Walking into light

[Jim Kuo]

This is what I see as I walk to the bus stop on my way home. The building on the left is Royal Albert Hall. It can look quite pretty in the right light.

I like looking at this view, since it means I've finished the day's work and have earned an evening of relaxation (and RPF time)

Jim

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Wow ! Great shot dude. I like it, I like it alot!!

 

[Jim Kuo]

Thanks Dan, I appreciate your enthusiasm

 

[Pete Askew]

Truly excellent shot and lovely treatment there Jim. I really like the figures in the windows at the end of the street and the figure ahead balances it nicely and adds a bit of mystery as you're not sure if they are the subject especially as they appear to be looking at the figure walking towards them. Loads of interest. Worthy of a border I'd say!

 

[Jim Kuo]

Wow Pete, you are certainly studying this picture at much greater depth than I was able to.

I had to bring up the original in LR and view it at 100% to see the head you were talking about

After studying it carefully, I just found several other people who I originally missed. This picture turns out to be a lot more lively than I had realised.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Jim, pete doesn't miss anything lol

 

[Jim Kuo]

Yes

It's great to have my pictures analysed by experts in such detail. It makes excellent learning experience.

 

[Pete Askew]

Who said that!!!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

 

[Kev Pugh]

This is a lovely image loads going on and a natural pull to where the chap on the phone is going....Good work Jim

 

[Tim Pindar]

Agree with the above - though I'm not sure about the white van.

 

[Jim Kuo]

Yeah, I am annoyed by where the van parked as well...

 

[Kev Pugh]

Can't be helped, I think that its OK and adds real life to the image, we can't always have that sterile clean look we want, it is a real street with real happenings going on

 

[Pete Askew]

I don't think it detracts at all Jim. If anything it helps the lead in to the composition and keeps the eye moving to the right.

 

[Jim Kuo]

Cool.

In the original, the entire van is in the shot. I remember the advice from Hamish about one of my previous pictures, that cropping out part of the non-essential objects (it was a bike) can help guiding the view into the real subject.

I was going for that idea and luckily, it appears to have helped

 

[Pete Askew]

It certainly has. As I said, I think it adds far more than it takes away. Great shot.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Echo the above comments - also love the lighting balance, and the crispness in the shot

The wet road really adds to the shot with that nice reflection

 

[Jim Kuo]

Thanks Chris.

I normally don't adjust the sharpness of my pictures, but I did for this one because it was hand held at 1/30 (I don't have steady hands ) at night. I increased clarity and sharpness a little. There were bright yellow/orange light shinning on the walls of Royal Albert Hall, which I toned down the yellow/orange channels in B/W conversion to make the brick patterns visible.

As mentioned, I get a calming feeling when I see this picture. I am very glad that there are others who find it interesting, too.

 

[Brian Moore]

Yeah it's a great picture, Jim. I agree with all that has been said but I'd add that the water on the street adds a lot of interest, too.

And Dan's right! Pete don't miss nuthin'!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Yeah, im with everyone, this is a great image Jim!
Im going to chuck another idea at you...
my edit isnt perfect, but using the lens corrections in lightroom you can straigten the lamp post and walls of the building you can correct the verticals like the lamp post...

this is -8 on the vertical and +1.3 on the rotate then 103 on the scale to crop a touch

original for comparison

like i say, my edit, isnt quite perfect, but you could get all the verticals properly upright with a bit of tinkering

not that it necessarily need to be perfect, but that little Darren Bradley in my head started nagging me when i saw this