Gentle Dusk

Guest - May 30, 2006 01:49 AM EDT
back for another look at this lovely scene, Alex, it's over a year since I left my last comment. It deserves to have more, so here's another : )

Guest - Apr 20, 2005 12:52 AM EDT
Thanks for the technical info Alex. I guess that making the best of a difficult situation is what successful photography is all about.

Guest - Apr 19, 2005 02:23 PM EDT
This technique has evolved out of necessity. At dusk there is hardly enough light for a good photo of a close subject. Most of the usable photographic light is either in the sky or on the water. Any subject other than these will generally be silhouetted against the lighter background. To take this shot, one need to set the shutter and film speed and apeture based on the background, rather than the closer subject. I trust the LCD image and histogram to inform me that the picture will be adequate. The historgram for this type of shot looks like two peaks (highlights & shadows) rather than the typical single peak in the middle. With some trial and error I have had success with this type of shot.

Guest - Apr 19, 2005 03:15 AM EDT
You really seem to have mastered the technique of rendering the foreground in sillhouette but maintaining its interest. I like this a lot. Jim.

Guest - Apr 19, 2005 01:51 AM EDT
Thanks for your comments. I just found this one among the many I had previously set aside. (For every photo I post, I must have at least 50 I set aside. I recently purchased a photo printer and I am selecting a few photos to print for framing and displaying. (I will think about this one). You both have a great eye. I believe the woman in the picture has both a stroller and a dog with her. I previously published a photo called "Anticipation" where the same woman is clearly preparing a dog for a dash in the Bay (I cropped out the stroller to simplify). Since I took this photo less than a minute prior to "Anticipation", I think the second figure is probably the dog. I want to say that it is very nice to have someone who really studies your photos so closely and appreciates them. Thank you.

Guest - Apr 19, 2005 01:06 AM EDT
this is just so beautiful, Alex! Awesome. Just love silhouettes, always have. I think this is my favourite so far of your photos. Another "gazing" photo, that a person would never tire of looking at. Are you going to frame it for your wall?? Was the person lifting a child and is that a stroller nearby? It could be a dog that she is leashing, too. Nice to ponder on anyway.

Guest - Apr 19, 2005 12:47 AM EDT
I hope you won't be offended if I say this is a pretty, pretty photo. It just feels so nice and the person silhouetted against the sky could be picking up a child or a bag - it makes no difference, it's just very personal.