Crowning the champions?

[Davejl]

King Richard III has been given credit for the spectacular success of Leicester City Football Club, just become the winners of the English Premier League, with betting odds of 5000 to 1 against them. I liked the way here that his crown and sword point to the club flag which the cathedral was flying (though since it was a very warm day, the King has removed the club scarf he'd been wearing for several days).

King Richard's statue stands about midway between his new tomb in the cathedral and his recently rediscovered grave on the Greyfriars church site, where he was buried in 1485, after being slain at Bosworth Field by a Welshman. (No wonder Richard ensured that Leicester beat Swansea 4 goals to 0 recently, even without Vardy!)

[IzzieK]

Nice framing and sharpness. If I were you, I will tidy up the twigs around his face, head and around his upper arms and the space between the crown he is holding. Other than that, it is a good image.

[Davejl]

Nice framing and sharpness. If I were you, I will tidy up the twigs around his face, head and around his upper arms and the space between the crown he is holding. Other than that, it is a good image.

Thanks Izzie. I did think about doing this and thought that "pruning" the tree might make it look a bit artificial, but I'm sure you're right. More fundamentally though, I now think that the whole picture is too bright: the armour should be blacker and the brightness has robbed the distant tree of some of its foliage.

Something for me to play around with tomorrow (another day to be spent indoors because the weather is "back to normal" here now!).

[Astramael]

I agree with you, Dave. The whole image is too bright. The tree branches also dilute the statue's presence here.

If I were to take it again I would swing around perhaps 160 degrees clockwise to the far side of the statue. You will always be able to see the outstretched arm, but the sword is lost behind the body from this angle. I would perhaps go lower and closer, fill more of the image with just the statue. It all depends what effect you're trying to achieve of course. I do like the cathedral in the background so maybe my idea isn't great after all!

[IzzieK]

I have been looking at cloning techniques on the internet and came upon a video that explains it very well for my understanding...if not try to get others that will suit more your level of understanding. I am not an English language first thinker so this one suits me:

How to Master the Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BChwzIslDJg

It might help...

Thanks Izzie. I did think about doing this and thought that "pruning" the tree might make it look a bit artificial, but I'm sure you're right. More fundamentally though, I now think that the whole picture is too bright: the armour should be blacker and the brightness has robbed the distant tree of some of its foliage.

Something for me to play around with tomorrow (another day to be spent indoors because the weather is "back to normal" here now!).

[davidedric]

I think it's good as it is, a fun picture to "crown" a great season.

But, are you sure it's Richard? I thought it might be Henry Tudor after he'd nicked the crown

Anyway, as a born and bred Lancastrian, I am pleased the right side won on that day. (To non-Brits out there, these 500 year old rivalries die hard, believe me!)

Dave

[Davejl]

Thanks Dave.

I don't know if you are aware that Leicester was very important in the history of the Lancastrian Dynasty. The Earls of Leicester also held the Earldom of Lancaster during the Middle Ages. Henry of Grosmont, Earl of Leicester and of Lancaster became the first Duke of Lancaster. He was the father of Blanche of Lancaster, the first wife of John of Gaunt. Henry founded a religious college here and was buried in its church. John of Gaunt and Blanche's son Henry Bolingbroke became King Henry IV, first Lancastrian king. John of Gaunt died at Leicester Castle, a favourite residence. As well as Henry of Grosmont, Gaunt's second wife, Constance of Castile, and Mary de Bohun, the mother of King Henry V (she was married to Henry Bolingbroke before he became king) were also buried in the Church of the Annunciation in Leicester. This was destroyed under the Tudors, but a bit can still be seen, together with other parts of the college (and the castle).

I apologise for the history lesson, but few people even in Leicester are aware of much of this.

The Tudors were Welsh and Offa of Mercia built his wall to keep them out (the Welsh, not the Tudors), but it had obviously fallen down by this time. (Henry Tudor was another descendant of John of Gaunt, who had three wives altogether if I remember correctly). There are no Welshmen buried in Leicester (apart possibly from a few who may have been squashed at Welford Road (Leicester Tigers R.F.C. home ground).

(ps some of my best friends are Welsh)

Dave

[Davejl]

Thanks Julian,

Unfortunately the background from that angle is less interesting. I have a photo of the statue taken when it used to stand in Castle Gardens when it was (wrongly) believed that Richard had been dumped in the river after the Dissolution. It was in some ways a better location for photos, but less historically accurate than the present location, to which it was moved around the time of his re-burial.

Dave

[Davejl]

Thanks Izzie,

I will certainly look at this,

Dave

[ionian]

Sigh. I am a Spurs fan. I have nothing to say about this picture.

[Davejl]

Will I still be smiling at the end of the year? Looks like Italy might get Ranieri. We shall see.