Alec Chester  


Central Park by Alec Chester

May 2023 - Central Park

About the Image(s)

Here’s the May selection. I’ve always enjoyed seeing the carriages in Central Park. I liked this one because of the red and white combination. There were a number of red objects and a red bow tie.

I took it with a Canon EOS 5D IV at 1/320 seconds, f/2.5, with an ISO of 100 at 85 mm. I used the 85 mm f1.2 lens, which has the weight of a cannonball. I enhanced it with minor Lightroom changes and a slight vignette.


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




Zina Mirsky   Zina Mirsky
I will remember forever the deor "which has the weight of a cannonball" to explain why I've made so many decisions about moving away from my heavier cameras and lenses. I will also remember the serenity of this scene as you captured it; a calm time in the midst of what I know to be the frantic activity in the Central Park horse carriage world. You'd never know that City traffic is speeding by. As you note, the red and white did catch my interest, and all I would ask for is a little more horse. (Spoken as a native New Yorker who used to carry sugar cubes for my favorite drivers and horses.)   Posted: 05/12/2023 20:36:03



Pauline Jaffe   Pauline Jaffe
This is an intriguing image. The pose of the gentleman in front of the carriage in the top hat with his hands in his pockets is interesting. Nice white and red colors in the image creates interest. The only thing you may want to consider doing is completely eliminate/crop the horse from the image (the backend and tail) because that can distract from the carriage.   Posted: 05/14/2023 19:52:09



Rick Taft   Rick Taft
Alec,
Very nice shot, and nice sharp shot in spite of the cannonball lens! It intrigues me how different people look at the same picture and notice different things...like Zina and Pauline suggesting cropping to show more or less of the horse respectively. For me the subject of your shot is really the driver, and I think you have framed it very nicely if that was your intent. You caught him at a great moment of time with his lean, his facial expression, position of his feet, etc. As Pauline pointed out, the red and white color contrast is very strong and draws the eye...but I would add to those the black of the driver's suit and hat.

As for suggestions, nothing really comes to mind. You might consider removing a few of the small dark spots that are really obvious against the white of the carriage (like the small one dead center at the top of the rear wheel, between the wheel and the fender), but some of that, like the scuffing along the edge of the cargo box right next to the rear wheel, really gives the sense that this is a working carriage and not a museum piece and so adds to the shot.

Very nice shot.   Posted: 05/19/2023 16:58:20