Every now and then I’m struck with the notion of revisiting an old image. It could be from years ago. I just want to reinterpret the scene. Perhaps it’s because something never satisfied me about my original presentation, or maybe my tastes changed, or possibly just because I want to look at it with a different perspective.
This time, I visualized the scene in black and white, but with a full dynamic range and the deep depth of field that shooting at 16mm brings. I also chose a lower angle of view than before to bring some drama to the prow of the decaying hull and highlight the texture of the paint flakes and lichen. But even at 16mm, that composition was beyond the ability to keep everything at its sharpest. Back in the film days, with a view camera, some tilt of the lens would have neatly solved that problem. Fortunately, digital tools can too.
The look on this little one’s face, a mix of boredom and ‘how come I’m not getting any attention’ was priceless. She looked at me as if to say “Finally! I’ve been ready for my close-up here!”
Balance, In Life and Photos
Although I view myself mostly as a photographer of people by inclination, I would like to think I’m at least competent to capture the occasional landscape. And on this day, the drama of the sky and patchy light had me visualizing in black and white. That medium seems to emphasize the patterns and forms in such chiaroscuro conditions.