Sunday Afternoon on the M90 Motorway

[Donald]

An afternoon out with the 'nifty fifty'


40D, Canon 50mm f1.8. ISO 100. 1/1500 @ f1.8. Manual

[rick55]

Hi, Donald;

I like the concept, of inverting the "normal" shot, and showing the ratty barrier in focus, with the motorway and the functioning cars out of focus. But to be honest, it doesn't quite work for me as is. Maybe a tighter crop, so that the textures on the barrier jump out more, and grab more attention? I apologize in advance if I'm off track on the idea.

Cheers,
Rick

[Donald]

Rick

Thanks. No need for apologies. The whole idea of it on here is to stimulate responses and canvass opinion - whatever that might be.

I had an idea that was to create something diametrically opposed to harmony and balance. I wanted something that was uncomfortable and created unease - something that you had to try and make sense of and still be left wondering 'what's this about?'. The straight lines and the curves felt like a confusing 'mix'.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Donald,

I have to say, my initial reaction was; oh dear, what a dreary picture; everything I dislike about motorways.

Then having read Rick's comment and your response, I became motivated to see if I could achieve something nearer to what you intended.



So, how did I do?

What did I do?
Perspective distorted to get the top and bottom of the 'fence' parallel to image edges.
Crop to remove the stone edging at bottom of frame and vertical post on right.
Bit of cloning bottom right, and burning on motorway.
Contrast enhance USM (to raise fence contrast mainly)
Reduce to 700px (to avoid sharpness issues for people not viewing bigger)
Resharpen; USM 80% 0.3px 2th (also to raise fence wire contrast)

Whether this has gone anywhere in the right direction or not, only you can judge

Cheers,

[arith]

I like Donald's entry in the competition, that one is spot on.

[Donald]

I have to say, my initial reaction was; oh dear, what a dreary picture; everything I dislike about motorways.

Then having read Rick's comment and your response, I became motivated to see if I could achieve something nearer to what you intended.

Dave
Apologies for my rudeness in not acknowledging your response to this.

Along with your suggestion, Rick sent me a couple of ideas via a PM. Both indeed improved upon the original. This was an idea that I wanted to try and will develop further as part of a project I am, at long last, going to get on with about where I live - A Place and its People. The M90 passes by our village but, thankfully has no direct entrance/exit slip roads, which has stopped us becoming a housing estate that is a 'lovely place in the country' (marketing speak) for commuters to, particularly, Edinburgh.