Beating the Heat

'Beating the Heat' is a photo that relies on a simple message, a little

play of light, and a little composition. Your ratings and critiques are

invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, please

submit a helpful and constructive comment; please share your superior

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks!

Enjoy! John

Nice texture John.. Somehow I have this feeling that there is more to this shot than meets the eye. You didn't provide your usual story and pre-shot observation.. Are you slipping or did I just get in under the wire.

No to both questions. Sometimes a shot is simple and a caption says it all, as here.

 

This shot depicts what the caption says - nothing more (or less).

 

It was posted primarily for its compositional values as well as for the theme (beating the heat).

 

Sometimes I can be simple too.

 

Thanks for commenting.

 

John (Crosley)

Now this is more effective than a can of Coke. ;) The shimmering light on the surface is enthralling and the feet running on the water feel so refreshing.

What makes this so interesting on reflection now that it's been a week or so, is that looking back, it could have been taken anywhere in the world it gets hot.

 

This is an almost universal photo about summertime or hotter climes -- and doesn't bespeak anything about the fountain in which it was taken at all. What made taking a photo like this interesting is that here you're shooting 'into the sun's reflection' but if the boy goes right or left, there is no reflection, and here the sun was slightly diffused so the reflection was slightly spread out.

 

I had to move right and left with each running child to follow their movements or stop in one likely place and hope they'd do something interesting as they passed a likely place between me and the sun's rays -- an interesting logistical exercise. One can do that in a fountain where there a few children running about, but not in a fountain full of kids and certainly not in a fountain where there' s only one child (with any hope of success.) This was a large fountain, of course, and even so there was a battle to keep the fountain's edge from protruding into the frame of all my photos (hence the boy's head is 'chopped off'. ;~))

 

Yes, better than a can of Coke, for sure.

 

Thanks for the comment. Best to you.

 

John (Crosley)

Hi John,

 

For this photo I actually prefer not to read the caption.

 

It's a magical image to me that I think stands on its own. I think I could just stare at this one for a long time (in fact I think I have been...). You have managed to capture something that is to me a marvel of light and water that I can never tire of looking at.

 

I could read so many stories/moments into this image, it makes my imagination run wild!

 

As a fan of all things fantasy and magical, this one brings a big smile to my face, and I thank you for that. A personal favorite of mine.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe

I had both a very good day and a very bad day -- photographically one of my best ever.

 

A comment like yours warms my heart.

 

My personal and profound thanks to you for letting me know of the satisfaction this photo has brought into your life.

 

John (Crosley)