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The Journeyman
1st PlaceThe Journeyman
muur88


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Leading Lines II (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Location: NYC
Date: Jun 26, 2005
Galleries: Emotive, Candid
Date Uploaded: Jun 26, 2005

 Hey Everyone...thanks for the comments...I'm really happy to have cracked the secret of 7 at least for the moment. I take back the evil thoughts I've been having about the site lately ;)

As you can tell, I'm writing this post challenge as I decided to submit something about 30 minutes before deadline. I had taken the pic at the beginning of the week and hadn't thought much about it until late.

I knew what I wanted compositionally and emotionally, but the lighting was very harsh (it was taken at 2pm) An S curve adjustment in photoshop and I was blown away by the details in the wood...I'm guessing I need to thank my 20D for that. With a tree lined background and a deep shadow on the right rail I brought down the levels in those areas to black to really bring out the strength of lighter areas. I needed to tone down the rail a bit with a burn and tone up the man in spots with a dodge. I cloned out some specs, but missed a few due to time.

Sorry, to the photo reality purists...photoshop was used to bring out the beauty of what I saw in my mind but which was trapped under the physical limitations of the true scene. I'm glad I decided to revisit this before it ended up in obscurity on my hard drive.

This is Bow Bridge in Central Park, NYC

************************************
Well this pic seems to have once again stirred up a bit of a stink over photographic intent and the "digital darkroom". Until tonight I was not aware of the issues with:
//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=145539
I'm still a bit confused with what the problem was. 'Removal' of elements is not even grounds for disqualification acording to the current rules, which were in effect when this photo was dqd.

It's unfortunate that alot of today's digital photographer's may never fully learn the darkroom techniques of the masters of film...self included.

Masking parts of an image during exposure seems a much more natural photographic technique to me than cloning out small specs of dust and other imperfections.

Questioning is a good thing, it keeps people honest. But it also can stifle progress. As always, the artist in me wonders what would happen if all this energy put into criticism where put into creation.

----------
This post has some more commentary from me and most likely the closest you'll get to the original without bribing the SC:

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=236484&page=5

I think anyone is crazy to think this site wouldn't be better without more images like redmoon's:

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=196102

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 275
Avg (all users): 7.7450
Avg (commenters): 9.1915
Avg (participants): 7.5152
Avg (non-participants): 8.0000
Views since voting: 20001
Views during voting: 441
Votes: 251
Comments: 82
Favorites: 50 (view)

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 08/18/2005 01:31:04 PM
Would love an EXIF on this or info on the shooting mode / shutter speed.
I have the same camera and lense and would love to know how you got the foreground and guy in the back pin-sharp !
Really nice shot and well done.
You deserved this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/10/2005 05:11:59 AM
I gave this a 9 because it had great leading lines. I have to agree with some that said the dark backgound look un-natural. I think the only thing that you really needed to get rid of was the glimpse of what appears to have been another person. The other changes to the bridge were fine. Regardless it is a great example of the challenge theme. Congrats on your blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2005 01:12:55 PM
how about posting the origional pic so I can get a feel for before / after? Great pic!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2005 10:58:41 AM
Hey! You did what any B&W artist would have done in the darkroom - with great results! Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2005 10:26:29 AM
Sorry about the comments, did not mean to offend.

Deannda
Won't happen again

Message edited by author 2005-07-05 23:09:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2005 10:21:09 AM
Congratulations on your ribbon! A beautiful shot and excellent demonstration of leading lines.

I have to agree with your statement of how much to do or not to do, post editing. I entered my first challenge and was frightened to do "too much" to my photo and most of the criticisms I am receiving is that I did "pop up" the colors! Oh well! Live and learn!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2005 05:15:02 AM
I love the details ! The wood is so rich. Congrats on your ribbon !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 11:35:42 PM
Congratulations on the blue ribbon. It's a great shot.

Message edited by author 2005-07-05 05:36:46.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 11:17:53 AM
Nice job Matt, and congrats on your first Blue Ribbon.
This is one of those shots that when it comes on the screen, amazing is one of the first words under my breath. Well maybe a wow or 4 too.
:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 07:37:47 AM
Congratulations. A well deserved win.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 06:02:51 AM
Congrats! Nice job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 05:53:23 AM
Absolutely gorgeous! Love this bridge. I think I've photographed the same one where you can see the Dakota off to the left. Is that correct? Anyway, I love the deep rich tones and congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 04:33:29 AM
Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 03:18:21 AM
Awesome picture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 01:15:07 AM
Congratulations !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/04/2005 12:35:25 AM
So perfect ! Congratulations !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 10:47:58 PM
Congrats on your Blue Ribbon
I really like this, so well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 10:47:04 PM
Congrats on the ribbon. Great POV.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 09:19:02 PM
Congtatulations on the blue ribbon,is an excellent image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 09:03:08 PM
This is one of my all-time favorites on DPC. Great job, and congrats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:50:44 PM
That lonely walk into the night...Congratulations on your well deserved blue. A highly impressive image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:35:23 PM
Congratulations. This was a photo I really liked. Way to go. WOO HOO for you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:35:12 PM
Very nice, a very sophisticated composition and well-deserving of the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:27:36 PM
Congrats! I don't remember seeing this photo either in the challenge. However, you deserve the blue! Great Shot! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:27:08 PM
Well deserved, composition perfect !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:26:26 PM
Please tell us how you managed such a black background with everything else so well lit.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:13:53 PM
I didn't vote on this challenge, but I marked this one for a ribbon when glancing through the thumbnails. Congrats on the excellent image and the ribbon... this is perfect in every way!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:09:05 PM
Congratulations on the blue. Very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:07:00 PM
Congrats!! The clarity is fabulous!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:05:35 PM
a tremendous image here. congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:04:43 PM
Perfect for the challenge, and great shot! What a score too. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:01:57 PM
Congratulations, a well deserved win on this excellent shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 08:01:47 PM
wow i didnt see this one during voting congrats!
i would of givin ya a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/03/2005 07:35:58 PM
Superb toning and definition!
Very nice, very nice!
One of my favorites in & out of the challenge (9)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 05:25:24 PM
Back for comments ... This photo has the most amazing light. Love the colors and textures of the boards and the curve of the walkway and bannister. And the light leading into the darkness beyond really is what makes this shot for me. wonderful job. Bumped to a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 04:39:03 PM
Great lines..wonderful composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 04:00:50 PM
This is a great picture, I hope you get a ribbon for this one. It's one of my top 4. 9 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 01:38:30 PM
Expressive and a hell of a composition. Good work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2005 03:29:53 AM
Very cool shot. The patterns are competing a bit but they all lead to the man. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 10:39:56 PM
Interesting light falling on the man and balustrade considering the black sky. a surreal image that I enjoyed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 10:39:44 PM
This is an awesome photo. I love the composition. Great subject. Nice detail. Super job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 07:31:02 PM
Very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 08:07:16 AM
you've got an excellent mood to your shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 03:54:23 AM
This will do very well. Bow bridge in Central Park? The lighting here is remarkable. How did you get the background so black? Definitely a striking photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 01:53:21 AM
simply great, the walking guy brings a nice balance to your pic. slightly oversharpened.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2005 12:40:17 AM
very cool. For this category in many of the entries people being in them is more a distractant than a help, but here the person adds a lot to the image - telling a story in a way. I love the contrast and colors. Added to my favs. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 10:55:21 PM
Wonderful lughting and great composition. The only flaw I can possibly find is that there is a small white dot near the lower right corner that could, perhaps, be cloned out.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 09:38:11 PM
Very nice image...love the color and the feel. This is one image where I think you would have been better off without someone in the photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 06:45:16 PM
10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 02:25:27 PM
Excellent treatment here, great shot...10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 01:17:06 PM
I love the off-kilter composition of this. I also like the way the bridge is so heavy and imposing, the way it swoops up into a hump, the texture of the surface and the exact positioning of the lone figure. The light falling on him just so makes him a perfect focal point and the blackness of the background is so unexpected it adds an element of surreality to it all. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 12:46:05 PM
I think this is Bow Bridge--I know it well--walk over it every weekend. Nice Shot--good luck (8)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2005 08:13:57 AM
That´s a wonderfull photo... Good luck 10... And i dont give that grade often:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2005 03:54:35 PM
What a beautiful story-telling photograph. Impressive lighting you've captured here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2005 12:23:17 PM
This is awesome. I love everything about it. The lighting on the rail on the left, the lines of the hardwood. The black background. and the guy walking away. Great job!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2005 12:01:54 PM
great, fits the challenge perfectly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2005 11:19:56 PM
Great shot
10
fit the challenge to a tee
good luck

kev
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2005 10:22:39 PM
Great lighting and an absolutely beautiful line.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2005 09:41:09 PM
Stunning image, great depth of field. Excellent texture in the wood and concrete. A 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2005 06:43:38 PM
Super line and lighting. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2005 06:22:44 PM
Beautiful shot... Good luck in the competition!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2005 07:34:04 PM
I'd love to know what the structure is he's walking over. One hell of a great shot! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2005 06:51:45 PM
Great Shot - I'd give it an 11 if I could.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2005 03:53:30 PM
Leading lines or curves generally have two purposes. One is to lead the viewer into the scene. The other is to lead you toward the main subject. It is most effective if they come in from the lower left because that is the natural direction humans visually scan a picture from so are easiest to pick up.

Excellent use of left entering leading lines to direct attention to the person walking over the bridge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2005 06:20:32 AM
Nice lighting, this is the type of shot that makes photography art.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/28/2005 01:19:44 AM
A high impact image. Shows the rest of us just how dramatic the leading lines of everyday objects can be when properly incorporated into a meticulously composed photograph. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 09:22:06 PM
Great photo. Love the colors, the sharpness is right on as well. I also really like the subject shirt color as it is such a contrast to everything else in the pic. I wish I could shoot photos like this.
:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 05:57:21 PM
Nw those are leading lines... I like the symmetry and the multiplicity of lines, in the floor and railing. In to my top 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 05:10:32 PM
I absolutely love this photograph! Very nice work and very nice capture! Met the challenge to boot! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 05:05:51 PM
This is lovely. Everything about it appeals to me. Great Work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 04:42:43 PM
Love this. Tones great. Use of blue to pull eye to man excellent. lines lead!.. Comp, DOF, POV, all dead on. 10 from me!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 04:39:54 PM
Great concept and a very striking image but I feel the ornate rail is a tad too bright and hence has lost a little detail. good luck (8)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 03:34:03 PM
I love this shot, but the guy in it seems out of place...it may be the outfit. I think another "model" or maybe a less cheerful shirt might have worked...not sure, but the bridge is very well shot and this is my favorite of the challenge so far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 02:00:26 PM
a beautifully done image perfect foer this challenge, wonderful use of light in an appealing composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 01:05:41 PM
The Bow bridge -Central Park. Excellent shot and perfect for this challenge. Good job. 10 from me. Like to know how you got the background so dark.
 06/27/2005 09:28:01 AM
You achieved great balance of light.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 09:14:51 AM
simple yet effective picture, pretty stunning actually!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 08:54:53 AM
very very nice!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/27/2005 08:40:13 AM
I really really like this one! terrific lines, texture, tones, composition. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2005 08:43:49 PM
NICE!!! I love how his blue shirt is the only other cool color in this composition. Lighting is just excellent. Great texture and depth. -9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2005 08:33:05 PM
Excellent use of contrast, and of course those elegantly flowing lines. Surely a winner! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/26/2005 08:19:48 PM
Eyecatching thumb, excellent detailing and lighting. Like the negative blacks. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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