Working Light

[Stephen]

One of my personal favourite mono images of the last coupleof years. This shot was taken in an engineering works I was doing some other shots in. This guy was a working on a huge valve and as the sunlight came through a ceiling window it bathed him in his 'Working Light'

Any comments or thought welcome

[Tinka]

Re: Working Light

[QUOTE=Stephen;5717]One of my personal favourite mono images of the last coupleof years. This shot was taken in an engineering works I was doing some other shots in. This guy was a working on a huge valve and as the sunlight came through a ceiling window it bathed him in his 'Working Light'

Any comments or thought welcome

Hi Stephen,
This is one Brilliant image, No wonder it is one of your Favs, Isnt it strange that sometimes our best images are taken when the unexpected happens, without the light bathing the worker this would have been just a record shot for the company mag, what a lovely stroke of luck. Is this a conversion ? how did you manage the extremes of contrast? what processes were involved?

[Stephen]

Re: Working Light

Hi Stephen,
This is one Brilliant image, No wonder it is one of your Favs, Isnt it strange that sometimes our best images are taken when the unexpected happens, without the light bathing the worker this would have been just a record shot for the company mag, what a lovely stroke of luck. Is this a conversion ? how did you manage the extremes of contrast? what processes were involved?

Many thanks Tinka, the picture was a conversion, I suspect I may have used the Gradient Map tool in PS and then tweaked the levels. You will notice there is a person working in the background and I may have made him a little less prominent.

[Scatty]

Re: Working Light

Hi Stephen
I like this picture too. I remember seeing it in your gallery you have some amazing piccies, one day I too may be this good.
I must say though I hadn't noticed the other man until you pointed it out.
The worker just stands out which is the main focus and I guess I haven't looked closely enough at anything else, I will have to be more observant next time.....but I do like black and white piccies sometimes they are better than colour.

[Stephen]

Re: Working Light

Hi Stephen
I like this picture too. I remember seeing it in your gallery you have some amazing piccies, one day I too may be this good.
I must say though I hadn't noticed the other man until you pointed it out.
The worker just stands out which is the main focus and I guess I haven't looked closely enough at anything else, I will have to be more observant next time.....but I do like black and white piccies sometimes they are better than colour.

Being observant is a skill all photographers should have Scatty. Thanks for your comments too. Another thing I like about the pic is the light on those chains

[bigbob]

Re: Working Light

I'm trying to say something as well as 'ataboys' but can't .
Really nicely composed and well seen image Stephen .

Maybe i'd have cloned out those white bars behind his head , but apart from that it's a great picture and i can understand why it's one of your favorites .

B..

[Archangel]

Re: Working Light

One of my personal favourite mono images of the last coupleof years. This shot was taken in an engineering works I was doing some other shots in. This guy was a working on a huge valve and as the sunlight came through a ceiling window it bathed him in his 'Working Light'

Any comments or thought welcome

Hi Stephen,

Aaa...very nice photo indeed. The lighting in perfect.
There is another thing I like a lot too. There is a guy on the right side slightly visible where the lighting in not so intense. I would say it would be even better if his entire body was visible, but since is not the main theme in the photo it really doesn't matter. All of him is almost visible anyway if you take off the frame's line probably.
I will agree with Bigbob for those two white bars behind the guys head.


Regards


George

[JonMikal]

Re: Working Light

a superb image IMO. nicely lit and composed.

[Stephen]

Re: Working Light

Many thanks for your thoughts Bigbob, George and Jon, as some of the 'heavyweights' of the forum its even more rewarding to have your appreciative comments.

I take the point about the white bits behind his head, and even the man in the shadows, I thought hard about him but decided in the end not to darken him out, its kind of a suprise when you suddenly become aware of his prescence

[Tom]

Re: Working Light

Hello Stephen
I've seen this many times and have always had great admiration for it. I is extremely sharp and clean and noise free considering it was taken in the available light. It's all about the light which has created a lovely softness on the chains at the rear; a bit harsh on the top of the machine but this in no way damages the image.
The leaning forward position of the operators body is totally in harmony with the shape of the machine, if you know what I mean, and he definitely keeps a clean machine.

[Stephen]

Re: Working Light

Many thanks Tom

[Pops]

Re: Working Light

Now this is interesting.
I remember see this shot before quite some time ago.
Time has gone by and I am now seeing it differently. This is so smooth and clear. I don't recall seeing so much detail in that chain at the back of the room before and I certainly don't recall seeing the 2nd chap in the background. The ceiling window was heaven sent for you.

[Stephen]

Re: Working Light

Now this is interesting.
I remember see this shot before quite some time ago.
Time has gone by and I am now seeing it differently. This is so smooth and clear. I don't recall seeing so much detail in that chain at the back of the room before and I certainly don't recall seeing the 2nd chap in the background. The ceiling window was heaven sent for you.

Well if proof was needed Pops, this just shows you are now a photographer

[Andrew Thatcher]

Re: Working Light

This image is the one i love the most out of all your photos Stephen. Id put that on my wall any time and theres not many images id say that about.

[spl]

Re: Working Light

Before reading what everyone else has said I want to say that I really like it - I have found in pics where there are strong shafts of sunlight streaking through B&W conversion greatly improves it by cutting out color distraction and concentrating the focus on the lighting or luminosity of the shot.
cheers
sue