Lemme explain... a couple weeks ago when i was shooting this: http://365project.org/northy/365/2013-01-06 , i took a photo looking along the length of the walkway... only it was kind of boring... so i tried to convince one of my boys to go back there with me to be a model, but he copped out on me at the last minute... Anyhoo, i went back there this evening and since I was still without a model, i stood in for one... so yeah... that's me... I would have tried a different pose, but the wind picked up and it was making me exceedingly nervous to be 30 feet away from my camera ;0
I intend to go back WITH someone in tow... so I am mostly posting this for suggestions for improving the comp and basically making the most of the location...
Given the narrowness of the scene and darkness all around, there is not much more you can do except if you had two models, one in the foreground up close on the left and then one where you are on the right so its balanced and adds depth. Maybe the models are smoking or something to add bit of light. But its cool as is too and love those star lights.
I think this is awesome!! Especially being a slefie.
Love the lines, shows and flares...the composition really draws you into the photo and creates a great atmosphere!
Great shot Northy, A few things that I would want to try... Very low PoV, like say a foot off the ground, might be cool. Also maybe moving the model a little closer to the camera but still under a light to try to catch a little more detail. Just some suggestions I think that the shot is Aces the way it is
@michaelelliott tx Michael... unlikely that my models would smoke ;p but yeah, if i could convince one of my boys to come out, i could prolly convince two (or three)... wonder if i could do something with lightsticks without it getting over the top...
@jsorensenart tx Jake! i did one edit cropped in so the, ahem, model was more the focal point... and then deleted it ;p yes - if i get a chance with some help i will definitely do some a bit more focussed on the human :)
I love it! Nicely done. In my mind, I then wonder, what would it look like cropped more to one side rather than centred? So there is more negative black to one side, say on the left.
a cool location and a great mood! Suggestions : Put the camera very low, it always adds drama to the shot. While you're at it, put the camera close to the right side of the walkway and forget trying to make the walkway symmetrical. Now as the camera is low & on the right, the vanishing point could be composed at around the interesction of lower & left third. Also, now there shouldn't be too much pure black on the right side, only on the left side of the frame which should make the contrast of darkness vs. light pretty effective. For the person there, I think the viewer needs to have some detail to lead the imagination to a certain direction. A briefcase would make me think some secret agent for example... maybe put the Indy hat on ? Just some thoughts, hope you'll get the shot you want !
You have found a great location to shoot! I feel really inspired by the comments. My thoughts were wondering in the same direction with Cassandra and Jani about the composition, and love the suggestions about adding some accessories to create a story.
Hmmmm, either shoot from dead centre, in that case go a little lower but not right on the floor, or from the far right or left. I quite like Jani's briefcase idea but without a person, or some other random object placed there, hmmmm, like an ironing board for example, just something that has no reason to be there. If it was a person, then, I dunno, sitting cross legged in the distance (a bit cliched), laying on the ground staring into space, foetal position etc.
Its a cool location, but I think it needs to be a kinda surreal shot. But I suck at staging shots so could just be talking crap. :)
I can't give in comments, but very interesting reading the comments. I think it's a great shot but can see how from low on the left couple add to it .... I like the briefcase idea but also the random item suggestion. Great shot!
I'd go with the shooting low as well, I like jase's idea of an ironing board or something there, but probably a little impractical.
I held up my hands to cut off some of the blackness on the sides... I think I would prefer it a little.
frigid blustery weather looming all week, so it may be a while before i can get back there... even if i could talk the kids into it, no way i could keep the camera steady on the tripod!
the ironing board sounds wonderfully random, btw... given the right approach, i bet i could convince my oldest to lug one up there ;p (and it would be easier than a TV, which somehow occurred to me after you mentioned the ironing board suggestion...
@ozziehoffy@houdiniem@monika64 tx!! i actually did try out a closer crop and i agree it makes for a more interesting composition... but just wasn't in the mood to post another selfie and also thought it would be better to show a more fulsome lay-of-the-land shot for requesting input... will definitely try tighter framing and lower pov when i go back...
What a great location! I totally agee with low pov. It would be fun seeing you blow around in the blizzard. ;) Right now it's whiteout conditions here.
are you kidding me?!? i was there, although not in the evening. and i would be nervous, too, if i was that far from my camera, especially if that stupid guy who rides his motorized bicycle comes by, you know the one who brazenly disobeys the sign that says "riders dismount bicycles when using walkway" but so coward as to cover his face. i laughed when he rounded the corner and he banged his knee, the jerk! where was i? oh, yeah, i was there this afternoon. i shoulda left a note for you. :-) i can be your model, whadja like me to do, climb as if i wanted to be roadkill? hehehe!
@summerfield there was no one there at 7am when i took the light trail shot two weeks ago... and last night at 8 there was one guy walking his bike and a couple out strolling and that was it... i figure for a night shoot it'll be pretty empty :) sure you can come be my model... no roadkill shots... bring shades and plan to look enignmatic ;p
sorry, i forgot about the photo. i like this, the stark emptiness of the walkway, the starbursts from the light and the silhoutte of the 'model'. i know you hate being on camera, but i like the suggestion of being closer, the ample amount of light on the head would be awesome if we see a more defined silhoutte, with smoke coming out. i have an idea for a low-key shot for you. i also need a model, partner doesn't cut it sometimes.
@summerfield we should plan a meet up... actually, @russianblue and i already talked about one... problem is my schedule sucks and weekends are a huge unknown right now with kids sports...
Very nice night shot. I do like the way the lamps have gone all starry too. I perhaps wouldn't have so much black on the right hand side. I would chose one side to have the leading darkness and not both. Having said that, I do like it as it is.
Wow....I like this shot...but reading the suggestions, there's lots of good ideas to do different shots....I won't say improve because this is really well done.
My first thought was to have the lines leading to one side rather than the centre. Low POV also a good idea. Love the light flares and the exposure here.
As I'm playing catch up...again!! I haven't time to read all the suggestions that have already been made so will just go on what I think and hope I'm not being repetitive for you. Firstly it looks awesome magnified. The star flares are brill and putting yourself into frame works really well as I think the scene needs a focal point like a figure. The only thing I might have done is to perhaps crop some of the lower half and have more 'sky' but as I'm no expert on these things please disregard any/all of what I've said. I wish I had half your talent lady ;o) xx
I would take out the bottom fifth to bring the figure forward and the right quarter to move it to the right. I think you were keen on the vanishing point because you made it central - my suggestions might spoil that but you have to decide what's important about your shot. Brave of you to move so far from your camera!
I get the feeling the horizon is slightly tipping to the right?
And I would have brought the person (you, I guess) just a bit closer.
But otherwise I love the composition.
Love the lines, shows and flares...the composition really draws you into the photo and creates a great atmosphere!
Its a cool location, but I think it needs to be a kinda surreal shot. But I suck at staging shots so could just be talking crap. :)
I held up my hands to cut off some of the blackness on the sides... I think I would prefer it a little.
You've got some fab suggestions here. Love the ironing board one. :)
frigid blustery weather looming all week, so it may be a while before i can get back there... even if i could talk the kids into it, no way i could keep the camera steady on the tripod!
the ironing board sounds wonderfully random, btw... given the right approach, i bet i could convince my oldest to lug one up there ;p (and it would be easier than a TV, which somehow occurred to me after you mentioned the ironing board suggestion...
@ozziehoffy @houdiniem @monika64 tx!! i actually did try out a closer crop and i agree it makes for a more interesting composition... but just wasn't in the mood to post another selfie and also thought it would be better to show a more fulsome lay-of-the-land shot for requesting input... will definitely try tighter framing and lower pov when i go back...
And I would have brought the person (you, I guess) just a bit closer.
But otherwise I love the composition.