I got soaked during my lunch hour shooting in the rain - it was a blast! Catherine (noraneko) suggested a beautiful title for this in Japanese - "ai toh ai gasa" - which refers to two people in love sharing a single umbrella. To me it speaks of a compatability, an understanding to the point where you can share an umbrella, walk in step, and enjoy the rain.
I tried tonemapping this to see what it would do and it really brought out the rain quite nicely. Apologies to Daniel (graphicfunk) who preferred the color version - and he's right, it had more depth than the B&W. But I'm a B&W gal at heart and the timelessness of this B&W appeals to me.
Color version:
Post challenge: Woo hoo! Thanks for all the wonderful comments! I like that this is one of my standard "busy" shots with probably too much going on in it to do well, and yet it did. I do like it here when it rains, which this month it has done quite often. This was shot from under an umbrella, though mine isn't nearly as nice as theirs.
Statistics
Place: 3 out of 381 Avg (all users): 7.0153 Avg (commenters): 8.6364 Avg (participants): 6.9351 Avg (non-participants): 7.1296 Views since voting: 11644 Views during voting: 238 Votes: 131 Comments: 157 Favorites: 87 (view)
I always come back to look at this often one of my faves of my faves, and great for the 'in the rain' challenge. Don't you wish you could take a similar shot again!
Wow I just realised you have 85 faves for this, Woot woot.
Yes and I love that umbrella, a blast from the past.
Absolutely wonderful! Perfect contrasts/gradients, and a superb capture of the weather. That both subjects are wearing the same color/style coats was either luck, or you used models, but there's nothing here to suggest anything but a wonderful, candid shot that is expertly timed and composed. Easily a 9 in my book.
Deb, just happened upon this beauty. WOW. I have to agree with the B&W gal at heart, the B&W rocks.
Edit to say: Holy Cow ... I'm the 57th favorite on this one. WOW WOW WOW
When I met my girlfriend in in Guadalajara Mexico, we obviously had no car or personal transportation of our own. We also were staying with families as part of the a Study Abroad program and we weren't allowed to be alone as is the custom there. We headed in a taxi downtown and spent the whole day together and at one point it had been one of the those flash afternoon storms that pass in a half hour. We had only one umbrella and walked underneath for so long, we finally realized that storm had been long gone and there was no one else but us walking around with an umbrella over our heads. We've been together ever since. :)
I am normally a color type of guy, but in this case the bright blues would have taken the eye away from the subjects leaving you with a much lower score, IMHO. Well deserved placement.
Wow. I almost never comment on shots, but this one is great. This deserved the blue. It is the most appropriate for the challenge. The other 2 ribbon winners do not fit the challenge nearly as naturally. Also, the shot looks MUCH better is b/w. In color, the colorful background steals the focus away from the somber foreground. The bright colors and modern scenery also rob the shot of it's nostalgic romance.
Oh you poor little dear...only 130 comments?...I better add mine!CONGRATULATIONS!!! Another ribbon, woo-hoo! Rockin' score too! Such a cool shot and (you are right) done in true Melethia fashion. What a rewarding ribbon. Magnificent image.
Well deserved ribbon. Congratulations! In my mind, the B&W is better, because it distills the image down to what's really important....rain, couple, umbrella. The color version is watered down by other elements that draw attention away from the rain, the couple, and the umbrella.
I love to see images like this on the front page. The black and white is a great way to add a bit of timelessness … Personally red and white umbrellas add too much nationalism or something for me and they look much better grey. The brain is fooled a bit using greyscale and it works well to remove unnecessary activators of brain synapses.
deb .. this is just amazing ... i'm glad you went with the b&w coz it gives this image a wonderful 'back in time' feeling combined with the scene, the ppl and your processing ... i love that they are wearing the same type of jackets too, it adds to that compatibility feeling you were talking about ...
CONGRATULATIONS on a PB, a ribbon and a fantastic photograph .. i love your processing on this ... just perfect ... :):)xx
For sure! it was a Great decision to go for B&W. The color version doesn't work at all. The repeating "umbrellas" really make this shot pushing the presence of the rain against the couple. Romantic and Classic. Very well captured in a magic moment.
Congrats for your wonderful photo, Deb
... and congrats on your Ribbon!
Really nice shot, congrats on the ribbon. I like the way the different areas come together from the unusual umbrella and the roofs in the background to the matching coats the couple are wearing.
Deb, this is fantastic! That is such an interesting umbrella too, and the rain really tops it off, well worth getting soaked for. Your doing so great these days!!
the jackets, the beautiful umbrella.. the tent at the back, repeating with that umbrella, she, a bit bend, holding his arm (or he holding her arm ;)).. the black and white (I'm so glad you chose b/w!)
Congratulations Deb, this is outstanding timeless image. The moment I saw it in challenge I knew it it will ribbon. For me this is the winner shot. FANTASTIC in every aspect, and I love it in B&W, much better then color version. Going to my favorites.
Congratulations Deb. Yay, another ribbon for you!!! This is a wonderful image. I love the way the shape of the umbrella is repeated by the roofs. I think you made a good choice on the b&w. The background in the color shot is a bit distracting to me, while in the b&w version the balloons just add a little interest and ambiance. I'm so happy for you that this was well appreciated.
Congratulations! This was my favorite shot in the challenge. Although the color version is good, I think b&w was the way to go. Great capture and processing.
oh my god, this photo is stunning. Notice that you got your ribbon on the strength of all those tens. In other words, some people didn't "get" it but a squadron of people fell in love with it. I am an aficionado of rain photos. It always amazes me how rain looks different from one photo to the next. In your photo, the rain looks like a texture, it looks like the inking or engraving technique of someone like Duhrer. For all the motion of people and water, this photo looks eternally still. I skipped this challenge, which is the only reason my admiration has been delayed thus far.
Deb, I can't believe how good you have become. You have found the magic to this site. This is a fabulous shot and should have had the blue. Keep it up.
Congrats on the ribbon! I prefer this MUCH MUCH more to the color...the black and white fits perfectly and gives it a whole different mood then the color version. I am glad you entered this one :) FAV +
Nice one getting another ribbon for your collection and your first 7+ score. :D
Personally, I think that the black and white version is superior to the colour. The B&W gives it an old fashioned feel, I think, that works well with the scenery and clothing. :)
Congratulations Melethia! What a great shot! It's a classic; the unusual umbrella they have, and the B&@, gives it a feel from another time. Really really nice! I didn't vote in this one, but it's a 10.
This is definitely timeless in B&W. I love your description of it; it's sweet, romantic, beautiful, all at the same time. Many congratulations on a well deserved ribbon and new PB!!!
Stunning capture and very interesting and unique image. I really like how the umbrella fits in nicely with the background gazebo and tent. I also like the contrast between the solid toned subjects and the nearly pointillistic background and foreground from the downpour. Congratulations on your ribbon. Well deserved.
Deb: superb presentation here. The closeness of the couple and the mutual inhibition from the rain is so very well presented. Congratulations on your YELLOW!
oh i like this; very french nouvelle vague! not sure about the weird brolly, but the trench coats and style is otherwise faultless. if this turns out to be a candid, then my level of deeply impressedness will quadruple, for it feels a very slick and perfected staging. the setting works well (stuff there, but none of it distracting or out of place - the balloons actually contrast with the mood in brilliant subtlety). technically it's excellent, and some of the best grey tones i've seen for a while. a beautiful image - either exceptionally lucky or gloriuosly talented, or a bit of both ;)
My First Weighted Scoring System ™; composition + technical 3/3, challenge 1/1, post processing results 2/2, ooooh factor 3/3, originality 1/1 = 10
Instant 10 from me, no hesitation. Great details, the unusual umbrella, the matching coats, all nicely framed. I guess others won't consider this a sight "less seen" but you captured a great moment here and IMO it fits the challenge.
My most absolute favorite of this challenge. The BW conversion is perfect. I really love all the rain and how it really stands out and also how they are perfectly insync with each other from their coats to their movements. And what to say about that funky umbrella... It's all just so lovely.
The Shared Umbrella
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