Friday, March 02, 2007
Dungeness
My name is Stéphane Bosman and this is my first post here, thanks to Colin's invitation. I feel proud of being invited in such company and, as I told Colin, a bit intimidated. This is a typical photo from me: the classical black and white landscape. Or sort of. I am not sure this is landscape because it is quite busy with human artifacts. I fell compelled to setup the camera (this was during my view camera phase) and take this picture. That's something else about me: I take pictures, as opposed to making them. Much like a tourist, I could add. I feel I see something I'd like to show to others and I take it. That's it. I take some pleasure looking at some of my photos, but there is nothing for me like showing them to someone. So doing this is, well, great! Thank you!
Permalink / posted by and copyright of StephaneB : 9:55 PM
Comments:
I'm just about to go to bed (!) but cannot resist making a quick comment (or two or three)
Don't feel intimidated
Welcome
and good 'un
Welcome, Stéphane. I'm new to this blog, too -- and felt much the same at first. Don't worry, it is fun, and good people.
From the looks of this image, it is I who should feel intimidated! Inspiring scene.
I'll be back. Still struggling with a computer upgrade and company here all weekend.
It is very easy when giving comments to have the approach that says 'what I would have done' which is not really that helpful.
I have been to Dungeness, a long time ago, and this image fits in well with my memories of the desolation and deserted feel of the place. I wouldn't put it on my list of places to visit before I die but your image does reveal its potential as a photographer's playground. (Nora just came in and looked at the image and said 'there you are, it can be nice'!)
The square format produces a powerful image within the constraints of the site but I wonder if the top part of the sky is really contributing. That powerful cloud gives a lid to the image and the wisps above don't have much power. I shouldn't speak for John but I know that he prefers to stick with the original format and not crop so his comment will be interesting.
I am curious about the parallel lines, a narrow gauge railway?
The left bottom of the image looks a bit vacant but provides a bit of the feel of loneliness of the huts. I had to think carefully about the contribution of that part of the image. There is a feeling that the subject is nearly all bottom right, just over a quarter of the image space. It is interesting that my initial response was a good one and then I started to question the composition but now I have returned to feeling good about the overall image.
Welcome from me too, Stéphane. As this is not urban it must be landscape! Dungeness has always meant 'nuclear power station' and 'Derek Jarman' to me for the best part of twenty years so it is good to see another corner of it opened up; and what a strange little corner it is too. The feel of a deserted industry is strong, underscored by the railway line kinking in to take one up the centre of the picture.
As to what you say about taking pictures, that just about sums up my approach!
There you are - it is all coincidence! Rex writes at the same time as me so he is never going to know what I think about the sky.
I had thought of commenting on the composition but having established that the horizon was placed to obey the rule of thirds, I thought that it was unproductive to go further! I also thought that, although not East Anglia, a Betjeman 'wide...sky' was appropriate (square format permitting!) and that the wispy clouds emphasised reality. The nominal lopsidedness of the composition works well.
Thank you all for the kind words and for your interest in my picture.
As for cropping, this was done with a 6x9, so the original negative is cropped. If I remember well it was my intention when I took it.
Regarding the composition, thank you for the comments. I did not make all he decisions Rex and John see into it, at least not consciously. I do think, however that the top part of the sky, being darker, is necessary to balance the dark foreground. Yes, I think some emptiness is necessary to convey the atmosphere of the place. Regarding the rule of thirds, this image follows it at lot, almost like a caricature but, I think it works quite well as is.
Incidentally, this is very close to the nuclear plant. As for the deserted industry, it is actually fishing. The little rails were, I suppose, there to carry the fish. There is still a miniature steam train going around on some parts of that mini rail network, but it is now for tourism. Fishing is not dead in the area, though. A bit further, there is a beach full of fishing boats, and that is a surreal view. I still have to decide what to make of that other negative.
Sorry for being that long.
The composition works quite well for me also. The tracks running into the middle of the scene are very effective.
I know nothing about this place, other than what I've learned from reading these posts, but it interests me still, so I'd call it successful by that measure. For some reason, I was reminded of the photographs of Dorothea Lange when I saw this. Perhaps it is the sense of desolation.
I came to this picture with quite a lot of baggage - knowing what the place looks like and having a strong impression of it in my mind. I was glad to find neither the power station, nor a light pastel picture. Definitely somebody else's Dungeness, and not mine.
Can't you just imagine walking down the path by the tracks? I can. A combination of the compostion and the treatment draw me in.
For me, all the action, as it were, is in the bottom third. That doesn't mean that I think the sky should be cropped at all, because the cloud acts as a nice cap for the subject. I find it interesting how such a large part of the surface area can play supporting role, without the smaller, more important bit, seeming too small.
Yup, I'm there.
Thank you everybody for the warm welcome. And Colin, your last comment makes me feel I succeeded in showing what I saw, which is all my goal in photography. May I do it again!
Welcome Stéphane and hope you enjoy yourself at Stills. I'll drop a comment on this during my day tomorrow.
I look at this photograph with a heavy sense of forboding. The rails lead me to those tiny huts which do not seem strong enough to offer me any protection against whatever that cloud above may be thinking of depositing.
I don't get Garden of England at all from this shot. It looks much more like a Wild West location. The whole expanse of the scene is effectively captured with so much sky in shot to enforce this home. The grasses to the front are bending towards the middle/back of the picture which leads my eye in nicely. All in all the image 'pops' well and a simple composition has created a pleasing image.
I am slighly troubled by that 'trident' stuck in the middle hut's roof though...
"Can't you just imagine walking down the path by the tracks?"
I keep finding myself thinking that I can just walk right into this and down those tracks. I know this isn't the American West, but that scrubby grass and the tumble down buildings are evocative. Not sure how useful that is as a critique, but it's an overwhelming daydream.
Post a Comment
Don't feel intimidated
Welcome
and good 'un
From the looks of this image, it is I who should feel intimidated! Inspiring scene.
I'll be back. Still struggling with a computer upgrade and company here all weekend.
I have been to Dungeness, a long time ago, and this image fits in well with my memories of the desolation and deserted feel of the place. I wouldn't put it on my list of places to visit before I die but your image does reveal its potential as a photographer's playground. (Nora just came in and looked at the image and said 'there you are, it can be nice'!)
The square format produces a powerful image within the constraints of the site but I wonder if the top part of the sky is really contributing. That powerful cloud gives a lid to the image and the wisps above don't have much power. I shouldn't speak for John but I know that he prefers to stick with the original format and not crop so his comment will be interesting.
I am curious about the parallel lines, a narrow gauge railway?
The left bottom of the image looks a bit vacant but provides a bit of the feel of loneliness of the huts. I had to think carefully about the contribution of that part of the image. There is a feeling that the subject is nearly all bottom right, just over a quarter of the image space. It is interesting that my initial response was a good one and then I started to question the composition but now I have returned to feeling good about the overall image.
As to what you say about taking pictures, that just about sums up my approach!
I had thought of commenting on the composition but having established that the horizon was placed to obey the rule of thirds, I thought that it was unproductive to go further! I also thought that, although not East Anglia, a Betjeman 'wide...sky' was appropriate (square format permitting!) and that the wispy clouds emphasised reality. The nominal lopsidedness of the composition works well.
As for cropping, this was done with a 6x9, so the original negative is cropped. If I remember well it was my intention when I took it.
Regarding the composition, thank you for the comments. I did not make all he decisions Rex and John see into it, at least not consciously. I do think, however that the top part of the sky, being darker, is necessary to balance the dark foreground. Yes, I think some emptiness is necessary to convey the atmosphere of the place. Regarding the rule of thirds, this image follows it at lot, almost like a caricature but, I think it works quite well as is.
Incidentally, this is very close to the nuclear plant. As for the deserted industry, it is actually fishing. The little rails were, I suppose, there to carry the fish. There is still a miniature steam train going around on some parts of that mini rail network, but it is now for tourism. Fishing is not dead in the area, though. A bit further, there is a beach full of fishing boats, and that is a surreal view. I still have to decide what to make of that other negative.
Sorry for being that long.
I know nothing about this place, other than what I've learned from reading these posts, but it interests me still, so I'd call it successful by that measure. For some reason, I was reminded of the photographs of Dorothea Lange when I saw this. Perhaps it is the sense of desolation.
Can't you just imagine walking down the path by the tracks? I can. A combination of the compostion and the treatment draw me in.
For me, all the action, as it were, is in the bottom third. That doesn't mean that I think the sky should be cropped at all, because the cloud acts as a nice cap for the subject. I find it interesting how such a large part of the surface area can play supporting role, without the smaller, more important bit, seeming too small.
Yup, I'm there.
I don't get Garden of England at all from this shot. It looks much more like a Wild West location. The whole expanse of the scene is effectively captured with so much sky in shot to enforce this home. The grasses to the front are bending towards the middle/back of the picture which leads my eye in nicely. All in all the image 'pops' well and a simple composition has created a pleasing image.
I am slighly troubled by that 'trident' stuck in the middle hut's roof though...
I keep finding myself thinking that I can just walk right into this and down those tracks. I know this isn't the American West, but that scrubby grass and the tumble down buildings are evocative. Not sure how useful that is as a critique, but it's an overwhelming daydream.