Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
March 2023 - Walkers
About the Image(s)
Here is ”Walkers”. A group of art students had set up an audio performance along a forest path so that you could listen to the story by earphones while walking through the route. It was a re-enacted version of the myth about the mother who travels through the Realm of the Dead seeking for her son, led by an old blind woman, facing every possible obstacle during the journey. - The image is taken at the exit of the route. I thought that the footprints in the snow that seem to disappear into nothing in the middle of the road, and the person walking away towards the light fit to the story. - Or, of course it could be just a man walking his dog that has run out of sight, but I like the mood anyway. What do you think? Fuji XT-4 32.9 mm, f/4, ISO 400, 1/2000 s, Aperture priority, Affinity Photo.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
16 comments posted
I really like what you've captured. This is a wonderful story telling image and the footprints are a major contributor. I think the tonal range is great and the composition seems perfect. I can't come up with any suggestions for improvement. I downloaded the image to try a couple of ideas but nothing matched what you've done. Great shot! Posted: 03/13/2023 22:29:45
Thank you, Jeff! I am so glad that you think it works! Posted: 03/14/2023 03:50:36
Hi Kristi, I would hace to agree with Jeff on this one. It is a really nice image that allows me to create a story about what I am seeing, initially a man walking out of the darkness into the light. Having said that, the image still allows me the latitude to find a different story from time to time as I view the image.
I will say that I cannot see the dog in the image but perhaps the small prints are an indication that there is one. On the other hand they may also be the prints of an animal that just happened to cross the path.
Great catch Kristi - thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 03/14/2023 08:31:20
I will say that I cannot see the dog in the image but perhaps the small prints are an indication that there is one. On the other hand they may also be the prints of an animal that just happened to cross the path.
Great catch Kristi - thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 03/14/2023 08:31:20
Thank you, Ed! I think that you found the essence of the image. -It sure is a most imaginary dog! Posted: 03/14/2023 08:59:43
This is why I live in Florida :o) Very nice capture and treatment. The only criticism i have is that the person seem to be a bit out of focus. It just seem fuzzy. If it was caused by the snow, my apologies. I also might have gone for just a little more contrast. Very nice shot either way. Posted: 03/14/2023 16:22:56
Thank you, Dom! There are certainly times I sincerely envy your location, although four seasons do have a point, too! - You are right about the man, he is not quite sharp - there is quite a narrow depth of field (f/4) with the focus in the footprints. I think that he might be sort of fading into the light at the end of the road. - I have also a version with more contrast but I think that the present one may fit the mood better? Posted: 03/15/2023 13:55:57
Trung Cang Nguyen
Excellent image Kristi Posted: 03/15/2023 03:42:45
Thank you, Trung! Posted: 03/15/2023 05:54:39
Ok. So if the person is not quite in focus, why not just go all the way and make him even more out of focus? Will look less like a shooting problem and more caused by the snow etc. Might look very cool if the entire background is out of focus and only the extreme foreground (foot prints etc are the only things in-focus. Just a thought. Could give it really moody look or look terrible. :o) Posted: 03/15/2023 17:16:51
Thank you so very much - I do see the point! I think that this is a major improvement. I added a live filter layer of depth-of-field blur + another with diffuse glow and did some dodging and burning, and the result is very much what I wanted to express, But I think that it is the version with the darkened background that really does the trick! I just love it!
Posted: 03/16/2023 07:35:50
Posted: 03/16/2023 07:35:50
P.S. If you darken the background also, it might really give it a moody or mysterious look. If you do, bring up the white a little more in the foreground. Again, just my thoughts. May not work at all. Posted: 03/15/2023 17:19:00
Here it is with the darker background: I put an elliptical exposure gradient on top of the previous version, and added some brightness on the snow in the foreground. You were so right with the mysterious mood! Posted: 03/16/2023 07:48:38
I like this version a lot more. The first few in-focus foot prints leading into something mysterious (in my view) makes it a much stronger image. Very Nice!! Posted: 03/16/2023 12:30:52
Yes, I just love it! Posted: 03/16/2023 13:03:08
I keep coming back to this picture. It is a fascinating photograph really excellently done. I think I would crop out the bottom, removing the first two footprints. In my opinion darkening the forest in the foreground and blurring the figure does not help. Very dark foreground elements, I think, tend to act as visual barriers. Looking at the photograph with the changes confuses me--what is the story of the picture/ Uour inststics are really very goood-trust them. Posted: 03/25/2023 12:11:19
Thank you, Al - I am so glad! Posted: 03/25/2023 13:53:29