Little heroes Photo

Photographer’s Note

On Swiss National Day there is always a lot of excitement in the air and you may find many little but also big heroes when the night breaks in. It is the day and probably the only one during the year when parents allow their kids to have little fireworks, some more dangerous than others and the air is definitely filled with gun smoke and you can hardly see each other and you are scared to have hearing problems after. No doubt, the condition of the air was really bad after this night but the rain took it all down and we can breathe again meanwhile :)))

The kids on the hill were on their way to find their limits but also to scare their parents hell. We had our friends from California with us and their seven year old son (oh excuse me, he will be eight this Friday … LOL … very big mistake, sorry Markus) was going crazy over all the excitement and mum was constantly shouting “where is Markus” but you know most of us survived this event and became fairly old. Just kidding, fire stuff has to be taken serious and we were watching carefully. My picture shows some little heroes on their way where it all happened.

ktanska, gunbud, feather, crhieatt, yedirenk, bisok, Angshu, cherryripe, burraburra, gokanlam, fanni, ChrisJ, avene, burGu, Wanda1, buscape has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

chriswhitley (1482) 2009-08-04 11:55

Hi Barbara. I love the silhouette of this group against the menancing sky. Nice how they are just in the clear light with the clouds directly above. Chris

Sne011 (3103) 2009-08-04 13:42

Hello Barbara
I love the photo! It reminded me for a second of a scene from "Fellowship of the Ring" - but I think there's not the same number of fellows :) Lovely colorless composition!
Regards,
Sne

crhieatt (5145) 2009-08-04 14:55

Barbara,

Really effective work - oh yes, I know, every shot on TE is praised for its "good composition" and, fair to say, mostly this comment can be taken with a pinch of salt - no, make that a bucket of salt.

But it's true this time - oh yes, this is a GOOD COMPOSITION - with no salt on the table at all! :)

The note is appreciated - although it is at odds with my "naked" perception of the photo - I'm actually fully clothed - but it brought to my mind "The Dance of Death" in Bergman's "The Seventh Seal" - you know the one? And this theme had at least a faint echo in the title "Little Heroes" - as heroes, it seems, are always dying, killing or being killed one way or another! Many ways it would be nice to imagine that there was, someplace, a little hero who was just playing around with fireworks, for his own entertainment.

Cool post! :0

Cheers
Colin

yedirenk (7551) 2009-08-04 14:58

Hi Barbara,
very impressive silhouettes in the superb vertical frame.a wonderful simplicity.nice work..well done.TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

Morac (20943) 2009-08-04 15:07

Bonsoir,
Beau travail de contre jour et d'ombres chinoises.
Amicalement
Marc

bisok (290) 2009-08-04 18:31

Hi Barbara

There is a great potential in your photograph.
I like the idea :-)
Sorry about that but I made a Workshop to your picture ...
The general idea was converting photograph to Black & White, but then ...
I hope you find my Workshop interesting :-)

Regards from the different part of world :-)
Mirek

berek (29049) 2009-08-04 20:55

Hi Barbara,
I like this creative work. impressive shadows effect and light management here.
friendly regards.
Burak

Angshu (34157) 2009-08-04 21:12

Hello Barbara
Once again your trademark compo...only this time the subjects are a bit larger than usual ;-). But what I always appreciate is your framing, as you have a huge amount of sky and the silhouetted ground in the FG occupying 1/6 (?!) of the vertical frame! Like it!
Bst Regards
Angshuman

aadilj (17950) 2009-08-05 0:28

Thats a fabulous silhouette and a lovely composition Barbara. its poetic and so much like a painting

cherryripe (19187) 2009-08-05 3:48

Hi Barbara
Excellent timing having these silhouttes of the kids just in the space under the dark clouds. The low horizon makes it all the more dynamic.
Regards
Nikki
P.S. Glad you like the bookmark.

gilou530 (35762) 2009-08-05 8:51

salut barbara
un contre jour trés bien réalisé ces ombres chinoise dans cet espace de ciel gris sont bien positionnée dans un cadrage bien recherché
amitiés
gilbert

Waylim (11163) 2009-08-05 9:20

Very funny note Barbara, Thanks for making me laugh. I hope those are cloud in the sky and not smoke from the firework :) It is in such beautiful patterns. I like the silhouette of the little heroes, even though we don't see their faces, but I can feel the excitement and anticipation, and even a little scare. I love the inclusion of big sky to show the openess.

As for fire, we have more serious problem here in California since it's dry and don't have rain in the summer. Fire can spread so fast and start easily.

Beautiful shot, thanks and Good night.
Way

feather (50230) 2009-08-05 14:21

This is great Barbara. I'm trying to think what it reminds me of. Maybe something from a childen's book, or it could be the Von Trapp family, although....wrong country! :D Maybe... 'We're all going on a bear hunt'. No doubt it will come to me later in the middle of the night. It has such great style with the huge sky and the almost-silhouettes. It sounds as if you all had great fun!
Kath

mafegan (4541) 2009-08-05 14:26

Hello Barbara
Spectacular silhouettes of the children. The vertical format works well with the threatening clouds. Simple but effective. Tfs, Marlene

gunbud (28181) 2009-08-05 17:16

Hi Barbara,
Love how you use this dramatic sky to its full effect in this tightly cropped vertical format.
The silhouetted children seem to be on a mission on this festive day.
Regards, Tom

ktanska (16695) 2009-08-05 23:49

Hi Barbara,
Those little silhouettes have interesting variations, each having different shape. Sky with those clouds provide excellent background. Not an image that would remind of fireworks, a silent moment before action.
(I just had to check from a map where this Lindau is.)
Kari

coco (28152) 2009-08-06 2:37

Hi Barbara.

Smart, very smart and beautiful work. The composition with these silhouettes is great and I love it.
The light and the way you managed is also stunning.

Regards.

burraburra (914) 2009-08-06 3:54

Barbara,
Eveyone has taken the words out of my mouth. Did they plagerise me? :))
All I can add is 'Mint Slice - Very Nice'. Fabulous shot.
Love the composition. Framing is very artistic.
Warm regards,
Graham.

delpeoples (6822) 2009-08-06 3:57

Hi Barbara, I really like this shot in sillouhette against such a dramatic sky. Great use of the vertical framing with the low POV showing all that sky. This really is a very artistic piece of photography, I hope you don;t mind that I've added it to one of my Themes "Things That Mean Something To Me". TFS and have a wonderful week, what's left of it, Lisa.

gokanlam (6431) 2009-08-07 11:32

hi dear barbara,
i like the silhouettes of the little heroes so much.. iand your vertical presentation is well also.. i imagine it in B&W.. i mean the blue sky could be black too.. just an idea..
greetings,
rela

hardyuno (2617) 2009-08-08 2:15

Hallo Barbara,
wow, die Kinder als Scherenschnitt und darüber die Wolken, das Bild hochkant. Ein außergewöhnlicher Bildaufbau, aber hervorragend gemacht. Gefällt mir sehr.
Viele Grüße
Hartmut

fanni (8917) 2009-08-09 14:14

Dear Barbara,
excellent capture - first of all, capture of the mood - the atmosphere :)

but you wouldn't even guess what this photo reminded me at the very first look at it!

"They came from the hills,
And they came from the valleys and the plains..
They struggled in the cold
In the heat and the snow and in the rain;
Came to hear him play -
Play their minds away...

We're all following a strange melody ,
We're all summoned by a tune ,
We're following the piper
And we dance beneath the moon..
We're following the piper
And we dance beneath the moon for him,
And we dance beneath the moon..."

(abba - "The Piper")

Have a nice day!
kind regards,
Elena

Bartleby (5146) 2009-08-11 2:53

HI Barbara,
I like those kids silhouettes against the sky...Very evocative. And I always like framings that give a lot of importance to the skies, such as here. Well done!

Philippe

ChrisJ (70443) 2009-08-11 3:53

Hi Barbara

The minimalist colour renders this image almost as b&w. Fantastic fg silhouettes & graphism of the group of people with good sharpness & vertical framing. Tfs!

avene (11140) 2009-08-11 10:35

hi Barbara,
I think the WS is pretty horrible, noise and burned out parts, and it destroys the feeling of being on top of the mountain your photo has, leaving a lot of room for the sky is essential in this composition, as is the soft light and pastel tones. poor B&W conversion, noise and exaggerated contrasts do not equal artwork.
I'm sure you've figured by now that I like YOUR photo a lot :) it reminds me of one of Sigur Ros' clips, I'll try to find the link later.

best,
Kristine

ManuMay (11470) 2009-08-12 7:49

Hi Barbara!!

This one is powerful, really well seen and done, like a piece of a film, a story with no time...and heaven , wonderful, up everything...as a signal!!

Great!!

Have a very nice day...

Manuel

ciakgiak (11364) 2009-08-12 10:18

Hello Barbara,
great composition with the silhouettes so impressive and in perfect position on the scene. The sky is absolutely superb.
Well done. A dear hug.
Giorgio

ghilain (1714) 2009-08-13 22:44

I love the poetic aspect of your photo!

(I had difficulties with some of the messages I have sent. Excuse my clumsiness, thank you.
Good day
brigitte

sacimar (7704) 2009-08-14 8:45

Hi Barbara,

beautiful composition and good note! I like the tones of the image with the silhouettes of the "little heroes", the sky is fantastic also, well done!

Best regards

Sergio

jimkil (648) 2009-08-15 0:29

Hello Barbara
Off course the silhouette works beautifully here, but the mood and how you have presented this works for me and is also vital to the capture. The detail from the tips of the grass is a fantastic detail, well done and very entertaining story. Hope all is well, Summer coming to a end for you soon?
Regards
Jim

burGu (4548) 2009-08-15 0:45

Hello Barbara,
You captured the queue of silhouettes in a perfect place; completely free of any other distracting details (such as buildings, constructions, cars or other people...)
I like the vertical format which allows much more space for the cloudy sky and feels completely "free".
Have a nice weekend!
Burcu

ymrk (9180) 2009-08-19 12:35

Especially people hive off beautifully...Spectecular inverted light and composition dear Barbara...Congratulations!

Yağmur

amazon (10881) 2009-08-20 12:55

hey barbara...,
very very nice frame
monochrome tones are great
tfs,
iffet

Wanda1 (11015) 2009-08-22 8:04

Hi Barbara,
Love that wispy dark cloud and the way the kids are fitted so perefctly in between the cloud and the grassy ground. Cool that they are in silhouette, and the shot has a nice mood about it.
Regards
Wanda

delkoo (34866) 2009-08-24 9:15

bonjour Barbara,

you have achieved a really nice photo, You've caught a great atmosphere here with the threatening sky and silhouettes, your framing is just perfect.

didier

jemaflor (39759) 2009-08-24 12:34

Hi Barbara,
Good result with these silhouettes, interesting idea well presented with this vertical format.

MarianneS (14452) 2009-08-31 5:17

Hi Barbara,
This is an excellent composition. The big clouds and the excellent contrasts create a very special atmosphere.
I also like your title, combined with an interesting note.
Have a nice week,
Marianne

Greg1949 (8519) 2009-09-03 6:13

Barbara, this is like a scene from a Stephen King movie, kind of spooky I think. As for the shot, it is great and the crispness of the silhouettes is fantastic.

Greg

buscape (4034) 2009-09-14 13:44

Hallo Barbara,
schönes Bild dieser kleinen Wanderung und eine originelle Bildgestaltung. Da sieht man gleich deine Handschrift. Das vertikale Format lässt die kleinen Silhouetten noch kleiner wirken, als sie eh schon sind und dank deiner schönen Geschichte wissen wir auch wo die Kinder so spät am Abend noch hin wollten. Die dunklen Wolken geben dem Ganzen die richtige Atmosphäre. Gefällt mir sehr gut.
Viele Grüsse aus dem Donautal,
Helmut

rasto1893 (1805) 2009-09-15 8:18

Very nice photo, I like the idea title atmosphere ...
My Best Regards
Rastislav