Old wagon

[Matt. K]

I have been travelling from Sydney to Albury for many years to visit family...and always stop at The dog on the Tuckerbox near Gundagi. This old wagon has been there for as long as I can remember and I have been taking pictures of it almost everytime I stop there. Nikon F/Nikon F2/Hasselblad' Rollieflex/black and white or colour. I have done it. Oddly, I have never been happy with any of the pics because...I am usually tired when I take the pics, and, because it presents as such a perfect pricture, I am always too casual in my approach. The damn thing looks so good it will photograph itself syndrome. Last weekend I decided to get formal and used every tool in my arsonal to take the following pic. It's the best shot yet...but oddly, still doesn't reveal its full potential. I must be seeing it in my minds eye in a way that discords with the reality of the scene. Emotion clouds visual reality! Oh well...I'll just keep snapping it every year until I drop dead...and then someone else can take over.

http://www.pbase.com/matt_k/image/36139961

[Mundi]

Thankyou for sharing. The background info gives meaning to the pic.

[Greg B]

Matt, I am a huge fan of your work, but I would have to say that the wagon doesn't really do anything for me. Maybe it is one of those things where being there is a part of it's charm, I don't know.

Just one man's opinion.

I enjoyed the background story, however.

[xerubus]

Hi Matt,

I'd be very interested in seeing that shot converted to a nice sepia tone... It may help bring out the old world charm.

Cheers

[Raydar]

I’m with Matt

A B&W conversion & a nice frame would be worth trying on this shot

Cheers
Ray

[Killakoala]

I think it needs a touch of paint. So let's all 'Paint your wagon'.

[Vicareyus]

Hi Matt. I know what you mean about these "things" that you always think "That will make a great shot ...one day...and maybe today is the day", but are then disappointed (worsw atill when you have gone to extra effort rathern than a "snap" becuase you think it's going to work really well!.

One samll suggestion I have is to maybe focus in a a few features of the wagon and make a series of shots - eg. great wheel spokes, so framing a bit of wheel and some spokes with the centre hub would be nice. Ditto the wooden wagon table top, etc... Anyway, in looking at your gallery, you are actually very good at this type of composition already....

Vic

[Matt. K]

Maybe something radical like this?

http://www.pbase.com/matt_k/image/36176759

[xerubus]

I hope you don't mind me playing with your photo... holla if so and I'll edit the post.

I think something simple such as this works?

[Matt. K]

xerubus
I could'nt have put it better myself. Well done. Did you use the calculations method?

[gstark]

Xerubus,

I'd perhaps chuck in an extra bit of contrast. I'm not seeing a full scale within the basic subject itself. (I don't count the blown out sky or shadows for calculation of true whites/blacks)

[xerubus]

Mattk.... just a simple layer colour change to sepia... no calculations....

gstark... something more like this?

[birddog114]

is this the one will go into the challenge No.2?
So everyone get involved in it will share the windfall

[gstark]

Xerubus,

I'm not looking at this on a great monitor ATM, but to me it looks darker, rather than having different contrast. Not really what I had in mind.

Also, the tonality is different.

Let's wait till I get home; remind me this evening, please, and I'll look at it on a calibrated monitor and we can go from there.

[xerubus]

no worries... it's actually a totally different shot as such... not sepia obviously...

I did it on an lcd, so the colours/tone etc may be out considerably...

cheers

[Onyx]

xerubus, I quite like your no. 2. Very artistic use of vignetting to help draw the eyes.

[xerubus]

don't give me any credit.. matt k was the photographer, i just pushed a couple of buttons...



cheers

[Glen]

Matt, I can see why this photogenic wagon catches your eye. I have watched the suggestions over the last few days, not feeling myself qualified enough to comment on one of your images, but now thought I should really ask: "Has this shot broken one of the rules of photography?"
It is in the middle, but its not neat. The tree is visually connected to the wagon. Your minds eye sees them as two seperate items, but the ccd views them as touching. Possibly a different perspective (maybe standing on the roof of your car?) would allow the visual separation to allow the wagon to shine?