Holding a helicopter

Am I mistaken that in order for the heli blades to have been caught with paths travelled as narrow as they are, this had to have been taken at an extremely-fast shutter speed? Its interesting because the resultant pattern is like, is it not, the "danger" pattern used years ago and perhaps today to identify radioactive items and/or maybe other hazardous items, with three radiating black arms joining at the center on a yellow background? At any rate, even given the overcast sky, to have gotten as much sky detail and yet to have also gotten a reasonable amount of detail on the lower sides of the arms is quite a noteworthy accomplishment, I think more readily accomplishable in B&W with its tonal range than it would have been in typical color.

I have long been a fan. Shots like this are why. Great vision.

Interesting POW... Like many others, I have always found most if not all of Daniel's work very good and very professional. So I am enjoying to see he's back on PNet's front page. Nevertheless, I would have to say that this particular choice for Daniel's third POW wasn't in my opinion one of his most impressive pictures. My favorite images by Daniel can be found in my Photo.net favorites.

About this picture, as others have already mentionned, I have no problem with the missing head, I too feel a nicer sky would have been nice, and I too think colors may have made this a better or a worse picture - depending on the colors at hand. I also suppose that this picture was simply meant to be published in BW, so I'm not sure whether the bw vs. color question asked by the Elves is relevant in this case.

But mostly, I'd like to mention this: although the angle is very good, it is a fairly obvious angle - for a photo-journalist at least. Daniel was there to document this man's work - as stated in the technical details. He needed to show both the helicopter and the man, as well as the "cable" falling from the helicopter. And there is simply no way to do so with any other camera angle. This is not to take anything away from a very good photo. I just thought that all small criticisms about details as well as the "originality" of this image should simply be put in perspective. Daniel, as usual, did his work very well here, and showed intelligence, but I would personally have prefered to see his more creative and more imaginative work on display for a POW discussion.

Here, Daniel had a job to do, had very little freedom to be creative, he chose the right angle and managed a good timing; well done, but Daniel has shown really original ideas in circumstances where he had more freedom. I wish we could have discussed such images rather than the one at hand. I hope we'll hear more from Daniel about the circumstances that surrounded this take. As I see it, there was very little time to adjust anything, and what would be interesting is to hear how Daniel prepared for this take. Congrats anyway, Daniel. Certainly a very good photo in the given circumstances.

Something biblic here... the cross shaped of the helicopter tail... the modern vision the Holy Spirit rescuing a bearded Jesus from the ground of the ungodly people... very surprised that nobody mentionned it before... talkie-walkie a useful tool for prayer indeed...

position of the Jesus' arms is excellent, B/W with good contrasts was the right choice to make more dramatic... color would have been distrative IMO.

Elves are a bit early this year but thanks to them I discovered great pictures in Daniel's remarkable folders.

I do not "see" this image!

Sorry but it does not strike me the way all the other photos of the week did.

Sure it's a great image but it's tri-x with a wideangle and a fancy title...

But if the rest of you like it it is my problem not yours...

regards bjarke,

Hello all,

 

Thanks for the POW placement, its always a good thing.

 

As for the nuts and bolts of it, I remember it being around 3PM, almost deadline time for

the paper I was at and I needed to come up with my contribution to the day's pages and

had nada.

 

We had converted to scanning color but still had some greyscale stock left to shoot. I was

borrowing my buddies old 24-50 until my 20-35 came back from the shop, had a manual

20mm on me too. While driving around, I saw a helicopter lifting something into the air

and pulled over to investigate. These guys were up on the embankment on some steep

muddy terrain and were removing some survey drill rigs via the whirly.

 

By the time I got to them, they had one left. The guy who was looking up never looked

down until the rig was safely across the highway. I had to really jockey around just to get

the 16 frames I did, nearly got stepped on. I used the 24 because I wanted readers to see

that it was a helicopter knowing the photo might just run 5-6 inches high. A 20mm would

have made it dinky. I shot it low because that was the only angle I could think with just a

minute to spare. I chose the frame with the hand just barely touching the hook because

the helo appeared more toy-like to me.

 

Thanks for all the comments and happy shooting.

FWIW, I eased off on the agitation with the developer to give it more scanning range as a

flatter neg.

Funny, I would just tug on the raw converter box in Photoshop CS now.

This is an amazing capture; it's the visually tantalizing photographic accomplishments like this one that compel me to keep on shooting and learning in hope that one day I might be able to come closer to emulating what you've done here.

modern "Decisive moments" ! Wondreful composition!!

I think the face of the man would distract(unless a good silhouette).

Daniel, I've been following your work here for a few years, and I

have to say that the risks you take are what make your work

some of the most interesting stuff out there.

I've been following your work also. Very nice indeed. I like the wide angle effect on this photo

Beautiful work. The angle and perspective is unique.

Daniel --

 

I agree that a religious association can be made in your photo, but think one has to look to the Judeo era of Christian mythology to make the most apt connection. The already mentioned as heroic figure stretches an arching, muscular arm, his classically curving hand just makes a finger's contact with the hook. I definitely see an associative link to many Renaissance era paintings of god giving life to Adam (think Sistine chapel ceiling). Figure in the helicopter (distanced, mechanical, but also used to lift the injured and sick to safety) and the walkie takies (more distance and mechanization, but also a helpful utility) and one might even read a distinctly modern revision of the original myth into the image.

 

A title that suggested the association, or a juxtaposed display with an original work (a reproduction of course!), or even a composite or overlayed image might, imho, be interesting. Of course the photo stands up on its own wonderfully too -- like it a lot!

As a photojournalist myself, I immediately noticed what many good photographers seem to do when shooting helicopters. Their shutter speed is so high that they freeze the blades. It looks so unnatural when a pictured helicopter is flying in midair with the blades frozen. The sense of motion is lost.

 

As far as the face of the man, I don't think it's important. In fact, I'm guessing you probably had a frame or two of the man looking down, you chose to edit what was most likely your first choice.

 

Good work.

 

Kalim

This is but one of the many amazing photos you have captured.

I do belive I speak for many when I say your work is what we all dream of doing someday. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I think that it's essential to this shot that this man is looking up with his face out of the shot. Otherwise it would be a portrait for a Worker's Compensation poster. Great shot in case you are oblivious to the fact that you are an awesome photographer, but with such a consistent portfolio you must be aware.

Increadible perspective!

the BW fits there