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Make an Epic or Dramatic Picture of Steps and a Person

John Angulat

pro member
From my street wanderings...

jja3424street.jpg


my place on the web
http://www.lightsimage.com
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Child on Monumental steps a modern photo in Black and White!

HI John
A very nice image, much more than a pic!
Had like to see it also with colors…

Hi Nicolas,

Of course you would. I'd find it interesting too although color may or may not add anything of increased value. For sure it would still be beautiful.


John,

I do appreciate the black and white as is. Here, without the color, we appreciate the geometric, hard, static physicality of the steps. Their massive width and repeated fixed design is contrasted with the ephemeral delicate, vulnerable, delightful and totally pleasant image of the solitary little girl in a soft dress with her hair hanging loosely, bobbing down, as she plays on the steps. Despite the challenge she takes one step at a time and the immense task does not overwhelm her!

John, you happened have shared a really delightful picture. Steps have iconic links to classical film and photography (see the following post). I like your photograph. There's a great potential here to continue to explore. Your picture is fresh and fun! I hope you have additional shots you might share!

For example, I'd also be intrigued to see

  • A crop with her larger so we can appreciate and experience the nature of the fabric of the dress and see the actual hair and meet her. Now she's just a butterfly. A crop would be different and add new sensibilities even if it's neither sharp nor detailed.

  • A zoomed out shot with the entire steps and even the height of the columns.

Asher
 
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Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Monumental steps a modern photo link us to Eisenteins Iconic "Battleship Potempkin"!

jja3424street.jpg


© John Angulat "So many steps, so little time..."


John,

You have, intentionally or not, set your photograph in an important composition that will buttress the experience some of us might have of an innocent fleeting happenstance. The bold simple geometric physicality of the steps has, however, deeply ingrained implications. Embedded in our collective conscience are social values referencing vulnerable humanity in the face of ruthless power.

The significance of many, many broad stone steps in photography and film:

Sergei_Eisenstein_portrait1.jpg


Sergei Eisenstein in 1920s.
Source by Russian magazine Art of Cinema photofiles, Possibly Public Domain at least in Russia, here used for editorial comment under "fair use"


Ever since seeing the Sergei Eisenstein essential and iconic classic film, , (~65 minutes), The Battleship Potempkin, I am taken to the importance of images using a large expanse of steps, (~7 minutes).


Odessastepsbaby.jpg


The baby in the pram falling down the "Odessa Steps" from the movie "The Battleship Potemkin"(Wiki Pedia)

Potemkinmarch.jpg


Tsarist soldiers march down the "Odessa Steps" from the Goskino film Battleship Potemkin (1925). Stated to be pubic domain and found here.

Asher
 

John Angulat

pro member
Alternate views

Hi Nicolas & Asher,

Nicolas,
Alas, the image, other than the subject herself was largely devoid of color (the granite steps and concrete columns).

Asher,
I agree that the use of steps (as expansive in images)can be very intriguing. I cannot offer you a zoomed out version, as the posted image is close to the original scale. It was shot in DX format with a 35mm lens. That pretty much renders "what you see is what you get".
However, here's a tight crop of the young lass, playfully skipping down the stairs.

The story behind this image is really taking place off camera to the left. Her parents were chatting with another couple for a fair amount of time. The child, left to entertain herself, found it fun to skip up and down the steps.

jja3424tc.jpg
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
John,

I knew this crop was going to be a delight. The composition is satisfying. Even that green pole works to stabilize the image. That little thing is a bundle of joy and well placed! This will make an excellent print in color! Note Nicolas, I have succumbed!

Asher
 

nicolas claris

OPF Co-founder/Administrator
John,

I knew this crop was going to be a delight. The composition is satisfying. Even that green pole works to stabilize the image. That little thing is a bundle of joy and well placed! This will make an excellent print in color! Note Nicolas, I have succumbed!

Asher

Asher (and John!) you made my day!

Yes, color can be subtle and far away from "Kodachrome" vacancy slides…

BTW, may I recall that many B&W photos, when printed in offset for books, are printed in cmyk (4 color printing) because one can have much more "rich" B&W… amazing, no?
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Asher (and John!) you made my day!

Yes, color can be subtle and far away from "Kodachrome" vacancy slides…

BTW, may I recall that many B&W photos, when printed in offset for books, are printed in cmyk (4 color printing) because one can have much more "rich" B&W… amazing, no?

Be careful, Nicolas! When you type the "CMY" word. All the ardent color specialists are going to be over here, re-calibrating John's picture to ObamaRGB2008 color space! Here the color is wonderful. She is a darling and the picture is to my mind perfect. Well I might play with sharpening the steps and ......., well you know!

Asher :)
 

Wendy Thurman

New member
This is an excellent photograph. It has it all- composition, texture, human interest and its attendant drama. Kudos on this one.

Wendy
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
I realize that showing a person on steps, modifies both. This is one of the most powerful collection of images as it likely evokes so many metaphors key to one life's journey.

So this one thread, is one of the most special we have.

Asher
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Steps With A Person: Dramatic Pictures of Steps and a Person! Make one!

John Angulat has agreed that we make this a challenge to open up the topic for others to go out an make new pictures with drama. If there's a court building near you, or a grand Church or Mosque that might be good too.

For Stairs and Shadows, without this epic feel, use the related Themes thread, here instead!

Asher
 
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