travel - india Going home

I'm just sorting out the pictures from three weeks in India, and this

is the one I like the most... what about you?

 

Comments and criticism are most welcome!

i like this, simple, evocative, well captured, nice splash of color on the turban pulls us right to the subject.

Nice composition, this is always a much fancied street shot. I am glad we both like it, great eye you have.

Saludos..http://www.hectorbrandan.com/images/julio-carmona.gif

 

Nice one, like the shadow and the hat

Dr. Mele--terrific shot. I love the lines on the pavement, the turban and of course the shadow (which makes the shot!). Did you recently go to India? It's a place I've always wanted to visit.

Ben, Michael, Julio, Denis, I am glad you like this. I had found myself a nice and quiet spot and had nothing else to do than wait for someone to walk in my frame... so the composition was well thought.

 

Dr Brown: I'm indeed just back from India! Three weeks went very fast. Once you pull yourself together to go, get in touch: I will glad to advise.

Nice as it is in color. Have you thot of it in B&W? Long shadow provided a lasting effect in my eyes. Beautifu!

Welcome back, Salvatore, and nice angle. I like how I have to go to his shadow to see a clearer outline of his arm. The shadow along the top is a good frame, although my eye appears to want more of it towards the right, but just nitty picking as usual.

Arthur, I did not think of it in B&W for two reasons. The most important being my very bad results with the conversions. On the other hand, losing the turban colours would also bother me a little. It must be a reflex from having been in such colorful a place.

 

Stephen, I also like the top shadow a lot, it seems to push the man walking... as for getting more of that, no way. It was a prime lens and I could not move from my spot. I should have shot a bit earlier or so, but the perspective of the uphill slope he was walking would have been too strong.

Another worthy shot from your visit to India! I agree you need to keep this in color. I love the little splash of yellow.

 

The figure's shadow is of course a critical element of this composition. You mentioned you should have shot this a little earlier. I'm trying to see how that would be beneficial. As it is now, I get the sense that the man is walking out of the frame on the right and his shadow is stretching to leave the frame on the left. Any sooner and you would not have had the same tension between man and shadow.

 

At first, I was hesitant about the shadow at the top. After further consideration, I agree that it helps guide the composition.

Laurie, I had not thought it that way, with the shadow going out of the frame towards the left, in its mirrored world... now I can hardly see anything else in here!

Thanks for your refreshing view of this!

(Private joke: I might have learnt a snake charmer trick or two, in India, helpful for gator shooting...)

Creating a nice angle with his shadow,Salvatore, and his yellow turban as the cherry on the cake...nice bg.Pnina

Pnina, thanks. I am glad you like the heavily-patterned background. I had quite mixed feelings about its texture when I was preparing for the shot, and even considered putting it OOF... than had to change my mind since sharpness in the shadows was important to me.

The pattern of the bg. plays well as a contrast to the roundness of the man (and even his shadow). I like the triangle of shadow on the upper left side, as it is parallel to the man and his shadow, I would have liked though to separate the shadow from the black frame by a tiny different color line in order to accentuate the difference.I see it as significant to the composition.

Pnina, I originally just liked (or rather accepted) the central line, parallel to all the flow of action, but had not seen a contrast in round/sharp forms. Now that you mention it, I see it, and I think it works well in "pulling" the man out of the picture almost three-dimensionally. Thanks again for suggesting things in the image I had not originally seen.

By separating the frame from the upper left corner the two diagonal shadows are getting more meaning in the composition, Don't you think?

Pnina, I think you're right!

Great shadow play with agreeable composition, fine texture, and just enough splash of color to make it interesting. Well done, Salvatore.

Late to the party, so I'll just echo Wilson, and agree with Pnina's thin white line on the frame. It's got lots of enjoyable elements - the light, for a start, the shadow and the defined shadow of the hand, the splash of yellow to anchor the shot, opposing angles with the paving stones, shadow lines and frame and, most important to my mind, good atmosphere and a sense of mystery.

Wilson, thanks for your support. I admire your style and appreciate your comments.

 

Jeremy, long time no read. As it often happens, you highlight something I had not focussed yet on, in this case it happens to be the shadow of the hand. After reading your comment, I seem only to see this and the turban!

 

Richard, the double-matting idea is a smart one (coming from a smart person, after all!) and I'll consider it for pictures with highlights and shadows around the edges. I will need time to get adapted to it since I'm just now considering, for a few shots, just the single white one. Coming back to the shot I am glad to see another positive comment on the paving, which I thought too strong at the time.

Once again a very powerful composition.

U have captured it very well.

Impressed with the stone textures and play of shadows.

 

Strong, bold image. Nicely done.