Playground, a photo from Wielkopolskie, West

Photographer's Note

Kids playing at local playground.

* * *

Jurek was right, it's kind of hard to leave.

* * *

Taken with Nikon FM2n, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens on Kodak Tri-X 400 film. Developed in Kodak ID-11 using my friend's development method. Scanned using Nikon Coolscan V ED scanner, adjusted a bit afterwards.

The negative came out really contrasty. It is a bit overdeveloped but due to my friend's method, there're still plenty of details in the shadows, which really impresses me. I think we should have shortened the development time a bit and it would be just great then.

I'm really happy with my new negative scanner - Nikon Coolscan V ED. At first, I wanted to buy the PRO version - Nikon Coolscan 5000 Super ED. It's a bit better than my V ED (has multisampling and it scans in 16 bit), but it's too expensive for me at the moment, especially if I were to buy it here in Poland. Moreover, for serious work, I won't scan and make prints out of it but simply go into the darkroom and make the prints myself. Much more fun and much better results.

Probably a lot of people wonder why I stopped shooting digital. I didn't stop though I don't use it as much as before. I like the feeling of shooting film. I like to wait until the negative comes out of the development tank, then make prints or scan the negative and see the results. There's some kind of magic in it...

jasmis, BennyV, Elaine_Blath, faubry, ninaL, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Clairedelune (4923) 2008-06-23 18:45

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! .................
I don't know if it exists in English, but in French (Quebec, at least!) we say that only fools don't change idea! :))))
Welcome back Pawel. But, stop it please, won't you? I am not active right now, and you achieve to make me go out of my way because of your yo-yo period! :))))
Photo very appropriate! A playground. You know what? I am a total fool when I see a swing. Can't help it, I am 8-9 years old again. And I swiiiiiiiiiiiiing and swiiiiiiiiiiiing and swiiiiiiiiiiiing! :))) And if a kid want the swing, I won't give it! :)) Nah! Just joking. Almost.
Ok, back to the photo... Well... No! I don't want to leave my swing! :))
:))
(Ok, love the two levels of action, love the B&W with the nice range of gray, wish the foreground foot was not hiding the background foot, love ... the swings! :))
Claire

paulalex32 (4) 2008-06-23 21:48

Hi Pawel,
I really like the composition of this image. However, I do have to agree with you that it looks a little overexposed. The dynamic is great and the choice of BW spot on. But the washed out sky makes it look very processed in that area. Cheers, Paul.

jasmis (58653) 2008-06-23 22:53

Prosta scenka, którą pamiętam z dzieciństwa.
Staranna kompozycja i obróbka.
Dobrze, że jeszcze nas nie rzuciłeś.
Pozdrawiam.

BennyV (34780) 2008-06-23 23:42

Hello Pawel,

It's so great to find your picture here. I like the magic.

My favourite part is the guy on the left looking down.

Benny

Elaine_Blath (8471) 2008-06-24 0:58

Ahoj Pawel,

this is a great shot, and the BW makes it even better, you have captured fantastic moment, and the composition is perfect...

Take care, Ivana

faubry (35447) 2008-06-24 3:29

Dobre Pawel, a very good composition with legs at the first plan.>i like this BW conversion with grey tones>
soon
francine

ninaL (21348) 2008-06-24 4:00

Super jest to zdjecie, Pawle...
Fotografia, doskonala fotografia, piekna klasyka, ktora rzadko sie dzis spotyka...
Zestawienie planow nadaje pelen wymiar tej pracy.
Wywazone to i dojrzale...
Pozdrawiam. Grazyna.

noborders (1010) 2008-06-24 4:42

I'm happy that you are not leaving for good and I wish that you'll add more photos from west China where I intend to travel back next autumn - anyway, this photo from Poland is great too, a friendly shot with not so young children enjoying and relaxing - I like the pair of legs which suggest action and fun !
Please keep posting, at least once in a while, your photos are inspiring !
Best regards,
Cath.

burGu (4840) 2008-06-24 4:49

Hi Pawel,
I had no idea about your leaving issue but it is great that you are here to share this great B&W photo.
Swinging is one of most funny things I will never get bored of. It may also be used as a creative material for photography and you are presenting here a great work here.
I like capture of kids with the leg left behind and framing scene from top and bottom by wooden structures.
Congrats,
Burcu

polter (7239) 2008-06-26 13:56

No i znów znakomite zdjęcie.
Kapitalna kompozycja. I smaczki - jeden na drugim. O co by oka nie zaczepić. Ujęcie wciąga nas w sam środek wydarzeń, jakbyśmy sami mieli za chwile usiąść na huśtawkę. Powiew dzieciństwa i zapach zdeptanej trawy. Czasem zdarza mi się poczuć młodo - ale żeby aż tak ? ;)))
Pozdrawiam z uśmiechem T.

nicoz (1979) 2008-06-29 5:46

Hi Pawel,
I like it, reminds me of my youth with my two brothers hanging around.
The compo is a bit complicated, but it works well!
As for shooting films, I've started doing it too ;-)
Nicolas

Luko (14000) 2008-07-01 13:40

You managed well with everything in the frame, although it is incredibly complex. I am a firm believer that threesomes are always winners in photography, you showed it again. that was the goo dpart ofr composition.

Now the less good parts : processing, your BW is a bit mushy because consciously or not, you followed the trail of some people who propose a flat grey range in their BW (the cause comes from tweaking the mid part of the curves in Pshop or equivalent, something never to do). If you look at the rendition of the face of the second boy, it's like he's got a mud mask applied on his face.
Surpringsingly, no one writes again the poor processing displayed by these members (or probably no one gives a f***- which allows them to carry on with sublevel BW processing.

I give you the full points because of teh outstanding composition.