I haven't entered for a while and this trip to London hasn't been a good one for shooting either. I'm half entering this because it's been so long but I am ready for the poor score. The other thing that bothers me is that I've edited this on my laptop.
I tried crops to move the person out of the center of the frame but nothing worked for me. I liked the cloud formation as it is - I feel it helps bring us back to the person and the sun.
Editing was basic other than a little skew to straighten Big Ben up.
Bring on the 5.x score...
[Aug. 1st, 2009 04:57:41 PM]
So here we are 130 votes in and the score is a 6.6! I would never have bet on that!
[Post Challenge]
When this finished in 12th place originally I was saying to a friend I needed 2 DQ's to get into the top 10 and then I'd be able to say that my last three trips to London had generated a top 10 shot each time, all from Westminster Bridge. And then there are 2 DQ's - crazy!
Anyway, next time you are in London I suggest you head down to Westminster Bridge:
November 2007:
May 2007:
Statistics
Place: 10 out of 169 Avg (all users): 6.6039 Avg (commenters): 7.9000 Avg (participants): 6.5385 Avg (non-participants): 6.6711 Views since voting: 1977 Views during voting: 295 Votes: 154 Comments: 17 Favorites: 3 (view)
This is an excellent photo as shown by the score you received in this challenge. I love the silhouette exposure and the overall high contrast of this photograph. Compositionally I can understand your own comments on this image with the subject being centered in the frame. In general, the rule of thumb for centered subjects is just like the rule about centered horizons. When the primary point of interest is in the center of the frame, it needs to be supported by either zero interest surrounding it or have equal amounts of interest all the way around it. Whether or not your clouds are supportive of this subject is probably quite subjective. My personal subjective interest in this image is mainly in the lower half of the frame because the leading lines all point back to your main point of interest. I wouldn't really consider the clouds as a point of support for the subject.
I think there is a very strong square composition in this photograph. This square would be created by cropping at the top just above the sphere of the sun and just below the patch spot in the pavement.
Another trick you might want to explore sometime in situations like this one is to create a 'sun star' with your exposure. They are relatively easy to do but they require the use of a polarizer and a much smaller aperture than you chose in this exposure. As you can see, you have the beginnings of this 'star' forming from the sun, but that technique will create a really nice star for you if you give it a try sometime...
Wow, got a 10 from me. Maybe you should edit on your laptop more often. Outstanding work and you fussed over the comp for nothing. Congrats on an awesome finish!
Love the high contrast black and white, the long length of the shadow and how it leads the eye into the walker, the secondary focal point of the tower and the way the clouds frame the picture.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
