Kuzguncuk 2

I don't agree with the previous comments on cropping, because if you cropped the top of it you would loose the diagonal. For me this is the only thing that attracts my interest here. I dont like the the colors, they don't add anything, so I agree with the suggestion to make it b/w. But even this wouldnt make it an attractive image for me. I can see Ceylans intention, maybe they usually don't get much snow there, so it's kind of documentary. This could also explain the puzzling / puzzled athmosphere this image has. But even that wouldn't be enough to put it so upfront. I'm sorry for the harsh critique Ceylan, you have very nice photos in the same folder (e.g. the kid looking out of the window, and you can see him beeing amazed) but this one does not appeal to me at all.

Ok, so I surveyed this image on 20 people over the last two days. The people surveyed are people I personally know to be interested in photography as an art form (well, "art" here meaning that it looks good in a frame on a wall, these are not gallery owners or museum patrons...but they are beyond the point and shoot crowd).

 

None of them initially noticed the imperfections of photoshop noted above. 80% thought the image striking (or a word to that effect). 60% would hang the image. 20% didn't care for that style.

 

While by no means a large enough sample, the survey does suggest that the PN reactions to the imperfections in the image are amplified and that outside of a critical environment, the image is experienced more holistically (god, I hate that word) and favorably. Who is a photograph for, anyway?

 

On the other hand, god or the devil is in the details and if you get it right at that level and it is already a good image, you have made it better. That's a professionals viewpoint.

Cut it just a bit above the first light post, or slightly higher to include the iron work hanging. The way it is looks too lopsided , top heavy, and really lack of subject matter. The repetitious form of the lamps helps our eyes lead to the person, but very distracted by the overhanging darkness blurr of snowflakes to the left. Besides that perhaps the JPG web post compression is the culprit that really hinders the detail work of focus in the white matter, since that is all it has going for it surrounding the massive tree.

I adore the Ceylan's work (especially things he did about the Istanbul) but I don't think that this photograph is so powerful or so interseting because of some distortions like colour fringing and some focus diturbances... I can honestly say that this photo is not a 'crisp' one... Vertical crop is very effective but this photo needs more inclusion of composition from lower part(the ground)... feels like unconfortable while watching... Anyway I congratulate him for his portfolio...

 

My best regards..

I should have mentioned in my first post also , I feel the composition to be top heavy and the huge section of building covered in vines etc not very appealing but rather obstructive , that stikes me first off, but the snowy atmospher and man coming down the walk is always interesting , but far too many things disturb this attempt , I do like the concept. Im sure Ceylan could do better. The PS work really does hurt this shot , Id consider this photo mediocore if PS was done well, and a bit better with a balanced composition .

I don't know where Kuzguncuk is but this image makes me want to google it and then go there for the dreamy snow scenery. Nice shot

I think top heavy is an accurate description of this photo. Although it is a pleasant scene, the longer you study it the more apparent the flaws become. The fog could have been left out entirely (I am reasonably sure it was added), and I don't think it would have detracted from the picture. The fog I think contributes to the top heavyness.

Ceylan has a photo in his portfolio called Kuzguncuk 4: I think it shows the same area, possibly even the same street, and suggests the primary problem that he was trying to overcome: the street is lined with cars, and my guess is that Ceylan was trying to get rid of them by cloning lamposts and general whiteness over the top of them. He's also thickened up the big tree with cloning - the same shapes are repeated over and over throughout. The unusual tall and narrow format of this photo is probably another result of an attempt to get rid of something he didn't like, by cropping into an elongated shape.

 

The overall effect is unsuccessul. It could have been successful, but unfortunately it isn't - the attempts show, and if you want to draw your audience into the world you're creating, the magician's hand must never be seen to be holding a string.

 

I do wonder what the original frame looked like. All Ceylan's work tends towards a romanticisation of reality - he's a pictorialist, not a documentary photographer. But I'd like to see the original anyway.

 

My favourite from the portfolio is the little boy looking out the window at falling snow. Yes, it's romantic, but it's also real.

 

The strength of the photo is the strong creation of a mood through the use of good composition (although like others I'd crop the top) and muted yet intense colour.

As a relative newcomer to digital photography, I have found the photograph and the comments very educational. Yes, I can see the use of cloning (probably to cover an unattractive street scene) and the use (or lack of) cropping but I'm very envious of anyone who can take a photograph of that quality. I'm sure it will give other novices like myself something to aim for.

Eline sa�l�k, tebrikler...

I agree about the need for cropping. The structural elements at the top are far too distracting. As for the comment that cropping is some sort of artificial exercise, keep in mind that this photo was heavily cropped to begin with. The attached file shows a cropped version with a slight sepia tone, just as an alternative view.

 

The PS work at the right pretty much ruins the photo. The nearest lamppost is jagged.

Nefis bir fotoğraf! tebrikler!

I agree with the person who said make it black and white. (I don't think sepia worked as well.) I think color takes away from this picture.

 

The perspective is interesting. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it had me looking more than once, studying the picture.

I like the thank you for choosing this image as photograph of the week,I really appreciate and feel honered.

And thans to everybody for comments or critics..

What I find really distracting about this photograph are the bottom cut lightpoles. Ouch!...