the McDonald's moment Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another very typically Moscow-ish atmosphere.
(sorry! I couldn't think of a better title for this photo than this one! LOL)

This is a place which is, among many in Moscow, is surely far away from any standard tourist tracks.
It is Ladozhskaya street (RUS: Ladozhskaya ulitsa).

Most houses in this street are very old houses, but little by little they have been renovated, repainted... and now they look as good as new :)

I seldom come to this district, and yesterday I was there again, on business. Unfortunately I did not have my DSLR camera with me, so I had to use my Nokia cell phone.

I must say that the lighting conditions (from this POV) were not the best - you can see it! But, strangely, the Nokia camera maganed it, without much under- and overexposure. So, quality-wise, this shot is as it is: no PP adjustment except for very slight perspective lens distortion.

I could take this shot from the opposite side of this rather narrow road for a wider view, but in that case there would be cars in front of me, blocking part of the view.

In the Workshop you can see more of this place.

I took several photos in this street and I am rather puzzled which of them to choose as the main post. Finally I stopped at this one though initially I wanted to post a "landscape" version which you can see in the WS (the one with a worker wearing an orange jacket).

The red building in the middle is a McDonald's!

This street is always full of young people who are students (or, at this time of the summer) entrants at a technical university which is situated nearby.

holmertz, macondo, UlfE, Kielia, bukitgolfb301, saxo042, Vasa, asajernigan, ellelloo, Urs has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (9284) 2009-07-01 3:46

Hello Elena,
The colours, light and perspective make this picture shine among the thumbnails. I guess it's a fairly ordinary Moscow street, but the pedestrians, colours, architectural details make it very interesting in this picture. I am as always amazed by the quality of your mobile phone.
Best wishes,
Gert

jplebrun (16570) 2009-07-01 5:11

Bonjour Elena
photo pleine de vie avec tous ces gens qui circulent dans la rue, c'est ce qui me surprend car il y a aussi des trottoirs et il semble déserté par les gens.
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

macondo (12973) 2009-07-01 6:15

Hi Elena.
Nice back-lit shot of this daily life scene, giving good colour rendition despite the light's angle, and using the shadows to good effect. The angle of view is good, and the pedestrian groups are well placed. Perhaps I would crop a little from the top of the photo. I found the note very interesting, but I think you chose the right shot for TE.
You know, I found in Toulouse a MacDonalds in an old building which had not one golden 'M', one could hardly tell that it was a Mac place at all - very discrete.
Regards,
Andrew

tomi1 (1220) 2009-07-01 9:07

Oeiras,1-7-2009
Elena
Despite people say the Mc Donalds food makes one`s fatter it ever is a good alternative to avoid expensive restaurants. However new products came to give a better image to the houses`s name. I like the presence of these young girls because they are the soul of the picture. They are both beauty and young. Their expressions, light clothes, enlaced arm is a beautiful human presence. A moment you have registered anyway. Interesting to see they wear different model of trousers. ( I need to write you and it is a priority of mine ). Warm sincere regards. Tomi

UlfE (8837) 2009-07-01 10:15

Hi Elena,

It is always good idea to take one or another daily life scenes far away from the tourist tracks. Often these are the photos you appreciate most when ten years have passed. You really note the changes. Your POV and composition is excellent here and your inclusion of people is really great. Without them the picture would lack something. TFS and have nice evening!

Friendly regards,

Ulf

Kielia (8183) 2009-07-01 10:57

Hi Elena,
these kind of images have become your landmark: presenting different street views! Your cell phone worked extremely well, the light and the colors are quite good (I can see some minor problems with the clouds). But most fascinating is the dynamic here created by the passengers. Excellent POV! My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

npecanhuk (13027) 2009-07-01 11:10

Hello Elena!
Bright, shiny, colorful, lively, neat and beautiful picture! Another splendid cityscape and wonderful urban life from distant Moscow!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

scroller (2881) 2009-07-01 11:23

Hej Elena,

A fine example of old and new. I like the bright colours and an active street life.
Hälsningar
/Stefan

bukitgolfb301 (4425) 2009-07-01 13:55

Hello my dear Elena

Excellent and comfortable photo indeed.
Composition, color combination and framework are perfect as usual. You treat and cut unusual secne from usual secne, Congratulation on your great shot !

Thanks for sharing and best regards

Takero

Vasa (4836) 2009-07-01 15:17

Draga tovariš Elena,

I see here a very nice face of Moscow. Your transmission is great. So happy to see you in sunny capital of slovens culture.

Friendly your

Branko

saxo042 (15102) 2009-07-01 15:19

Hi Elena,
This may not be Hollywood Boulevard, but really not that far from it. That McD logo could have been there... (By the way, how much is a Big Mac in Moscow?). It is always very interesting to see your daily life captures, this is really one of the best things with TE! People in your captures are looking just people in Hollywood (or Gothenburg). You often say that you envy my G10, I really envy your Nokia!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

AKITA (5055) 2009-07-01 16:57

dear Elena,
a light and a shadow of the globalization culture (this McD and so on) in Moscow is well captured.
the most clear characteristics of it is "unreasonable cheer",
maybe it is common in N.Y., Paris, Tokyo and there Moscow...
it is needed on commercialism, absolutely. and it is the most "shadow" really.
but I can find "light" in this your Moscow-ish shot, that is a piece of the old-style feature on the building. it is surely precious. superficial common culture cannot hide the unique climate there. again I write that is true priceless original culture.
thank you,
Akihisa

serp2000 (9151) 2009-07-01 22:18

Äîáðîå óòðî, Åëåíà,
ß â äàííûé ìîìåíò èñïûòûâàþ ÷óâñòâî ãîëîäà.Î÷åíü êñòàòè, ýòà ôîòêà, íàïîìíèëà î íàñóùíîì.Õììì.À ñëîâî ÿïîøà íå ÿâëÿåòñÿ îñêîðáèòåëüíûì?
Óäà÷íîãî äíÿ!
Ñåðãåé

skippy007 (6799) 2009-07-02 17:41

Hello Elena, I have one question,if I may ask, your cell phone takes fantastic photos, I'm really surprised, does it also make good phone calls? ;-)
Seriously I'm surprised by the excellent quality prints your post that have been taken on your cell phone, this one is a good example, excellent quality. Nice to see the sun is now shinning in Moscow, looks like a lovely day, I think that clown with the red hair must be in every corner of our glove, maybe even on the moon;-)). To post this was a good choice, I also thought number 1 was interesting.
Thanks
Take care
Santo

John_F_Kennedy (30629) 2009-07-03 4:34

Excellent composition under the sunny lights. Well done!
Best wishes,
Achim

molla (6875) 2009-07-03 13:09

Such a sunny one Elena. like those different diagonal and the distinct light and actually the wires as the looks a bit like a sketch work, the only thing I dont like is Mc donalds :)
Anders

asajernigan (13889) 2009-07-05 5:43

Elena,
This is a nice shot taken under difficult lighting conditions. The inclusion of the people is what makes this shot work. The angle of the shot leads the eye down the street nicely giving the scene a sense of direction. The lighting and colors are fine with nice sharpness and detail.
TFS,
Asa

ellelloo (4654) 2009-07-06 2:24

Hello Elena,
I like the the old houses along this street because they have "human" dimensions. The bigger new houses are not so well fitting in the scene. A good photo with your mobile phone, which indeed managed the difficult light conditions amazingly well. Also good colours, contrast and sharpness. I think that you selected the right one for the original photo. It has a good composition with the walkers in perfect positions. Thanks fro sharing!
Greetings from now chilly but sunny Espoo (only 14C yesterday).
Lasse

Urs (2455) 2009-07-06 2:42

Dear Elena

Where is McDonald's not? Your lively shot is full of nice details, people walking, parked cars and the buildings. The sun boosts the friendliness of the picture. Colors are vibrant, DOF is perfect and the sharpness is fine. Well done.

Best regards
Urs

fritzi007 (2369) 2009-07-28 10:01

Hi Elena!
I'm not really a friend of McDonald's, it is for young people, good snapshot!
Many greetings
from Styria
Wolfgang

vbl (1402) 2009-07-29 6:23

Hy Elena:
Nice POV and good capture of a daily moment
beautiful colors and good control of light
Really a nice picture
Regards,
Vanessa

pablominto (39918) 2009-08-19 0:12

Hello Elena,

The point of view gives fine lines in the composition!
Busy people going to and from, all well recorded in this fine slice of life...
Good lines and fine colours, the composition has great depth!
And I think I remember when McDonalds first came to Moscow, almost twenty years ago...

Greetings,
Pablo -