Freezed in Time Photo

Photographer’s Note

This shot was taken at Byward Market, Ottawa, Canada.
The person on the pavement was standing very still, so I hastily took out my camera and took this shot.
This photo gives an impression of freezed time, the world was moving but the time stood still for the subject in the photo.

My timing with the car was'nt that great, I wanted the streaks of lights from car to finish just near the end of the frame (You can check it over here) but not to cross them, i think I missed it by half a second. Anyways there were no other people who stood so still after the girl left and there was no second try. I guess I need one of those features on the camera where when you click the first time the shutter opens and the second click closes it.

vesalius, carmem_busko, Photograph2u, riclopes has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

hashpipe (112) 2005-04-12 10:30

Nice photo, it does give the impression of time frozen.
I thought the light was very cool going across the frame. Also the girl makes a very important element in this picture.
I dont know what camera you got, but Canon Digital SLR's usually have the shutter feature that you want if you buy a remote and use the bulb mode.

Very goood!

aryary (126) 2005-04-12 11:19

Great night shot. Good idea to put a person in the photo. The star-shaped light makes it even more interesting. I guess you must have used star filter for this.

tashi-wangmo (30) 2005-04-12 13:53

Nice shot, and your title is perfect, it really gives this impression:And i do like the light crossing the photo.

Beataja (452) 2005-04-12 22:39

Hi Sarju:-)). Very nice place and very good night photo.

summersun (4964) 2005-04-13 9:47

very good night shot. it really looks as if some withc ad frozen time, with that girl looking lost and standing in the middle of traffic. I like it a lot.
Vanessa

Luan (15935) 2005-04-14 3:50

Amazing set of lights Sarju, you handle the nightshot technic ;o)very well. I guess the woman is waiting for pass the street.
Good job.
Luan

Jakou (642) 2005-04-14 14:44

Bonsoir Sarju,
Une photo de nuit originale ou en effet le personnage presque net doit être paralysé par le froid pour bouger si peu. Bien fait...

ydarias (657) 2005-04-15 4:56

Hi Sarju. This is a interesting concept. I like very much your idea. This remember me when in a movie the starring is quiet and the enviroment move in fast motion. Very good job.

vesalius (857) 2005-04-15 20:03

Hi Sarju,

I'm really excited about your photos. This one is very nicely composed and the person anchoring the photo really makes this shot. It may be a little tilted, but otherwise it is a very nice shot. I like the car, it adds perspective.

Thanks and I look forward to more of your shots.

Don

carmem_busko (3611) 2005-04-19 23:47

Beautiful night scene, the person adds dimension to picture... very well spotted.
Cheers... and thank you!!
Carmem

aloyho (6109) 2005-04-21 10:03

Hi Sarju,
Very nice night action shot and indeed lucky to have the person there standing still while your 8 seconds is ticking by. I love the moving light and the details of the buildings. Very meaningful. great shot!! Thanks and regards.

overcome (1109) 2005-04-21 13:04

Not a bad shot. Well taken. if you use a soft filter, it would look much better

john_c (24635) 2005-04-22 2:08

Just an excellent night shot, Sarju. I don't know if a soft filter would improve it, because it could decrease the sharpness. But your composition skills are well portrayed here. Not only the girl, but also the red car in the distance really add zest to the shot. Its difficult to capture scenes like this, and you acted quickly to create a fine scene for us. Regards and good evening. John.

azadys (711) 2005-04-22 16:14

nice pic. but i think if the expo time was a little lower the photo was more great.

regards
azad

masa (117) 2005-04-23 11:54

It really seems like the time has stopped for the girl and the world goes on. Very interesting photo. Well done!

thebig_d81 (777) 2005-04-26 19:59

I see what you mean by placing a person in the photo with a slow shutter speed. It adds considerably to the picture. Well Done on this one. Possibly puchasing a remote for your camera (if available) may help you with shutter timing. Just place the camera on bulb.

cessy (13647) 2005-04-27 5:12

this is totally cool, Sarju
excellent idea and very well executed

oochappan (22032) 2005-05-03 20:02

Excellent enlightening in this shot Sarju.
Colors are pleasing warm.
The girl in it gets all the attention.
Henk

kinginexile (2440) 2005-07-14 2:54

Very nice, the starry lights make me think of Xmas, but you achieved an interesting duality between the stillness of the subject and the speed of the cars passing by.
I smiled reading you hastily took the shot. Well, an 8 seconds hastiness, then? ;-)

Photograph2u (583) 2005-08-07 12:41

Hello Sarju, I prefer this one to the other one you refered to in your notes. Honestly. I know the photographer has his goal in mind and we, the spectators must try to see what the artist sees. But comparing the two ones, this is the one I prefer :)

I love the light trails, the girl standing there, you were lucky that she didn't mind. I find that more and more, people don't like to be photographed.

Great effect. Did you use a tripod?

Besides that, I like the colour and the composition.

Have a great day. Yan

mayabee (374) 2005-10-29 18:05

Hi Sarju,
The photo is beautiful. The lights of the cars and the fact that the woman stands so still cause the woman to seem floating, almost like a ghost.
Cheers,
Maya

aros (0) 2005-11-25 16:31

The headlights add a new dimension to this image. The scene provides a conflicting sense of time. THe headlights of the car suggest movement, whereas the model standing still represents a frozen moment in time. This conflict between movement vs. stationary time conveys your intention well.

Of course it's a pleasing photograph to look at, which helps too (-:

riclopes (32969) 2006-01-16 5:02

Hi again Sarju,
This one reminds me the discussion you had with Claire, about your need of having at least one thing focused in the "safe under umbrellas". I have to say that the person in there, gives a strange nice atmosphere to this low shutter speed experience. The result of these strong ligh lines in foreground are wonderful and although you didn't get the car the way you wanted, that red one in the back (I don't know if is is the same...) got great to 'close' this light effect. I have to try something like this sometime...
You got a lot of nice ones!
Thanks a lot for the new inputs, such as the map view,
All the best,
See you,
Ricardo

DLM (6447) 2006-02-25 17:18

stunning shot Sarju ,great skill.
Adding the girl is a nice touch.TFS
Dave.

annagrace (2463) 2006-06-09 23:42

Great image, Sarju! I love how the girl is looking at you wondering what the hell you're photographing, LOL! The streaks of light are perfect, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Alli