kite surfingby
whiteroomComment by Bear_Music: Goodman,
This is an exceptionally nice image, perfect for the challenge. I didn't view or rate all the images in "wind" or I'd surely have ranked this right near the top.
I'm going to come right out and disagree witht hose who advocate cropping top and bottom. IMO this would be a serious mistake; the square framing is optimal for this image. It's all about this absolutely palpable tension between man and kite/wind, and this is taking place on an almost pure diagonal that could only be weakened by the cropping. A square format is very good at highlighting such internal, push me-pull you tension.
Likewise, is trongly believe the monochrome is right for this image. I'd have to see the original to be sure, but as I visualize it in the original you have two large gields of color top and bottom competing with each other and the kite popping out and up from that conflict. I see the color fields introducing an unnecessary element to the competition between man and wind. In this monochrome version, the values of sky and sand are so similar, so down-key, that they provide a more neutral field on which the conflict may evolve. Your choice of sepia-like tonality is optimal to my eye, as it introduces a vaguely "dated" look to the image, making it somehow emblematic of an eternal battle man has always fought.
So this is all good.
What's not so good? For one thing, the collapsed kites on the beach under the figure's feet are distracting. Absent the basic editing rules, I'd brush them out or at least burn them down (how we would have done it in film days) so they are less distracting. Almost as problematical is the scimitar-like edge of the seconf kite rising from behind the subject kite. I'd also brush that out, absent the rules.
Finally, in an ideal world this kite might be a tad more airborne, so the bottom curve was actually clearing the skyline behind. That's about it for nits. This is an exceptionally fine entry and I'm a little surprised it didn't place higher.
Nevertheless, a very good showing for a terrific challenge solution.
(robt)
Photographer found comment helpful.
