Regards
PSerna.com

#228184

In close ups I always try to focus on the bullfighter. The depth of field is shallow and since the bulls are dark it is better to get details from the matador.

This is the beginning of the bullfight and the bull hasn’t been punished yet. I try to get the most images possible from this part of the fight but unfortunately it is too short.

About what happened to the bull, that’s another story. I got that picture as well…I’m not sure what to do with it.

Regards
http://www.pserna.com
#1203387

I guess there is another way to look at this photo, all the colors on the right are warm colors where as the pink-purple cape is vibrant attracting your eye to the cape. AHH that might be it, if that is the theory then you might lighten the red wall around the cape.
Ok, sorry for thinking outloud on this one but it has intrigued me!
GREAT PICTURE!
the bull charging the cape. #1203738

Stan Kwasniowski #1203777

Melissa. Thank you for the time and for sharing your thoughts about this image.

As for replacing the color of the wall behind I got something to confess: I just did…but I knew I wouldn’t like it. There are a couple of reasons why and the most important reason is that the wall must be red. It is part of the tradition of bullfighting.

Why the wall is painted red? I don’t know. I know the cape must be red to mislead the bull hiding the body of the bullfighter and perhaps by blending with the red background.

I’m not sure about why it should be painted red, but when I’m photographing at the bullring, I zoom at the red wall and adjust the exposure accordingly. Nothing beats this red for a perfect exposure.

Thanks again.
Protacio

#1204369

You are 100% right Dorothy. Bulls are color blind. The cape is waved in front of him and it also works as a decoy.

Thanks
PSerna.com #1204633

Just as I was trying to think this through ... my daughter interrupted my field of vision with an IM (The Girl who had to move across country to get her BS in Graphic Design) And we had the following discussion about your photo.

Daughter: i'm going

Pam: ok have fun

Pam: WAIT look fast [link to your photo]

Pam: some are saying he should stick some of the matador back on but I don't think so

Daughter: No no no..

Pam: but it's soooo balanced on the right and center and plus the bull is sooo beautiful

Daughter: the matador makes a great color/texture pattern

Daughter: you can tell what this is but I don't think that's the point of the photo. it looks like an abstract with color and motion and patterns and then you get to figure out what's really going on

Daughter: why does everything have to be readily clear these days?! it's annoying

Pam: yeah ... can you imagine this pic in a bullfight museum ...

Pam: can you just see this in a book or collection of other fight pics

Pam: it would be the ultimate exclaimation point in the group

Daughter: def in a collection!

Daughter: Ok I’m leaving

Pam: Ok, have fun

Daughter: especially if he puts the face back it will completely change the photo because people always look at faces first

Pam: I think the face would be in pain anyway ;-)

Daughter: probably - at least not very attractive

Daughter: OK really ... I’m leaving ! LOL

She said some other stuff ... the short version is: "THis is Great!" Sometimes she puts her stuff up in the HOW Forum (for graphics people) and so now she thinks I'm going to put my pics up here ... where does she get these ideas?! #1206754

This is one of the things that never cease to amaze me about modern life. You are somewhere in the States, your daughter in a different time zone, and you were talking about a picture I took last Sunday somewhere south of the border.

Thanks for sharing your conversation with us. It meant a lot to me.

Best regards
Protacio
#1208189