Cheryl LaLonde  


Saskatoon Blue Hour by Cheryl LaLonde

November 2020 - Saskatoon Blue Hour

November 2020 - Cheryl LaLonde

Original

About the Image(s)

I took this photo Nov 1. The river was unusually calm that day and the reflections looked better than most days when I go down by the river. I tried to pull out a little more of the pinks in the sky that were left over from the sunset. My intent was to take a different angle of the city than I normally do. I thought this angle would draw the viewers eye down the sides of the river, which I tried to use as leading lines, into the middle of the image.

I’m hoping you all can give me an idea as to if this was successful, should I have cropped differently, are the colors OK, and is it an overall interesting photo. What would you have done differently, how do you experience this photo?

This is a two image panorama and was taken with

ISO 100
F11
42mm
Shutter speed of 50s


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




Dan Mottaz   Dan Mottaz
Hi Cheryl, I personally feel the pinks and magenta colors that you applied to this image works well. It provides for the after-sunset mood that you visualized. You are an artist and it shows in your photo. I also like the long exposure effect on the sky and water. It serves as a good support to the overall feel of the image. There's no dominate point of interest here, but to me, that's not a problem. It's the scene as a whole that is the interest in your photo. The way you framed the shot makes for both the sky and water to act as triangles pointing to the center. As you said in your description, the shorelines direct the viewer's eyes.
The only thing that my eyes have difficulty with is the leveling. In actuality, it seems level, but as the bridge slopes to the left, it gives me the illusion that the image is off level. Perhaps others don't see it that way, but if you're inclined, try to bring the left side up just a smidge to see if that works. The problem is, the buildings seem vertically straight, so I'm afraid any tinkering with the level might throw it off. Wonderful image, Cheryl and good choice with the aspect ratio.   Posted: 11/12/2020 11:36:21
Cheryl LaLonde   Cheryl LaLonde
Yes the fact that the right side is higher than the left makes me uncomfortable too. It is actually this way in real life but in the image it just does not work. I too would like to have something more dominant as a point of interest. This gives me something to work on.

Thanks for the insights!   Posted: 11/15/2020 08:26:38



Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
(Group 79)
Cheryl, I am envious of your ability to capture electric lights during a long exposure without blowing then out. In this image I like the clear reflections and the way the street lights form a path sweeping in from the left. The contrast in the buildings (light to dark faces) really catches my attention.
My feedback is that I do not think that the two banks work well together - their contrast is intellectually interesting but not I feel visually. I would crop to highlight the left.
  Posted: 11/13/2020 09:25:21
Comment Image
Cheryl LaLonde   Cheryl LaLonde
Yes I totally agree. The right side is boring so I will be cropping it off. Thanks for taking the time to show me what you meant by having a go at the crop.


  Posted: 11/15/2020 08:24:00



Robert Atkins   Robert Atkins
Hi Cheryl
I think this is a beautiful image. The color palette you've captured and rendered is amazing. Graphically it is also excellent - I love the symmetry as well as the very strong leading line that draws us down to the distant bridge.

Like Dan, the fact the bridge, which becomes the resting point at the end of the leading line, is sloped was a bit troubling for me. I too couldn't figure out what was actually going on, whether it was perspective or actually a sloping bridge. But I figured it could get fixed while keeping the uprights on the buildings vertical with the correct transform. Also, like Gerard, I thought the right side of the water was a bit less interesting, so thought a crop might help, but leaving enough resting space there on the right side of the bridge. Finally, with the leading line, I wanted to make the bridge a little more of the subject, so I think it can be emphasized with some subtle dodging and burning, brightening the bridge and darkening some of the buildings at the far left to further help guide the eye down the waterline. I attached my cut at this stuff.

While I am more into natural landscapes than cityscapes, I think this is every bit as good as similar cityscape images I have seen hanging in galleries. Beautiful color and form.
  Posted: 11/14/2020 11:42:19
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Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
(Group 79)
And for the record, I prefer Robert's crop to mine   Posted: 11/14/2020 15:40:45
Cheryl LaLonde   Cheryl LaLonde
Yes a little bit more to give it more balance. Cropping is so hard to get just right sometimes.   Posted: 11/15/2020 08:31:44
Cheryl LaLonde   Cheryl LaLonde
I totally agree with all your points and I do love your crop! Thanks for taking the time to have a go at the editing to show me what you mean, I really appreciate that.   Posted: 11/15/2020 08:29:58



 
Cheryl, I love the shades of pink and purple that you pulled out in the sky and clouds as well as the bright highlights of the street lamps at night. They provide a nice contrast to the sky. The reflection in the water is perfect and clear. Great shot!   Posted: 11/19/2020 11:01:45



Dale Yates   Dale Yates
(Group 87)
Hi Cheryl - excellent image! I like the color scheme and the sharpness/solid DOF throughout. A really excellent part of the image to me is the fact that you not only captured the reflections of the shoreline, but also the reflection of the soft cloud structure. This really adds to the quality of the photo. As far as the discussion above regarding cropping, I like Robert's crop as well. However, to me the strong leading lines of both shorelines (triangle effect) causes me to want to leave the image alone, as you have it. Since the light source appears to be on the left side (skyline and sky itself), perhaps you could experiment with lightening the right side shoreline and reflection a little to add more detail. Just a thought...great work!   Posted: 11/20/2020 07:17:55