POP/Sport

<p>I'll start the second POP (it's already Tues here) and then others can take it from here.<br /> The "rules" are simple. Apart from the OP, each poster first critiques the image immediately above (and only that image ) before posting his/her own picture (one that hasn't previously appeared in this forum). One post per person per thread. The point is to get an unbiased opinion. <strong>Therefore explanation of your own photo is not required</strong> . Please control the urge. As with W/NW, a theme should encourage posting. I've titled it POP/Sport (Post Opinion Photo + Theme).</p>

<p><a href="http://fotogrotto.wordpress.com/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3920579901_87af106cd1.jpg" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p>Clive, this works well as a dreamlike image, with nice milky light, especially around the center area, and a composition that feels whole. It may be lacking an extra twist of complexity to make it really compelling, I'm not sure. But regardless, it's really nice the way the scale can switch, so that you can imagine these are tiny figurines on a table top, or figures in the distance. The bird in the sky point of view is rather intriguing. </p>

<p><a title="Untitled by Chaospress, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2570093924_0cefba08b2_o.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="850" /></a></p>

<p>Ray, Nice image. Something stark and sad about it and the kid looks like he could use some help... (maybe from his "Da")... nicely lit and offset from the background... What sticks with me here is how vulnerable the kid looks and hardly matters that I can't tell what he's holding. The picture's in his eyes. Good one.</p><div></div>

<p>not seeing much sport here (though that's ok) one wonders what you were looking for in combining these both photos and rather than finding the differences this begs to find common ground. Both are wearing the "uniform" of their trade so to speak and looking at both their forward bent postures one can't help but feeling that both are burdenend by it, a feeling that becomes even stronger because you've shot them in a kind of enclosure which of course these high rises are. Furthermore the strong use of black and white, the sailors cap and the lines on his tunique vs. the dark suit and the white paper the Rabbi is carrying, strikes a chord. But what does it mean? I'm not sure, this could be as much political as it could be quite something else. Despite the difference in shooting distance which for me creates a unbalanced look it's an intrigueing combination which may suggest more about your own thought process than about what you depict. On the other hand I suspect that it's meant to be a metaphor that I can't completely fathom.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>The above one suggests the moment of stillness and inaction before the action, before the inevitable movement and eruption of kinetic energy. The energy seen right now is one that is focused inwardly, the eyes of the driver focused to the task ahead are key in recognizing and communicating this mode of concentration. No doubt that there's a lot of action going on already, the sounds of engines rattling and " breathing " but for the driver it seems there's only the reality of his own breathing right now and to him the surroundings might have well been as still as the picture in front of us. The man standing in the background could be the one giving the startsignal and in this he has an important relationship to the concentration, the waiting, sensed in the driver although at first glance the man in the background seems a bit out of place in the overall structure of the composition.</p><div></div>

<p>Great image Ray. I usually prefer kid shots to be taken at a lower angle; at their eye level, but here it works with his expression.</p>

<p>Phylo Dayrin's photo: I gather this is what we would call a cyclocross (or "cyclecross" or "cycle cross") race, and I can make out two cyclists near the extreme right edge above the head of the bystander in the lower right corner. What I like is that it took me a moment -- <em>more</em> than a moment I confess -- to piece this together.</p>

<p>All the lines -- of the hillsides and the course-marking tape -- and the vague orderliness of the audience and its respect for these lines all caught my eye before I understood the context, and when my own thinking hinted at some kind of archeological place.</p>

<p>More there than met my eye at first glance.</p>

<p>My photo is below:</p>

<p><a title=". by sandbagm, on Flickr" href=" title=". by sandbagm, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/3815189284_b1e2a930c2_o.jpg" alt="." width="750" height="536" /> </a></p>

<p>Michael S., brilliant photo. Composition is superb, the timing excellent. We KNOW there is a ball there and that ball is the most important thing in the subjects life at this instant. His outreached hand is like an exclaimation point. The contrast between his uniform and the court is very good in black and white. I don't think it would have been so striking in color, although I don't know if you used film or digital. Well done.</p><div></div>

<p>Great dynamics difficult to catch. Hope there was no injuries.</p><div></div>

<p>Viktor. No apparent sports, but interesting picture. It looks like someone has just left the stage (band, dancers?). I like the "picture within a picture", especially that the angle of view is different. Also interesting that there seem to be a time delay from real life to video feed (position of the hands). The visible rays of light add a nice diagonal element, wonder if this could have been accentuated somehow. I wonder if the framing could have been different (include the feet of the women and the lights above), maybe align the video screen with the top edge of the picture (it seem to be off a hair of a degree)?</p>

<p>Mine</p>

<p>oops</p><div></div>

<p>Takes me back to 1992, with "The Babe" in cinemas then. I remember I imagined it must have really hurt John Goodman when his exasperated wife called him <strong> </strong> incorrigible. (I imagine now it must have hurt her as well.)</p>

<p>The blur of the bat, the catcher with his eyes closed hoping for the best, the earth in that foot -- I like them all. I would have wanted his teammates to be more into the game as well, but that's not the fault of the photograph.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3916255851_94f77e5225_o.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /></p>

<p>This brings back childhood memories of the first snowfall of the year.The elevated view allows us to view the footprints towards the car,the gathering of enough snow for his missile.Now stalking back towards his intended target, his stealthy posture suggests his victim is totally unaware of the wet surprise awaiting them.Simple innocent pleasures.</p><div></div>

<p>Not much sport here either, unless maybe they're watching a skater who just fell? I'd be laughing too. Obviously, some people are talking, and almost everyone else is paying very close attention. However, there's a joker in the crowd. Is that Dave Chappelle I see with a smirk on his face? I know he just said something witty and is hoping to get a reaction from the girl next to him. The best part is that he's wearing a "service industry" like uniform, making him that much more of a character when everyone else is fashionably dressed.</p>

<p>Here's mine.</p><div></div>