Hattie Stamer  


Waiting for the Fireworks by Hattie Stamer

September 2019 - Waiting for the Fireworks

September 2019 - Hattie Stamer

Original

About the Image(s)

While my family and I were waiting for 4th of July fireworks in town, I walked around looking for something interesting. I noticed many kids riding, running around the slope around the field, so I start thinking how to capture something interesting. I set my camera slower, looking for something more stationary, then wait and hoping for something fun come up. After close to 90 shots, I got a few photos that I liked. Here is one (still have look thru them all yet). My goal was to get the two girls stay clear, with other showing movement around them.

I'm actually glad the two girls didn't mind I kept my camera on them, and there wasn't any parent came over to threw my camera away.

Nikon D850, 70mm, 1/10, f/10, ISO 500. LR quick adjustment, Nik convert to B/W, sharpen in PS.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




Oliver Morton   Oliver Morton
Hattie, I am really impressed with your visualization abilities! Capturing the seated girls emphasized the motion of the other kids. It also implied a wonderful story, leading to imagining what the girls were thinking. I also like how you cropped your image.

I played with this in Photoshop but couldn't find any way to modify your imaged that I found appealing.

Well done!



  Posted: 09/08/2019 12:42:35
 
Thanks Oliver. Lately I'm more and more started thinking what I want and willing to take more time on my vision. I like to be able to tell a story in my photo.   Posted: 09/25/2019 23:11:12



LuAnn Thatcher   LuAnn Thatcher
Hi Hattie,

I agree with Oliver, job well done!

I really like how you captured the motion in the image. You also captured split-second placement of the right foot of the child at the top of the frame; his shoe does not intersect with the girl's head riding the bike below--perfect!!

The only change I can see is to fine-tune the tonality; the image seems a little too gray.

What a classic image. Thanks for sharing!

Best regards,
LuAnn   Posted: 09/13/2019 21:49:00
 
I totally agree with you on the tonality, does look quite flat. I'll try to work on that. Thanks LuAnn.   Posted: 09/25/2019 23:09:41



Bob Legg   Bob Legg
Hi Hattie. I'm the newcomer to PSA, and I find your image very creative attempt to show the 3 types of motion. Bike, Scotter and runner. Not sure I would of tried it and if I did I might not of been able to time the 3 actions so that they did not overlap each other. You did that all very well. I think your shutter speed and aperture were suitable, but I think the slight pan you did for the 3 motions caused the kids sitting to be blurred or they were moving also. I found that out by cropping as the sky and setting sun were distracting me from the subjects. I see you were at the end of your 24-70 so you didn't have the option to zoom further. I'd say to try it again, but not likely to catch such a group again. I generally believe in tight cropping like I have attached.   Posted: 09/17/2019 20:40:14
Comment Image
 
Hi Bob. I didn't pan the camera to get the photo. I just slowed the shutter speed. The two girls are kept moving even they were just sitting, which the slow shutter really didn't help. I probably should taking two photos, with one that two girls are perfectly still. That would have better outcome. However, first I like taking documentary-type of photos; second of all, I really enjoyed taking my time on getting this moment. Thanks for the cropping suggestion, I'll play with cropping a bit more.   Posted: 09/25/2019 23:16:28



 
Hiya Hattie - that's great creative visualisation and planning there. I like the crop you did, as the picture feels more fairly weighted with the dark at the bottom and top, and also gives context - there are trees and grass so its maybe schoolgrounds. There are stripes of light and dark running across the picture, and then a kind of circle of children which goes against the straight lines in a way I like. I LOVE the stationary girls in focus while the others are whizzing by.

Having the sign in it gives information about where we are and the title telling us we are waiting for the fireworks let's me see that its not imminent and people are finding different ways of passing the time. You were lucky your subjects were happy to be photographed and I think you have succeeded in your goal.

I have to tell you something - I am a very curious person when it comes to body language so I am drawn in to see what is the relationship between the girls ... I like that sense of intrigue and trying to work it out. The shot you chose leaves it to the viewer to interpret.   Posted: 09/24/2019 06:44:59
 
Thanks Julie. I am always drawn to people with their expresses, boy language. I found it's fascinating when I am able to capture a moment that can tie people, things together to tell a story.   Posted: 09/25/2019 23:21:08