's nothing to break up the geometry. If you look at > it hard enough, you'll notice that everything, river, path, trees and > houses point to the same convergence point which is just around the > bend of the river. The more I look at it the more I think that there > couldn't have been a better viewpoint for this photograph. > > If only there weren't any cars it would be 100% perfect but unless you > have a special relationship with the Paris traffic authorities, > there's not a lot you can do about that. > > Neil I thank you for your comments Neil, I agree and will add a thought or two...I was struck by the aloneness and isolation of this solitary figure in the center of Paris...the mood is captured, and is precarious...I would have preferred a little closer but had one lens, one bridge, one figure.... I rather like the cars above as they drive home the aloneness of the figure, and the great, busy city above and around... I may do a high res scan and a large print, to see how that works... the fellow was playing a trumpet and I wonder if I can suggest that... I appreciate your provocative input, it has helped me think deeply about this image... Steve > Steve Barbour showed: > Subject: solo by the Seine... 44 > > > >>http://www.leica-gallery.net/barbour/image-76162.html >> >>>ahhhh Paris, just a few weeks ago...<,,, > > > Hi Steve, > As much as I like the overall feel of the picture, the soloist is too > far away from your camera position. > > Because when I first looked, my re-action was,... "What the heck is he > talking about, solo?" And it wasn't until I began looking tighter and > tighter at the picture did I find the soloist and I understood what > your title meant. However, the guy is too small. How about if one > could re-shoot > ;-) yeah right. :-) And we put the soloist in the 2nd or 3rd sun light area > from the foreground and you went vertical as one thought? > > But in this situation I'd definitely shoot horizontal and vertical > just in case later on the light table, one could decide which had the > best visual effect and composition. > > Another first re-action was..... "where the hell is the boat Steve?" > As I felt the water area was too big and empty and really needed > something in it, one of those tour boats or small commercial vessels > cruising along would be about right. But not too close to the camera > position. > > And a couple or single person, naw this is Paris and that's the city > of couples. So a couple it is, reaching the top of the stairs on the > way up or down, but just caught in the sunlight at the top. In either > they'd be silhouetted anyway. > > Actually this is one of those locations where you need extra time on > your hands to wait for the HCB "DECISIVE MOMENT!" The location has > great potential and there are many different photo situations just > waiting for the "extras" to do there walk on moment. > > HCB would find a spot like this and merely wait for the extras to fall > into the right decisive moment! > > ted _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information