Kites in a Snow Squall

It's those faint jots of color that makes this picture for me, especially that yellow kite that commands the sky so incongruously. The figures are spaced out very nicely, even the three-legged man.

Yah, the way the kites fill in the blank areas was what prompted me to post process this one.  One time colour was a necessary element.  My B&W attempt didn't work for me.  As for the three legged man perhaps he owns the three legged dog or was looking for someone else so endowed to partner with in a three legged race.  :-)   The sun shone both a few minutes before this shot and a few minutes later.  Weather is like that in this neck of the woods.  We are east of Georgian Bay and right in the path of the west wind driven snow squalls originating from that vast body of water.  Time to check the snow blower gas supply.  Best, LM.

Those kites wasn't paper made I presume ,yet they could fly in this (ice or snowy rain ) I do not know the proper word .

Thanks for taking the time to ponder this offering.  The kites were probably made of some silky fabric and started to fly before the snow squall.  It was a very cold day, well below freezing, and I doubt they would have become waterlogged to the point where they wouldn't be able to fly.  Nice to have a visit from you.  Best, LM.

Very creative work!

This scene changed from bright & sunny to what you see here in a matter of minutes.  It cleared up again a few minutes after this.  Winter life in the lee of Georgian Bay!  Thanks for taking the time.  Best, LM.

I like this one very much! 

The sense of movement and animation reminds me somehow of the paintings of LS Lowry although this would appear somewhat minimalistic compared to Lowrys scenes. It is the motion of the figures and the dogs too that bring that spark of life to the scene.  The little touches of colour are a bonus! I don't have many images in my "favourites folder" but this one is going straight there! 

Excellent work Len! 

 

Best Regards 

 

Alf 

LS Lowery.......... had to look him up,  and I can see where you could draw a parallel with the disclaimer that I in no way equate the quality of my efforts with his.  Pretty heady company for sure and I thank you for the boost in my ego.  I just thought it was a slice of local life worth recording.  The action you refer to is what Jay Maisel calls the 'gesture', a most important ingredient in preventing the scene from being static.  Though the scene is indeed a bit monochromatic I tried a version in B&W & didn't like it.  Perhaps I didn't try hard enough but I felt the colours were the elements which made it more interesting.  Thanks for your visit & for expanding my (all too limited) horizons.  Best, LM.

Len I am torn between the original and the crop that I will suggest.  And I have a love-hate relationship with that yellow kite. It is indeed incongruous but it fills a portion of the sky where something is required. Could it be a required visual contrast? The crop eliminates that yellow kite and then I find myself asking whether something is missing. 

Have a look at the cropped version and you decide because I can't.

 

 

 

The original crop only works if the yellow kite is left alone.  Otherwise, too much negative space, upper left.  Your pano crop nicely eliminates the need for that kite but then, I agree, 'something is missing'.  Would have been a no brainer had the yellow kite not been in the air.  However, without it's presence I may well have passed this scene by & we would have nothing to talk about.  :-)  Thanks for taking the time to critique this one.  Your visits are always enlightening.  Best, LM.

Len _ I thought about cheating - just a very brief moment- about bringing the yellow kite down into the cropped version but you and i would not approve of that kind of trickery (*_*).

I suspect the "something missing" in the cropped version is the sense of perspective.  The original has a great sense of elevation. In my original comments I compared it to the works of LS Lowry and I stick by that analogy, and partly because of that sense of a greater overview of life that the original provides that is shared by the great artist.

Tonys crop makes sense in every other way, it is logical and it should work. But for once it doesn't and for my part the original wins hands down.

Just my personal view of course!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

Is it 'cheating' or simply exercising artistic license?  In truth, I'm not an absolute purist.  As long as the manipulation is transparent to the viewer and improves the image I think it's OK.  I'll remove an offending beer can or paper wrapper without any guilt feelings, as will most photographers.  For some, your suggestion may be crossing the line.  I think I'd be OK with it if I felt it truly improved the image.  Best, LM.

Indeed, kites and elevation go together like beer & pretzels.  That, I think is why I'd leave the original alone, not to knock anyone else's artistic leanings. Good of you & Tony to keep this conversation going.  Thanks for your views.  Funny how a spur of the moment photo can attract so much comment while some of our most thoughtful toil heavy efforts go begging.  :-)   Best, LM.

Your constructive comment\critique will be gratefully received. Best, LM.

I haven't seen your black and white version (yet) but this particular image screams 'colour.' A great minimalistic composition.

Best regards, Len!

 

PDE

Nice of you to drop by.  I agree that splashes of colour give this photo the edge over a monotone version.  Most times winter scenes look fine in B&W but I feel that colour adds some spice in this case.  Thanks for your thoughts.  Best, LM.

 

Thanks for your comment & visit.  As I've said before, this was a spur of the moment capture.  Took me all of 2 seconds to compose & shoot.  Luck is good!  Best, LM.

Triangle. The yellow kite is its apex. It, the yellow kite, seems to be gloating,  laughing, at the attempts of the other kites to fly... the folks down below furnish scale, the trees depth... a well seen and taken opportunity, Len

From your comments and those of others it appears that there is much more here than what I initially saw & quickly photographed.  It's only when the final image is presented and we have taken the time to contemplate all the elements that we get a full appreciation for it.   Thanks for your take on this keeper.  Best, LM.