• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

Look out below

© Dale Hardin

Look out below

Uploaded: September 06, 2013

Description

At the mall in Toronto

Shutter Speed: 1/250.00 F-stop: f/6.3
Focal Length: 18.00

Exif: F Number: 6.3, Exposure Bias Value: 1.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: fired, compulsory flash mode, return light not detected, ISO: 1600, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 18.00 mm, Model: SLT-A77V

Comments

Stephen Shoff September 06, 2013

That's a pretty busy picture, Dale. What was your primary element. I see this as being about the geese. If so, anyway you might bring out the cluster of geese in the center a little better?

A crop off the bottom just above goose in the bottom left corner might provide a natural border.. #1543484

Dale Hardin September 06, 2013

I agree it's a busy image Stephen, and that's the point. Don't want to crop and concentrate on the geese. Want to show the people and that the geese are in a mall. :o) #10835620

Tom Kahan September 06, 2013

Dale, I agree that sense of place would be hurt with a crop but also agree that although they are the interest that bringing out the geese a little from the superstructure might help. Something as simple as burning in the undersides of the wings we see to push up the contrast with the background a little might help. #10835652

Dale Hardin September 06, 2013

As you know, Tom, I usually always try all the suggestions but in this case it is just the opposite of what I wanted.

I think the geese are quite easy to spot and as a matter of fact I used a fill flash to open the underside of the wings because they were too dark and I lost the texture. Burning them would reverse what I gained with the flash in this case. #10835658

Michelle Alton September 07, 2013

The fact that the geese are IN THE MALL and there aren't people reacting in a panic or others trying to capture them made me believe that the geese were MOBILES! Part of the decor! I think you've presented it perfectly, Dale.

What a MESS they must be wreaking! #10835780

William C. Raco level-classic September 07, 2013

I love the plethora of details and subjects.
The exposure and composition are outstanding
Excellent work, Dale #10835815

Dale Hardin September 07, 2013

Thanks very much Michelle. You are correct about the mobiles. I thought it was a fantastic idea and loved looking at them.

William, thanks for such a nice comment. Good to hear from you again. #10835967

Tom Kahan September 07, 2013

Dale that is the dilemma of the person who wasn't there. Since the birds were 15-90 feet from you, that must have been one heck of a strobe to give you light that even. Nice job. #10836001

Dale Hardin September 07, 2013

Thanks Tom. The skylight offered quite a bit of light so only used the on board flash for fill since only the birds closest to me were detailed enough to be assisted by the light. Also the quick fall off assured that it would not look as if flash were used.

I took some without the flash as well and the lack of detail under the wings is what prompted me to try the on board. #10836012

Kristin Duff September 07, 2013

Dale...I have spent many an hour shopping at Toronto's (what used to be Eaton Center) Downtown mall. It is enormous and over the years I have seen many shining shots of this very sculpture and Dale I think this one ranks right up there! Thanks for the feeling of being right there...I may have to do a Toronto layover soon... #10836387

Dale Hardin September 07, 2013

Thanks Kristin. One of my favorite places. Had a ball in Toronto with my pal Jerry. Would go back in a minute. #10836523

Susan Williams September 07, 2013

Dale, this is a a fantastic capture with many interesting facets. I don't see any way you could have done it better. Way to go! #10836649

Dale Hardin September 07, 2013

Thanks so much Susan. I truly appreciate such a nice comment. #10836654

Michael Kelly level-classic September 08, 2013

Dale my first thoughts were exactly those made by Stephen in his comment before I read them. This shot screams that it is about the geese because of their position in the shot but the inclusion of all the busyness in the mall makes that problematic. If the shot was about the mall I would have taken it further down from the next bridge and exclude the geese entirely. That said this is almost an impossible shot to bring off and I don’t think I could do it any better. #10837127

Dale Hardin September 08, 2013

Mike, You bring up a good point. If the image was about the mall it should be from another vantage point, which I did.

But this image is about the "birds in the mall" so had to include both. Just the birds with as little reference to the location as possible would bring up the question, "where was this taken?"
Answer, in a mall.

Here are a couple more views. #10837182

Dale Hardin September 08, 2013

version for Nikki. #10837206

Michael Kelly level-classic September 08, 2013

The B&W works the best so far. #10837222

Nikki McDonald level-classic September 08, 2013

Thanks, Dale. I do prefer the black and white - I find it simplifies the image in a way that is pleasing to me. I would still work to separate at least a few of the geese from the background somehow, especially the lowest one whose feet touch the heads of the people on the escalator and the higher of the two geese on the far right whose right wing blends in so much with the dark window reflection. I see that Tom suggested something similar though by burning and I would instead dodge the background, I think.
Nikki #10837225

Dale Hardin September 08, 2013

Thanks Mike.

Nikki, do you mean the one in the lower left corner, or the one at the top of the escalator? #10837294

Teresa H. Hunt September 08, 2013

Wow! It is a busy image. I got the geese in the mall look you were going for. But I agree with Mike, the B&W works better. The geese stand out better, but you can still see the shoppers in the mall. :) #10837520

Dale Hardin September 08, 2013

Thanks Teresa. Had a chance to do any shooting since the day of fishing? #10837662

Nikki McDonald level-classic September 08, 2013

The one at the top of the escalator - hadn't even noticed the one in the lower left corner LOL #10837750

Jeff E Jensen September 08, 2013

I thought I had commented on this. . .

I'm glad I came back to it, I really like the black and white version. #10837761

Teresa H. Hunt September 08, 2013

Dale, I've been to Thor's Well on the Oregon Coast, I've been to the Dahila Fields and Larch Mountain. I've got plenty of photo's to keep me busy through the winter. Especially since I'm really far behind. I just finished editing our Whidbey Island trip. #10837762

Dale Hardin September 08, 2013

I've got a good memory, Teresa, it's just short. Forgot about Larch mountain. Didn't know about the others. #10837844

Rita K. Connell level-classic September 09, 2013

sorry dale I know I commented on this the other day.... I really like this shot, it makes one think how did so many birds get inside and why the people are not taking notice. I like your original post best! for all the elements involved you did a great job with the capture #10838365

Dale Hardin September 09, 2013

Thank you Rita. I think it's one of the most interesting scenes I've witnessed in a mall. Loved it. #10838380

Peter W. Marks September 09, 2013

Interesting how we interpret images differently on BP. There is nothing I would want altered as it is the very busyness that holds my attention and even though we all know these are not real geese (um, you do know that they are fiberglass models don't you Rita!lol)it provides a unique, fantasy scene.
Just for the curious; the artist who created these models sued and won a court case when the mall operators decorated the geese with red Xmas decorations one year. Lesson! Don't mess with an artist's intellectual property rights of his work unless one has a signed release to do that. the artist was quoted as saying they looked "ridiculous draped in red ribbon and harmed his reputation" Sure the mall owned the actual models but that's where it ended.
I like this very much Dale. And just out of interest, did you go to the top of the CN tower while you were there? #10838398

Dale Hardin September 09, 2013

Thanks you Peter and thanks for the story. Super interesting. We were only in town for the one day, so did not have a chance to go in the tower. But while in Tokyo I did go up the Sky tree which is taller. #10838656

Beth Spencer September 10, 2013

I am bringing up the rear on this one. I really like the black and white version and the way you placed the geese in the picture. I agree it is busy but it is a mall and should be.
Is there any way to just lighten up the people and mall under the geese to draw more attention to the geese? #10839110

Dale Hardin September 10, 2013

Thanks Beth. For me the best way to draw more attention to the geese is to view it in color. While I do like the black and white, I prefer the color because it gives me more to look at with individual details and the colors help separate them. #10839267

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

1

You & 1

Love It!


Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Dale Hardin.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.