Train Bridge: Fifty years ago, I lived in Belmar, New Jersey. I used to fish around this old train bridge. Seems like everything else in the town has changed except this bridge. It is...

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Fifty years ago, I lived in Belmar, New Jersey. I used to fish around this old train bridge. Seems like everything else in the town has changed except this bridge. It is a black and white conversion. Original was Kodak Ektar 100. The subject seemed to fit a black and white conversion. If I had shot it in black and white film, I probably would have used a red filter to darken the dull sky. Comments and suggestions always welcome.
Erich

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BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

It's a nice shot, prominent for me is the light pole which brings my eye up and around and to the bridge. While I find the bridge and it's surroundings to be slightly busy (nothing you can do about that) I do understand your attraction to the bridge as the idea is very familiar.

Edit: I do agree a less bright sky would help.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice, Erich. How did you do the conversion?
--Bob

ebrunner wrote:

Fifty years ago, I lived in Belmar, New Jersey. I used to fish around this old train bridge. Seems like everything else in the town has changed except this bridge. It is a black and white conversion. Original was Kodak Ektar 100. The subject seemed to fit a black and white conversion. If I had shot it in black and white film, I probably would have used a red filter to darken the dull sky. Comments and suggestions always welcome.
Erich

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

I can't decide if the sky helps or hurts this image. On the one hand I find the lack of "color" helps the bridge and hut to stand out. But on the other hand does it wash out the scene for me. Sounds like I am talking out of both sides of my mouth. I really can't decide if it helps or hurts the shot. But I do think going in the B/W direction was the correct call.
BTW I personally would crop out the walk way at the bottom of the picture. Leaving the lamp post to anchor the foreground.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Eric I like it. But I challenge you to go back and shoot it with you Hasselbald and BW film.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

It is a busy shot Eric, but that brings loads of interest. Think I'd lose a chunk of foreground. The old building and wood supports contrast nicely with the modern concrete. Not sure what I'd do with the sky - probably add on gentle cloud form, nothing too obvious. Its great to revisit places, I often do it and get a bit nostalgic, but it doesn't always pay - sometimes its just a disappointment!

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

BassmanBruce wrote:

It's a nice shot, prominent for me is the light pole which brings my eye up and around and to the bridge. While I find the bridge and it's surroundings to be slightly busy (nothing you can do about that) I do understand your attraction to the bridge as the idea is very familiar.

Edit: I do agree a less bright sky would help.

"a nice shot" sums this photo up very well. I like it; but it does not have the impact that another subject might. The sky is the biggest problem. Thank you for viewing and commenting. Much appreciated.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

rmalarz wrote:

Very nice, Erich. How did you do the conversion?
--Bob

The photo was taken with Kodak Ektar, the negative was scanned as a color .tif. Then, in LR, I converted to Black and White.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

NJFrank wrote:

I can't decide if the sky helps or hurts this imag... (show quote)

Personally, I do not really like the sky. I understand what you are saying; and I had thought along the same lines for a while. I think it was a justification for the fact that, other than adding a new sky, there is nothing much that can be done with it. I will consider a crop. The idea makes sense to me. Thanks.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

JD750 wrote:

Eric I like it. But I challenge you to go back and shoot it with you Hasselbald and BW film.

I think I will do just that. This photo would have benefitted, in my opinion, if it had been shot with Tri-X and not converted in post. A very good point. I also think that a closer view or a different angle on the bridge might be effective. I did not work this shot the way I could have. All very good points.
Erich

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

magnetoman wrote:

It is a busy shot Eric, but that brings loads of interest. Think I'd lose a chunk of foreground. The old building and wood supports contrast nicely with the modern concrete. Not sure what I'd do with the sky - probably add on gentle cloud form, nothing too obvious. Its great to revisit places, I often do it and get a bit nostalgic, but it doesn't always pay - sometimes its just a disappointment!

No real disappointment here. I only lived in the town for a year. Then we moved to Germany. It is busy; but then it is a structure that is not defined by its simplicity. I think I will definitely re-shoot this bridge at some point. I might also add a different sky to this photo. Thanks for visiting and making suggestions.
Erich

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

Great shot, someone else said what I thought, I would crop the brick out. Other than that cool shot.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Retired fat guy with a camera wrote:

Great shot, someone else said what I thought, I would crop the brick out. Other than that cool shot.

Thank you. I agree that this particular shot could be cropped differently. I think I'm going to do a different approach, though. I like the subject and I think it works in black and white so I'm going to do a re-shoot with Tri-x film and some black and white filters. If I can get a partially cloudy day and shoot with a red filter, that might be very dramatic. We shall see what comes of it. Thanks for the input.
erich

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

ebrunner wrote:

Fifty years ago, I lived in Belmar, New Jersey. I used to fish around this old train bridge. Seems like everything else in the town has changed except this bridge. It is a black and white conversion. Original was Kodak Ektar 100. The subject seemed to fit a black and white conversion. If I had shot it in black and white film, I probably would have used a red filter to darken the dull sky. Comments and suggestions always welcome.
Erich

I basically like the picture, but agree with those who would like to remove the foreground.

What is the terrain like? Could you have removed some of the foreground by walking in closer? I think I'd like the picture more if the image were more intimate - this view leaves me feeling like an "observer", while I'd like to be more of a "participant"

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

rehess wrote:

I basically like the picture, but agree with those who would like to remove the foreground.

What is the terrain like? Could you have removed some of the foreground by walking in closer? I think I'd like the picture more if the image were more intimate - this view leaves me feeling like an "observer", while I'd like to be more of a "participant"

That is a good observation. My idea for a re-shoot was to position myself at the guard rail that you can see in the foreground. That would bring me in closer to the bridge and would lower the perspective so that maybe it doesn't come across so much as the viewer being an "observer". You and I were thinking along the same lines. No all I have to to is go back and shoot it. Might try it with Tri-x film since I like the b&w look already.
Erich