This was a very expensive set-up for me
In order to get my model (My wife) to stand in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in Canada dressed like death, I had to make a deal (like with the Devil) :D
She keeps saying "YOU OWE ME !!!"
I want to thank Sandy my model for not only modeling but also for the help with the shoot and the title. BTW she enjoyed the lunch and the shopping following the shoot.
I love the shot we had fun with the traffic and the crazy looks.
Thanks for looking
Coley
Statistics
Place: 4 out of 146 Avg (all users): 6.6879 Avg (commenters): 8.5556 Avg (participants): 6.3818 Avg (non-participants): 6.8305 Views since voting: 5105 Views during voting: 452 Votes: 173 Comments: 44 Favorites: 19 (view)
The first three parts of this critique are written based purely on examination of your photo. "Final thoughts" is written after reviewing your score, photographer's comments, and voter comments.
I recall looking at this one after the challenge concluded and am happy to have a chance to inspect it closely!
TECHNIQUE Technique shows considerable effort. The focus is sharp and the motion blur on the background participants creates a striking contrast. Your exposure created a dilemma though, since capturing sufficient motion also required the sky be pretty overblown. I wonder if this is what prompted your decision for BW or if that was pre-planned. I'm assuming it was planned since that seems to enhance the mood.
COMPOSITION As always for your shots, you've spent considerable effort and paid close attention to the composition. I think the blurred participants are maybe just a bit too blurred. A tad shorter exposure maybe would have left them fuzzy and impersonal, but a bit more recognizable as individuals, but retained the feel of anonymity. Your intent is evident, but I wonder if you considered moving in on your Reaper a bit and bringing him to the fore with the blurred pedestrians forming more of a background? Just playing let's pretend; your composition was well thought-out and the purpose is evident.
EMOTIONAL IMPACT The busy street scene with moving people, speeding cars, and the rock-steady grim reaper form a scene of great interest, dynamic movement, and instant tension. You manage to provoke your viewers to question, and your title adds a bit of tension relief; Ah! Suggestive of the wait for the inevitable auto-person collision and then assisting the victim to the great beyond. It's an unusual shot that invites speculation and inspection.
FINAL THOUGHTS Nice score and great comments. ;-) I'm surprised the DPC crowd didn't pound you for the blown sky, but at least a few let you know you were shoe-horning a shot into the supposedly "candid" street challenge. Keep shaking them up Coley. Nice job. I enjoyed the chance to study yet another of your creative efforts!
This was my favorite in the challenge. Too bad you didn't get a ribbon, I think you deserved one - possibly could of if it were submitted in the Blur challenge?
I think this is a cool idea very well executed. Maybe you didn't ribbon because it doesn't looks as candid as street phography needs, and it's a pity. Anyway, Bravo :)
Classic!! Selling your soul, to your wife, was well worth this shot. It would've been great to have someone else around to shoot the expressions on peoples faces. If this had been an expert challenge you could've changed the street sign to Styx.
Cole, you never cease to amaze me with your creative genius! Especially in realizing the truth that behind every great man is a great woman (with a great name) :)
You DO owe her, and I hope she was compensated hugely for this, in the compensation of her choice :) But congratulations to you for an honorable mention for your efforts!
This was one of my challenge favorites. Great use of long exposure. This could easily have ribboned, but congrats on your runner-up status! Funny story, too.
Pleased to see this do well, and Hi Sandy! :-) Most importantly, you guys seem to really have fun doing this stuff - that the outcome is so good is just icing on the cake.
WOW .. this is so amazingly good coley .. your imagination knows no bounds ...
if i'd been the only person voting this would'v got the blue ..
CONGRATULATIONS on 4th and a photograph that has depth and dark meaning .. :)
COLEYYYY!!! YEA! always rooting for you man, its great to see your work ehre again! Your wife is so sweet, lol, i wish i could have seen here there in real time! great job once again, keep it up!
Well, I guess it is at least shot on the street; although of course the posed shot, and the overly portentous subject are probably too much of a push for the genre really.
I rather like this. Has sort of a ready made story going for it, but in addition to that, I like the motion blur against the crispness of the background. The crossing adds a nice strong graphical element to it. An alternate title might be "Time Stands Still" - almost as though Time (or the Grim Reaper) is always there, we just move around it without seeing it.
Very great compositional study. I'm surprised people didn't stop walking when they saw you taking the pic. I'm trying to decide if a square crop with the reaper perfectly center might have been stronger with a light vignette to keep the eye from wandering to the edges of the scene. Overall I really like this image.
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