Practice Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Back to boring myself.

Many photos are covered with a dust so I do appologize for grey outcome...
A long time ago I wrote the following in a note attached to this photo:
Still, you can always find someone here, just behind the left bulding, they somehow accepted this place for their own and they are here every single day. But more about them some other day...
The other day has finally come...

Yes, skaters. Many of them. Every single day. And some bikers. All with really impressive abilities.
Training day by day to impress unathletic nerds like me.
This boy particulary was unstoppable. His friends were on break but not him.
He jumped, jumped again and again...
You are probably wonder why here (I know you are not but I need to make a point...)?
Why not in a skatepark?
Well, because there are none. Skateparks.
We do not have them.
Nor biker's parks.
Our capital just does not give a damn about our youth. Not enough profit I guess.

Sometimes I really hate my city...a much as I love it.

ciakgiak, Lucalain, I_WanderingSoul, azaf1, pavseljn, zmey, avene, chiquito, bostankorkulugu, Kielia, Colombiana, fkostas, danos, Merline, marjan, luighi, amcolli, alvaraalto, ManuMay, mark_mk, Charo, mikeo, ocskaymarci, faubry, woozbman, pasternak, Vasa, g_panakia, gokanlam, degani, anto95 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Aviller (3088) 2009-01-05 10:24

Really nice picture. It's interesting how everything aside from the shirt of the boy appears to be grey. Along with that contrast I like the difference between the almost brutalist setting and the dynamic sense coming from the skater.

Miha2ou7 (4891) 2009-01-05 10:27

Oooo, zgleda bom prvi (ku*** al pa ne he).

Stara fotka vidim, ampak vseeno odžareva zimsko vzdušje s temi zadušenimi barvami. Super kombiniranje z linijami in fin urbani motiv. Ok, resda zgleda kot plakatna reklama za mobitel/simobil (:D), ampak je fina fotografija. Mrbit se pa lah spomniš prodat za mastne dnarce? :>
Super kot vedno.

Živ.

ciakgiak (10460) 2009-01-05 10:37

Hello dear Jeri,
as well as you have stopped the frozen moment of the child jump, you're able to compose an image in an exemplary fashion! I like a lot drawn from the diagonal steps in light-shade leading our gaze to the little elf.
A dear embrace

Giorgio

peppe59 (1825) 2009-01-05 11:05

Hi Jeri,
thanks for your criticism.
This image is fantastic like the little boy.
A very great job.
Best regards
Giuseppe

I_WanderingSoul (652) 2009-01-05 12:51

Hi Jeri,
This is candid shot.
Perfect timing and his shirt couldn't have been in a more perfect shade.
Red works very well here with the grey BG.
TFS,Neelima.

pavseljn (75) 2009-01-05 13:27

Hej Jeri,
kaj naj recem brez da bi se ponavljala? Te tvoje urbane fotke, izrazito graficne in s ful dobro osvetlitvijo so mi itak ful vsec. In pa seveda to kako na vsako dodas nekaj / nekoga, eno dinamiko in toplino s cemer fotki vdahnes zivljenje. Love it!
Cau,
Natasa

zmey (7244) 2009-01-05 13:44

zdravo jeri
dust? ;)) yeah, right. and you're trying to convince me that this gray-white setting,slightly tilted for dynamic impact was not coldly calculated by you to provide the perfect background for the red-shirt of the skater? wonderful moment capture. wish the boy was a tad (weeny-bit) lower, but I cannot have everything, can I?

Happy 2009!
Kristaps

avene (10930) 2009-01-05 19:20

I see, I see, I'm not the only one digging in the dusty archives. quite a find here, flying kid in red and strong lines, I like the combination a lot. your timing is absolutely perfect, the outstreched limbs of the kid add to the dynamics of the shot. I agree with Kristaps that a little more space on the top might be an improvement, but that's really a minor details. excellent work, I like it a lot.

take care,
Kristine

chiquito (56) 2009-01-06 1:37

You get the point Jeri!!!
I'm a skateboarder and we are having the same problem here in Hungary as well!! It's a hard task.
Referring to your photo! I appreciate your shot very much since I know how hard to get the desired shot with the kit lens! :) As I am very much into skate photography, it was a blessing for me when I bought the fish-eye lens! (you can take a look at some skate shots in my gallery at TrekLens)
I like how you emphasized the skater with colours and left the rest B/W! and the trick is fozen in a nice moment!!
cheers
ToM

kschanna (2632) 2009-01-06 2:47

Hi Jeri,

An overriding grey in a bit of red in some of your photos. Here's my analogy...red, the embodiment of life and the grey, the cities...urban jungle...made of inanimate mortar and bricks...

the cities that time has landed us in and we try to color it with a bit of red...reassuring ourselves that yes..!! there is still some life on this planet....it seems that our cities have something in common...'giving a damn'...your city does not give a damn about the youth and my city...

...well my city does give a damn and sometimes even kills the youth...

Hope your city never has to see such a day

I suppose I should write something about the photo itself so that the critique passes the test.

The shot is great, like I said before, the overriding grey nicely is balanced by the red of the boy's jumper.

Thanks for sharing and no! its not boring
Regards
Kamran

azaf1 (15541) 2009-01-06 4:18

Good morning Jeri

I like the lightness of the composition with the kid in the air as if it is quite natural. The red touch is beautiful in the black-white and the lines create a nice pattern. I like it

Have a great day and TFs
Argiris

bostankorkulugu (33482) 2009-01-06 4:53

i can not explain why but i liked the other two better than this one... may be the poster on the wall made you choose this one as the real post jeri... in fact the kid in action looks equally dynamic and cool in all three of them, i guess i didnt like the tilt in this one... at least the amount of it... but it has your sign, the "red" touch, and still rules dear:)...

korkut

AKITA (5220) 2009-01-06 8:08

dear Jeri,
an excellent shot.
vivid contrasts make this shot very artistic image,
between red and black/white,
between motive figure and stable horizontal lines,
between light and shadow,
between tilt vertical building and inclined horizontal steps,
between hot practice and cold city,
between only one boy and a corner with nobody,
(between jumping boy and you taking photo, or viewer)
between passing time and still time,
very refined picture is constructed by your sophisticated feeling.
(this one may be most effective to express the air than other two WS shots)
and lots of situations in your city and your feeling to those are included suggestively in this.
anyway, of course
I can find both an enthusiasm in the boy and your adoration to him.
(your actual enthusiasm may be greater than his intent...)
after all, I think we ought to enjoy everything in every situation with relaxed heart,
and you seem to do so.
thank you,
Akihisa

Kielia (8367) 2009-01-06 10:23

Hi Jeri,
an outstanding composition and an excellent note that gives food for thoughts. We have had a sophisticated skater park in our town but the skaters preferred wide and open places with stairs where they can show their artistic presentations to the public. I do not know what is more challenging for them: the reactions of the public or the dangerous situations they are creating? In any case it is exciting to see how passionately they are keeping practising the same leaps again and again. And your images are giving perfect impressions of it. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

mrtcck (88) 2009-01-06 10:38

Hi Jeri,
Good shot.Fine composition and A beautiful light.I like it.Best regards...
Murat.

Colombiana (2542) 2009-01-06 12:54

Hello Jeri,

The symmetrical lines, the dark gray and light contrast, and the kid in bright red make a really good combo. I like the dynamic and urban atmosphere and the overall composition. However, if I had to chose among the 3 photos (2 ws), I would keep this one! I like it much better.
Kind regards Jeri :)
Maryori

clio (22540) 2009-01-06 14:41

Salut Jeri,
A red pullover which explodes in a grey universe, a teenager who discovers the life in a world which belongs to him totally. This world he created it for him, for some moments. The city did not create a zone for him and I think, it is a good thing. This world, it is him who invented it, he was not allowed locked into a reserve! You know, here, it is terrible, there is a zone for every thing, it is imposed, you have no choice.
Here you have to make roller, here, you have to play football, here you have to go with your your dog, here you have to walk your Big Father I I do not bear any more it!
Please can we have some place for our imagination?
Amicalement
Diane

fkostas (426) 2009-01-06 16:57

Hi Jeri,

I can see why you chose this over the two photos in workshop: First, this has more impact in the light and shadows, second, the lines are stronger, and third, the boy seems to be launching himself through time and space.

The second workshop photo has better light around the boy, but King Tut's head on the poster totally takes me out of the moment.

Good choice. What can I say about the fall of civilization, though? I do think these youth will be innovative enough to save it, even without skateparks. :) Hell, when I was a kid I played with dead birds, sharp knives, snakes, barbed wire....on and on. I even cut off a finger once. (For some reason, we Southerners tend to do that a LOT)

Farah

danos (32116) 2009-01-07 9:03

Hello Jeri,
nice the B/W snapshot of the unstoppable skater boy that practice himself.Really all these boys, that skating in residential districts are a scourge.There are not skate parks or biker's parks here in Greece, so all places and especially squares in afternoons, are full of skaters.A good reportage shot.

Have a nice and healthy New Year, Danos

Merline (6574) 2009-01-07 11:58

I feel the same as you about the town I live in, although for different matters, skaters have plenty of spots to practice here...
I like very much your photograph, but to be frank, I do find the two workshops better ! My favorite being no 1 with the boy alone. More classical in the horizontal lines but a great action. Here I see a kind of lack of balance. A lot of empty space in the fg which could be ok but somehow looks a bit wasted although the light is beautiful and so is the contrast. Then the boy (nice touch the red jumper) seems kind of squeezed in the remaining space. Also I wonder why the light tilt ? :-).
Of course this is my very personal view. I hope to see more of them, I am in awe of their daring skills...

Have a lovely evening
Warm regards, here in Belgium we think it's the end of the world at -10°C. :-)
Michèle

Nicou (44407) 2009-01-08 0:33

Hello,

Quel captage au bon moment, génial, ce graphisme devant le surfeut, ces marches grises, avec ombre et lumière avec ce surfeur en l'air et la planche en l'air, génial.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

marjan (6081) 2009-01-08 22:23

Hi Jeri, izvrsntna slikica, na meji med dokumentartnim in osebnim, Prva stopnica je malo premočna tako da odteguje pozornost ampak kot celota se super fotka.

Marjan

luighi (4060) 2009-01-09 8:34

Mi querida Jeri , nos estas acostumbrando a disparos dificilmente superables , es mas , tu misma te superas dia a dia y encima lo compartes con todos nosotros y eso es de agradecer.Impecable composicion con una luz magnifica y con todos los elementos bien colocados , bravo de nuevo.
Un fuerte abrazo.
Luis

amcolli (569) 2009-01-09 10:30

no words needed , the gery of the buikldings express the infinite indifference of the city to the enthusiasm of this young boy living and having fun despite everything and everybody
great positive message to us all
anna

alvaraalto (5229) 2009-01-09 13:51

Hi Jeri,

A great poetical contribution in image and text.
Sometimes we need a lot of grey to accentuate on the colourful side of life.
Sometimes it needs some colour to show how dusty life can be.
Both are united in this artistic composition.

Groet Rob

ManuMay (10552) 2009-01-10 6:47

Hi my friend!!
First of all I want to wish you a very happy new year!!!
Great capture, very well balanced, wonderful colours and composition over this good choosen view!
Congratulations...
Manuel

mark_mk (246) 2009-01-10 8:51

Hi Jeri,
very nice shot, the moment you captured here was perfect. Seems like he was pretty eager, very nice! I especially like the contrast between the red of his shirt and the grey buildings. Very nice!

Take care
Mark

PS: Yes, I`m 15 for real, for another 10 days until January 20th ;-)

trekks (14262) 2009-01-11 6:42

hello Jeri

Reading your note will create an urge to kick all the political leaders out of office and change the system. In fact, every place has its own weaknesses, much like we face here in Sarawak with nothing much to engage the youth in creative and healthy activities. Sometimes youths will end up in trouble and sick habits, we call it 'bohsia' here, meaning becoming gangster teams.

Well, at least this boy is active and doing sports, good for him. They say, practice makes perfect. So the boy is working on it!

Greetings from Borneo.
tfs, bill

Charo (31665) 2009-01-11 14:10

Hola Jeri,
Singular composición y una imagen muy dinámica.
Me gustan mucho la figura del chico con su chaqueta roja destacando entre los colores grises. Gran POV y grafismo.
Un abrazo,
Charo

mikeo (12113) 2009-01-12 1:17

Hi Jeri,

Superb shot! Great composition with the diagonal lines, strong light underlines the surface of the stairs and the guy there...In a red T-shirt...and great note...You are really a master in writing them...

Great job Jeri!
All the best,
Mikeo

johannes68 (2858) 2009-01-12 8:03

Hi Jeri,
you´ve captured one of the illnesses of cities, and believe me, it can get much worse than that, I just have to look around in Bucharest, here it´s almost impossible to find a place paved as nicely as this one...
Great action shop, hope he didn´t fall!
Have a great evening,
Johannes

ocskaymarci (2508) 2009-01-12 15:10

Hi Jeri,
Very interesting photo: static and dynamic at the same time. The play of the lights on the stairs is beautiful and the skater is also well illuminated. The partial desaturation was a great idea so that more attention is drawn by the skater. Thanks for uploading that two alternative version! I really like them, especially the first, because of the skater's pose and the different graphic elements, but I'd also vote for this original version (that poster behind him is a bit distracting..).
TFS!
Cheers,
Marci

polpo56 (7880) 2009-01-14 14:04

Ciao Jeri,
finally I can to see another your shot: another skater...
I think that you love the ability of this young jumper/skater.
Well composed, with a nice play of lines and shadows.
A kiss

Ludo

faubry (32249) 2009-01-14 15:16

great shot, a lot motion and dynamism here Jeri, perfect timing, congratulations
happy new year
francine

nasokoun (0) 2009-01-15 8:19

hi jeri
I am glad with your course in street photograph,
an other beautiful moment, everyday routine,
also good the other versions of subject,
good photographic walks
Nasos

woozbman (366) 2009-01-16 2:44

Hi Jeri,

Good to see you're back. Hope everything's better with you. The boy in red shirt stands out well against the almost B&W look, with excellent lighting on the boy. The photo is very dymamic, from the boy's position to the skateboard to the strong lines and contrast formed by the steps.

I took a break from TE too; all the best in the new year!

Best regards,
Lamberto

Manamo (3472) 2009-01-17 6:40

Hello Jeri,
I see that you're posting even more rarely than me these days...
I like this shot. It represents many concepts for me that really catch me. Solitude is an obvious feeling. There is persistence and determination...It makes me think of those countless hours I spent alone around a basketball court, shooting until it's too dark or too cold, just to improve my shot...Making moves as if there were defenders ahead of me...
The red of his shirt and of his laces has a huge impact on this picture...
In my opinion, this one could be cropped considerably. I understand that your intention was probably to make the skater look small in his environment...However, visually, I think it would work better with a crop.

I like the WS #1 I think, mainly because of the position of the body in the air. Also because of the nice shadow zones on the right.

I like your signature, bottom left...Jh.

Best regards,

Marc

pasternak (13180) 2009-01-20 4:05

Hi Jeri,

I think my preference will go to the WS #1 version with the boy jumping in front of the ancient Egypt exhibition banner. Though all three are excellent, I think that one is stunning because there you have the "time context" with the contrast between the young and "old"...

Cheers
Alexander

il_corsaro_nero (1361) 2009-01-24 6:29

Hi Jeri,
I am new in TE and I prefer pictures with creativity in which you find that the photographer was thinking and try to express something instead of just doing a technically nice shot.
Like this picture.
The skater it is not the protagonist, by my point of view, is the light. The light paints the diagonal raws and gently becomes darker from right to left. In such a scenery the skater lives alone with his skate and himself in the air like an angel in a sort of solitude.
Very nice picture
Benedetto

Vasa (5302) 2009-01-25 13:00

Draga Jerice,

pozdravljam i ovu tvoju fotku. Mogao bih da ponovim što sam podvlačio u mojim ranijim reagovanjima: tvoj osećaj za temu, a pogotovu izbor pozicije radi posebnog prikaza je vrlo izražen i ovoga puta. Izbor pozicije uslovljava i strukturu kompozicije. Kod tebe je ona uvek originalna i poučna. Zato sa posebnom pažnjom ostajem pred svakom tvojom novom slikom. Da mi nešto korisno ne promakne. Kao što je i ova posebna i opservantna nota.

Vrlo sam zadovoljan što te pobnovo vidim, posle duge i nevoljne pauze.

Srdačni pozdravi

Branko

g_panakia (3966) 2009-01-28 7:00

hi jeri,
i love this shot!!!
there is motion which makes it seem so special!!!
your pov, as always, is excellent and i like the stairs which create a graphic mood to the photo...very good your ws too!!!
i agree with you about the skate parks...there are many teenagers who are fun of skating but have no place to practise...and sometimes it's quite dangerous for them to do skating to parks or metro stations...i was positively impressed when i visited (some years ago) a small town somewhere in chech republic, if i'm right it's called vbrno, and i found that they had a "skate park"...
have a nice afternoon & tfs
georgia

aral (1195) 2009-01-29 14:37

Hojla,

si kontent?

Je Sava že kar nekaj pretočila od zadnjega snidenja. Mal sm dons zoprn, zato bom kratk. Na zamer.

Po moje bi deskar moral bit v prvem planu, na prvem podestu, tm nek. Ampak je tut tko OK.

gokanlam (6427) 2009-02-07 14:12

Hi dear Jeri..
love the workshops more than this one.. it is because maybe the stairs' view... they should be straight i think.. on the other hand, love the skater on the air in red.. the light is so inviting to take photos..
greetings,
ReLa

degani (2876) 2009-02-08 12:23

hi Jeri,
what a beautiful image here, you really can find out beauty from everything around, beautiful geometric and dinamic effect, brava Jeri, as always
very kind regards
franco

sagar (2307) 2009-02-19 6:43

Hi Jeri,
An unusual sight for the part of the world from where I belong...what I appreciate in this shot, is the very strong contrasting effect of the red that the skater wears..makes a great go with the balck and white...
and lastly, you said sometimes you hate your city as much as you love it...probably your hatrace comes from the intense love that you have fro your city.....true hatrace probably comes from true love!!(my thoughts:-))

toto (18661) 2009-02-23 13:41

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ce gamin qui fait un seau a skate.
Prise a un excellent moment, belle suite de gris des batiments hors desquel ressort bien le rouge de son pul.

Amitiés Thomas

anto95 (1794) 2009-04-08 7:22

Hi jeri,
This is very great moment for take a very nice picture.
Antonello

batalay (20804) 2009-04-12 4:18

Hello Jeri,

It must be your architect's eye and good sense of humor to produce this image. (I enjoyed reading your Intro page.) Moreover, the boy's red shirt adds a lovely red color highlight in the manner a chop mark on a Chinese scroll.

One of my favorites images of Slovenia was posted by Marjan, showing Bled Island.

It is much too beautiful a place not to be famous!

Warm regards.

Bulent