Keep your eye on the Ball Photo

Photographer’s Note

This lively group of children are having a great time kicking a football around.

They are oblivious to the edge of their playground, which is a 1,000 meter (3,300 foot) shear drop to the bottom of Chicamocha Canyon. At times the ball (and the children) are right at the edge.

In the distance is the Mesa de Los Santos, world famous for its organic coffee. Far below, the Chicamocha river winds through the bottom of this dramatic canyon.

SamB, don_narayan, saamb, rajhema, postvikram, sssimon, tomaszmarcinek, tdsi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

izmirli (3105) 2006-02-17 19:58

merhaba peter jennings
magnificent sky.nice composition,great colours.
gürkan.

flashlight (579) 2006-02-17 20:02

Wow! great capture. They sure don't have vertigo.Nice frame , it give us the impression of height.
Cheers!

SamB (1948) 2006-02-17 20:11

Wow! This one really caught my eye when I looked at your profile--it was one of the three thumbnails at the bottom and I couldn't pass up the larger view. You've got quite a bit working for you in that regard--I think the thing that most caught my eye was the contrast of the warm, bright oranges of the foreground against the duller, darker, cooler, moodier blues of the background. I get the feeling this football field is a happy place in a world that isn't always happy.

Compositionally, I like the feel of the huge group of children seemingly slowly walking towards the ball while, isolated from the left, two sprinting boys are vying for possession--it almost lends an epic-type feel: As the armies look on the greatest warriors meet in a decisive clash.

I think that the dark-against light contrast I mentioned earlier also serves to make the dropoff feel still greater--the seperation between the children and Mesa de Los Santos is more than just an intellectual understanding that there is some space in between, but is almost literally a night-and day difference.

Great shot, I think I'm going to peruse through your gallery a little bit more now.
sam

[3] +

don_narayan (2014) 2006-02-17 21:27

Hi Peter. Excellent shot, the tan earth and the blue spots of sky make a great combo. A very cool photo also with that dramatic scenery and the big drop... talk about out of bounds!! great work.

Narayan

ahmetgedikli (21851) 2006-02-17 22:30

Hi Peter,
Amazing clouds, excellent composition. Nice depth and colours. Well done.
Ahmet

saamb (1004) 2006-02-18 1:22

a photo with 3 layers. very nice clouds. on first layer we see lovely children that all look a ball. i like tis shot
SAAM

dokufoto (419) 2006-02-18 18:36

A mere pleasure to see these children, free and concentrated on "the top of the world". Top photo!!!

ktanska (16534) 2006-02-20 2:30

Hi Peter,
This is the first football shot I give critique.
This one really has edge! Childrens' joy is always nice to see. And I like uncontrolled way how the things seem to be going. It is even impossible to see who's playing and who just watch.
Kari

postvikram (1199) 2006-07-20 20:31

Hello Peter,
this is frightening. The picture depicts the interest and dedication to sport the children have.
As fun or as serious as a career.These children show immense concentration towards the game.

The picture has good colors and nice DOF.The Blurred misty background suggests the big drop at the edge.
Great shot - Vikram

Zandell (241) 2006-10-29 15:15

Hello Peter..
On the edge.. Beautiful clouds..Very natural color of sand..
I wonder where the kids took this brave extreme sport in theyselves??

Very nice photo..I like it..
Alexandru

johnu (23) 2006-11-14 23:21

Peter,

This is an amazing photo. I like the kids playing and the background and the contrast, but what makes it is the fact that they are playing on the edge of a potentilly fatal fall.

john

knowdebu (958) 2008-01-11 7:04

Hi Peter,
Fantastic capture! the formation of the clouds alongwith the natural movement of the figures makes the picture quite dramatic.
very well done
debabrata