Central Park, July 2003

Was it worth getting myself and my camera soaking wet?

Beau, I think it was worth it. This is very typical of NYC in the hot summer months and you have a good capture of it. The lighting is good. The only nit is the boy in the center is too dark

Beau, this is visually very sophisticated, and thus so rewarding to look at. It's the type of thing that would hold up to repeat viewings because there's more than one thing to look at and admire. The depth of field (surprising even, coming from a 50, but we are talking about f11 of f16 shooting after all), the *perfectly* balanced placement of the four kids (both spatially and left-to-right), the curves on the upper left and lower right (the meaty shadow of the lower right curve going inky black is especially killer), the counter-diagonal shadow created by the trees on the upper right. Plus printed just dark enough that there is an air of mystery to it, it's not just an ordinary "sunny afternoon out in the park" type snapshot. Fine work, I would be proud if it were mine.

Ralph Ballerstadt (here and also here---highly recommend), one of my favorite active photogs and admittedly, something of an influence in my own work, as I take my first photographic baby steps.

Thanks, Andrew, for the kind words and the link. I have seen a few of Ralph's images and I like his work a lot too.

 

I think Ken has a point that I might have gone overboard with my dark thing here. On my home monitor last night it worked, but today on my laptop the boys look like silhouettes. However, if I click on the "large" size it looks acceptable again...

I really like this & I love the back lighing. I am looking at this on a non-calibrated monitor at work so the boys seem a bit dark to me, but this to me is NYC youth in summertime.

This is a great shot, I love everything about it. I am glad that I was able to see it.

Timeless photo. Great job.

Just so there's no confusion about the comments above, I should point out that I've just replaced the original upload with a slightly lighter version. The initial jpg had none of the detail in the shadows that I had intended. Thanks.

A very nice image Beau. What I really like is the use of rather subdued tones to give emphasis to the shimmer of the water spraying from the hydrant. Its got energy and all kinds of secondary points of interest outside of the main anchor of the composition. Very energetic and very dynamic. God how I wish I could do these on a regular basis rather than the occasional lucky shot. Thanks again for your interest in my little snapshot and thanks for sharing this gem.

I like shots under the hot midday sun done in grey. I tried this once on a shot of street workers in sand. For me the grey out is kind of visually analogous to the way intense sun like this makes you squint and not see clearly.

lighten this up. otherwise very good.

for me the reason this works well is the precise placement of the figures. You can draw a zig-zag line from left to right across the four major figures that carves up the photo so precisely. I'll take your word on the darness aspect, on my monitor it's a little too dark for my taste, but I learned not to get too carried away on Web postings in terms of accuracy of rendition. Back to the placement, it together with the light gives this a powerful graphic impact, missing so often from the photos I see here.

I like it ... have to dig out my shot with kids under WGB. Here's Weegee's shot, bad version of it.

I don't know what the pointed object is lower right, but it is monopolizing the image. Even at the cost of losing the kid in the backbround by the spray of water, I'd crop it out.

 

Oh, I'm seeing what it is: A shadow of the fountain pedestal the kids are playing on.

 

mmmmmm. I think I'd still crop it out. Although now that I know what it is it makes the images easier to look at, it's still not as strong an image as it would be if it were gone. Just my opinion.

that shadow is not a big distraction, Doug - notice the other long shadows the kids left there. Actually, the whole picture is about shadow and light and it's balanced ok. Just my opinion.

Damn, Beau, great shot.

This is good stuff. Well done.

I can not imagine what the low raters were thinking. This is an image that is captured once in a lifetime. Sure it maybe too dark, it may be a little busy but it is the sum total of its various parts and is a classic in my book.

I'm enjoying going through your "Ten Best"; afterwards I'll want to see the rest of your portfolio.

 

I like your exposure/development choice here with the Acros; there seems to be some good latitude in this film. I don't find the platform shadow distracting in the least, as (at least on my monitor) it is well complimented by the following edge and helps create a "stage". In a print, this is easily burned in if you ever chose to accentuate it further.

Thank you for your comment and introduction to you work. Amazing pictures you have here. The way you capture city life is classic and creative. I would love to hear more opinions on my work (negative too) your opinions will be highly respected.

..it really was worth it! in general, you take some very interesting photographs.

 

regards,

heine

You probably had already seen this but if not, it might be interesting to check it out -- very similar style and subject in her Fountain Silhouettes folder.

I like it very much!!the lighting and composition is great!