Shadowy Figures

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted February 7, 201085 views7 comments

While out shooting the lake of a local dam during the day last week, I was walking over to get up closer for a better shot of the ice pack on it, just above the spillway. It's then I noticed the shadow of a stairwell for workers to use to get down to the lake, with what seemed like "apparition/ghostly" figures of white below that shadow.

When I got home and viewed it, for some reason, and I hate to say this, I thought of the film I've seen of post-bombing Hiroshima... and how shadows of people and things were just burned into place, with nothing left of them at all. Very strange and I hesitate to even mention that.

Anyway, I shot it in color and converted to B&W to better get across the effect I was trying to capture. ISO-80, 1/320th, f-4.0. Thank you for looking and any C&C. Larger image posted as well.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Jim Bullard on February 7, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Very nice abstract composition. I'm guessing from the aspect ration that it as cropped. If it was mine I'd have cropped the top as well just below the blob of snow in the upper right corner and a bit above line in the top concrete that was left by the forms. Just a suggestion you might try. It is very nice as is though.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 30 Posts, 128 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 7, 2010 at 10:11 AM

I like this considerably more than your last post which made me motion sick!

There are strong lines and the B&W treatment works very well. It's unfortunate that the 2 "ice falls" got blown out by the sun - I'd try to recover and detail if possible

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on February 7, 2010 at 10:22 AM

Thanks Jim, cropped but VERY little. To be honest, just before posting I thought about doing some more trimming. But this is close to original, and wanted to get some feedback as it was "in the beginning". ;)

And Luke, while I'd like to say I left the whites "whiter" on purpose (I didn't!), don't you think they look more apparition like as pure white?? I don't know, never seen a ghost. JK, I will play with these suggestions guys, thank you very much!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on February 7, 2010 at 10:23 AM

And I apologize for the motion sickness!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by John Kerr on February 7, 2010 at 10:45 AM

Nice way to work the shadows here Bill. Black and white conversion gives it a nice effect as well.

Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 10, 2010 at 6:39 AM

A fine composition and idea well executed. Not much nature in it though

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on February 10, 2010 at 8:34 AM

Kah Kit, I actually gave some thought about nature's role in this shot before I posted it. The sun is creating the shadows, the main focus of the image... the snow, ice and water the "apparitions". That's why I thought it was a fit.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments