Camera on the Ground Attempt 2 (Almost Roadkilled)

[Bryan Lao]

Hey guys. I tried this new shot out. is there anything I can do to improve composition or DoF? Thanks.



EXIF Data:
Shutter Speed: 1/1.6 seconds
ISO 400
Aperture f/11

[Exiztence]

It's a nice idea and it will be awesome if you could do something like that in the late evening with the lights of the cars on. (But watch out! you'll be hard to notice by traffic when it's dark)
The current pic isn't really exciting, it may have been cooler with the care right beside you. A wider field of view will make it more exciting as well I think.
Keep trying with different apertures and at different times of day. Wait for good light and then take the shot.

[navcom]

Be careful! We don't want DOF to mean "Dead On Freeway".

I think the detail in the road might also be a bit distracting. It's a little too much "roughness" that it might be a bit of a distraction from anything that is moving. Maybe just removing that weed might help some. I would agree that you should try some different times...especially when you can get a shot without so much extraneous stuff like pedestrians and parking lot cars, etc.

My two cents.

[Bryan Lao]

Thanks guys.

[danbaileyphoto]

I think I like the first one better, the yellow horizontal line really added some interest to the composition. This is a tough scene and it might take some real creativity to make a great image here.

Try doing some previsualization before you go out and just think about what kind of photo you'd like to take at this place. Brainstorm about the different types of secondary subject matter that you could possibly find here, or even what you could place, take with you or add to the scene to make it really interesting. It has great potential, but you can't force a great photo, you've got to create it.

Keep working at it, curious to see what you come up with.

[Michael_2010]

I'm curious about what you are visualizing about this scene. Is there some idea that you are trying to convey? Does the motion of the vehicles intrigue you? Is the story hidden within that lone clump of greenery growing up out of the harsh man-made hardscape?

There is something about this location that appeals to you and thus far I'm not sure your photos have captured whatever that vision might be and translated it into a single frame.

[bbtom10]

Originally Posted by Michael_2010

I'm curious about what you are visualizing about this scene.

Forget bird's eye view - this is roadkill's eye view, or maybe frogger's view?

Originally Posted by Michael_2010

Is there some idea that you are trying to convey?

"The last memory of the squashed chicken"


Tom

[mrteacherdude]

Originally Posted by bbtom10

Forget bird's eye view - this is roadkill's eye view, or maybe frogger's view?



"The last memory of the squashed chicken"


Tom

Maybe part of the chicken's body (such as feet), at the edge of the bottom of the frame would help convey that image? Hmmm.. and maybe some randomly placed feathers...

I'm not being sarcastic in any way btw - I like the roadkill perspective idea. It could be "The chicken that didn't make it across the road"

[lord xeon]

This is a busy photo, too much going on, too much distraction, and no focal point.

Here's what I'd suggest:

1. I like the weed, but in this setting, it's alittle too far away, come closer to in, and try again.
2. The cars in the parking lot on the right edge are a distraction, i'd crop them out.
3. The car moving away from you is nice, but a little later in the day when they tailights are on would be for a much nicer shot.
4. Try and get a shot of a car coming at you, and moving away from you at the same time. Not sure of the logistics of this, based on the traffic, and size of the intersection, but it would be nice. (Be smart though, I'm not responsible for any harm that comes to you/your camera/the other car)
5. Look around for man holes, gas/water main valves, storm drains, anything in the street that you can put your camera infront of, and use as a focal point.
6. Maybe find a part of the street that is open to the sky so you can get the sun/clouds in the shot.
7. Wait a few weeks for Fall to start, then the trees will look nice, then find some leaves on the street.
8. If it's a relatively quiet neighborhood, line up some leaves/acorns/sticks to make a line for your eye to follow in the shot.
9. I'm not trying for a shameless plug, but here are some examples I've done from street level you can try and get some ideas from Ultra-Wide photography.

Overall, I actually liked your other street level photo better.