Oh wow, I just returned to civilization from a hiking/camping trip to find this!
I can't believe it.
Since a lot of people asked I'll divulge what this really is, but I hope too many people don't think less of it as a result... :P
The "rider" is a statue of George Washington or some other general in Valley Forge National Park in PA. This is a 30-sec exposure I took at ~10pm, just before being chased out by park security. The white dots are stars, not hot spots. The 'sun' is actually a low-hanging moon which appeared red/yellow, and cast color on the passing clouds, which aligned themselves quite serendipitously for this capture. PP was just a lot of curves work, pushing it to the extreme, and using hue/sat & selective color adjustments to tweak the sky into something 'hot'.
I mean, a 'live' subject would likely be more compelling, but I liked the idea of this statue - a frozen, persisting monument to the deeds of a person who once was - imposed against the night sky and the universe beyond. I'm pleased with the result, despite some of the flaws of the image.
Here is the original:
Thank you everyone for the comments and the votes, I'm so happy to get a ribbon for this!
Great capture and vision to achieve it. Love everything about it and the fact it's a statue doesn't diminish it in any way. The impact is there and that's what counts.
Came back to see if you'd left any notes and to add to faves. I knew it had to have been a statue or cut-out, but I was more taken with what you captured in the sky. Thought it may have been a very clever 'cover-the-lens' long exposure deal, but I'm still very much impressed just the same. Double congrats for your excellent pp work on it!
Well this is interesting and very well done. I don't believe it's the real sun and the black horse/rider looks like a paper cutout (or small plastic toy of some kind) silhouette. I think the specks are actual stars? I do hope you comment on how it was done. . I love to see images that make me think and wonder how it was done.
Umm... you ok there Artur? That is a few many of the same comment. Anyway, WAY TO GO ADAM!! Chaulk up another ribbon for the Polska front. Great job mate, you rock and keep up the outstanding work.
Striking shot (probably the winning one) with a great sky. The silhouette is a little indistinct in places but I like the horse stance.
It's just a big shame that it's so sharpened that it's created a distracting halo, although it's possibly intentional. You need to be careful with your border too (see bottom edges).
Personally, I'd prefer it much less extreme as it would add so much more gravitas to the photo.
Are the horse and rider real? They look like toys or cutouts. The effect you have achieved to show as if he is riding towards the sun is "the" thing in this shot. I like that part very much.
apart from sharpening halo around the subject, hot pixels, and some irregularity on both bottom corners...this is an excellent image. should place high. good luck. 9
Solar Rider
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
