Very Important Person Photo

Photographer’s Note

I had planned to post a different photo today, but as usual, at the last moment I changed my mind and thought to post this one which I shot yesterday on my way from the office which I sometimes visit... to get my salary ;)

The office is in the building which is on the right but it is almost invisible... it is attached to the Moscow City Government office which you can partly see in this shot on the right and also much more of it - in the Workshop photo.

I guess everyone recognizes The Moscow Kremlin in the distance... ;)

The weather left much to be desired. It was about to rain, though it was not cold... and it was difficult to choose the right exposure (especially when this guy dressed in black suit suddenly appeared).
He remained "black" even after very heavy postprocessing, so I quit any pp work and left the photo as it is - just sharpened (40% at 0.3px radius) :)

Every city and every country has their typical colours. Well, these are very typical "Moscow colours", especially in such kind of weather.

Of course I know that the blue sky, funny coulds and a sunny day would change the photo a lot... but... :(
...but this is the reality.

If I happen to pass by this place on a sunny warm day (with a DSLR camera) I will try taking more photos and see what I can get.

NB: this is a cropped version of the original landscape shot which I will post in the Workshop for you to compare. Somehow I tend to prefer the cropped version, but you may have a different opinion :)

=====================================
Info about the shot:
Shooting Date/Time: 06.04.2009 15:20:25
Tv(Shutter Speed): 1/50Sec.
Av(Aperture Value): F6.3
Metering Modes: Spot
Exposure Compensation: 0
ISO Speed: 100
Focal Length: 34,0 mm
Image Quality: RAW
Flash: Off
White Balance: Auto
AF mode: AI focus AF
Picture Style: Landscape

saxo042, rey316, Selmik, ellelloo, jusninasirun, tomi1 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

saxo042 (16576) 2009-04-07 1:07

Hi Elena,
I have thoroughly compared the two versions here, and I am not yet sure which one I prefer. In WS #1 the wide and otherwise empty street emphesizes the lonely car. On the other hand, the one you have chosen concetrates on the car and the man... Well, I don´t really know, both are very good and very interesting street scenes.
Kind regards
Gunnar

mafegan (4633) 2009-04-07 2:06

Hello Elena
Interesting to see a familiar landmark in the middle of a daily life scene - it places the street in context. You convey well the atmosphere of Moscow - and the weather is part of it. Thanks again for sharing, Marlene

holmertz (10115) 2009-04-07 2:52

Hello Elena,
I think this cropped version is more interesting since it brings the car and the man closer, which gives a focus for the picture. It also makes it easier to read the advertisement of "Thai massage" :-)
I have a certain fondness of this kind of picture where famous landmarks become a small detail in the background and the attention is on something entirely different.
Best regards,
Gert

serp2000 (9833) 2009-04-07 3:48

Ïðèâåò, Åëåíà,
Ýòî íàâåðíîå, ñëóãà íàðîäà? Ïîõîæ. Ëþäè â ÷åðíîì. ×òîá ãðÿçü íå òàê çàìåòíà áûëà :))) Õîðîøèé êàäð è òåêñò, íî ÿ áû îáðåçàë âåðõ ñ ïðîòèâíûìè âåð¸âêàìè. Ãîðèçîíòàëüíî áû ïîëó÷èëîñü.Òàéñêèé ìàññàæ î÷åíü êîëîðèòíî òóò âìåñòèëñÿ.
Óäà÷íî çàêîí÷èòü ýòîò äåíü.
Ñåðãåé

rey316 (1902) 2009-04-07 6:50

Ïðèâåò Åëåíà.
Çàìîòàëñÿ ÿ çà ýòè äíè è íåò îñîáî âðåìåíè íà ïîñåùåíèå ýòîãî ñàéòà. Íî äëÿ âàøåãî ôîòî è ãàëåðèè êàê íå âûäåëèòü âðåìÿ.
Ó íàñ ñåãîäíÿ + 25,5 :)
À ó âàñ åù¸ êóðòêè øàïêè â õîäó ;)
×òî òî ÿ íå âèæó íà ôîòî Ðîññèéñêîãî àâòîïðîìà êîòîðîå ñîáðàëñÿ ïîäåðæàòü ïðåìüåð. Ãäå åãî Íèâà. ?? Ìíå áîëüøå íðàâèòüñÿ ýòà , íà ïåðåäíåì ïëàíå. À ?
Äà åù¸ è âñòàë îí ïî ïðàâèëàì ...ïî ñðåäè óëèöû
À ìèëèöèîíåð ÷òî ñòîëá îõðàíÿåò ?
Óñïåõîâ
Àíäðåé

jplebrun (17490) 2009-04-07 8:35

Bonjour Elena
comme partout dans le monde il y a des personnages qui sont important et bénéficies de traitement selon leurs moyens financier, belle présentation
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

Uhu (7478) 2009-04-07 8:53

Правительство Москвы-Тайский Массаж. Смешная фотка - и Кремль этак вот поглядывает на все это, и на Правительство Москвы и на Тайский Массаж, хи-хи!
Хорошая фотка.

AKITA (5683) 2009-04-07 14:48

dear Elena,
this is a very sophisticated shot and in my feeling it includes some picturesque elements.
I especially like this vertical composition with large gray sky, then people, cars and buildings are settled on low grand,
it makes me feeling very real atmosphere there in Moscow.
and this perspective made by tram wires, poles, road to distant Kremlin has imaginative power to show us the time (from past to present or from now to ancient) on this space.
anyway I can feel actual air in Moacow very well through this picture.
thank you,
Akihisa

Selmik (1446) 2009-04-07 22:42

Привет Елена,
спасибо за визит и прекрасные комментарии :-)
Вне сомнения,этот господин является VIP-остановится на перекрестке в центре Москвы не каждый может себе позволить :-)
Хорошая перспектива и прекрасно пойманный момент!
Спасибо и всего наилучшего!
Михаил

ellelloo (5025) 2009-04-07 23:37

Hello Elena,
A good street view, which is cropped cleverly from the original one into a vertical format. The perspective is very good. The original photo is good as well. The grey day mood in Moscow is transmitted well here. The Kremlin on the background kind of fixes this photo on the map even without a map reference. :-)
Warm regards,
Lasse

LY2007 (0) 2009-04-08 0:25 [Comment]

Show Comment +

jusninasirun (10401) 2009-04-08 0:41

Hi Elena,

Very good street scene of the VIP gaining entry to a classy Bee EM. Well placed subject in the frame with good sharpness and clarity.

Best regards,
Jusni

Royaldevon (5988) 2009-04-08 1:04

Hello Elena,

I'm sad that I didn't get to find out who the very important person was.
I have looked carefully at your two shots and, whereas I almost always like the closer, cropped version, in this case, I like your wide angled version better.
For me, the wide street gives a much better impression of Moscow: its cables, its 'big city' atmosphere!
The cropped version focuses on the person whom we do not know and though the title suggests we look at the man, for me, this is more a shot of Moscow.
Can you understand my opinion?

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

bukitgolfb301 (5144) 2009-04-08 5:44

Hello again my dear Elena

I compared with other two photos, I prefer #2 to other two photos, from the point of composition, impact and interest.

I read your note but did not understand why the title of photo is "Very Important Person", I am sorry.

best regards,

Takero

PixelTerror (87195) 2009-04-08 13:32

Hej Elena,
Maybe he was on his way to a Thai Massage... under the caring eye of the Militsia, see even an apparently actionless scene reveals plenty of daily life details!
Have a nice day JY

tomi1 (1300) 2009-04-09 16:42

Oeiras, 9-4-2009
Elena
I like the picture with faint light. The electicity lines and others stand out. The man really dresses in a fine black suit. And his style is typical of a business man. ( He mustn`t be a common worker working hard ). BMW is a very acknowledge mark. Despite all I think the systemn of engines must forcely be changed to other energy source. ( I hope that generation of engines bring us slower cars ). Only one car pollutions so much. Sometimes I think what will be to renew so many expensive cars. Perhaps only the manufacture changes as well as the new sales. The old ones will die along time. Unless the systemn of the actual ones may be changed. ( I want to write you and be in my best ). Do not worry. Anyway it is a priority to write to you. Happy Easter. ( I plan to stay near Oeiras because the traffic on road ). On Sunday we go to a restaurant to lunch at ( Queluz de Baixo ). A very boasted restaurant Paula have already been some years ago. I go to it for the first time. Your friend. Tomi

giorgimer (21676) 2009-10-04 9:23

Hi Elena,

i can see that you dedicated a post to a moment capture, like I did. It seems your work was more effective ;)
The car luxury confirms the importance of the subject, difficult to see similar ones some years ago ;)

TFS

G