Andres Valdespino  


Rower on the Arno by Andres Valdespino

October 2024 - Rower on the Arno

October 2024 - Andres Valdespino

Original

About the Image(s)

We were in Florence in spring of 2023 and walking on a bridge across the Arno around sundown. I first noticed the reflection of the sun and then noticed the rower. The cropped final photo is a bit unconventional as it has both horizontal and vertical lines. But I felt I needed to keep both the reflection of the sun and the swirls from the oars in the final composition. I also attach the original.

I shot this with my Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with a 28-90mm lens, f/11 at 1/320 sec. ISO 400. I processed in Lightroom by bringing the rower out of the shadows, adjusting Highlights, Whites and Blacks, and some Dehazing.


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




Joan Field   Joan Field
The kayak and the reflected sunlight are two extremely important elements in your final shot. As it is, it is very compelling, e specially in the great empress of the water in such a busy place. Ideally, the rower would be in the shaft of rreflectedted sunlight instead of on his own,, but we can't have everything perfect. I thought abut copying out the rower and placing hi in the lighted reflection, but the lighting on hi would be quite different and would not match the concept. This is a lovely image and you did a great job with it.   Posted: 10/05/2024 20:32:14
Andres Valdespino   Andres Valdespino
Thanks Joan. I did try to darken the sun glare a bit but nothing I did looked natural enough. Never thought of moving the rower, but agree with your thinking that it take a lot to make it look good. Thanks again.   Posted: 10/05/2024 20:56:50



Ruth Sprain   Ruth Sprain
Andres, I like the position of the rower off to the side. Your processing of the sun reflection with a golden glow also works for me. The subtle swirls of water from the oars adds a nice detail. You could consider lightening the rower's face and hands to draw a bit more attention there.   Posted: 10/17/2024 20:46:21
Andres Valdespino   Andres Valdespino
Thanks Ruth. I did try to do that but was not successful in any way that would make it look natural. I think in the original it was in so much shadow that there was not a lot of detail left. Interestingly, when I showed an earlier version of this with the rower in all shadow at my camera club I asked about lightening up the rower and the consensus was to leave him in shadow. Great to get different perspectives.   Posted: 10/19/2024 17:31:04



Mary Ann Carrasco   Mary Ann Carrasco
Andres, I like the sun on the water and the position of the rower in the scene. My eye kept going to the sun reflection so I did a quick edit in photoshop using the burn tool on it at only 2% for highlights. Then I did the dodge tool with a large brush and only one click on the rower to lighten just a bit. This was just to see what it might look like. I find the image to be very peaceful and soothing.   Posted: 10/19/2024 22:16:10
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Andres Valdespino   Andres Valdespino
Thanks Mary Ann.   Posted: 10/21/2024 13:55:06



Kieu-Hanh Vu   Kieu-Hanh Vu
Hi Andres,
The post processing that renders the golden sunlight makes the image more beautiful. The circles of water show that the rower is going backwards. To me, the rower in nearly a silhouette makes the viewer want to study more.
I'd prefer to crop a bit on the top to eliminate the bright area.   Posted: 10/20/2024 20:24:09
Andres Valdespino   Andres Valdespino
Thanks Kieu-Hanh.   Posted: 10/21/2024 13:56:24



Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Hi Andres. I appreciate your thought process both in conception and post processing. Technically, I think you did everything correctly, but the composition doesn't quite work for me. I agree with Joan in that it would have been ideal to have captured the rower as s/he crossed in the middle of the light shaft, but unfortunately, you missed that decisive moment. My eye is drawn to and distracted by the bright light   Posted: 10/21/2024 17:32:43
Andres Valdespino   Andres Valdespino
Thanks Michael. Timing is everything and I got to the bridge just a little late.   Posted: 10/21/2024 20:35:44
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
…and I've lost count as to how many times that's happened to me!   Posted: 10/21/2024 21:26:51
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Andres, my Photoshop skills are elementary...but I came up with this, imagining that you had caught the rower a few seconds sooner...   Posted: 10/22/2024 00:20:57
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