Escape

I don't ever critique because I don't know how. But...if it were my image I likely would have gave it more contrast. To look darker in the tunnel and cropped the right side to the curve. Do like your inclusion of the glove. It will be interesting to hear what the people who know say. We'll both learn something.

I don't ever critique because I don't know how. But...if it were my image I likely would have gave it more contrast. To look darker in the tunnel and cropped the right side to the curve. Do like your inclusion of the glove. It will be interesting to hear what the people who know say. We'll both learn something.

I agree that its overall a bit light, and darker overall can help with the concept of fear and escape. I would love to have seen more of a sense of motion/movement in the person, - though maybe the figure is too small and far off to notice. Its a long exposure too, I would expect a bit of motion. I didnt see that hand/glove at all until it was mentioned; was it there, or did you add it for effect? It works once its noticed. Apart from pulling down the level of black a lot, I would think about cropping to focus attention ore on the exit, and that nice sweep of ground curving, it works as a nice lead in for the eye; theres not a lot to see on the far right either way. I cropped to a 16X9 placing the exit on a third; also added a second mod using a duotone effect with a dark grey to see if it makes it a bit more moody. Sepia might also work well. Hope this is helpful, Regards Willie

I agree that its overall a bit light, and darker overall can help with the concept of fear and escape.

I would love to have seen more of a sense of motion/movement in the person, - though maybe the figure is too small and far off to notice. Its a long exposure too, I would expect a bit of motion.

I didnt see that hand/glove at all until it was mentioned; was it there, or did you add it for effect? It works once its noticed.

Apart from pulling down the level of black a lot, I would think about cropping to focus attention ore on the exit, and that nice sweep of ground curving, it works as a nice lead in for the eye; theres not a lot to see on the far right either way.

I cropped to a 16X9 placing the exit on a third; also added a second mod using a duotone effect with a dark grey to see if it makes it a bit more moody. Sepia might also work well.


Hope this is helpful,


Regards


Willie

Thanks for these comments, the mods are excellent, prefer the 1st one!

Thanks for these comments, the mods are excellent, prefer the 1st one!

Added a mod based on the advice for you. Here's another question. The topic has to be "Escape", so this is supposed to be escaping the tunnel. Any ideas on the best title? "walk towards the light" maybe? or "Run towards the light". Thanks Lewis

Added a mod based on the advice for you. Here's another question. The topic has to be "Escape", so this is supposed to be escaping the tunnel. Any ideas on the best title?
"walk towards the light" maybe? or "Run towards the light".
Thanks
Lewis

Nice mod. If the title has to be escape, then thats it I suppose. Others that might suit could be, as the figure could be coming in as well as going out : Into the light/dark, as you mention and Running into/towards the Light/Open,

Nice mod. If the title has to be escape, then thats it I suppose. Others that might suit could be, as the figure could be coming in as well as going out : Into the light/dark, as you mention and Running into/towards the Light/Open,

Theme is escape, so the title just needs to suit!

Theme is escape, so the title just needs to suit!

Forgot to mention, yes I added the hand for effect.

Forgot to mention, yes I added the hand for effect.

Hello, I'm a bit late here. But this is a spot that I know well, having walked the Monsal Trail many times. (And opening the tunnels some years ago really transformed the walk!) The main thing that struck me on opening this was that it is way too light! The real experience in there is the darkness, broken only by the line of lights along the roof, and then the patch of light appearing at the end of the tunnel as you round the curve. More darkness would suit your theme better too. This doesn't really convey 'escape', for three reasons. The figure is too small for us to relate too directly; he/she appears to be ambling, there is no sense of urgency (and as Willie has indicated above, it's not actually clear if the figure is entering or exiting the tunnel); and then there is the central placement of the figure which gives a static feel. You don't escape from the middle of a frame, you escape from the side... That's why the crop works so much better. [link=https://www.ephotozine.com/user/fefe-178376/gallery/photo/ghosts-61921382]Here[/link] is another image taken on the same walk, for comparison. It doesn't really fit your theme, but it shows the effect of motion blur in figures much closer to the camera, and shot from a lower viewpoint. I think that was the way to go here... Moira PS Get rid of the hand. It just looks tacky.

Hello, I'm a bit late here. But this is a spot that I know well, having walked the Monsal Trail many times. (And opening the tunnels some years ago really transformed the walk!) The main thing that struck me on opening this was that it is way too light! The real experience in there is the darkness, broken only by the line of lights along the roof, and then the patch of light appearing at the end of the tunnel as you round the curve. More darkness would suit your theme better too.

This doesn't really convey 'escape', for three reasons. The figure is too small for us to relate too directly; he/she appears to be ambling, there is no sense of urgency (and as Willie has indicated above, it's not actually clear if the figure is entering or exiting the tunnel); and then there is the central placement of the figure which gives a static feel. You don't escape from the middle of a frame, you escape from the side... That's why the crop works so much better.

Here is another image taken on the same walk, for comparison. It doesn't really fit your theme, but it shows the effect of motion blur in figures much closer to the camera, and shot from a lower viewpoint. I think that was the way to go here...
Moira

PS Get rid of the hand. It just looks tacky.

I'm late too, but coming back after looking late last night. My first thought still stands, that the figure looks stationary, not escaping (or entering, for that matter). If we could see him (her) striding out that would help with the idea of 'getting out of here'. That said I'd have voted for this if it were in the main gallery.

I'm late too, but coming back after looking late last night.

My first thought still stands, that the figure looks stationary, not escaping (or entering, for that matter). If we could see him (her) striding out that would help with the idea of 'getting out of here'.

That said I'd have voted for this if it were in the main gallery.

I'm a bit late, too, Ian. I like your modification based upon the critique you have received, it looks good. I agree with Moira about the hand. It adds nothing to the story you are attempting to convey - escape from the dark. On that subject, I wonder if something about the light at the end of the tunnel would suit this image, which is often something people seek, and they often don't hurry on the journey. It's less sinister, and more hopeful. Pamela.

I'm a bit late, too, Ian.
I like your modification based upon the critique you have received, it looks good.

I agree with Moira about the hand. It adds nothing to the story you are attempting to convey - escape from the dark. On that subject, I wonder if something about the light at the end of the tunnel would suit this image, which is often something people seek, and they often don't hurry on the journey. It's less sinister, and more hopeful.

Pamela.

Thanks All. I've added another mod based on the thoughts above. Your thoughts? I'm not yet happy with the tunnel exit, I'm still wondering how to make that. In reality it's blown out white except for a couple of people in the exit on the right hand side. Thanks again, Lewis

Thanks All. I've added another mod based on the thoughts above. Your thoughts? I'm not yet happy with the tunnel exit, I'm still wondering how to make that. In reality it's blown out white except for a couple of people in the exit on the right hand side.
Thanks again,
Lewis

Added a new version here https://www.ephotozine.com/photo/escape-to-the-light-63442977/id/63442977 Hope you like it. The comments above helped, so so much, thank you.

Added a new version here https://www.ephotozine.com/photo/escape-to-the-light-63442977/id/63442977
Hope you like it. The comments above helped, so so much, thank you.

I'm late arriving, but I have one or two extra thoughts. The lead image has a patchy look to it, and I'm not sure if this is mist hanging around in the tunnel, or the result of processing. I know that selective lightening and darkening of an image can do wonders for it, but if that's the intention, I don't think it's come off. Verticals are an issue in structures like this - especially when everything may be angled and curved anyway, for engineering reasons. However, the figure does look a little bit tilted...

I'm late arriving, but I have one or two extra thoughts.

The lead image has a patchy look to it, and I'm not sure if this is mist hanging around in the tunnel, or the result of processing. I know that selective lightening and darkening of an image can do wonders for it, but if that's the intention, I don't think it's come off.

Verticals are an issue in structures like this - especially when everything may be angled and curved anyway, for engineering reasons. However, the figure does look a little bit tilted...

I am late too...sorry. For me this is too light to convey your 'escape' theme, the image you have put into the main gallery works much better, the figures are closer with a much better sense of movement towards the light. I do have to agree with removing the hand though and I see the same kind of patchy look that John has mentioned. I did, however do a very swift mod to your original. Darkened using Nik 'darken/lighten' filter within Photoshop. Added a little blur to the person to try and convey movement. Removed the hand with the clone tool ;) Cropped generally from the right. Added a small frame. Saying and doing that though, your Main Gallery upload is a much better interpretation of your theme.

I am late too...sorry.
For me this is too light to convey your 'escape' theme, the image you have put into the main gallery works much better, the figures are closer with a much better sense of movement towards the light.
I do have to agree with removing the hand though and I see the same kind of patchy look that John has mentioned.

I did, however do a very swift mod to your original.
Darkened using Nik 'darken/lighten' filter within Photoshop.
Added a little blur to the person to try and convey movement.
Removed the hand with the clone tool
Cropped generally from the right.
Added a small frame.

Saying and doing that though, your Main Gallery upload is a much better interpretation of your theme.

Thanks all, again. I'm going to redo the main gallery new one without the smoke/mist and lose the darker of the two people so it's just the one figure. I'll be done then!

Thanks all, again. I'm going to redo the main gallery new one without the smoke/mist and lose the darker of the two people so it's just the one figure. I'll be done then!