DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries

 
You are viewing 1st place.
2nd
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Track 9 to Nowhere
1st PlaceTrack 9 to Nowhere
craigdm


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Nine II (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
Location: North Station, Boston, MA
Date: Sep 10, 2013
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO: 1600
Shutter: 1/100s
Date Uploaded: Sep 15, 2013

 [Sep. 22nd, 2013 10:21:53 PM]

Holy cow! After a week fluctuating between 7.2 and 7.6, this is sitting at just a hair under 7.4 heading into rollover. Thank you all for the kind comments and high scores, this was completely unexpected.

I was in Boston for a meeting and hung around afterwards to get a golden hour skyline along the river, but I got nothing but crappy overcast skies. Walking through train station on my way home I noticed the "9" on the door and grabbed 11 different shots. This one turned out to be the best. I only wish I had put the polarizer back on to cut down on the glare from the reflections on the door. I waffled a bit on putting the passenger directly inside the 9, thinking it might be too cliché, but I'm glad most people seemed to like it.

I'm a total photography newbie, but I've been reading and studying quite a bit. After deciding that the composition in my photos generally stinks, I picked up Szarkowski's Looking at Photographs for inspiration. I threw everything I could think of at this entry: framing, leading lines, thirds, repeating patterns, wide tonal range, and high contrast.

Some people have commented on the processing. I'm certainly not a photoshop pro so it's pretty straightforward:
Raw conversion with
-white balance
-exposure
-convert to grayscale (custom)
-curves to increase contrast at low end
-split toning (sepia hue)
Curve adjustment layer with overlay blend mode
Crop
Save for web

Ammie Not posed, just got lucky. All 11 shots were taken within 3 minutes. Hardest part was the door kept opening and shutting automatically whenever I moved!

Elaine I noticed you also have a nice shot of train tracks entitled "Track to Nowhere". I swear I didn't rip you off!

GeneralE I hadn't heard of that short story, but I went and read it. It's pretty good, and I love that it's set in Boston where I grabbed this shot. Too bad my shot was the commuter rail train rather than the T (the subway). The story also reminds me of a song from the same time period called "Charlie on the MTA".


Updated post-finish...

Thanks again everyone, I'm flattered by the blue finish! I thought this might be a possibility when I saw the score holding. Congrats to the other winners and entries. The image is currently showing up really small for me too, I'm not sure it's anything I have any control over. I hadn't submitted an original until just now, and I have it submitted to be watermarked, so I don't know if either of those is the reason why.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 52
Avg (all users): 7.4048
Avg (commenters): 8.3529
Avg (participants): 7.5000
Avg (non-participants): 7.3571
Views since voting: 3240
Views during voting: 192
Votes: 84
Comments: 30
Favorites: 1 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 10/10/2013 08:53:17 AM
Congrats on the blue ribbon, Craig!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/24/2013 12:32:07 PM
being a newbie you did this...... I wonder what would you do as an expert :) Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 11:58:48 PM
Delightful story and a GRAND find.
Congratulations for seeing and appreciating it so well.
This one's going to stay on your front page for a looooong time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 12:29:26 PM
Originally posted by tate:
I kept looking at this thinking "there's no way DPC voters would give a blue to such a small image"! LOL Can't wait til I can see it th4e correct size =)
Congrats!


I was thinking the same thing until I read the comments! lol. Well done and congrats on the blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 10:39:35 AM
Congrats! Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 08:06:38 AM
I kept looking at this thinking "there's no way DPC voters would give a blue to such a small image"! LOL Can't wait til I can see it th4e correct size =)
Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 06:12:53 AM
Well done! Your photo is appearing really small for me - probably just my PC playing up.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 05:18:24 AM
Congrats on your PB and blue ribbon. Very well deserved! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 02:41:10 AM
Congratulations,this was my highest scorer in the end,great stuff.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 01:22:16 AM
Congratulations on the blue. You certainly combined all those rules to effect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 12:28:17 AM
The blue on your 10th entry! I'd say you're learning VERY quickly :-) Congrats!

ETA - why is the image so small?

Message edited by author 2013-09-23 00:29:29.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 12:16:15 AM
Congrats on your ribbon; nice find.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/23/2013 12:12:12 AM
Well deserved, congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/22/2013 11:34:14 PM
and then there is the police.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 10:08:36 PM
FABULOUS!!!!!! A 9 from me. should be a 10! Really great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 09:32:39 PM
well done. beautiful tones and dramatic composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 08:30:48 PM
I love the way the figure is framed in the 9. In my top 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 02:46:51 PM
Well done composition. Like the processing, gives it a "yesteryear/days gone by" feel. My pick for the winner.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 02:04:52 PM
Love this one. A 9 from me. The person in the part of center of the nine really adds a nice touch. The colors are great
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2013 02:03:35 PM
Great find, wonderful image and marvellous processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2013 10:09:40 PM
Nice capture, well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2013 04:38:22 PM
This (the title especially) reminds me of a great story called "A Subway Named Moebius" ...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2013 02:42:07 PM
I love the color tone and the composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/18/2013 04:19:16 AM
My favorite shot! WOW, stunning!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2013 03:03:37 PM
Black & White works well. Love the person in the center of the 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2013 05:11:18 AM
Now this is a sweet shot. Posed? If not, how long did you have to wait for someone to pass by. Brilliant.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/16/2013 03:02:51 PM
One of my favourite in the challenge. Great find! Nice post processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/16/2013 12:23:41 PM
I have this near to the top.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/16/2013 02:19:43 AM
I am appropriately giving you a nine. :) Fantastic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/16/2013 12:24:49 AM
Nice framing. Like the sepia toning. Works well in this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/16/2024 09:29:10 AM EDT.