Ian Bramham's Photoblog
Homeward Bound
Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 1 April 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Well I'm back from my trip to the French Alps.....we had a great time with stops in Annecy on the way there and Paris on the way back. As you can imagine, I took plenty of photos!
The problem for a change is where to begin :-)
This photo is one of my favourites from the trip even though it's perhaps not the best image quality as it was handheld using a telephoto lens at night (Nikon 70-300vr) although thanks to the inbuilt vibration reduction it turned out sharp enough even at this slow shutter speed.
It's a photo from the fantastic ski resort of Courchevel high up in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,850 meters and shows one of the resort workers heading off home through the snow after a long day at work.......this scene seemed completely extraordinary to me but I guess for him it was just the end of another long day at the office.
For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.
@Andrea Auf dem Brinke: Thanks Andrea.....it's great to see that you are back posting photos again!
GJC from Kyoto, Japan
Welcome back! And you've got a wonderful shot here. Reminds me of a Japanese print.
1 Apr 2008 6:31am
@GJC: Thanks GJC!.....it's great to have a wide choice of photos from which to choose for a change!
@Stefan: Thanks very much Stefan!
@Fran González: Thanks very much Fran!
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Every morning I click your blog to view your outstanding castle, hoping it will still be there, but this morning as I clicked and didn't see it, the disappointment was minor as this photo totally took me over ;) Welcome back Ian, can't wait to see what you'll post next ;)
1 Apr 2008 9:23am
@Lorraine: Thanks very much Lorraine.....I took about 1,000 photos while I was away so it's great to have such a wide choice of photos to choose from when selecting which one to post. I also got some really nice shots in Annecy and in Paris (well I like them :-) as well as here in Courchevel.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
Awesome shot, that must have been a very long day for him! Perfect setting!
1 Apr 2008 10:03am
@MadScientist: Thanks very much....yes a long day by the look of it and it was such a surreal sight. I had been taking some photos of the streetlight and snow in this photo when this guy dressed in a business suit and normal shoes suddenly appeared in my viewfinder!
Henry from Boston, United States
I love this shot because it is like a page from a story. It is very "arty". With that, I now add you to my watch list. Excellent stuff!
1 Apr 2008 12:22pm
@Henry: Thanks Henry....life as art, I like the idea :-)
One of the reasons that I love night photography so much is that the lighting can be very dramatic like a scene in a theatrical play. I also love being out alone with my camera in the peace and silence of the night.....it can be a very special time for photography.
@omid: Thanks very much Omid!
Garibaldi from Sala al Barro, Italy
Wonderful capture, this men in the spot, black silhouette. Piece of art.
1 Apr 2008 1:02pm
@Garibaldi: Thanks Garibaldi.....I'm really pleased that you think it has some artistic merit!
@marc: Thanks very much Marc!
IanSmith from United Kingdom
Excellect composition! A well balanced and well lit subject - how could anybody resist?
Welcome back, Ian.
1 Apr 2008 1:56pm
@IanSmith: Hi Ian....it's always such a pleasure to hear from you. Thanks so much for the support!
(Have you ever considered setting up a photoblog yourself or are you going to continue posting photos to the DPR Fujitalk forum?.....I don't check there as frequently as I should anymore and I don't want to miss any!)
@blackivory: Thanks very much!
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
The light is incredible as is the composition. Very nicely done.
1 Apr 2008 3:06pm
@Michael Rawluk: Thanks Michael.....the artificial lighting outside at nightime can be very dramatic and theatrical at times which is partly why I love taking photos after dark so much!
Nataly from Santa Monica, United States
Welcome back! This is kind of a shot where the quality is not much of an issue. The composition, the momentum and the atmosphere that`s what matters. And you delivered it rather well!. Knowing what a perfectionist you are I can very much appreciate your love for this photo and your ability to disregard the quality issue! When we watch some student films shot on Super 8 and poorly processed but full of emotion, freedom and raw art it becomes hard to watch most of those polished Hollywood blockbusters which look perfect technically but with no soul
1 Apr 2008 4:11pm
@Nataly: Thanks very much Nataly!.....although good image quality is something that I always strive for, it comes a distant second to the importance of subject, lighting and composition of a photo for me.
@Saeed: Thanks very much Saeed!
@JLT: Thanks JLT!
danthro from Suburbia, United States
he looks so weary out in the cold. love how you captured the light.
1 Apr 2008 9:51pm
@danthro: Thanks Danthro....this was a lucky shot as I didn't spot the man in the business suit until he wandered into frame on a photo I was taking of this streetlight in the snow.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Ok. I actually gasped when it finished downloading. Extraodinary, Ian. 'Nuff said.
2 Apr 2008 1:20am
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Apparently I need to say more.... the word is Extraordinary... sheesh, now my comment's lost it's impact. ;-)
2 Apr 2008 1:21am
JoeB from Brampton, Canada
At first I was thinking " Man Versus Nature" But with his exhausted shape its more "Man Versus Work"
2 Apr 2008 1:30am
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Excellent image in so many way. The shade of sepia is perfect.
2 Apr 2008 4:22am
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
The man made the image for you! His presence lends story and interest and makes the whole a great visual pleasure!
2 Apr 2008 2:41pm
tom from Frankfurt, Germany
Well this is really a fantastic shot. The guy on the right makes the difference here.
2 Apr 2008 8:03pm
Jesse Moscoe from Toronto, Canada
Amazing shot. Love the lighting and composition. Great feeling image.
31 May 2008 9:11pm
Nikon D40
1/30 second
F/4.8
ISO 1600
142 mm (35mm equiv.)