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December 22, 2004
Remembering Lazy Summer Evenings
Though the work never seems to end, I'm past the latest hump. And the best part about that is it means I can get back to photography. Yay!
I don't have any new images to post today, though. Browsing through some of the more skilled indoor images at Usefilm has made me realize how little I know about light. This is rather embarassing, considering I had the nerve to name this blog "chiaroscuro." So, today I started reading a book about lighting in the hopes of making my still lifes not suck.
In the meantime, I've dipped into the archives to find this scene of a stranger enjoying a summer evening in Fells Point. I cropped this picture considerably. My original composition included more of the scene, but I think it left the subject too small. If you have an opinion, please let me know what you think.
All images copyrighted, and unauthorized use prohibited. Please contact me for permission. Posted by claire-obscure at December 22, 2004 3:14 PM
Comments
I agree, the cropped one is much better.
Posted by: Andreas at December 22, 2004 3:38 PM
i like this one better too just because the background is less distracting...i like it! colors a great
Posted by: Benny at December 22, 2004 4:46 PM
Definitely prefer the cropped version. Great colors.
Posted by: Anand Sankaran at December 22, 2004 5:46 PM
Yes, the cropping is wonderful - I like how the bench is cut off. she really looks like she is enjoying herself and relaxing (sounds really nice at the moment).
Posted by: ViSuaLLyMiNDeD at December 22, 2004 10:48 PM
I hafta disagree with y'all on this one.
Having popped open the other window, to
compare both cropped and uncropped, something
funny stuck out from my point of view.
In the cropped photo, instantly I thought
the dog's head was missing, like it was
decapitated. My eyes said so. My mind's eye
disagreed and logic'd itself into seeing
the pooch's head.
The uncropped photo, and somehow, I 'see'
the dog's noggin.
Try it for yourself, see whaddimean?
Posted by: HiMY SYeD [www.Photopia.TYO.ca] at December 23, 2004 5:37 AM
I much prefer the cropped version. The original photo has too much meat to digest, the eyes wander in the background and the main subject gets lost. The cropped version is instead more focused. About the headless dog: well it doesn't bother me. The eyes are immediately drawn to her shoulders and down along her arms to the laced dog. Our brains fills the missing part (the hidden head) even if it is not actually visible.
Posted by: Massimo at December 24, 2004 8:47 AM
Ooops, I mean "our brain". I still have only one ;-)
PS: welcomed back.
Posted by: Massimo at December 24, 2004 8:50 AM
In my opinion, It depends on what do you want to show. I mean, If you want this pic as a girl's portrait, the cropped one is much more better... but if you want to show the harbour and the girl is just an 'observer' of what you show, then the not-cropped one is better for me (always in my opinion). In both cases i like the colors and the light. :-)
Posted by: Carlos at December 26, 2004 10:57 AM
The colors are lovely here. It's some small comfort to look back at these summer images once cold weather arrives.
Posted by: saadiq at January 1, 2005 2:30 AM
I agree with most of the others: The cropped version is better for what i think you're trying to convey. In the fullsize the woman and dog are just another element; in the cropped ver they're the focus. Nice shot.
Posted by: flawd logic at January 11, 2005 2:50 PM
I got to see this photo a month after it was posted, and if you say on December 22nd that you know nothing about light, then proceed to post some of the photos you posted in January, I have to ask what's the name of that lighting book! Either you were pulling our legs or that book is a miracle-worker. ;)
Posted by: marc at January 30, 2005 12:58 PM