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Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> Challenge 144: The Concrete Jungle (hosted by Martin Polanic) >> Challenge 144: Concrete Jungle: Eligible > edit image
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20-MAY-2007

2nd (tie)
Umbrella in an Urban Landscape
by jrdu

I live in Jiangmen city, Guangdong province in southern China. This is the apartment block across the street. It's raining today. People bring their umbrellas to the window after they've been out in the rain.

Sony DSC-R1
1/80s f/5.0 at 14.3mm iso160 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Helen Betts26-May-2007 00:31
I like this image, perfect take on the theme. I was thinking this looked like Hong Kong but didn't know where it was since there is no name on the entry, and now I see I mustn't have been too far off. I do think I like the straightened aspect of the demo shots, but this is still striking as well. Helen
Sony Forums Challenges23-May-2007 08:27
Frankie did some nice work on this image. I'll post resized versions of what he sent me in the Demo folder. I've seen straighter and I've seen lighter, and I'm still ok with this version, but you could talk me out of it. The discussion about shooting what you like isn't only about Mary Poppins, but I'll take it over to STF because that's a better forum for discussion, I think. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions, guys. jrdu
Martin Polanic 22-May-2007 21:20
I too really like this photo! It's what I think photography should be about... getting the viewer to react and consider the intent of the image. Not wanting to photograph what you don't like is odd to me, it's like saying we ought to turn our eyes away from reality. Reminds me of a quote from Cartier-Bresson regarding Ansel Adams... something like "the entire planet is going to pieces and he's taking pictures of rocks?" ;)
inframan 21-May-2007 19:39
I find the disclaimer rather off-putting. Why not let the viewer judge? I think it's an image full of meaning - visual, philosophical, social - so why not let me exercise those areas of thought? (while I still possess them). What if film & theater & literature only contained *positive* messages? How many versions of Mary Poppins could there be? ;)

Anyway I like it a lot. Aside from Frank's observations, I might have worked to bring out more shadow detail.
Franky2005 21-May-2007 07:14
From my perspective I would definitely give it a try and completly straighten the image - but I am notorious on squares ... :-) . I would be happy to work on the original, because I think it also could benefit from a correction of distortion. Feel free to drop me an email.

On the other point "I don't like to photograph what I don't like. I feel like we should try to be positive" I do have a completely different opinion. A photograph itself is not positive or negative by it's nature. It is the viewer that turns it into one of the two. This of course is the intention of the photographer and if it does he or she has achieved a goal. Then just think of the situation that just everybody shoots "only" pleasing images. For some it may get boring, but even worse we may loose perspective. Also it is the question on how close to reality you want to be. IMHO it is important that we see both sides. And even better if in an image that is overall "dark" shows a bit of light. And important, do not get me wrong, I also love images of flowers and pretty girls - it is just that I cannot prodice those nice images myself well. ;-(
Sony Forums Challenges21-May-2007 03:42
I tried to skew the photo until all the verticals were more or less vertical. Do I need to make the horizontals parallel to the borders too? I thought of Urban Umbrella, but I thought...that the photo is not about the umbrella... What I don't like about the title I gave it is that it's too long. Fenced in works too... I don't like to photograph what I don't like. I feel like we should try to be positive. You know it's not "Stop War", it's "All you need is Love". The umbrella makes me feel some connection with the people in these concrete boxes.
Bill Borne20-May-2007 18:41
I like the shot myself. Shows one type of lifestyle. You could have called it "Fenced In"
Franky2005 20-May-2007 17:37
Without any doubt this is what I love about photography! It may look scary, maybe depressing, but so what - it is real. And spotting out the umbrella in the title gives it a sensetive and human touch. * I would try to correct perspective here. And the title - why not "Urban Umbrella"? Just my two cents.