Submitter's name:	Chris Barker
Title:	Normandy Coast
Gear used:	OM2SP and 40/2
Film used:	Fuji Neopan set at ISO 500
Technical information:	I decided to try a black and white landscape after Andrew Fildes muttered in a post some weeks ago that he did not often see good landscapes - I took up the challenge ;-). I am experimenting with Extensis Photoframe to make the shot more interesting, I hope.
Subject information:	This is a shot of Cote d'Albatre on the Normandy coast. The cliffs are of chalk, but you can just see lines of the flint strata in the chalk at the right of the picture.
Here you can leave some comments about this picture. Please fill out all the fields before submitting the form. Once you're done filling out the form, click the "Leave comments" button, after which you can see your comments down below.
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Comments:

Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

The framing and the B/W do work well. The shot looks timeless now.

Comment left by: Adam Bolt (boldbolty@iprimus.com.au)

I love this shot. You have filled the frame with alot of detail and left out any distractions. My eye just kept wandering and looking, drawing me into the shot. Fantastic work.

Comment left by: Ken N. (no e-mail specified)

My favorite. This is one that tells stories.

Comment left by: Eric Pederson (epederso@darkwing.uoregon.edu)

Very nice composition and contrast. Can you elaborate on "Extensis Photoframe"?

Comment left by: Mike Cormier (no e-mail specified)

I love the artful framing... A whole series done like this would make a great way to embelish a wall.

Comment left by: benson (benson@research.haifa.ac.il)

Well done indeed! VERY moody. I also like the boarder - I've seen the inclusion of the negative remains, but it looks like you did something else here - sort of a scroll like effect - what was it? In a flatbed scanner?

Comment left by: Wayne Harridge (no e-mail specified)

Great composition, but I find the frame distracts from the image

Comment left by: Ian Nichols (i.a.nichols@blueyonder.co.uk)

I thought at first it was taken through a window, then I read the description. I think it would work very well without the border too. Particularly, the use of a viewpoint that appears to be about half the height of the tallest cliffs gives it an architectural look which, along with the solitary figure, amplifies their grandeur without being over-dramatic.

Comment left by: bbbean (bbbean@beancotton.com)

Great composition, exposure, and contrast. The person walking the beach adds a nice element. I like the border, but think its overdone here. The border would be more appropriate on a more abstract piece.

Comment left by: Walt Wayman (hiwayman@mynra.com)

I like the photograph very much -- tonal scale, composition, idea, and all. But I don't like the border a bit. Before I read the technical info, I thought something had gone wrong in processing the film or in the scan.

Comment left by: Gary Edwards (no e-mail specified)

I don't like the border, either. My opinion: too art school gimmicky. But I like the shot a lot. Good composition and it certainly captures a mood. I think that it could do with some unsharp mask.

Comment left by: Jim Caldwell (jamesfc@gte.net)

I also think the photo stands by itself without the border. Nicely composed and a good subject for B&W. I would have liked to seen the figure more to the left or right and not as centered as it is. Perhaps shaving a little off the left?? Minor criticism, great photo!

Comment left by: Moose (dreammoose@attbi.com)

Not really my kind of picture and I can take or leave the border effects, but.... The house makes it work for me. It adds unknown story that I want to hear to the picture. I'm also intrigued taken with the shapes of the cliffs, almost like barrel distortion in places.

Comment left by: John A. Lind (no e-mail specified)

Timeless B/W photograph and an excellent choice for this subject material. I might have gotten an "insurance shot" and waited to see if the person would move off center and shot another few, but it's a very minor aspect of the overall composition. That said, one must take what one can get. The presence of the person on the beach, regardless of location, adds a good element to it. The compositional strength is the positioning of the house above the cliffs. I'm ambivalent about the framing technique, but it can add a timeless quality to the image and give a feeling of old age to it. My personal rule for framing, matting, etc. is keeping it subdued such that the viewer does not remember what the frame was, only the image within it.

Comment left by: Joel Wilcox (no e-mail specified)

The framing contrivance is not my cuppa tea. Don't think the photo needs it, which is the main point of this comment.

Comment left by: Anonymous Visitor

Yes, got the picture ;-) about the framing "thingy". It was one of my first attempts. I do things more subtly now. I have another copy of this photo with the house coloured (in Photoshop Elements).

Comment left by: Andrew Fildes (afildes@netlink.com.au)

Take my name in vain, would you? Nice to know someone is listening! I think I was referring to good B&W 'scapes and this is very nice - makes me feel like a nice warming Calvados. You're right - the framing style is nice but too intrusive - I like the rough or wiped on developer look but it is a bit heavy handed here. Damn good pic.but.

Comment left by: Roger Wesson (roger@worldtraveller.f9.co.uk)

I think it's a fantastic shot, with the figure on the beach perfectly placed to give a sense of scale. Looks like a great pondering spot. I like the frame, but I think it crowds the subject a little bit, especially the house at the top right. If it was a bit further out I'd like it a lot more.

Comment left by: Scott Gomez (no e-mail specified)

I guess I'm alone in this, but I like the framing, for the most part. It might have been just a touch narrower, but I think it adds a really nice "age" effect. My first reaction on seeing this was that someone slipped a very old photo by the "TOPE Police".

Comment left by: Mickey Trageser (no e-mail specified)

I truly like this image! The walker fills out the human element of the home. They balance the overwhelming mass of the cliffs. I could do without the artsy framing, and the walker might have worked better to be walking in the direction of the cove from further right. But that's just a nitpik. Great tone and framing. This must be a wonderful image in a large print.

Comment left by: Andy Gilbert (gilbs@142tpr.freeserve.co.uk)

Great shot, but don't like the frame, would be interested to see the version with the house coloured.

[Previous]

[Return to index]

[Next]