Douglas Gerdts
November 2025 - Student on a Crane
About the Image(s)
I was walking the riverfront near my home in Delaware and came across this young person reading in the crook of a massive crane ??” a relic from the days when the port was an active commercial site. She gave me permission to take her photo and I walked away and returned a bit later so I could hopefully avoid her having to pose.
ISO 50
68 MM
F/7.1
1/200 sec
11 comments posted
Douglas,
How lucky you were to find her reading there! The shot of the crane would have been fine, but having a reader on the crane tells a very different story. I am wondering what brought her to the crane to read.
I love it in black and white, but wouldn't mind seeing the original if you still have it. Posted: 11/11/2025 15:43:22
How lucky you were to find her reading there! The shot of the crane would have been fine, but having a reader on the crane tells a very different story. I am wondering what brought her to the crane to read.
I love it in black and white, but wouldn't mind seeing the original if you still have it. Posted: 11/11/2025 15:43:22
Thank you!
Here's the original. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:19:14
Here's the original. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:19:14
A really well-converted black and white photo, with no harsh contrasts, but rather a wonderfully soft focus that perfectly suits the scene.
I'm curious if you used a filter during the conversion.
A natural model, sitting and reading, with a slight smile on her lips.
Douglas, I think it's fantastic that you took the photo when you returned. The young woman was no longer posing, she was relaxed and focused on her book.
My thought was whether it would be possible to bring the woman even more into focus. That's why I cropped the image slightly on the left and top. But that's just an idea.
Posted: 11/14/2025 17:54:17
I'm curious if you used a filter during the conversion.
A natural model, sitting and reading, with a slight smile on her lips.
Douglas, I think it's fantastic that you took the photo when you returned. The young woman was no longer posing, she was relaxed and focused on her book.
My thought was whether it would be possible to bring the woman even more into focus. That's why I cropped the image slightly on the left and top. But that's just an idea.
Posted: 11/14/2025 17:54:17
Thank you! I like your edits -- and no, I didn't use a filter just played in Lightroom. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:20:18
Posted: 11/14/2025 17:54:42
Douglas, Student on a Crane bought a smile to my face. Kids do a lot of strange things. Reading on a crane and relaxed? I like the definition of the crane's round bolts and lines against the young girl. The depth of field blurs out the background nicely.
As Sabine stated I really like the softness of the monochrome. What did you use? I can imagine how hard it was to capture a candid shot. Perfect image for black and white. Great image! Posted: 11/15/2025 16:25:45
As Sabine stated I really like the softness of the monochrome. What did you use? I can imagine how hard it was to capture a candid shot. Perfect image for black and white. Great image! Posted: 11/15/2025 16:25:45
I only use Lightroom to modify photos -- I haven't learned anything else and want to delve deeper into it.
Thank you! Posted: 11/18/2025 15:21:29
Thank you! Posted: 11/18/2025 15:21:29
Douglas, this is an interesting B&W photo. The background itself is interesting and is nicely blurred, creating great separation from the girl, crane and fence. The girl's concentration on her reading makes this a great candid shot. I think the shape of the crane with all its rivets and its wheel adds interest to this photo. I think Sabines edit works well too. Very nice job! Posted: 11/16/2025 17:53:16
Thanks Jim -- one of my strong interests in photography is human subjects in industrial settings. This fit well with that. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:22:43
Douglas, what an unusual place to read a book. I think you have captured her well and she seems quite relaxed. Good call to come back to her for a more natural pose. I like your conversion to black and white, it fits the scene. Nice photo! Posted: 11/17/2025 23:26:34
Thanks Randy,
I didn't think about returning until it dawned on me that since I had her permission to photograph her it wasn't time-dependent and I wanted her not to know I was taking it. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:23:46
I didn't think about returning until it dawned on me that since I had her permission to photograph her it wasn't time-dependent and I wanted her not to know I was taking it. Posted: 11/18/2025 15:23:46