Nordhavn

I've now understood most of what I missed. The "window" reflection was in fact the building behind the train, and that explains it. Then there was indeed some railing on the train which fooled me about a possibly pasted line, and so... I was wrong. :-)

 

I also see now, like Pawel, that a lot of work went into this, and, no doubt, it's smart work. Using PS to touch up a couple of things is imo perfectly ok in a case like this. I end up sorry and glad at the same time about insisting so much to understand, but at least I could see all these frames and end up enjoying this picture better. Thanks twice, Ciprian, and congrats on the picture, the concept, and your perseverance in an obviously difficult situation.

I'm not sure why but I'd also like to know if I was right about the subject being dressed and placed in the frame?

It's really curious as for why the whole discussion was focused on the bottom detail of the "strange shadow" and why hasnﾒt ANYBODY noted the very same phenomena on the upper left corner?! :-|

Moderator note: Ciprian - It would be really good of you to re-load the images in this way:

1 511 pixels or less in width

2) A Caption is needed in the caption box! without one - the image shows up as a link.

It would be so much easier for people to see the details all at once in the forum as images!!

After you've done it... I'll delete the jpegs for you.

On another note: Let's progress to critique the image rather than argue about ps or no ps... Please.

My guess as to white phenomena not being aligned between shadows of her legs on train:

Based on a close look at detail1.jpg in 3:53 P.M. post above, it appears white segment which is not between her legs on train is from indirect sun light reflected off of bright white boarding platform between platform shadows of her legs. Also in larger image posted at 3:56 a canopy shades the platform several yards to her left and there is no corresponding white reflection on the train. I think it boils down to a double light source - the sun and reflected sunlight from white platform.

I think this is the shot that would sell.

 

It's interesting to read the comments from people who have never looked hard at train shadows and reflections before. One would hope that that's what photography would be for - to show you real world details that surround us every day, including how light behaves in intersting ways. But alas, we're becoming more and more sceptical, especially on this site.

Ciprian V.

I'm kind of the guy who started it all; you have replied that you are 'guilty' of Photoshop manipulation. But there is no 'guilt' as you are aware and as I made perfectly aware in my posts above, and I only posted a question or series of questions in order better to understand the photo.

For, you see, I do indeed take some moving train photos in Europe and of this type of ICE train, and there were some baffling aspects to this capture, which now are explained, as I had requested.

A glance at your posting showed it probably had been 'manipulated' after I looked, but the issue then became 'where' and 'how' and at what shutter speed.

And the shadow/coach junction issue still is an issue for me/one that Carl Root has cleared up with his revised version which he states is the one that 'sells'. I agree with Carl for that reason, but I may be in a minority, since I have an acute awareness of such things as shadow vs. coach junction that few others probably have.

As to the minutiae that the 'forensic detectives' above have engaged in, I noted it was a 'fun' experience, that only would come to a halt when you 'weighed in' and you now have done so, and for that I personally thank you, as by doing so you have helped me improve my own future photography (there's an unsued Eurailpass in my camera bag ready to go, so I'm not kidding, and it's been there all summer).

Thank you so much, and please make note that in no way did I ever make an accusation and tried throughout to be respectful, and that use of Photoshop was only a question posed, not an accusation.

Obviously your fine pic took lots and lots of work, and it must have been irritating to wake up to find such a lot of pickiness instead of admiration. That's probably in the nature of the POW beast, I think, and in the best nature of an 'academic' discussion.

Thanks and best wishes.

Moderator Note - The photos posted by Ciprian as links just above this post - were deleted so that Ciprian could re-post the images within the forum as images.. They are shown a few posts down

Carl, you beat me to it and did the crop I was thinking of but didn't make the effort to try. Better IMO than the original - the strong vertical shadow on the left is very much a distraction, and the sign shadow is unneeded as well. Also cropping the right moves the sign to the edge where it doesn't compete so much as a POI. I feel that if a crop makes the photo better, it doesn't mean the original composition was faulty--almost all photos can benefit from a crop. Kudos to Ciprian for persistence and a nice capture. Good composition and technically excellent.

Hi Carl, I will buy the original, it's not only a picture, but also a puzzle, shadow on the left is the hint.

They give you something to look at when you have seen the picture, so to say. The shadow of the woman is very slanted, and with the shadow of something to the left out of the picture, and the shadow of the sign, almost falling completely out of the righeefthand side of the picture, those shadows add a (for me) pleasing slant, and a movement, to the picture as a whole.

very...very beautyful.

Caught my eye, althoug rather tame it has an elegance of it's own.

 

Cheers.

Wery creative work with motion blur and shadow play.

 

Rgs. Kent

Wow,

 

The image for this week didn't really blow me away (great shot though) although it is surely one that I'd be proud to have taken.

 

I was amazed, however, at the discussion. OK, not really as this sort of technical bickering goes on all the time. "was it manipulated? what is the deep meaning of the speck over there?" I was blown away by the extent of discussion that could go on over a shadow or two. C'mon folks, is that the best we can do when discussing a photo? Maybe there isn't anything else to say about this one other than "nice shot"? Maybe we should leave it at that?

 

I personally hope none of my photos ever get selected for POTW (I know, I don't likely have to worry). Reading the one-up-manship that occurs when everyone trys to pick apart how the photo was faked would be so disheartening.

 

Glad to see that Ciprian showed up to the discussion. Put everything to rest.

 

Nice shot, great colours, great eye, well done.

 

'nuf said.

John C, what "coach junction" do you see? Are you referring to the shadow of some out of frame pole, to the left of the frame? Thanks.

Certainly looks like a shadow to me too.

... I'll repost the pictures in slightly smaller format.

F:18 0.6s

F:20 0.6s

F:14 1/4

A failed attempt to do the same trick with a different type of carriage,

F:10 1/4

... or so I think. F:16 1/8

F:11 0.3s

thank you for all these examples, very interesting!

... is also visible in another (failed) shot

F:20 1/2