'The Subtlety of Light and Shadow'

This photo, 'The Subtlety of Light and Shadow' has great detail both

in highlights and in deep shadow-like areas, so it is not easily

viewed and evaluated without viewing carefully after blowing up to

full size. Your ratings, critiques and observations are invited and

most welcome. If you rate or critique harshly or very critically, or

wish to make a remark, please submit a helpful and constructive

comment; please share your photographic knowledge to help improve my

photography (Middle Period, Crosley, film, one of a kind) Thanks!

Enjoy! John

The unusual opposing  'wall' viewed through the windows is half-timbering, common in Germany and Eastern France as well as other nearby countries during the latter part of the Middle Ages and afterward; timbers were used as structural elements but were not placed symmetrically, and the huge timbers were left exposed, partly for ornamenture -- and each half-timbered structure thereby looked different and apparently patterns were common to regions. 

(Notice the detail in deep shadows here, please, as it is the heart of this photo.)

john

John (Crosley)

Can you tell me the story that this photo illustrates?

I can look at it and although I have bare recollection of when and where this photo was taken, I know the story behind it, besides the aesthetic elements that caused me to take this photo.

For this is a story-telling photo, however strange that may seem.

Any takers?

john

John (Crosley)

I very much like the photograph, John but feel it is probably one that works much better in a quality print. On-line some of the subtleties in the shadows is lost unless it is pointed out.

I do like the offset of windows and how the pattern outside fits in them. The plants add a nice feeling of life inside.

This photo is problematic for Internet showing because of the deep shadow and detail in the huge radiator at the bottom, yet it is essential to telling the story -- you are right, and I am pleased for the observation.

Nevertheless, I do not hold back my best work, and with a quality print this would be very, very good work, taken long, long ago in film and never shown anywhere, just recognized for the first time and worked up.

Thanks for the helpful critique.

john

John (Crosley)

Very interesting composition!

And remarked on the lighting, which is excellent.

It's hard to display on the Internet; it would make a fine print.

Thanks for the comment.

john

John (Crosley)

And so far, no one has attempted to unlock what actually is a not so difficult story; all the clues are there.

It's not a story of high drama, just a circumstance, but a telling one; it's why the scene is such.

Basically, this photo has a unifying theme besides just the interplay of light and shadow, and I'm interested if anyone can explain to me that unifying theme - it's not necessarily something photographic, though this is a good photo description that encompasses the theme and would well describe it.

Anyone care to try; particularly a German or other central European?

john

John (Crosley)

Saw this before (long ago?). Thought I commented. Apparently not.

I cropped off some of the empty space on the right -no information there.

Rotated tiny amount cw

Is a great opportunity for the lasso tool to return detail inside without blowing out the outdoors. That is, brighten the scene -return somewhat to normal. Then lasso the window and darken. Get the best of both worlds. Easy in photo shop. Not so easy in the darkroom

Your version is a Meir version, but quite frankly it's wonderful, and the explanation of how you got there is also wonderful.

I owe you personal thanks.

If this photo ever gets shown publicly, now I have a 'choice' in processing -- yours, and mine, and it's a genuine choice.

Thanks so much.

(0h and thanks for pointing out the 'rotation issue', which somehow I just completely missed until you pointed it out here . . . . I can be completely blind.)

John (Crosley)