Underground Love

[Pete Askew]

Exploiting the optical illusion caused by the escalators in the Prague Metro...

Leica M9 + 35mm Summilux M f1:1.4. ISO 320, 1/30s f1:2.8. PP in LR4, PS and Nik.

 

[Darren Turner]

that really confuses my eyes ALOT. Great timing, it looks like there having a snog.

Really like this great shot

 

[Kev Pugh]

Timing on this is spot on Pete, the couple and the poster in the BG, that coupled with the angle and speed of the escalator add to the composition..love it...

 

[Pete Askew]

They were indeed. A tricky exercise in panning to be sure with a RF! I pre-focused just beyond the hand rail opposite me when i spotted them heading down the escalator.

Thanks Darren. Thanks Kev. And the illusion gave an even greater lean but I pulled it back a bit as it was just too disturbing.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Wow!! Excellent!!
Nice lines there Pete. Did they notice the snapping or were they too loved up? Lol

 

[Brian Moore]

Pete,...did you tag that wall with your initial?

Great shot. Wee bit confused by it. That's good, though.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Outstanding!

 

[Paul Lange]

That's great Pete and the PP is pretty good too. No matter how preoccupied they were I'm surprised they didn't spot you with the M9. They're quite large aren't they?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Oh, great shot. Love the angles, but the colours are really nice too.

 

[Pete Askew]

That's great Pete and the PP is pretty good too. No matter how preoccupied they were I'm surprised they didn't spot you with the M9. They're quite large aren't they?

Thanks Paul and Dan. The M9 isn't so big - I guess bigger than an X100 though but it is fairly discrete looking. It was a single shot and taken quickly but they were too engrossed. I took others of the escalators on other days and I guess people think you are shooting other things (I often point the camera somewhere else and then quickly swing onto my intended target).

Thanks Rob and Chris, the interior is very industrial and grey but most of the muted colour is from the P. And Brian, having tagged the wall the previous day I just needed a subject for it to sign!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

A good technical effort and nice shot with it I think ...
Does feel odd to look at doesn't it...

 

[Pete Askew]

It does and it's amazing that the illusion comes over so well in images. I have another on the Babelsberg sit shot a few years ago in Prague and I have a few shot on the Mamiya 7 as well (which I took to Prague with me this time along with 20 rolls of film. Shutter jammed on the first shot - piece of Japanese cra....! So off for a service then).

 

[Hamish Gill]

Gutted about the mamiya!
Especially as you had been planning to use it for a while!

 

[Pete Askew]

I know. I even tested it with a roll before packing!