Contre Jour Cyclist  by phil_howcroft

Contre Jour Cyclist

I gone a bit contre jour mad (shooting into the sun / light) the last week or so. Maybe it's the really low winter sun that has inspired me to try this technique.

This is shot in Nottingham today, from Fletcher Gate, looking down towards Weekday Cross.The guy on the bike is riding on a road that is used by our Nottingham trams (you can see the tram lines glistening).

In the distance there is a bus (not a tram). The road is used by trams, buses, cars ...oh and bikes !

I like how the light shimmers around his bobble hat. It was a really cold and frosty morning today. A nice winter day as the sun shone and your ears and nose tingled in the cold !!

When I shoot into the sun I tend to let the camera do all the work. I sometime use the +EV and -EV, but normally the camera does a decent job on auto ! A few slight adjustments in Photoshop Elements ..adjust lighting ...normally results in a half decent image.

Hope you like the lone Cyclist
Awesome capture
January 14th, 2012  
ann
Great light! I like the fellow in the background, just looking on, too.
January 14th, 2012  
Very nice play of light! But it looks cold! That cyclist is all bundled up! There is a nice dreamy glow to the background and the traffic lights, too! Good shot, fella! Well done!
January 14th, 2012  
Well obviously i like a cyclist Phil! The shadow is great too and I like that you can still see quite a bit of detail in the cyclist - I tend to be a bit heavy handed with the contrast in my contre jour shots - I think I'll be a bit more gentle next time...
January 14th, 2012  
I do like this Phil. I'm amazed how quiet the road is..it makes the cyclist really stand out. Love the light you've captured. Looking at the green arrow lights are they going the right way? :-) Sorry about the footie :-(
January 14th, 2012  
Very nice, Phil. It's quite a steep hill there so well done cyclist!
January 14th, 2012  
@kerristephens thnx kerri , i always appreciate your words
January 14th, 2012  
@new2this Ann, well spotted, they guy in the backgound does add interest
January 14th, 2012  
@anron thanks anita, it was a tad chilly today :)
January 14th, 2012  
@marlboromaam thanks Maggie, everyone needed to be 'all bundled up!' today, it was quite frosty and cold, but it made for some good photo opportunities ...:) . Thanks for your support
January 14th, 2012  
@judithg thanks judith ...i do know of your attraction to having a 'bike' in your shots :)....in the original pic he was nearly all in silhouette , but adjusting the lighting....highlights and shadows seemed to bring a bit more out of the image
January 14th, 2012  
@Cherrill thank you cherrill, the cyclist is in the middle of the road, he seems to be avoiding the tram lines..the traffic lights are a bit confusing because the extra light on the top is a 'tram traffic light' :)

As for the footie, we were never ever going to win today !!
January 14th, 2012  
We do like this & that road is highlighted very well almost looking silver. Wonderful curve of the road & the angle the cyclist is leaning gives a great impression of him peddling hard. Thick chunky mountain bike tyres & I hope he keeps them out of the tram tracks !! Super light !
January 14th, 2012  
my eye is drawn to shadow and sheen on road
January 14th, 2012  
this is excellent phil.. just love all that road snaking away under that sunshine. ..and the lone bike all c'joured up.. great image.
January 14th, 2012  
This is awesome Phil. Love the long sweep of road
January 14th, 2012  
Great capture again Phil..I love the lone cyclist and the feel of this one..really draws you in.
January 15th, 2012  
Great Shot ! Lone cyclist is good :)
January 15th, 2012  
really like this shot Phil - superb light and nice scene - love the washed out background from the sun - really makes it! Great job!
January 15th, 2012  
Lovely lighting and shadows - and great bobble hat! :o)
January 17th, 2012  
I like his devil-may-care pom pom and the squat little shadow accompanying him. They add a cheery note to your capture. I also like the the downward slope of the road and its wide expanse. This is really a nice composition.
January 17th, 2012  
I like the industrial look of this shot. The lone rider and back sun light shot works in this photo.
January 18th, 2012  
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