Lunch With Friends (Larger View Available)

Looking good for 135 years of age........the statue that is : - )

 

Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Thank You

Hi Alf,

Excellent sharpness to this image. Well done at ISO 800.

I really enjoy the " old film " look to this image. It brings back memories of working with film and  chemicals to develop the pictures. I have many family photographs, handed down to me, that have faded to tone levels seen in your presentation here.

Nice work my friend.

Best Regards, Mike

A very nicely composed beautiful shot, Alf!

With best regards,

Ruud.

 

Hi Alf

 

This is a personal favorite of mine (especially viewed large) ...... I don't profess to know anything about the technical side to producing such an exquisitely composed image, but it's clearly apparent you do..... I love the "old" feel and look you have given this image....full of atmosphere.... Your ability to grab the viewers eyes,hold them, then draw them in is astounding.  As my eyes dance over the image, soaking up the ambiance, my mind is wondering.... Why is she alone?..... Is she waiting for someone.....maybe a friend?.... a lover?..... or no one at all...?..... And that's the beauty of your images.... They inspire thoughts and evoke emotions..... Superb work Alf! 

warm regards

Jacqueline

Hi Alf,

  Wonderful image with excellent sharpness & atmosphere.  Great work!! Take care, Patsy

Very well seen and composed. Excellent post work.

always classy.  even the fingers seen through greasy plastic.  best, jamie

The toning works well, giving an 1877 feel to the shot.  However, I don't know why I say that. Was our atmosphere sepia back then?  Rhetorical question, even at your/our age you don't have to answer. :-)  Regardless, the aged perception is well done and the Thoroughly Modern Millie in the foreground captures my attention and holds it well.  "Big Art" indeed...  Mike

Many Thanks for your invaluable feedback, much appreciated!

I cranked the ISO up to 800, because I didn't carry my tripod around the city and my hands are not the steadiest. I did remember that little tip you mentioned though, and composed the shot through the viewfinder then looked away at the point of pressing the button. I have tried it a few times now and it does seem effective in keeping the camera relatively steady.

The old film look is courtesy of Nik Siver Efex software I'm like a baby with a new toy, still playing with it.

Cheers Mike!

 

Alf

 

RUUD

 

Many Thanks for your interest and thoughtful comments, very much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JACQUELINE

 

Sincere Thanks for sharing your thoughts and enthusiastic response.

Not much to know about the technical side, the only thing I have done differently involves the processing where I used new software (Nik Silver Efex Pro 2)  This helped produce that "old feel" that you observed. 

I'm very glad you described so eloquently the thoughts relating to the young lady, I was kind of hoping there would be an element of mystery there, and from your comments it seems there is.

I always think that an images success can be  measured to some degree by the emotions that they evoke, and in with that in mind it is most gratifying to read your words.

Warm Regards

 

Alf

 

PATSY

 

Many Thanks for your visit and kind words. Liverpool is a fantastic place for atmosphere, it has it in abundance! I was fortunate to capture a glimmer of it.

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

VLAD

 

Many Thanks for stopping by. If you haven't tried that Nik Silver Efex software yet, I recommend that you give it a go.

Cheers!

 

Alf

 

JAMIE

 

You have a habit of summarising my intentions in few words and the word "Classy" perhaps does it all on its own.

The surroundings are classic, but the young lady is defintaly in the "classy" bracket.

Many Thanks Jamie, your feedback is much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

MIKE (MLM)

I think it might have been the smog and fumes of the industrial revolution that gave the sepia atmopshere .........well so I'm told : - )

In this case though it was that Nike Silver Efex, (that I haven't stopped playing with yet) that produced the effect.

Two kind of styles going on here, the erm "Thoroughly Modern Millie" that does everything with style, and the classic surroundings. 

The Williamson Art Gallery in the back ground features more amazing architecture, though why they have to put them posters up will remain a mystery to me. 

I can imagine the next Liverpool City Council meeting will discuss proposals to paint St Georges Hall bright pink or some such other nonesence. Oh My I am getting cynical! : - )

 

Always a great pleasure to read your thoughts Mike!

 

Sincere Thanks & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great title!  This is one of those photos that just has to be viewed larger to fully appreciate.  Love the composition.  Everything is so crisp and clear.

Alf, a beautiful image that cannot be seen completely unless viewed large...regards....David

Your choice of B&W preset was truly a good one! While it gives the 'old' feel to the image, (lighter tones) I love the richness of the BLACKS!!! One of the nicest 'street' images I have seen in a very long time Alf.

Hi their Alf, great postprocessing, I love the old style and feel that this image with the process gives you, not sure on the history of this statue but sure that it would be very interesting, I would have loved to seeing slightly taller crop of this fountain to give me a better perspective and scale it's just that I'm not sure if that is the top or if there was more to it but other than that it's a great shot, it needs to be enlarged to get the full potential from this image very well done, as I was saying to Gail that I haven't been around a lot as it has been the wedding season over here down under so I will have to go back through a lot of images to try and catch up on what's been going on with all my friends here online at pn.... take care Alf and kind regards Grant .

I love the rich tones you got here and the exquisite variations on crossed legs position (of the ladies of the fountain, including the lunching one and of the white statue in the background that only it's crossed legs are visible). I like the title too, because you need the buildings of past era when things had to be both beautiful and were not disposable, being built for generations to come.

Regards, Tibi

Very well observed and excellent mono conversion. You would think Liverpool City Council would do something about the weeds around the edge.

All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

John

Wonderful rich tones and detail here, Alf. Nice to see you venturing into the city and I hope you'll post some more urban scenes. I read your remarks about your wife buying you the Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 in the previous picture with some interest. I'm often disappointed that I can't get the right tones in my picture and realize that this is definitely an area I could stand to improve. I downloaded the 15-day trial version and will give it a test drive, see if that gives me more command of tone in my pictures. It seems to work very well for you (but then you're one hell of a good photographer)..

A superb street shot with lovely vintage tones Alf! Looks like your enjoying the addition of Silver Efex!

All the best,
Neil

The larger version is SPECTACULAR. The details are really impressive. The composition is very nice, and shows the careful preparation that goes into street photography, and the skill of the photographer in organizing the elements of a chaotic scene into a unified whole. Well done.

Thank you so much for your interest and thoughtful feedback.  the 24 - 70 mm Nikkor F2.8 has a lot ot do with the sharpness ansd clarity. It has proved to be a brilliant lens. The software lent a helping hand too. I will take the credit for the conmposition though, I cunningly pretended I was photographing the fountain : - )

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

DAVID

 

I do tend to upload most of my phothographs in a larger format, and in doing so I also optiimise them for the larger size. Glad you enjoyed this one !

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

GAIL

 

Wow! Thats a very nice compliment Gail Thank You!

Of course as you may have guessed I'm still playing with my new toy (Nik Silver Efex)

Many Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback Gail, much appreciated!

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

GRANT

 

Many Thanks for your thougtful consideration and feedback, much appreciated!

HISTORY

The fountain was a gift from Colonel R F Steble who resided as the Mayor of Liverpool, England UK  between 1874 - 5

The artist was Paul Lienard and the fountain was unveiled in 1879.

The bottom circular basin is made from stone, whilst the centre is cast iron, and two upper tiers (out of view) are also made from cast iron.

The original fountain designed by Lienard was produced for the Paris Exposition of 1867. It was transported to America where it now stands in front of the Massachusetts State House, Boston Common Boston USA.  It is known there as "The Brewer Fountain"

I know what you mean about a "taller crop", sometimes curiosity makes me wish for similar things in others photos.

In this case though I chose the 70mm end of the 24 - 70 mm as I considered the girl to be of equal importance to the fountain itself, but on reflection maybe a portrait orientated version could have been an option. The truth is, I didn't really have a lot of time to weigh it up and just hoped for the best.

Good to hear from you Grant & Best Regards

 

Alf

 

TIBI

 

You have a very sharp eye and the uncanny ability to find repeating patterns and themes within an image.  I must confess that the crossed leg thing completely escaped me until you pointed it out, but I'm very glad you did as I can now pretend I captured its theme on purpose : - )

I'm with you on the "none disposable" buildings of the past. Liverpool has some wonderful architecture, not least "The Three Graces" on the Liverpool waterfront. It just crushes me that the local council has seen fit to allow huge expanses of stainless steel, plastic and glass to almost surround them.

Many Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable fedback!

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

JOHN

 

Liverpool City Council have come a long way in recent years, but I concede not yet far enough. The City centre these days is kept very clean and relatively free from litter, but I agree a man with a weed gun wouldn't have broke the budget. 

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words John!

All the very best to you and yours for Christmas and New Year!

 

Alf

 

JACK

 

I can't wait to see the results of your explorations into Nik Silver Efex.

The amount of different effects are quite remarkable. I found it useful to read the little tutorial. I'm not a great one for reading instructions, but there were some great little tips.

Some of the controls break down into sub - menus too.  Click on the little arrows of the first three sliders (Brightness, Contrast & Structure) to reveal the fine tuniing controls . The "Structure" control I have found to be particularly useful when adding a sense of depth to an image. But there is so much more to explore.

I think you are going to love it Jack! It not only allows superb variety of tones, but it can also add a multitude of film effects too.

As for more of my urban scenes, well I do have a few more from my adventures in the city that I hope to post at some point in time.

My first love is landscapes, the escape to the country is like therapy to me after a week in work. But my second love is Street Photography, and viewing masters like yourself at work is inspirational to say the least.

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.

 

Best Regards

 

Alf

 

NEIL

 

Many Thanks for your interest and posiitve feedback, much appreciated!  I'm having a great time with Silver Efex Neil, kind of getting in touch with my creative side : - )

Cheers Neil

 

Alf

 

EMMANUEL

 

Sincere Thanks for your thoughts and invaluable feedback.

I do love street photography, but its a whole different ball game than my usual landscape genre. No time for tripods or endless variations of composition, in fact sometimes you just get one chance. I guess the careful preparation you refer to is having the camera settings at thier optimum to capture the opportunities that might arise. In this case I did, on previous occasions I had got it completely wrong. But I guess thats the best way of learning.

Cheers Emmanuel!

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great elegance and taste in this perfect composition. I don't like much "sepia" but here is very...right and beautiful, my dear friend!

Hi Alf. You certainly have a talent for this style of photography also! Good choice of B/W processing. Really like how the girl seems totally unaware of the photographer. Your photo's always seem to tell a story which makes them so successful.

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas & New Year.

 

Best wishes. Sarah.

All said above, nothing much to add because it has all the ingredients your normal pictures have. I wish you and your loved ones a merry, peaceful and blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year.

Good Morning Alf,  This isn't your normal fare but as I would expect you've put a very good image forth, here in street photography. I like the balance and the B&W finish. It's very sharp with excellent detail when viewed larger. I'm also going to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy Holidays. Thanks for all your support and encouragement over the past years. Take care Alf.

Best Wishes,

Holger

Many Thanks for your thoughts and kind words!

The historical surroundings seemed to invite a touch of nostalgia.

Best Wishes My Friend!

 

Alf

 

SARAH

 

"Street" is perhaps my second love in photography genre preferences.  But time is my enemy and its very rarely I find time for "Street as Lanscapes is usually given priority.

I'm really pleased you enjoyed this one Sarah!

Sincere Best Wishes to and your loved ones at Christmas & New Year.

 

Alf

 

EL

Many Thanks for taking a look, much appreciated!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones & a Peaceful & Prosperous New Year

Alf

 

HOLGER

 

I don't get the opportunity very often to indulge in my passion for street photography as Landscapes take up a lot of my free time.  But this was taken on one of my rare excursions into Liverpool, the place of my birth and my favourite City!

Many Thanks for your encouraging words and thoughtful feedback.

Sincere Best Wishes to you and your loved ones at Christmas & New Year

 

Alf

 

 

 

 

There's no need simply to echo the comments already posted.  Suffice it to say that this is an exceptionally strong image in every respect I could imagine.

May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.  I look forward to viewing more of your work in 2013.

My best,

 michael