Train Ride
by Liehsc

Comment by Sting11165:
(copied from forum post)

Nice silhouette -- this is a type of image that I've never really done before but am looking forward to it. It clearly tells a story (boy looking at train) without clearly showing the boy or train. Good sharpness, good contrast. Good selective focus on the boy (it would lose the dreamy quality if the train was sharp, I think). After all, the subject of the photo is the boy.

Definitely like the desaturation in this one. I'm not sure it'd work in color.

Composition is good, although I'd like to see a tighter crop to make the image a bit more 'intimate'. Really draw the viewer in to the boy. You could crop out the white space above the train easily, you might even be able to crop out the top half of the train and still keep the idea (probably not though, now that I think about it). A lower vantage point might help, if you could take it again, to get tight with the boy yet clearly show the train.

That's about it -- a nice image.

Oh, one other thought -- would it be cool if you could get some motion blur on the train? Good luck getting the kid to sit still though :)

Pink
by Liehsc

Comment by Techo:
This is quite the nice bouqet. I wouldn't mind a crop off the bottom to hide the vase. And you can always add a bit of black empty space at the top to keep the aspect ratio. The Color Balance seems off a bit, too much red. But I don't quite mind it here. Your call.

As Life Goes By
by Liehsc

Comment by Jedusi:
wonderful pensive look. Very impressive.

As Life Goes By
by Liehsc

Comment by posthumous:
that's not fair. someone told you I was a sucker for window reflection shots! the worst thing about this shot is just that there are so many like it, but let's see what you do to stand out of the crowd:

-a tight crop that cuts off the top of his head and renders the stuff behind his head unrecognizable. good!

-lots of big mysterious shadows. My favorite shadow is the one all around his left eye. Interestingly, I only notice it in the reflection. Anything to break up the symmetry inherent to a shot like this! This reminds me of bucket in that the excess of darkness makes the light parts seem particularly ethereal and luminescent.

-the child and his reflection are both looking out of frame, which makes it seem like they're looking at the same place. When a reflected model is NOT looking out of frame, the reflection seems to be looking through the glass in our general direction, and the model seems to be looking away from us. The look out of frame leads our eyes out of frame, which adds a dynamism to the photo, and the fact that they're both looking out of frame makes it even more interesting. Ah, the mystery of what they're looking at! That plus the darkness gives this shot plenty of mystery, which is what you need when you are on the verge of having a "genre" shot.

-you managed to get a genuine yet understated expression from the child. Not always an easy thing!

In sum, good photo. I like it more the more I write about it. :)

All Smiles
by Liehsc

Comment by Liehsc:
Thanks, Yeah this is my little boy. He makes a very good model; and his sitting fees are cheap.

Train Ride
by Liehsc

Comment by Liehsc:
Thanks, He is actually on a train watching the other train go by.

So Fine
by Liehsc

Comment by Perfect-Calamity:
I like the creepy feel to this image. Very nicely done.

Fair Park
by Liehsc

Comment by lovethelight:
What a cool and dynamic place to photograph, the winding pathways are really cool. I don't know if it would be possible but this would have a stronger effect if there were no people I think. Maybe try going by there right at sunrise and catching some fog or something. ?

All Smiles
by Liehsc

Comment by lovethelight:
Is this your son because he is super cute. I like that you havn't taken his scar out of his pictures. This is another really nice portrait but I think it would really benefit with some offcentered composition. It will make the picture more interesting I think

Train Ride
by Liehsc

Comment by lovethelight:
Nice sillhouette but the title seems funky. Is he on the train or watching it? You have really nice b/w