Phoenix, a photo from Coast, East

Photographer's Note

I have posted a shot of this trusty steed before. Here is a different viewpoint with sepia toning.
The Phoenix is a bone-shaking Chinese manufactured bicycle. Easy to repair and low on technical innovation it’s perfectly suited to the muddy, rutted roads of rural East Africa.
This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2012. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

tyro, timecapturer, tedesse, Royaldevon, delpeoples, ourania has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Nicou (97543) 2013-02-06 7:47

Hello

Géniale compo et iamge de ce vélo superbe captage quelle vue quel cadrage avec cette palissage de bois et le rendu dans les tons une merveille grandiose.
Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Robert1969 (6176) 2013-02-06 8:23

Hello Rosemary,

Like a previous picture (with a bicycle) you use
once again a beautiful lower position and this
with the wide angle creates a lots of depth
and gives this beautiful "wide and charming"
effect. Composition is also great and the
Sherpa/B&W makes the picture extra interesting
(and I believe that the sky wasn't
interesting in color?) and it makes also the
picture timeless.

Friendly regards,
Robert Alderliefste

tyro (13021) 2013-02-06 8:43

Hello Rosemary,

From your title, I was expecting to see something "risen from the ashes" but, no, this is a very fine photograph of the bicycle which I certainly recognise from before.

This bicycle might be crude and functional, but it appears in good condition with good tyres and only slightly rust wheel rims and, I am sure, will travel many more miles yet.

Your close viewpoint and wide angle lens have exaggerated the perspective here to produce a picture with oodles of impact, also enhanced by the strong contrasts. The monochrome and sepia treatments work well here too. Good composition and exquisite detail and sharpness.

An interesting note too.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

eldancer1 (16970) 2013-02-06 9:29

I like this pov and the color. Good lighting and dof with nice details. Very well done, tfs.

Silvio1953 (98001) 2013-02-06 11:21

Ciao Rosemary, lovely composition with bike in FG, beautiful sepia conversion, excellent clarity and splendid ligh, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

krzychu30 (8797) 2013-02-06 12:01

Hello Rosemary,
beautiful composition!I like the way you framed the scene with so nice close-up view of the bike.But what I like more about your picture is how you processed it.Sepia toning suits perfectly to this scene.It brings so lovely,unique retro feeling to the scene.

Best regards
Krzysztof

Waylim (22349) 2013-02-06 22:40

Hi Rosemary,

The perspective is really good. The contrast is strong due to the bright light, but you managed well. I not too sure if the black and white make any difference. But I guess the sepia tone give a sense of old photo quality.

Way

dkmurphys (36727) 2013-02-06 22:51

Hi Rosemary,
I like the subject and the artistic POV of it. Interesting note too, I'm a big bike fan.
Have a nice day.

Daniel

jjcordier (62280) 2013-02-06 22:57

Rosemary
Un choix de cadrage spectaculaire et des tons sépia donnant une forte originalité à cette très intéressante photo.
Amicalement
JJ

sevy (13267) 2013-02-06 23:35

Hello Rosemary,

More than the sepia toning, for me the big interest of this shot is you succeeded to get a dynamic and eye catching shot with this simple subject (the lonely cycle).
For that, you used very well the wide angle to have a strong perspective and you did it in a well balanced composition.

Yves.

timecapturer (30226) 2013-02-07 2:46

Hi Rosemary
looks exactly like my first bike! This is an arty and quite wonderfully composed shot. I love the lines and textures here, it would look great framed and hanging on an antique shop wall in Brighton! Excellent imagery!

Regards - Brian.

tedesse (22073) 2013-02-07 3:41

Hello Rosemary!
I like how you present this miracle of technology.
I use the bicycle for everyday around the city and beyond.
Fantastic photo in sepia.
Have a nice day
Tadeusz

fabbs99 (5334) 2013-02-07 9:15

Hi Rosemary,

An ordinary subject but a great photograph. Incredible presentation. Very well done.

Regards
Farhat

Royaldevon (17741) 2013-02-07 11:10

Hello Rosemary,

Oh, aren't bicycles so interesting and so very different to photograph. I have posted a few in my time! This sepia shot, of yours, taken from the front, with emphasis on the wheel reminded me so much of one I posted from Italy . Fortunately this one has seen no damage!
The sepia effect matches the timelessness of the bicycle. It also encourages the viewer to look more closely at the shapes and the textures, things that are often overlooked in a colourful, vibrant photograph.

My kind regards,
Bev :-)
Thank you for your critique of my shot. It must be very difficult not to yearn for a previous homeland, with all its memories and traditions. The good thing, for you, is that you are missing all the horrendous winds, blizzards and cold temperatures!

annjackman (13177) 2013-02-08 5:07

Hello Rosemary,
A super viewpoint focuses attention firmly on the bike. I like the w ay that the front wheel is dominant. The sepia toning gives a lovely effect on the slatted screen and piece of wood. I like the contrast with the white space as it makes a very creative and interesting composition.
Best wishes, Ann

macjake (39207) 2013-02-08 11:51

Hi Rosemary
funny that you mentioned that you've posted a photo of this bike before because i thought right away it looked familiar.
personally i have never really used the sepia tone, but it does have it place i suppose :)
it just never crosses my mind to use it.
in this scene, i enjoy the sand and the wood along the bottom portion, and the great large circle tire looks funky with its close up distorted view.
nice one
cheers
craig

mesutilgim (67888) 2013-02-08 11:55

Hello Rosemary,
Very nice capture of this bike with perfect pov and great graphical effect.
Monochrome was a good choice.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

karacabeylis (1275) 2013-02-09 4:27

a great angle has been used here. the palm trees are strengtening the harmony inside.

abmdsudi (26215) 2013-02-09 6:00

Hi Rosemary
Great perspective and shooting angle, like the feel and post processing on this to get the vintage-look. So simple from an 'everyday' scene yet so very effective. Less is more in this instance, Well done.
Warm regards

ACL1978 (5729) 2013-02-09 8:22

Great shot of a stripped-down one speed bike, Rosemary. The low angle creates a nice effect. This must be a tough one to ride any decent distance - I can imagine getting pretty sore in all the wrong places from this little vehicle. Still, as you say, probably a pretty good bike to ride in rough conditions - no complicated parts to maintain!

Andrew

delpeoples (44900) 2013-02-12 3:57

HI dear Rosemary

Yes I remember your other photo of this trust steed. The sepia treatment is excellent and I like the low POV and the slight distortion that the wide angle lens and the vertical frame have helped to create. SUperb depth and sharpness and you did really well to convert it to sepia, particularly in light of the fact that the sky was doing you no favours at all.

Thanks for sharing, have a beautiful evening
Lisa

jemaflor (68837) 2013-02-12 11:43

Hi Rosemary,
Good wide angle with this big circle in the Fg, interesting result with this w&b version well contrasted, original.

ourania (12287) 2013-02-17 2:00

Hello Rosemary,
I like very much this point of view on the resting bike too. The picture has well managed dynamism and is framed effectively to match the shape and size of the bike. Sharpness and depth are excellent and the sepia tones are lovely and atmospheric. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great week,
Ourania