Snow in DC

I like this image for its lyrical quality. It may not be an outstanding image. Nevertheless, it invites the attention of the viewers for the composition ,exposure and delicate touch of colour.

This is a very haunting photo of the capitol, not in any sort of scary way but the photo does have some haunting themes to it. I love how the women is the only person if the photo. I think it would have been better without the jeep and the bus in the background. I also love how you can just barly make out the Washington Monument in the background. Over all very good shot.

The title is "Snow in DC" which explains the author's intended inclusion of the entire Washington monument as a reference landmark. I think cropping as suggested would change it to "Snow in North America somewhere" which would be just another way of seeing. The color is interesting: yellow Jeep, tourist's bus, red umbrella, spotted bag, black coat, all as points of interest. I would call this is a competent tourist's photo paying attention to composition and taking advantage of opportunity - a chance encounter with a colorful woman walking by. Apart from that, I would have to agree with Marc that although a lovely picture, it does not rise to the level of high art.

What I find more interesting is to think about how photographers of different genre might have approached the same situation, say a seasoned Street photographer whom might have focused on the woman (as suggested by cropping) in a "don't givadamn" composition (as opposed to one which is "perspectively correct" ), or a Photojournalist that might have looked for an Obama connection given the date of this picture being around the time of his inauguration. As it is, though, it's an artful attempt at a very traditional approach to a well recognized landmark which I would say is pretty good, and what many of us would have done.

A number of people have objected to the presence of the traffic. I would say that those elements strengthen the photograph. They define a mid-ground plane, and thus add structure to a work that might otherwise be too amorphous. On the other hand, the handling of them has a 2-D quality, less mass, thus lessening the possibility of their having too great a presence. These elements also define an interesting ground-level cross-pattern, enhancing the perspective. (Pedestrian-streetlight-monument being one arm of the cross; the line of traffic being the other.) For me, the chief weakness may be in the positioning of the pedestrian -- a little too close to the bottom of the image. (The jury may also still be out on the vignetting. . .) However, these amount to minor quibbles. The image has atmosphere, flavor, a timelessness to it.

Stunning composition Natalia!

 

Henri Cartier-Bresson would have been proud to have captured an image as good as this one. This is excellent photo art.

 

Congratulations on having your camera with you in the right place at the right time -- ie always.

 

Max

Nice image, but so what. Where is the Art?

Nice picture. Ciao Domenico

Good Content

I love how the red umbrella stands out from the snow and cold.

The red, yellow,grey give it depth - the monument contributes for me. Also the line into the photo. Works well.

Snow flakes falling down close to the lens have great angular speed and make white traces. Here we see only white spots against umbrella and black coat. This makes this scene unreal. The strength of this shot should arise however from the capture of the mood and moment. This photo is not the success in my opinion, for it has been tuned.

Awesome! I wish the vehicles were not there – nail the solitude! Beautiful post-prod treatment. Very inspirational!

I really like it. I think the bus and jeep add to it, as they help the investigation of whether this is "real" or some sort of impressionist art. I wouldn't crop, although I would be tempted to clone out the bit of snow at the top left which is either on the lens or very close to it. If it had come out of the camera with vignetting (which is not unusual with my 24-105L lens!) I would have left it "as is", although I would never have thought of artifically adding a vignette. It works well.

I have returned to this photo a few times this week,  to view it with Marc G's self labeled " dumb " question in mind, hoping to arrive at an at least equally dumb answer.  So far this is the best I've got:
 
I  agree that there is nothing extraordinary about the scene itself. I do not think it a  cliche  shot, but  aspects of the idea have certainly been employed before in one form or another. The PP is nothing special, in fact there is plenty of room for improvement in that regard. Despite these and other possible shortcomings I find this image emotionally engaging  and a joy to look at. It simply works for me, evoking an emotional response which I have utterly failed to find any solid photographic reasons for entertaining. So I guess my dumb question becomes; Is it dumb to like a photo without having a good technical reason ?  or is simply liking it, good enough reason ?

I have to say I really enjoy just looking at this picture. The little spots of color make it very interesting. So many things going on in such a subtle way. GREAT TIMING!!

Absolutely attractive shot. Iove the color of the umbrella.

"Is it dumb to like a photo without having a good technical reason ? or is simply liking it, good enough reason ?"
It is a good enough reason, I think. And I do not think I need a "technical" reason, to like something, by the way - although I might dislike some pictures, at times, for technical reasons.
What I'm missing here is nothing technical. I just miss a strong story, one that would move me instead of simply using well a couple of colors and lines. You can find such strong stories in all snow masterpieces, or for example here at photo.net in Ian McEachern's St John folder. I can't find it here, that's all. And that's just me, and that's no big deal...:-) Good if you and others like it, and too bad for me if I can't see why...

Great composition ! Very strong, you captured a simple moment in daily life and turned it into a great shot, Bravo !
Aleks

hmmm nice photo

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Great Catch! There's nothing like good timing! Unless of course you were out there standing in the snow and the bitter cold waiting for your "model" to show up!

I love everything about this...the color, composition, mood...

Beautyful image!

Impressive shot. Nice tones. Composition is also great. There is enough space, and it gives kind of relaxing feeling.

great shot, 5 moths earlier...

 

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7998055

 

cheers !

Great weather..beautiful contrast..perspective is succesfull