Swinging

Picture of a young lady swinging from a rail. She is upside down - you are looking at the sidewalk.

Very nice Brooks. Good smile. Good technical quality and spontanous sitation. The black think to the right is disturbing a bit, but doesn't spoil the situation.

I like this, and especially the somewhat unnatural perspective as if you are up on the climbing structure looking down. The black post does give context, so it has a function in this photo.

 

I wonder if the photo would have received a different reception if posted upside down.

I took Sam's advice and inverted the photo. The new version is here:

Inverted

 

The tones are so incredible here that I must ask how did you develop it? Just splendid. So is the whole composition. I admire your cropping decision including a black pole on the right, it makes a huge difference in depth and dynamics. The image simply gets flat without it. All this said, I looked at the inverted version and it simply does not work for me because of the function focus plays in this picture -- it is set on her face and leads me inside the pic. I admit that this is a cliche thinking but it works, it gives the additional kick to the 'swing' which is totally lost in the inverted version. Her out of focus leg makes for an annoying background, the black pole makes no sense anymore and the overall look seems forced, don't know how to explain this but I hope that answers your question, Brooks. Really fantastic and unconventional take on a swing.

Thank you for the comment, Maria. The film was developed in Ilfotec-DD, giving a contrasty negative, by a commercial lab. I printed on Ilford Multigrade IV with, I believe a grade 1 or 1.5 filter.

I totally agree with Sam and I prefer this version

 

All the best, Baldur

Lay down a large mirror below her, get away from the pole, don't expose her legs that much, and you may get 7's.

Taken at the California State Fair August 2003.

 

Your comments, please.

It's a pity...Her legs distract..otherwise great expression and tonal range.

I prefer this one. At a first look we cannot explain her hair by gravity so it has to be something like centrifugal forces which makes it a lot more dramatic, at least to a physicist such as myself :-) Thank you for the positive recent comment on my digital b/w, coming back to your portfolio and seeing the quality of your b/w film photography gives it great value to me.

Very good lesson, Sam! I like both pics... but I prefer this! Congrats.

Good job, I prefer this version...Congrats.

Pretty in any angle. Interesting composition.

Brooks, I like very much the angle in which you take the picture. The beautiful expression and the hair help a lot giving this picture a sense of happiness. Technical execution great!. Elisabet

Thank you for pointing out the inverted version to me. Seeing this, I agree with the comments that this one has more impact and motion. With this one, attention is clearly drawn to the face and the hair rather than the leg.

Nice image! You really got it.