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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Canon SLR Challenges - FAQ >> CSLR - Best of... >> Best of 2004 > 1st Place
Morning Routine*
by Olaf.dk
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09-NOV-2004 Olaf.dk

1st Place
Morning Routine*
by Olaf.dk

Every weekday morning between 8:25 and 8:30 you'll find me, along with many other parents, standing
on the sidewalk of a busy street waving goodbye to my three year old son. He rides this bus away from
the big city hustle and bustle to a green haven on the coast 30-40 minutes North of here. Due to
lack of suitable space for daycare within the city, this practice is quite common in Copenhagen.

*


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Guest 14-Nov-2004 05:00
Oh, don't get me wrong Olaf. I think it's wondeful that you found such a great place for him when a parent can't be with him. It's important that he's happy and well taken care of and than you are not stressed out about where he is. That's very important for all of you. My comments referred purely to the photo without any back story. If one doesn't know the story, and makes up one's own based on what one is seeing in the photo, it seems soo sad and more permanant! It's a tearjerker! Great job. ~ Lonnit
Guest 13-Nov-2004 20:25
Good! Much easier to "read" the image as well as the child is more clearly seen. /Jonas
Canon DSLR Challenge13-Nov-2004 13:06
Lonnit, maybe it helps to know that most of the time the kids absolutely LOVE to go there? It certainly helps me. They have so much fun and make good friends. They are outside a lot, breathing the fresh sea air, and hence don't get sick as often as is typical for kindergartens in the city, where the kids don't get outside as much... I'd take it so far as to saying that this is one of the best kindergartens in Copenhagen!

It is an "integrated day care", that is - it has both a day nursery (up to 3 years) and a kindergarten (3-6 years). The day nursery is here in town, but once a week a few of the smaller kids get to go on the bus up to the coast. This way, Noah's transition to kindergarten in the beginning of August was really smooth. He already knew the bus ride, the place and playgrounds, not to mention the adults and some of his old friends who had made the transition a few months earlier...

The title of the photograph is Morning Routine and that is exactly what it is - a routine. This is not a dramatic goodbye with tears in eyes every morning. Maybe the image is stronger than reality?

Yes, I like the remake a lot better too. Thanks to Jonas for suggesting making it darker!

--
Olaf
ctfchallenge13-Nov-2004 04:08
What is this? The Make Lonnit Cry challenge? This shot really tugs at the heart! BTW, the newer version is absolutely better IMO. It seems more dramatic. Good job! ~ Lonnit
alexeig12-Nov-2004 16:53
My first thought was that you are an orchestra conductor. After that I noticed a child and read a caption. Great and evocative image. Although for me the contrast between a very clear image of a father with raised both arms and just a fleeting shade of a child hints to something more dramatic than an everyday parting
Guest 12-Nov-2004 14:15
well done
Guest 11-Nov-2004 07:46
Nice adjustment Olaf. The image has a strong emotional tug. You picked a difficult subject and have made it work.
Shu11-Nov-2004 01:29
Yeah! There you go! Shu
Canon DSLR Challenge10-Nov-2004 21:45
Thanks Shu and Jonas! I have darkened the bus slightly, which also helped in cutting down the reflections in the windows. I also increased the contrast on the girl, which with the darker surroundings help bring her out more. The originally posted version can be seen below. --Olaf

Guest 10-Nov-2004 18:30
Agree with Shu. And to me it seems like there's focus on his hands, but the right hand is waving so much you got a motion blur (which is ok.) I think it's a very good photo with easy to understand, strong feelings captured. Also I learned something about my neighbouring country I didn't know. I've never heard of anyone putting their three-year-old on a bus for daycare somewere else here in Stockholm (and not following along themselves). I understand the advantage but it must feel really tough from start..? Well, back to the photo. It's pretty high contrast (and I think thats good in B/W). But I would probably made it a bit darker - exept for the child - if the image was mine. But that's just a matter of personal preferences.! =) /Jonas
Shu10-Nov-2004 17:38
Nothin" wrong with straining to see the child. I can see the eagerness in the dad's waving and fully understand these "goodbyes." Very good documentary, Olaf. Shu
Canon DSLR Challenge10-Nov-2004 08:19
Thanks Jeff! I don't know if it is a DOF-issue or just a plain matter of focusing on the wrong subject. I guess it would be OK with the girl in focus and her father slightly blurred.

Let me tell you, those toned bus windows are a challenge! First of all it is hard for us parents to see our kids, but also photographically, it is nearly impossible to get anything clearer than this. I tried with a polarizer this morning, but it didn't do much good. The only difference I could see, was that of the sky reflection in the reflected house windows. All other reflections in the bus window remained, no matter how I positioned the polarizer rotationally.

--
Olaf
Guest 09-Nov-2004 22:35
I like the composition Olaf (*) but would like to see more dof. The ear is what I see as the focus point but I don't think that is the key to this story. To make the dof problem even more difficult, a polarizer might help you see through the window better.