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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 67: In repose (host: Michael Puff) >> Eligible > The City Sleeps * Traveller
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10 May 06 Traveller

The City Sleeps * Traveller

I have some really excellent ideas for my remaining gallery images...so I question myself on even posting this. But if I start a serious project I'll be up all night. So I'm just playing around, but I find the result interesting and again a tribute to IS lenses...asa 400, 1/8sec, hand-held


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Guest 12-May-2006 17:55
Traveller, first let me say thanks for the lively discussion. You asked, "there is no sense of dark streeted danger, even if you don't know what it is?". No, there was no danger in my initial impression. Rather, my first thought was of an industrial area which likely had much traffic and noise during the day, but was quiet and asleep for the night...hence, totally on topic for repose.

Unfortunately, I think that I gave the impression that I didn't like the fire hydrant. I actually like it very much and I like the light trails as well. What I was trying to say, is that I'd like to see an additional strong element which would guide my eye around the image in a flow. Again, take from this what you find useful, feel free to discard the remainder...it's just one person's opinion.

Glad you returned safely from your second shoot...sounds a bit frightening. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 12:59
Traveller, I don't really see anything here to distinguish the picture from any random inner city street. It's possible the sense of foreboding atmosphere could be more apparent if the picture were presented in black and white or if the building at the end of the street, where the people seem to be, were not so lit up. I'm not sure what else to suggest.

The fire hydrant doesn't bother me. It's so bright because it's relatively closer to the viewer than everything else and is lit by the car headlights. I wonder what this same picture would look like with the headlights off, or perhaps with some motion blur from the car moving. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 10:27
Traveller, I think I agree with Michael in that the fire plug (hydrant we callem here)is extremely prominant and keeps stealing my attention. I think if it was cooled a bit then those beautiful light trails would lead one into the depths of your vision. My attention keeps returning to that plug... is something going to emerge from it? Its a great image, I really like it, but I would like to tone down the "u know what?" without being too much of a pain in the a.s. Regards Bob
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 09:25
I'm not sure that "Push," is the right word, Michael. I admitted in my earlier comment that I bring too much to the image...I know what's there, you, nor any other viewer for that matter knows that drugs, prostitution and shattered people are there.

So I went back to shoot it tonight but alas, I was very quickly surrounded by people trying to sell me crack, meth, crystal, heroin, and women of dubious virtue with startlingly blond hair. I was only able to get off four shots before I felt it impairative to exit stage left...relatively quickly, which I did, (of course, as you might imagine, I tried to start my car in drive so nothing, put it in park, it started but people were still tapping my window...though in a friendly way...before I got out of there.) Maybe one of the pictures will be postable.

But back to this image...there is no sense of dark streeted danger, even if you don't know what it is? Best Wishes, Traveller
Guest 12-May-2006 05:25
Traveller, it's altogether good that you should disagree with me and even further that you should defend your position on what the image means to you. That being said, I'm gonna push right back at ya. I have no knowledge of the area and the image just does not speak to me of drug alley, prostitution, violence and shattered humans. Perhaps that's just me and others are seeing this message...after all, these are subjective views based on what each of us can personally bring to the image along with the visual clues you furnish.

While I find many components of this image interesting, the tent (why is it there?), the light streaks from the street lamps, the strongest "visual element" for me is that of the bright yellow fire plug in the lower right corner. While my eye eventually explores much of the image absorbing as much emtional context as I can, that bright yellow fireplug gets my first glance every time. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 01:17
To me the strongest element is the streaks of light. The most interesting element to me is the tent. What a strange place for one. Anything interesting in the distance is lost in the smallness of the picture. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 00:43
I have to disagree with you a little, Michael. The strongest element is not the fire plug, that is only there to balance the tent on the right side...it is what is ahead? There, straight in front, by the light colored buildings. I happen to know that it is drug alley, prostitution, violence and shattered humans. So maybe I bring too much personal knowledge to the image...but I like the light trails, I like the way the eye is led down and forward. We'll see. Best Wishes, Traveller
Canon DSLR Challenge12-May-2006 00:26
Neat hand held shot. Be careful!
theFly
Guest 11-May-2006 23:56
Traveller, I know you say you're just playing around, but I think you're on to something here...the inner city streets empty and at rest for the night. However, I don't know how to tell you to take this further. Street work is not something I'm particularly good with...my best shots are few and a product of pure luck. The strongest visual element here is the fireplug and that doesn't "make" the shot. Perhaps a stonger architectural element? -Michael