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August 2009
The story behind it
01/08/2009
I photograph under a bridge. For many years such graffiti had caught my attention, for the light they created, along with the reflections from the water. Until I begun photographing for this project, I was afraid to loose the opportunity, thinking that those walls might be painted clean. I wanted a photo with dynamics, with a lady dressed with the same green colour and of the graffiti, passing by. It also comes about brought by an issue on a portuguese photographer, on what is truth and what is not, in photography.Comment
Technical issues
01/08/2009
I used a DSLR, Nikon D700, tripod, Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D AF lens, exposing for 1/8s, at f/8. It results from accumulating 5 exposures, co-located, in post processing. The result would be the same, using overlap on the camera, from the 5 exposures. But like this I make use of more flexibility, never corrupting the photographed object with putting things in or taking them out. What came through the lens is all that appears in the final photograph, nothing less. Always along such truth, I used an old photographic technique, from before the digital age (using masks), to get a sense of dynamics, superimposing exposures. The blurring of the lady is due to the long exposure time. Post-processing doesn't necessarily mean not being truthful.Critial review
01/08/2009
It presents a strong composition, with lines ofpower, converging on the graffiti wall and the lady walking. The bottom part, anyhow, does not introduce monotony. On the contrary, it introduces oppositions of contents and meanings. It is composed by a deep green colour, on the water, along with the reflection of the beams on its surface. The water, its green colour and the fish are as if part of another world. A more organic and natural one, lighter and more fluid that that of the bridge, heavier, more geometrical and artificial. The reflections of the beams, in almost symmetry with the bridge, provide and idea of power, as if there are strong pillars maintaining the two planes separate. Or together.
Where you should place it
01/08/2009
Since it was captured with the ideal aperture and at low ISO (100), the quality is best. With all the detail it carries and for having used a 35mm equivalent DSLR, large printing is always more limited than with film. Anyhow, the colour richness, textures, lines, composition and the exposure overlap asks for a large presence in a room. I'd say that the size limit is at 40cm x 60 cm, to be seen from more than 1 meter. For exceptional quality, size would have to be smaller. Curious enough, I see this photograph with a wide light brown passpartout. On a modern frame, yes.
