A Viewing Deck at The Getty

[Brian Moore]

Another from the CheapAsChipsRoll. This view is looking west toward the late afternoon sun and my thought was to try to achieve a fuzzy backlit look to the folks in the background. Surprisingly, it actually kinda looks like how my minds eye saw it looking when I took the fotie.

 

[Pete Askew]

I like this Brian. Strangely, even though there is no colour in it, the first thing it reminded me of was one of the paintings by Jack Vettriano of the men walking on the beach (The Billy Boys)!! It all looks very posed or constructed and could so easily be a multi-exposure shot with all the people taking pictures etc. I know you don't 'do' crops but losing the roof line from the top of the shot makes it even more 'set-up' and deliberate in my mind.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks a lot, Pete. I'm bothered by the roof line, too. If I were to print and frame this photo I would certainly crop that roof out.

Jack Vetriano of the men walking on the beach

That is very interesting. Being heretofore unfamiliar with Vetriano I just googled hime and find that he is a Scot for one thing (which is really neither here nor there but just interesting to me) and the image you refer to (Is it called "The Billy Boys", Pete?) has that same mirage-like quality I was looking for in the picture I took.

This reminds me of a thought I had a couple of weeks ago when looking at some paintings by Andrew Wyeth. My thought was how inspirational fine art paintings could be for the photographer. Not to reproduce a painting through a set up photo, but to learn things about light and composition from an artist's vision.

Thanks again, Pete!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Why don't you like cropping Brian?
If this is a scan from a neg it will likely be wider than 6x4 rather than taller ...
I wonder if you can remember if you saw that bit of roof when you framed the shot?
This is the thing about the no cropping rule for me ... often viewfinders aren't perfect anyway... is it not ok to correct from the imperfection of a vf?

Lovely shot by the way, I would have put this into the challenge i think

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks for your comments, Hamish.

Why don't you like cropping Brian?

I've got nothing against cropping per se. I just have placed value for myself in trying to compose through the viewfinder.

I wonder if you can remember if you saw that bit of roof when you framed the shot?

I did not see it when I shot the picture, Hamish. Had I noticed it I would have adjusted so it would have been outside the frame.

This is the thing about the no cropping rule for me ... often viewfinders aren't perfect anyway... is it not ok to correct from the imperfection of a vf?

I agree that viewfinders ain't perfect, and I say the answer is yes, it is perfectly acceptable to crop from the imperfection of the vf.

I would have put this into the challenge i think

Truth is, I had trouble choosing which to post as my entries. There were several others I would have been comfortable posting. I have found that one of the biggest challenges in photography--for me personally--is to confidently gauge the merits of an image.

Thanks again, Hamish.

 

[Hamish Gill]

So if you would have reframed if you had seen it, surly that points to a vf with less than 100% coverage?
If that's the case, cropping it out would lead you to an image that was what you saw through the viewfinder ... Ie the compose shot through the viewfinder ...
But not cropping you are punishing your self or a short fall in your kit, not in your framing...

Sorry to harp on, I do understand the "crop with the camera" mentality (although I don't always follow it my self ... Oddly i do more often with film than digital) ... I'm just trying to ... Well, I suppose... challenge your views a bit really aren't I

 

[Brian Moore]

So if you would have reframed if you had seen it, surly that points to a vf with less than 100% coverage?

Not necessarily. I was at the time more concerned with getting the picture than with ideal compo. In particular, I liked that the couple in the background were between me and the sunlight and wanted them captured before they moved off. So I composed and shot in some haste. The overhang may have been in the frame, and perhaps I just didn't notice it at the time. So there!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Fair enough ...
And I suppose by not cropping it you are giving your self more impetus to get better at framing quickly in the future ...
Punish your self now in the hope that it will make you better later??

I guess that just leaves the problem of VF coverage ... And how to ever get round not necessarily ever finding out if what you see through the VF is what you will actually end up getting on the neg!

 

[Hamish Gill]

... Btw, cheers for taking my silly questions in the light hearted spirit they are intended!
I have more for you when the opportunity arises too

 

[Brian Moore]

And I suppose by not cropping it you are giving your self more impetus to get better at framing quickly in the future ...
Punish your self now in the hope that it will make you better later??

Nope. I just couldn't be bother cropping it.

Btw, cheers for taking my silly questions in the light hearted spirit they are intended!
I have more for you when the opportunity arises too

Its all good fun, Hammy!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Hah

... This calling me Hammy thing is spreading like wild fire...
Damn you Dan!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Well observed Brian, and well referenced Pete - it almost as a shop window feel to it, with showroom dummies positioned in a scene

Very cool

 

[Brian Moore]

showroom dummies positioned in a scene

You're right, Chris. Never thought of that. Thanks for the comments Chris!