Pirate's Alley

Hi Chris! This is, according to me, the nicest picture of your serie, along with "Waiting On A Friend". The tones are well balanced with nice dark black areas and really bright ones. The streetlight is like a human presence. Congratulations! I want to be you when I grow up!

Very grabbing contrast, well-balanced distribution of highlights, sufficient details in mid-tone. I really enjoy it. 9/8.

Great photograph, Nice composition, lighting, exposure and most importantly "feel". Grabbed me! Good job

IMHO, far too much contrast in the print. The highlights are bleached out and shadows are masses of black that just pointlessly fill up space in the photograph.

 

A nice composition though and a good "Bourbon St." seedy sort of feel to the photograph for all that. It just could have been better with more grays, a more natural look, more detail.

 

XP2 delivers a contrasty neg at its regulation ISO 400 (except for really flat subject material). I don't know what ISO you DID rate it at for this shot, but for this very contrasty subject material I'd go as far as a two stop over-exposure: ISO 100 (assuming the availability of a tripod). No need for special processing at this rating. In fact you can mix all sorts of "ISO" ratings on the one film: one of the features of XP2.

 

As well, perhaps a (human) figure might have added more interest to the composition as well? But there's my own prejudices showing...

This shot was purposely underexposed to just get

the light coming in from the front on the alley.

I wanted my "blacks" to be "black". That is the

way it is. XP2 rated at 100iso.

I really like the feeling I get from the photo. It evokes emotion for me which is far more important than any technical matters. Technical excellence without the "ahh" is worthless.

nice tonal range.

The light post seems out of context - distracting - adds nothing to the photo.

wonder about more work on the lighter values in the side of the church - maybe cropping closer so that there is less dark values on the foreground

I think the contrast in this picture is right. It has a great mood because of the contrast, and the building in the background has nice gray values. Definately a nice use of 'too much contrast' :)

The vertical construction is nice and works well: the eye is immediastly conducted to the center of the picture. But it is deceived by the only object it can find : a small street lamp. What is the subject of the picture?

Wow, this was taken during the day, yes? That is a really strong image. I have been debating with my wife if we should go down to LA and I think we are going to have to after seeing this. Great shot

Realease your imagination, subject may not be always visible. The mist feeling is the subject, as alley is the title. The bright light + mist in picture = perfect. Moreover the dark part deliver solid perception. The contrast actually makes it a great one.

I really like this shot, Chris. The contrast really adds to the mood of the photo and helps distinquish the far light in the street to an even greater degree than if it approached medium gray which I feel would diminish the photo's aesthetic appeal. You clearly know what you're after when you snap the shutter, as in all your photos which I commend you on.

I like the picture. It is a strong image and the hi-con works well. It has a great sense of the unknown. I do have one problem. The lamp post. It is so sharp and centrally positioned that it draws the eye. But once I am looking there I don't know why I am looking at it. If it wree a person we might wonder what this person is up to? Why are they on the lonely street? The lamp post is just to sharp to hold the kind of mystery that a person can hold. Perhaps if it were glowing in the fog it work work better. That said, it's still a very good photo.

I like the picture alot . looks like a lonely and sad street

Nice job Chris. I like both the composition and the contrast.

Excellent exposure - I love the tonal range in this. The composition, with the vertical orientation, the reflected pattern of light off the alleyway, and the silhouetted details all along the alley is also very good. I think the street lamp is fine. The two things that bother me in this is the banner-flag hanging in the middle of the scene, and to a lesser degree the lamps shining under the overhang on the right. Without these the shot could have occurred a century ago. The lamps are less of a distraction but the flag, occupying the central position that it does, bothers more. I definitely would be tempted to clone it out, and it should be possible to do that without much of a trace.

A lot have commented on the streetlamp. The only thing that distracts me in the picture is that great big, HUMONGOUS soda-pop cup hanging in mid air way down the street- i keep straining to see but can't seem tofind the straw sticking out of it.

I'm with Tony on this photo, the contrast of it does nothing for my eye, at least not the way the photograher intended it.

And it does lack a human element I feel (or other animus), the composition has little going for it I feel and the inclusion of the flying cup being too small in scale does not overcome the forebearance of the rest of the image.

A better example of the dark alley is Elliot Erwitt's "Pigeon in Flight" from '52.

come on people, that it NOT a cup hanging in the photo. it is a pirate's flag. you know, Pirate's Alley?

WOW! This just goes to show all of us who are always thinking about needing this or that gear/kit that even with a Leica a good photographer can get good stuff.

Very contrasty. The light seems to lead somewhere, but then there is nothing, except a lantern. However, it conveys a dramatic atmosphere, I guess by the high contrast.

I think the photo conveys the feeling of an empty city street the day after a big party very well. Beautiful shot

Photo looks a lot like New Orleans native Johnny Donnels work from the late 70's and early 80's. In fact, it is very close to what is on the cover of his book "a Selective Vision".

nice contrast

I have Lived in New Orleans all my life (27 years) I think your photos of the city are great!! You seem to capture the mystery of the city! I like them!