Mike's Photoblog
River Severn near Ironbridge
Posted by Mike (Lichfield, United Kingdom) on 31 March 2009 in Business & Industry and Portfolio.
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
That's really wonderful Mike and just the kind of thing I would love to photograph myself if I got the chance!
Have you ever seen this one by John Davies, the renowned documentary landscape photographer: http://www.johndavies.uk.com/age.htm what I really like about it (apart from the sheer drama of those cooling towers) is the people carrying on their normal lives under the shadow of the towers.
Your photos has very similar attributes.
C&C - just a few thoughts that would be worth exploring further: I'd be interested in seeing this simplified even further as there's almost too much going on. Although the bridge is very attractive I think there's enough going on with just the water, the rowers and the cooling towers without adding the bridge as well. Either that or step back a bit and get the full bridge in context more with the towers and water.
I've taken lots of photos of bridges over the last 2 years and these days I always try and get both ends into the shot if I can as I reckon it looks more balanced if you can see how it is supported at each end.
Framing - John Leech has been going on at me for the last year to get me to leave a bit more space between my subject and the frame edge and I'm a believer myself now. There are practical publishing and printing reasons as well as the aesthetic ones. I'd like to see just a touch more space here, particularly top left (I'm getting picky now but this is a great photo so deserves the full treatment)
John's the real expert in C&C and I'd be interested in hearing if he agrees with me or if he thinks I'm talking utter rubbish again :-)
All the best,
Ian
31 Mar 2009 7:25am
@Ian Bramham: Thanks for your comments Ian. This picture was one of quite a few I took of the bridge. Some of which were taken from a little lower down the river as to include all the bridge but I couldn't get it to balance well with the towers. I fully understand what you mean about leaving some space between the subject and the frame and the lack of it has got me a bit niggled now. I felt that the bridge was important within this shot as there's quite a lot of history to it. It's a grade II listed bridge and carries two railway lines, one of which is still used to this day to supply coal to the power station. The bridge was cast at Coalbrookdale where "The Iron Bridge" was also cast. The Iron Bridge can be found a few hundred yards down stream and was the worlds first cast iron bridge ever to be built way back in 1779. I'll be uploading a photo of that one after the weekend once I've had chance to do a little work on it.
Ted from South Wales, United Kingdom
first of all ...that I thought I'd opened a Bramham photo by mistake is the highest compliment I can give.
It is also a fantastic shot.
That it also has a detailed Bramham critique makes this a real bonus.
31 Mar 2009 7:46am
@Ted: Cheers Ted!
k@ from Paris, France
Wow, the lines dance up here ! So many stories & details to read - a very very rich image, bravo !!
31 Mar 2009 8:29am
@k@: Thanks K@
John Leech from Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom
Nice one Mike. Ian gave me a nudge to have a look at this - glad he did!
There's a time for busy shots, and this one hits it right. Its amusing to read Ian's comment about not needing the bridge - I think missing that out would be like missing Jesus out of Leonardo's Last Supper! I'm surprised that Dali didn't do a version of that - The Day After the Last Supper. I'm sure there are good compositions and shots to be had without it, but for me that in-your-face bridge springing out of shot works great. I do agree with Ian's need for the second side when more of a side view, but the feeling of energy in this shot could be lost if the near side had been included. Meanwhile, as Ian picked up, the lower boat is very tight to the frame, too tight more me - its a close thing, but just a bit more space below would have set up the shot better. Even better, eh? Damn fine as is. One curious thing, the timing is spot on - just clone out the other boat and the balance would be lost - the whole shot falls apart. Judas, he wasn't the main act, but it would have lost all meaning without the man.
31 Mar 2009 9:11am
@John Leech: Thanks for your thoughts John. I explained to Ian why I thought the bridge was of importance. I took exactly the same shot but without the rowers and it definitely didn't work as well. I totally agree with you about needing a little more space. It's not something I really picked up on until it was mentioned. I'll be visiting the place again in the near future so I'm looking forward to exploring different angles.
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
WOW.. what a great composition. love the details and b/w look.
31 Mar 2009 9:20am
@Sarito: Cheers Sarito.
Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany
So many different things to look at and take in and all in a nice tight frame.Great stuff.
31 Mar 2009 9:33am
@Anthony Lambert: Thanks for your positive feedback.
@Veronelle: Don't worry it's not a nuclear power station, it's fueled by coal.
EYES WIDE SHUT from The library of my soul, United Kingdom
Holy cow that's magnificent! Beautifully busy, and such an incredible composition. I love it as it is, Mike
31 Mar 2009 11:16am
@EYES WIDE SHUT: Thanks, your comment is much appreciated. It also made me laugh, I hadn't heard "holy cow" in years.
@Jean-François: Thank you.
Godo from Barcelona, Spain
Disturbing image
The nuclear chimmeys and the cut on the bridge increase that perception.
Love the processed work
Well done, Mike
31 Mar 2009 1:42pm
@Godo: Thanks Godo for your comment and don't worry it's not a nuclear power station, it's fuelled by coal.
Nataly from Santa Monica, United States
Very nice work, Mike! I really like the texture and the tones here. If those pipes were smoking... it would`ve been an interesting mix of romantic and peaceful nature along with the world`s poison... And even though I don`t see it in your image, the subject definitely entertains my mind.
31 Mar 2009 3:48pm
observing from North West, United Kingdom
A very fine B&W image Mike, I like the half bridge, it isn't necessary to include the full length of a bridge and its supports. This shot is delightfully close to the canal showing the canoeist with the shadow of the bridge across the water, while the background shows the grimness of the cooling towers.
31 Mar 2009 5:16pm
Bill Brown from California, United States
Excellent! B&W is definitely the right choice for this image.
31 Mar 2009 5:17pm
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
wonderful image; the bridge and cooling towers offer such ominous counterpoint to the serene view on the water. nicely shot...
31 Mar 2009 9:25pm
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
Excellent! Almost makes me appreciate the look of the cooling towers. Almost.
1 Apr 2009 4:24am
DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom
Great B&W shot, the framing is spot-on and the inclusion of the canoeists really adds to the shot
1 Apr 2009 3:13pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
All these elements give this shot lots of context. I think this is really excellent. Very strong composition.
1 Apr 2009 3:14pm
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Yikes - magnificent, Mike. I love the energy that the strong light and shadows add to the scene. One can near hear the rowers. There is not one aspect of this image that I see fault in. Simply, excellent.
1 Apr 2009 4:27pm
Ilan from Israel
Great scenery!
Very well done. I love the black and white conversion here, great composition.
Seems kind of ironic when those guys are so into the sport, health etc, while you can see huge polluting factories.
Splendid work!
1 Apr 2009 6:51pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
This is one of those shots where everything comes together perfectly, the light, the positioning, the framing, the shapes. Very good work.
2 Apr 2009 4:26pm
P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom
Not a bad image from the Mike camp. well balanced composition with just enough to hold the interest. Agree, subject starting to become lost in the frame
3 Apr 2009 4:00pm
P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom
Nope, two mugs taken in the garden, hdr and PP pencil effect LOL
3 Apr 2009 4:12pm
MrsAmber from West Wickham, United Kingdom
I like this just the way it is. Stunning and serene
9 Apr 2009 9:52am
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Nicely done. Forgive me for not commenting on all of the marvelous images you've posted since my last time looking, but I'm woefully behind and trying to catch up in order to begin posting again myself.
4 May 2009 3:32pm
