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Steps and Shadows: fun or sassy, architectural to pastoral

Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
We seem to be fascinated by stairs and shadows. So why not look at this together and see what pictures we can come up with together!




2010LA NY 5D238STEPS and Shadow _1.jpg


Asher Kelman: Steps and Shadows New York 2010
​


Now's your turn!


Asher
 
Cem_Usakligil

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Hi Asher,

Asher Kelman said:
We seem to be fascinated by stairs and shadows. So why not look at this together and see what pictures we can come up with together!
Click to expand...
A very nice theme, thanks for coming up with this one. The idea of escalator picture like yours is one with potential, I hope you will show some more in the future.

I have two immediate pictures to show on this: the first one I have shown a few years back, but then it was in color. This one is in B&W and looks better this way IMO. The second one is a new post processing of a never shown before picture, but I should add that Bart has shown almost the same picture since we were out together for that shoot.




e09762.jpg








f07172.jpg






Cheers,

​
 
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Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief


20080505-_MG_2754_nyc.jpg


Ruben Alfu : Sidewalk

​

Ruben,

I figured correctly then! This is a great start and I like the drama and the extra lines as well as the clarity in the pant leg and shoe.

Thanks for sharing!

Asher
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
e09762.jpg

​



Cem this first one, I have a faint echo in my mind of a picture like this before, but as you mentioned it was in color. This seems new. The revelation of the people above is interesting.



f07172.jpg


This picture, however is seared in my mind. Were the colors this saturated? It could be that fashon for home decorating has changed. I remember when you and Bart visited this village and I felt that I sort of missed out! Maybe when we visit, all of us can go and reshoot in that vicinity! It would be interesting to try in B&W too. Then the colors would be all tones and we might see something dfferent.

Asher
 
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Cem_Usakligil

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Hi Asher,

Asher Kelman said:
...This picture, however is seared in my mind. Were the colors this saturated? It could be that fashon for home decorating has changed. ....
Click to expand...
The credit goes to Bart for leaving such a searing impression with his picture of this scene. Mine is the same subject but the pp is of course different. Colors were very saturated in reality but Bart's picture had a very nice tonality to it whereas I had the objective of making it dramatic, contrasty and saturated.

Asher Kelman said:
...I remember when you and Bart visited this village and I felt that I sort of missed out! Maybe when we visit, all of us can go and reshoot in that vicinity! It would be interesting to try in B&W too. Then the colors would be all tones and we might see something dfferent.
Click to expand...
Asher we would be delighted to have you here as you already know. Unfortunately, the village of Doel has now been partially demolished, some of the houses are gone forever and some others have been locked down. There is still some left but it is a matter of time now. And the few remaining natives can be a bit hostile towards photographers as Bart and I have found out the last time.

Cheers,
 
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C

Cedric MASSOULIER

New member
Hi,

I think steps and stairways are great subjects in photography (and art in general) because they easily evoke something to the viewer : a way to access someting different (another level of conscience maybe ?), a way to mystery and unknown, an elevation, an effort to make to climb it, etc... They have great graphical value too.

Cedric.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Cedric MASSOULIER said:
Hi,

I think steps and stairways are great subjects in photography (and art in general) because they easily evoke something to the viewer : a way to access someting different (another level of conscience maybe ?), a way to mystery and unknown, an elevation, an effort to make to climb it, etc... They have great graphical value too.

Cedric.
Click to expand...

Cedric,

As always you think of social aspects. I'm sure you have taken pictures with steps and shadows, but I wonder what questions you asked in the pictures.

Je suis sûr que vous avez déjà photographié des escaliers ou des marches avec les ombres. Je suis intéressé par ce que l'histoire de votre images racontaient.

Asher
 
T

Tom Robbins

Member
Some great thoughts and photos of steps here. The marble staircase is arresting, Cem.

Steps are similar to waterfalls as metaphor and photographic subject. As such, both seem to be depicted as ascending more often than not, and this may underscore Cedric's observation.

107500816.jpg

An outdoor rural version. The heavy winter fog didn't allow shadows, but there it is.
 
J

janet Smith

pro member

107500816.jpg

Hi Tom

This works so well, the juxtaposition of the hard lines of the stairs, with the softness of the foliage and mist, wonderful, I love it!
 
C

Cedric MASSOULIER

New member
Asher Kelman said:
Cedric,

As always you think of social aspects. I'm sure you have taken pictures with steps and shadows, but I wonder what questions you asked in the pictures.

Je suis sûr que vous avez déjà photographié des escaliers ou des marches avec les ombres. Je suis intéressé par ce que l'histoire de votre images racontaient.

Asher
Click to expand...

Well, i have plenty of pictures with steps and shadows at home, i will search some of them ;)

This is a little one, essentially shot for graphical aspect with b&w film :

cfa84942f215d0cfd9c2d400169cca1.jpg
 
G

Graham Harris

New member
When I was out recently I took a similar spiral staircase to Tim, albeit from the bottom up. Also I was lucky someone decided to descend as I was photographing the stairs. Converted to monochrome with silver efex.

Comments welcome


stairs-and-shaddow.jpg

Graham
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Tom Robbins said:
Some great thoughts and photos of steps here. The marble staircase is arresting, Cem.

Steps are similar to waterfalls as metaphor and photographic subject. As such, both seem to be depicted as ascending more often than not, and this may underscore Cedric's observation.

107500816.jpg

An outdoor rural version. The heavy winter fog didn't allow shadows, but there it is.
Click to expand...

Tom,

This s so different as the mist makes for a novel paradigm. This our first image including this powerful element. It provides the idea of the unknown, but not as ominous as using darkness. I'd consider a gradient of sharpening and S curve to the rails so that the nearest part would be clearly defined. This will add depth and immediacy. The two vertical rails at the sides could be brilliantly sharp. For this I'd try using a sharpening at something like 12-15 percent and 18 to 36 pixels wide.

Asher
 
T

Tom Robbins

Member
All, thank you for your kind comments.

Graham, that human shadow adds an interesting element!

Cedric, your image made me think of Modotti's Staircase.

Asher, you're absolutely on the money, as usual. The foggy steps shot was from about a year ago, and my approach to sharpening has evolved some since then. I should rework some of the older images, but after losing that microsecond recently, the days are way too short.
 
M

Mike Shimwell

New member
Some nice pictures here - Graham, I like the spiral with shadow particularly.

Cedric, as you say the stairs metaphor links in to the path! Perhaps the stairs are at the end of the road...

Anyway, this is a repost and I'll have a look to see I've shot any stairs more recently.

Mike


4119641159_7f7aa24549_o.jpg
 
Cem_Usakligil

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Cedric MASSOULIER said:
Hi,

I have found this one to represent graphical values of stairs and shadwos (and colors) :

ae678774db658d16c915caa76e5fb22.jpg
Click to expand...

Very interesting Cedric. This guy looks like as if he is floating down above the stairs. And the shadows following the arches of the steps are perfect, well caught :)

Cheers,
 
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Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Ossi Raimi said:
Maybe a little bit different one?
Click to expand...


_medium.jpg


Ossi Rami: Two different Worlds​


Hi Ossi,

If one is going to go for the underground world then go with gusto and try to reach the nth in effect. Danté didn't hold back and neither should you!


Down to undergroung, Hakaniemi 2009_AK copy.jpg


Ossi Rami: Two different Worlds Edits ADK​
 
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R

Ruben Alfu

New member
Last Sunday I went to do some photos for this challenge and came up with these two that I find interesting.




20100307-_MG_0033.jpg


Ruben Alfu : Mars


20100307-_MG_0041-2-1.jpg


Ruben Alfu : Venus

​
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Ruben Alfu said:
Last Sunday I went to do some photos for this challenge and came up with these two that I find interesting.




20100307-_MG_0033.jpg


Ruben Alfu : Mars


20100307-_MG_0041-2-1.jpg


Ruben Alfu : Venus

​
Click to expand...


Ruben,

You did so well! The first is dramatic the second so deliberately and fashionably modern. This Venus is a long way from the Isles of Greece and the statues of rome. That pointed shoe has purpose and power that only the modern women can demand freely. Just the portion we see says volumes.

Asher
 
Cem_Usakligil

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Mars vs Venus

Hi Ruben,

I have seen and understand the Venus part but where are the men from Mars in the 1st image? ;-) I had to acclimate to the 1st image TBH. The vertical band in the middle is too overpowering and almost washed out without details. Graphically, it is a very interesting image though. The 2nd image is a real gem, immediately captivating! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
 
R

Ruben Alfu

New member
Asher Kelman said:
Ruben,

This Venus is a long way from the Isles of Greece and the statues of rome. That pointed shoe has purpose and power that only the modern women can demand freely.

Asher
Click to expand...

I drink to that Asher, and thanks for the kind words!



Cem_Usakligil said:
Hi Ruben,

I have seen and understand the Venus part but where are the men from Mars in the 1st image?
Click to expand...

It´s a new revelation in couples therapy LOL!


Cem_Usakligil said:
I had to acclimate to the 1st image TBH. The vertical band in the middle is too overpowering and almost washed out without details. Graphically, it is a very interesting image though. The 2nd image is a real gem, immediately captivating! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for commenting Cem, I agree No1 is a little extreme.
 
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