will you walk into my parlour..? Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a panoramic view of one of the stations of the Moscow Metro - Avtozavodskaya. It is one of the stations which foreign tourists never seem to visit.

It's an unsual panoramic photo for me - an experiment again: it is a a stitch of 3 photos.
Here is a large version.

Originally I took 6 photos but due to the people walking along the platform and captured by my camera in inappropriate positions within the frame I had to give up the idea of stitching all the 6 photos, so I chose the best three of them.

Before taking such a panoramic shot I had never thought it would be so difficult to create a panorama of the station!

Taking photos at some Moscow metro stations is difficult by default, but this time it was double difficult! even though the station was not crowded.

Most passengers didn't care at all whether I was taking photos. They just appeared in front of me suddenly, blocking the view.

And a man even stood in front of me deliberately, talking on the phone. Perhaps he wanted to be photographed, too? OK, here he is! You can look at him in the Workshop.

Strangely, the only understanding people turned out to be three police guys and one police girl: they walked along the platform and even waited till I finish taking a series of photos! One of them curiously looked at me afterwards and then they went by farther.

I heard that it is forbidden to take photos in St. Petersburg's Metro, but the situation seems quite the opposite in Moscow! I made sure of it myself yesterday.

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Info about the metro station:

Avtozavodskaya (lit. "auto factory") is named for the nearby "Zavod Imeni Likhacheva" ("Likhachev auto factory") where ZIS and ZIL limousines were built. The station opened in 1943 and till 1956 it was named "Auto factory named after I. Stalin". The architect was A. Dushkin.

Both the tall pillars and walls are faced with pinkish Oraktuoy marble. Additionally, Avtozavodskaya is decorated with eight mosaics depicting events of the Great Patriotic War.

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Info about the shot:
ISO-1600; originally taken in RAW and converted to JPEG.

mikeyeats, Royaldevon, gildasjan, ktanska, InasiaJones, macondo, Polonaise, jafadabret, holmertz, TravelerNL, Didi, bukitgolfb301, leo61, emjleclercq has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Royaldevon (5926) 2009-10-09 1:07

Hello Elena,

Although you had obvious difficulties taking this, it has proven to be an excellent finished result. I love the panorama which has been able to include the extremes of two lines to create excellent composition and a wonderful sense of perspective. It is sharp enough and with good lighting and details.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

gildasjan (23726) 2009-10-09 1:48

Bonjour Elena
Excellent rendu de cette atmosphère de gare et j'aime cette perspective des trains et ce bleu blanc.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

ktanska (16545) 2009-10-09 2:12

Hi Elena,
Those metro stations of Moscow, they are spectacular. You managed to Get sharp shot and even stop motion there. Just wonderful daily life panorama!
Kari

InasiaJones (20150) 2009-10-09 2:42

Hi Elena,

I love these Russian subway stations and although this one is less posh, it still swanky enough and very different from any other metro in the world.

Doing a stitching job with moving people is certainly a challenge, but by using the colonnades to divide the scene is a good idea.

Very TE shot, insightful and well executed.

Cheers!

André

mafegan (4159) 2009-10-09 3:31

Hello Elena
Not such an elaborate metro station this time - perhaps that is why few visitors pass through here! I love your large version - I feel as though I am standing on the platform. I am a big fan of your metro photos - has to be a favourite. Tfs, Marlene

macondo (13079) 2009-10-09 4:09

Hi Elena.
Great stitch! I say that as someone who has not yet attempted this technique. Your subject is perfect for this kind of photo, and it seems you have done a great job. The verticals are perfect. I really like the young fellow in the door of the train on the left. It's certainly a stately looking station - I remember the Moscow underground from my visits in 1974 and 1975!
I looked at the other photo of the man talking on the phone - I concluded that certain Muscovites must still gain a sense of self-importance from using the mobile phone.
Regards,
Andrew

JT50 (734) 2009-10-09 4:13

Hi Elena,
Excellent photo with sharpness and
details of daily life at a metro station.
I like the way you have portrayed the two
lines of pillars.
Regards.
Janak

mortijo (12210) 2009-10-09 5:18

Compared with the Parish and London subway stations, the Moscow ones look really luxurious. Your stitch is a plain success and there is a lot of depth in the picture. Light management is top. I take it that your title refers to the people walking into your view...?
Regards
John

jplebrun (16902) 2009-10-09 5:32

Bonjour Elena
très belle photo de cette station de métro de Moscou, les couleurs sont belles et l'image est pleine de vie avec tous ces gens qui se promènent
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

BennyV (4663) 2009-10-09 5:35

Hello Elena,

Excellent panorama stitch. There are many interesting details and features in the people and the architecture, but top of it is the man in the far left of the shot, him looking away...like every else in the shot, actually. Will they walk into the parlour? Nope...

Great shot!

Benny

Polonaise (5636) 2009-10-09 7:07

Great document, Elena. Good, explanatory note.

If there is reason for TE to exist - it's probably this photo. A real lesson of the wonders of this world. A lesson of the passion ( that is YOUR passion gal, in showing us your country, your city, your environment).
Moscow metro is one of those' scratching my head' issues of the modern world and, the more we know about it and the more of it we see - the more puzzled we are to the benefit of our inquiring minds.

Thanks, Fanni. Keep this shutter of yours - hot.
...................

xuaxo (5713) 2009-10-09 7:28

Здравствуйте Елена
Very interesting to see these non-tourist places. Also the WS.
Nice soft colors.
Привет из теплой Португалии,
Francisco (Франсишко)

jafadabret (39541) 2009-10-09 9:41

Bonjour Elena.
Ce pano est une réussite. Dans un métro c'est un exercice redoutable et tu y es parvenue avec une grande maîtrise. La Large Version donne l'impression d'être un usager de ce métro. Il y a tellement de belles stations dans ce métro qu'on ne peut toutes les voir dans une visite d'une heure ou deux comme on peut en faire en tant que touriste.
Amicalement
Jacques

holmertz (9612) 2009-10-09 11:31

Hello Elena,
A slightly more impressive place than for instance tunnelbanestationen Rådmansgatan. But the trains remind me of the older generation of Stockholm metro trains.
What makes the deepest impression on me is the elegant dominance of grey and blue, and some nuances in between. And the man standing in the doorway to the left, looking as bored as anyone could be on a metro train.
I guess that sooner or later I will have to learn to make these stitches. It can probably be a lot of fun.
Best wishes for the weekend.
Gert

ericfarge (864) 2009-10-09 11:56

Hello Elena,
I walk through your gallery, you have good talent, I think you are taking photos from a long time and you always think about what you are taking.
This one is a very good sample: dynamic, perfect composition, excellent light. It's like you work on every aspect of this photo.
Some could say it's too much perfect, but you have kept some simple elements that give humanity to this perfection.
Regards,
Eric.

Uhu (7376) 2009-10-09 12:50

Хорошая фотка, для ститча так вообще замечательная!
В нашем метро вроде да, запрещено, но я не проверял - все снимал при условии, что никого из персонала рядом нет.
Когда новые станции открывают, про запрет как-то забывают и все всё снимают.
Там где-то рядом с этой станцией должна быть церковь, в которой похоронен Ослябя, сколь я помню.

TravelerNL (2951) 2009-10-09 14:55

Hi Elena,
I have not seen many photo's of the Moscow metro here at TE while I have heard some of the stations are really beautiful, just like in Stockholm, although of quite a different dimension in Moscow.
This photo gives a excellent view of this station and the typical a bit cold atmosphere due to the light.
Very good compo, sharpness and colors.
Well done and thanks for sharing!
Have a nice weekend,
Harko

pajaran (3039) 2009-10-10 1:07

Dobar dan iz Cuprije, grada sa Velike Morave.
Lep metro.
Dobra kompozicija, dobre boje i trenutak snimka.
Svidja mi se ova gradjevina sa ovim stubovima i rasvetom.
Lep viken dan, pozdrav paja.

Didi (36074) 2009-10-10 1:14

Hi Elena
Very good stitch and deep composition in the large version.
Good frame quality
6 stitched pictures : What software did you use ?
Good works with people in movement no Ghost objects inside.
Best regards

siamesa (12820) 2009-10-10 1:52

Hello Elena

Congratulations for more one interesting picture. Reading your notes we can learn and have entartainment too. While some people don't like to be photographed, others love it. So... let's take pictures of them.
Hugs
maria

Docarmo (8830) 2009-10-10 7:39

Hi Elena,
Good work of stitch, a success! Excellent effect of depth. In the large version, we have the impression of being there.
I had a similar experience sometime ago - I explained it at my post of yesterday ;-)
Thanks for sharing,
Docarmo

bukitgolfb301 (4590) 2009-10-10 14:43

Hello my dear Elena

What an another great shot !
Perfect panorama framework / composition of the components and color combination are well calucurated and splendid as usual! Your effort could get a good result!
Congratulation on your masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Have a happy Sunday !

Takero

AKITA (5307) 2009-10-10 15:32

dear Elena,
a well edited panoramic picture of the metro station.
stitching looks natural, like one wide shot, and wide feeling is nicely expressed.
your POV is a little high, it shows us the upper space well, but maybe a little low POV shows us the people more obviously.
anyway I like this tone of colors, it looks similar with your previous shot, and it is moderate to make the view so settled in spite of noisy scene. blue and gray under ground space is nice.
a common scene that includes normal life feeling, it is very photogenic.
thank you,
Akihisa

serp2000 (9441) 2009-10-11 2:20

Вздравствуйте, Елена.
А у нас сегодня тоже выборы, иду работать в ТИК.
О фотографии.
Хорошая перспектива. В эээ... прямом смысле, т.к. в переносном перспектив у автозавода никаких.)))
Мне ндравятся фото подземок. Стараюсь бывать в метро в разных странах. В свое время и Уху выдал серию работ по станциям. Спасибо.
Сергей

npecanhuk (13809) 2009-10-11 4:58

Hello Elena!
World famous Moscow Subway in a very good photograph!
Sharpness, exposure, dof and colors are excellent!
The pov was very well chosen and the composition is superb! What a great moment you give us here! Daily life picture at its best!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

PixelTerror (86060) 2009-10-12 4:51

Privet Elena
Nice metro perspective enclosed between the 2 trains, it's amazing how bright it can be there, and clean as well the ground is spotless. Oh and this is a stitch, congratulations !
Have a nice day JY

leo61 (43398) 2009-10-12 10:42

Hi Elena!
You are right,I visited a few stations,but not this one and I must say it seems to be worth a visit.
You found an excellent POV and had a perfect timing.
The image has a great depth and the composition is perfect with this man in the open door and the empty platform to the left and some people walking at the right side.
Perfect lightmanagement,too.
Regards,Leo

john1 (2014) 2009-10-12 11:52

Hello Elena,

Spectacular views of the Moscow metro, very nice clarity and light. A very typical atmosphere. details and depth are superb. Excellent horizontal framing, I like.
A good week.
John

emjleclercq (14270) 2009-10-13 13:47

Good result for a first stiching test, the picture has good shaprness and plenty of perspective, even though it does not seem to be one of the most decorated of the tube stations.

All the best,

Emmanuel

jemaflor (39305) 2009-10-14 12:10

Salut Elena,
Belle présentation avec ce format panoramique et grande profondeur d'image avec ces lignes qui accentuent la perspective, bonne capture de la lumière artificielle, c'est réussi.

mikeyeats (405) 2009-10-14 13:03

Elana, good evening.
This is the sort of photo I like of yours, people and the metro. I suspect the metro has lots of chances for good photos.
You should show the photo of the man on his phone, it is a good one. If he does not mind you taking a picture let us all see it.
Keep taking them.
All the best
Mike

KateinDenmark (1117) 2009-10-18 11:33

Hi Elena,
Thanks for the description of how you made this photo. It seems quite natural looking at it. The lines are excellent. It does feel like one is standing in the station. I like metro stations. They are similar yet quite unique. Great post.

Sincerely,
Kate

Bianconeri78 (643) 2009-10-24 8:37

Hi Elena,
If this is a stitch of 3 photos, this is very well executed, although we can see some distortions in the right top corner. Nice lighting.
Thanks for sharing,
Jeremy