Cyclone Screams 2008

Patience finally paid off after shooting faces on the famous Coney

Island roller coaster "The Cyclone" for about two hours. I cropped the

image as much as pixel resolution would permit to capture the shear

terror in this woman's face. Then I converted to sepia and increased

the neutral tones to give the photo an old fashioned look. The old

Coney Island, which has been dying a slow death for many years, is

about to die for good as Astroland -- of which the Cyclone is part --

will be torn down at the end of the year. I'm told the Cyclone will be

saved, but the rest of Astroland will not.

David, I believe you are critiquing this photo as if it were a glamour portrait, which it is obviously not. The main subjects are the couple in the front seat and the emotional interaction between them, and there is good detail, exposure, and focus on them.

 

Anyway the photo could be cropped someone was going to be cut in the background. The black man in the second row was of necessity underexposed, and then lightened to tolerances but could not be brought all the way back.

 

Some mild to moderate grain is actually welcomed in this shot, I was going for that b & w tri-x look. Besides, it was not shot in a studio on a tripod in controlled lighting conditions at a low ISO, but rather in contrasty sunlight at a high ISO with the subjects moving at about 50 mph.

Michael, I understand your point of view, and I did fall short of my critique on this image. Your insight and thoughtful comments discussing my words typed has caused me to step back and take time to see your perspective. You are a gentleman with class. And by the way I love to ride Roller Coasters! Seven Flags just North of L.A. Calif has a wooden R.C. and with the newer types established in the park such as the Viper, Batman, "Etc". The wood built Goliath R.C. still has that special feel when riding. Hope they are not deleted in the furture. "smiles"

I too love old fashioned wooden coasters!!