The Green Bicycle, a photo from Northumberland, England

Photographer's Note

This is a scanned slide taken taken in about 2003. We were walking with friends on the beautiful coast near Alnwick, Northumberland when a storm started gathering over the North Sea. These children seemed very happy playing on the sand. What of course caught my attention was the little green bicycle.

Alnwick (pronounced ANIK) is a market town about 50 miles north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and about 5 miles inland from Alnmouth which is close to where this picture was taken. It is a market town and has a lovely castle which has been the location of a number of films such as Harry Potter. Other castles can be found on the coast such as Dustanburgh and Bamburgh. The island of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) is also just off the Northumberland coast and accessed by a causeway that is covered by the North Sea at high tide. Northumberland is England's most northely county and much of its is actually further north than the southern parts of Scotland due to the diaganol shape of the border. It is a county of big landscapes with huge golden beaches, moorland and rolling hills and has two areas designated as 'areas of outstanding natural beauty' within its boundary - the Northumberland coast and the North Pennines.

finlay, holmertz, tyro, saxo042, Budapestman, Charo, ManuMay, JCG, jester5 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Longroute (19390) 2011-04-12 2:21

A lovely seascape and scene. The presence of the family and of the bicycle makes an interesting and expressive composition and the very dramatic sky creates a fantastic atmosphere.
Well captured and framed.

Have a nice day,
Donato

finlay (1539) 2011-04-12 2:36

Hello Ann

I'm due to be going down to the Alnwick area for a short break over Easter, so this one has really whetted the appetite.

Good contrast between the dark overhead sky and the areas that are highlighted by the sun. Green bike and yellow spade really catch the eye.

Finlay

holmertz (27198) 2011-04-12 2:44

Hello Ann,
I was a bit startled by the blueish tones, until I noticed that it's a scan. I tried to adjust the colours but found that I actually preferred this dreamlike atmosphere to the slightly more natural colours I managed to create. This is like the faded memories of a childhood of long ago. There is a fine atmosphere and the children must be having great fun. And of course the green bicycle is an essential part of the composition.
Kind regards,
Gert

tyro (13579) 2011-04-12 4:52

Hello Ann,

This is a very fine picture considering that it has been scanned from a 35mm transparency slide taken eight years ago. You must either keep your slides in very good condition or you have spent a lot of time cloning out dust spots! As you may have seen, I have posted some pictures here taken on Kodachrome in 1970 and even a couple of pictures from the 1960's but a lot of time had to be spent cloning out piles of dust which had settled onto the slides over 40-odd years.

The colours and contrasts here are excellent and the composition from eight years ago is well up to your present day standards. The relections on the water and that gloriously broody sky have been very well captured. I wonder if you used a polarising filter in those days?

An interesting note too. Yes, it is quite surprising that this part of England is actually north of parts of southern Scotland. What often surprises people too is that Edinburgh is quite a few miles or degrees west of London. In fact, Edinburgh is actually west of Bristol.

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. Sorry to be a pedant, but it's diagonal and not diaganol. At least it proves that I read your note in full!

Sergiom (40141) 2011-04-12 5:13

Bonjour Ann,

Ceci est un très beau moment de vie. Il ne suffit que d'une flaque d'eau pour que les enfants sautent à pieds joints dedans. Les attraits de la bicyclette sont inutiles devant la mer.

Amicalement

Serge

saxo042 (31856) 2011-04-12 8:00

Hi Ann,
You have a very good eye for these kind of pictures and situations. This is indeed a very pleasant scene with the playing children and the bicycle as a balnce in the composition. Looks like rain ahead here, and was the tide going out or coming in at this moment?
Kind regards
Gunnar

Budapestman (82620) 2011-04-12 13:38

Hi Ann,
a beautiful endless landscape with peaceful atmosphere and lovely details, the composition is spectacular, the romantic clouds adds a lot to the atmosphere, Tfs! Have a nice evening! Kellemes estét kívánok!
György

ciakgiak (30337) 2011-04-12 14:44

Ciao Ann,
meravigliosa immagine dai toni molto caldi e intensi, dalla grande atmosfera e composta con grande bravura ed attenzione verso i particolari.
la bicicletta è l'elemento caratterizzante la tua foto.
Un caro saluto
Giorgio

Charo (51174) 2011-04-15 6:18

Hello Ann,
One summer day, quite dark, but that children do not care and enjoy playing on the beach.
Very good prospect, with great energy and excellent detail.
Best regards,
Charo

Bluejeans (64241) 2011-04-16 2:13

Ola Ann ,
Que belo trabalho de scan está magnifica a foto com uns bons detalhes , achei lindo as nuvens do céu carregadas de chuva , bom primeiro plano com estes rapazes a brincar nesta praia , parabéns !!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom fim de semana

HFASSOURAKIS (4) 2011-04-17 3:21

i love such summer scenes playing at the seaside and watching the rain coming .
it is the glorious nature that moments !
as well the kids are so free without bad and usual daily thoughts, playing like angels....oHHH how i miss that moments !
excellent work my dear
I send you a w/s in b/w option. of course i miss the green color of the bicycle...i think that there is a photoshop function that keeps details in color when the photo is b/w but i don't know to work it !
do you?

thanks a lot my dear for your sharing !

[workshop] [compare] +

ManuMay (33523) 2011-04-17 9:24

Hi Ann!!

I like it very much!!

This is poetic, minimalistic, intimate...Great!!

Excellent capture even if scanned, a pure life bit on an impressive moment...the delicate kids play contrasts with the forceful nature and this menacing sky...and the lonely green bike...a fine point of poetry, a memories recall...and I love it!!

Have a nice day...

Manu

JCG (35129) 2011-05-04 7:54

Hello Ann,

A picture full of atmosphere with this big cloud on the horizon, I love the depth of the image and quality of the scan processing through the effective value of the special light of the moment. These beautiful low tide make the delight of children, but beware to the tide rise... Thank you Ann.

With all my friendships and a good late afternoon

Jean-Charles