Critique Welcomed Stairway to...

[Pete Askew]

When I first saw these steps at the Volkspark Potsdam (Volkspark Potsdam - Startseite) I intended the image to be in B&W. However, as soon as I'd started the conversion I was reminded of the film Blow-Up (Blowup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) for some reason and decided to use the aesthetic of the shots in the film to guide the PP. I think it is the fact that you can't see what is over the horizon and the presence of the shadows under the trees that reminded me of the film. So I deliberately cropped the steps so you can't see where they lead and made the shot a bit darker and, hopefully, a little more moody. Having done all of this I think I'd like to pursue the theme further. What do you think?

Leica M9 + Leica 35mm Summilux M 1:1.4. ISO 160, 1/250 at f1:5.6. PP in LR and Nik SilverFX 2.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I can remember the poster for that film, but it wasn't one I ever saw. Strangely enough, I like the way the tones on the steps and the grass are similar with the only difference being in the structure, or lack of it. I think the lower viewpoint and the fact you have cropped the top of the steps does create a certain tension. The processing enhances this very well

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Lesley. The similarity in tones was intentional and I was trying for some tension. I think the grass is a bit too sharp though and I may need to add some blur before introducing grain. It looked a bit darker on the calibrated monitor but Ina's laptop is giving a brighter image.

The film is very dated but worth seeing as the main character was based heavily on David Bailey and David Hemmings was a keen photographer and it shows. The book of the film stills is worth a look too.

Amazon.com: Antonioni's Blow up (9783869300238): Philippe Garner: Books

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I like the crop, the angle of the steps contrasting with the curve of the hill. The tone is interesting. An image which raises a few questions, not least where do the steps lead to, and what, indeed, is over that hill?