The Balloon Man

[cgesteland]

Took this a while back at an outdoor shopping mall near my house. She reminds me of when I was little...

The slant of the evening sun didn't help any and the crowd kep stepping into my shot. (Sometimes I wish I had a freeze button!)

Anyway, comments? Criticisms?

http://www.vanert.net/gallery/portraits/abo

[G2Jim]

Beautiful shot! I agree it would be even better though without the man and girl in the back right.

[slejhamer]

Clio, I saw this a while ago on your site and really liked it. As you say the lighting isn't ideal (sure is tough to control the sun) and as Jim noted it would be very interesting if it were just the girl and the balloon man, but it still tells a pleasant story as it is. One thing I enjoy about your shots in general is that there is often a story or sense of "what's going on here?" to them. Keep it up!

[Conk]

The only thing at all with this photo is dad and that's not a big deal. The girl definately adds to the photo and I really like the way the sun illuminates the balloons.
Great shot Clio!

[Leighow]

cgesteland

Well, I see no wrong here. This shot is fantastic. Well if you insist, maybe if the balloon carrier – clown suit and painted face or something -- could be poking at the sun. But I am not sure. For me what makes this picture – without question –is the angle of the sun. Thank you very much. Back-lite balloons. Pastels. Translucent shades. You beat that, I can not!

And the composition is just fine. Just fine. The shadows are so, so varied in shades of gray. The strings. The cautious parent restraining the child’s arm… or… else … B*A*N*G* ... you break it … you buy it! And the sun, shutting down for the night, waits just long enough to touch the child's face. Bedtime if you please.

That's my call.

But, it does not remind me of my youth ‘cause (as far as I can recall) balloons were not big in the 40's. Yo-yo's were! Overall , this shot is poetry. If this child, on becoming an adult, could write the sequel to Fern Hill, surely her first line would begin ."... Now as I was young and green...".

SEE YAH IN THE GREAT NOSTALGIC WHITE NORTH

HOWIE

[cgesteland]

Howie, you are a trip! You must be a fascinating person to know. I'm glad I'm able to meet so many interesting people through sites like this.

That goes for all of you, you know.

And thank you all for your great and encouraging comments. What first caught my eye were the lit-up balloons, in fact I did have a shot of justthe balloons at one point, but then the girl walked into frame and the rest is a photograph.

Thanks again guys!