Bikes at rest Photo

Photographer’s Note

This might just look like a picture of some boring old bikes. But if you know how much a Chinese person depends on their bicycle, then you will be amazed too when you see such a scene.

This picture was taken near the Antique Market in Panjiayuan in Beijing. Outside the market, the rows of bicycles were quite a sight. thousands of them, just standing there.

This is probbaly the only time they can rest because Beijing is a pretty big city and a person's bicycle is their lifeline. Many times we saw a whole family of 5 people on 1 bike!

You can see from the picture that they are constructed very simply. A few rods and two wheels. Some don't even have proper seats!! (Ouch!)

Some minor cropping, contrast adjustments and sharpening. I also decided to turn it into a BW picture to make it seem 'calmer'.

Did it work.........?

Kenny10pin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

maciekda (19587) 2004-04-18 22:53

nice picture, nice compo with bikes. and bikes are quite special - simple trucks. i wish there were some persons around. the picture seems to be tilted, but it is not - just an impression of tilted horizon.. a documentary shot, in TE spirit

gringofil (0) 2004-04-18 22:58

Nice shot. I like the repetitive pattern here and your journalistic approach to the subject, but somehow this shot does not work for me as well I as I would like to. The main problem here is with the buidling in the background...it needs to go. There is not context that is being added to the shot by way of showing this building. Also your B&W conversion appears to be a bit too gray, I wish there was just more contrast here and more total blacks throughout. Anyway, this works on one level, but through a few simple PS steps this can be tured into something magical.

[workshop] [compare] +

lukasfoto (3078) 2004-04-19 4:08

very nice picture... well done

clodreno (0) 2004-04-19 6:28

I totally agree with Maciek here. May be I would have cropped it a bit. I don't think it's necessary to have the buildings in the picture. I would have done something more abstract, graphic.. Nice though..

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-04-20 12:59

great composition, i like the details and the amount of bikes here too