Ile de Ré (Charente-Maritime)

Look at the picture. It's so real, so simple. It's Art

 

Congratulation for an excellent job done !!!

You have a great eye for composition. Very nicely done in all respects. I like the way the haze gradually hides the bridge and how my eye is drawn into the picture by the curving line of the subject. Congratulations on seeing the possibilities in the first place and achieving such a nice piece of art.

What Carl Root said. Great shot which shows a truly fantastic ability in graphics and in composing minimalistic abstracts.

 

En Français: ce qui me frappe ici c'est la capacité d'abstraire et de pré-visualiser une image comme celle-ci. Là, il y a vraiment une vision à l'oeuvre. Un grand bravo pour cette (troisième?) POW.

I like the simplicity and composition of this shot. Grey scale is also great, although IMHO some detail in the foreground would make the photo even better. Congrats.

Aside from the strength of minimal graphic construction, the other factor working for the photograph here is what I think of as pleasurable confusion. When the photograph is first viewed, there are those leading milliseconds of uncertainty until the brain establishes what is really going on. The gratifying snap of realisation -- it's a bridge, not a smiling whale.

Great work.

On a more prosaic note, I wonder if this image needed perspective correction in Photoshop to straighten up the verticals?

the shadow in the foreground is the cherry on top of the cake!!

A strong but also delicate graphical sense, along with a very good tonal range, makes this one a stunning photograph. You have a very good eye for composition, and also a quite elegant one.

Leigh, it is precisely because I know that you are a much better and more serious photographer than I that I ask this question in all sincerity: What on earth would perspective correction accomplish in this case?

 

That's an honest question, not a criticism.

 

--Lannie

The conscious abstraction of a real scene here, proves the value of the real world as

inspiration to the abstract Artist. Its not just about shapes, form , perspective, positive,

negative , light, shadow... Its about the bridge, and its effect on the space around it. That

context makes the abstraction so much more interesting.

Great eye to see this shot! It's highly original to elevate a mundane subject to a nice graphic piece like this. I like the contrast and tones. However, I quickly loose interest in this shot. That is to say, I'd never buy a large print of it to put in my home. If I was an advertising or magazine exec, I'd jump on this pic for it's aethetics and nice open space: perfect for text. If I may venture a suggestion of personal taste: for me the image would be much stronger and would emphasize the Yin-Yang duality that was mentioned above if it was cropped vertically, such that the topmost edge is all black (I'm at work and no photoshop so I can't post an example of exactly what I mean). I would consider buying such a crop. That's where the difference lies for me. The downside to that is you loose the leading end of the bridge into the haze. But as it is, to me, the image looks like it's fighting for direction. The top-left corner is pulling hard and the bottom right corner is pulling just as hard and the open space squeezes everything on the sides. I just don't agree with most that this is pleasing visually.

 

Thanks for sharing!

Mathieu, The dynamic depends on the momentum in the take off from right to left. Also the

negative space needs its size to create the tension with the positive. I think it is best to leave

the design alone, it works. It would be interesting to know if Gerard sees this as a small print

or large format. It would probably work either way.

It's so good to see this delightful shot, taken from a superb portfolio, featured as photo of the week. I've tried to photogrph this viaduct a number of times myself, Gerard has produced an excellent image.

The stark black underside of the bridge contrasting with the smooth tonal values in the sky really sets this one off; it was the first thing that grabed my eye when I viewed the image. The even flow of values in the sky is so smooth that it really lends the image power and feeling. I also like the way the long curve of the bridge leads into the image and provides some detail to the open sky. This is a very powerful composition, bravo!

 

- Randy

Well thought out, excellent composition. Normally I'm not a big fan of minimalist photography... but this is very, very good. -Greg-

Lannie, you may have misunderstood my question -- it was poorly expressed. I was askingwhether Gérard had already applied perspective correction. I would have expectedthe verticals to be less, well, vertical than they are here because it appears as if thelens may have been tilted upwards somewhat.

I'm not implying that the photograph requires more correction -- it's wonderful as it is.

"The dynamic depends on the momentum in the take off from right to left."

 

Alan, as much as I agree with this, I don't think the modified image I propose would loose dynamic, only its nature would change.

 

"Also the negative space needs its size to create the tension with the positive."

 

I think the negative space really overwhelms the positive in trying to keep the 'dynamic' you speak of. 'Tension' would be optimized in a vertical crop with a more balanced distribution of dark and light.

 

"I think it is best to leave the design alone, it works."

 

It works for you, but is not optimal for me. So, for the sake of disussion, I will not leave it alone. ;-)

After staring at this photo last night, I thought to myself, "Well, here is a photo that is going to keep all the PhotoNet Happy Croppers at bay!" I thought - and think - that this picture is so perfect in it's elegance and symmetry that no one could conceive of a way to crop it. It's an integral whole and I just can't see a way to improve it. This is not to say that Mathieu's crop wouldn't work ... I would have to see it to know. But, it does astound me that anyone would even think of doing it because it would never even occur to me. It's interesting how we each view things differently ...

I do not read what others told; just want you to know my total admiration viewing this perfection. Purity is the master word but also elegance and invitation to a serene meditation.

I'm so sorry, no English words can express my feeling viewing this exceptional photography. So, dear Gérard, toutes mes félicitations pour cet hommage ici, sur ce site, amplement mérité et qui pour moi devrait être tous les quizes jours une photos de toi !

I don't know that I agree with cropping the image, but i think Mathieu has hit on something.

I like the upper left, but I do think that the bottom right, at least here as an on line posting, is

having some difficulty holding its own. Hence my comment above that I wonder if the print

would not hold this area better than what is presented here. Here, my eye does want to run

off the page down there.

 

The reason I don't like the idea of a crop is largely because I think this is the original

presentation and I think I have seen the crop before. Also, the air here allows one to veg out

for awhile. I really like this image.

This is a classic Hasselblad B&W....Elegant, understated, beautiful.. I have admired this photo for over one year, since I first it....Excellent choice by the Elves.

What a terrific image! I love the use of negative space. Thank you for sharing.

I do think this is a technical success. I wish I could see bridges the way Gerard does. My previous comments were purely subjective and cropping the image is the 'dirtiest' and simplest way I could think of voicing my opinion. But I think for me, it is actually more complex than something as crude as a crop. I would have to see other compositions of the same scene or be there myself to recompose...you know. But that's not to take away from the merit of this particular photograph. I think Gerard is a master at square composition! There are just so many shots in your portfolio that I prefer. Personal taste I guess...

good rhythm!

An Illusion...very interesting angle. I love it!

mmmm, Here is where beauty meets technic! Yes, A graphic shot in best mood!