COURTSHIP

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A very fine composition. (This should be viewed "Larger" by all.) Warm regards...

Thanks a lot. I "cooked" this one quite a bit, so I was curious as to what the reception would be.

I like this very much, Devid, it seems to be displaced in time. The colors are right out of the 1950's, kind of a modernist view of the leisure world of the future.

Balance, symmetry and comp. a great shot all together. Love the color.

 

Now let's talk meaning. What popped in my head first was...if they build it no one will come. I get such a sense of lonely waist. Like some benevolent town council, in a glimmer of infinite wisdom decided that somewhere they needed tennis courts. They made this for the people (or maybe to say they did something and leave a legacy) and still... no one would come.

 

I see this lot with our own local parks, courts and sport fields. They hardly get used, yet they are there...Kept pristine and maintained for a slight few people the even know they are there.

 

Or, It could be just a great shot that I can look out the detials for hours, and have no more deeper meaning than it is what it is. :) LOL

I like the way the shadows break up the symmetry. I also like the emptiness of the courts. On a clear, sunny day like this, I would expect to see these courts full, and there's something interestingly eerie about seeing them deserted.

"a modernist view of the leisure world of the future." If I could turn a phrase as you do, I'd quit photography. Thank you my friend.

Here's a little assignment for you. Google Larry Hillblom. This is the Larry Hillblom tennis complex at our local high school. I think between the courts and the stands/locker rooms, about 1.2 million has gone into it. If you dig a little bit, you will find an EXTREMELY interesting story behind the name. Trust me.

Yes, they are grossly underused. This was taken about 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon with nice warm temperatures. I give you the same assignment I gave Shane.

I think I might be one of his kids too. Where's my money?

Your momma ought to slap you a good one.

nice symmetry and juicy colours. I think the tall light pole and the flag pole disrupt the symmetry. I would remove them. You play tennis? Or how did you come up with the idea to go there? Scratching my head with an empty V8 bottle. I would give it 7/7 points if you had raccoons playing tennis there. Cheers, Micheal

I haven't played any tennis for years. I was just out riding my bicycle and this is only like five blocks from where I live. I am inclined to agree with you about the light and flag poles. If I print it, which I think I will, I'll see if I can make them go away.

Love this one, David. I would not have chosen to have the nearest light pole smack center, but that exactly is the reason this image works. The pole seems to take on an almost threatening quality, like a sergeant ordering the troops to stand tall. And I agree, the lightpole on the left and the flag has to go. But in any case, as usual, well seen! B :)

Thanks. As I said, if I try to print this up, I'll take those buggers out.

You are certainly right about the greasy patches. I noticed them and probably should have tried to eliminate them, although I'm not sure I won't make a bigger mess in trying to do so. I am not convinced that they are a result of my cooking. I will go back to the original on the memory card and see. I was just out getting some exercise, and I carry a little point and shoot, which is what I used on this. Perhaps I should go back and shoot it with my bigger gun.

 

Thanks for commenting.

This certainly dovetails with the best of your religious photos. I'm always saddened to see how land, time, and other resources are wasted.

 

 

This has a charming symmetry to it. Unpopulated, though. Certainly, you could've rustled up a few raccoons or Baptists to enliven the shot.

Raccoons or Baptists? Certainly you are not putting them on the same level. I've got a lot of respect for raccoons! LOL

 

I like the emptiness of the place. Public places when they are empty seem to have a different persona. Sometimes eerie. I do think it is interesting to consider that many years ago, it seems that if you were going to photograph a public place, one would try to find a moment when nobody was present to take the image. I think that is an old school type of thing, as many really good images these days have passerby traipsing through them. Maybe I was just operating under a phony paradigm.

This kicks into my soul right away. Instant classic. I do appreciate the light post being partly in shadow thus giving good graphical effect along the other shadows on the ground. The upper part may well be in light. I'm maybe nitpicking but I'd prefer to see the white border line across the whole scene, and further there is some barrel distortion - as I can see. Any chance to see the corrected version, David? (We have discussed this earlier, as you might remeber)

This one does have many flaws. There is no doubt about it. But I do like it a great deal and hope to print up a large one, so I will have to try and fix it. Fortunately it is close, so I could go back and take it with the D200, although I loathe doing re-shoots. Let's see what happens. On the other hand, for a point and shoot, I think it is pretty good. It is quite sharp, and it is hand held.

Thanks for your explanation. So, you do point and shoot while I struggle and tripod... ;-) Wishing you good luck, and remember: no need to avaoid re-shooting, IMHO...

there's a sense of "end-of-the-world"...everything clean and empty...the straight and symmetric compo reinforce that feeling so as the colors...really a nice strange mood...

Thanks. I'm pleased with what came of this. I obviously has been highly processed, but your "end of the world" description is right on. Good to hear from you.

The technical virtuosity and precision of your images is self evident. I should strive a bit more toward those ends. In this case, however, and in my defense, I was just our for a leisurely bike ride and did not carry any equipment except the point and shoot. As for re-shooting, I tend to be very spontaneous. Thus I find taking an image over that I have already done, sort of like kissing a sister. Might be good policy, but ain't much fun.

what a fantastic world!...like something out of a truly frightening movie. the colors really add to the surrealism of this image. i don't mind the poles in the background, but i do wish they would switch places so the flag would be more prominent. :-)