People won't like the processing but I do not really care. (I can't wait to see the score and comments for this one!) I enjoy looking at this photo because it makes me laugh. We fed the neighborhood boys last night and then took them out for ice cream. This place is very popular in the summer and the kids love it. Spots like this typify suburbia in America for me.
This is my first photo with my new lens, the 14-54mm.
I used Topaz Adjust, first on the background, then masked out the foreground. Then Topaz Adjust on the foreground, masked out the background. Lots of playing with HSL, Color Balance, dodge burn, a blank layer to play with lights and darks.
Dream Score: 7.2 (I need a new PB!)
Estimated Score: 4.98
[Oct. 13th, 2008 10:54:13 AM]
This is not a fast food place BUT i could not get the ice cream stand sign in the photo either. I would have been too far away from the kids and it would have lost the impact I was going for. I do love the comments I am receiving tho - they are awesome!
[Oct. 14th, 2008 09:04:27 AM]
I was looking at a comment that Jeff just made. I think he is right. This is more about the kids than the environment. That's the soccer mom in me that is taking this photo :D
[Oct. 19th, 2008 11:18:23 PM]
So I am looking over all these comments and I am humbled over the kind of reactions this has provoked. I did expect a mixed reaction to the processing and I got that. But I never expected this many comments (and some faves!) – so this is awesome.
To address those who felt that this does not say suburbia to them, I can understand it. Jeff pretty much covered it with there not being enough environment. And I can agree – it really was a photo more about the kids. BUT here is my thinking about this whole thing…
I grew up in Cincinnati and the typical suburbs are there. The ones where the homes all have the same design. The ones where the landscaping all looks the same. The ones where everyone seems to look the same lol. But I do not have access to that kind of setting any more.
I live in a very old and yet small city. There really are no suburbs here. Just east side, west side (come to think of it, no one refers to north or south, so that must not exist!) There are some very beautiful old homes here (none of which I live in boo hoo) and then there are just some… plain old homes (like mine!). Not many look alike. Some are better cared for than others. We have a mix of income levels all within the same block. Also, not everyone actually owns their home – a LOT of people rent (which was a surprise to this suburban raised girl).
And then in the fray, we have this little ice cream stand (Ice Scream Larry’s). We also have our Dairy Queens just like we had in Cincinnati (except our choice was UDF). But this particular place is near the ball diamonds and also is part of the neighborhood. It seems like EVERYONE goes here and you are always going to run into someone you know. And I chose this place to take a picture because the kids like it so much. But it represents something that I think might be found in many other suburbs – and it does not seem to be dependent upon the neighborhood income or design. In Cincinnati, the ice cream stands were not as close to the homes as this one is, but they were still part of the “suburb”.
So yeah, this is an overprocessed picture which might be more about children, but it’s still taken at a place that I feel really is a part of my own little suburbia.
Statistics
Place: 14 out of 74 Avg (all users): 6.0636 Avg (commenters): 6.8333 Avg (participants): 5.6471 Avg (non-participants): 6.1655 Views since voting: 1946 Views during voting: 473 Votes: 173 Comments: 33 Favorites: 6 (view)
Love the expressions of all of the kids. They look like they are having a ball. Sometimes the feel we have for our own photo comes not so much in what is depicted in the photo but how we felt when we took it. For myself, this gives me the feeling of childhood which takes me back to my own past...
Love all the different expressions in this shot along with the various tilting heads. Really gives the photo a lot of interest. You nearly cracked into the top ten, boo to those 4 voters.
Well, I, for one, really LOVE this shot!!! I think that it has its very own artistic flare and certainly, one of my faves! Congrats on the top 15 finish!
Love the effects of the editing. Looks like a 1950's advertisement! Really great shot...kooky, fun and the coloring really makes this shot the fun shot that it is...not to mention a whole pile of crazy kids!
great photo! I think this captures the idea or concept of suburbia much more than all those architecture shots. Just the group of boys all living close enough obviously to do this.... than in the background you can see another person separate from the main subjects as well as the store sign. very well done!
Nice image - Great PP - Would be interested how it is done! Like the composition and colours - Doesn't scream suburbia to me as much as some images - Maybe a little more of their environment could have helped this - Still a very pleasing image though
amazing post prossecing, colors and sweet faces, but i dont think it express suburbs so much, you can find happy kids with fast food in the city too :( it would be a 10 if it fitted more at the subject. 5
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