Crossing the tracks, a photo from Delhi, North

Photographer's Note

This is a view up the railway tracks from Delhi Cantt station. It always amazes me in India just how many people are on the railway tracks at any one time. You hear so many stories of people sleeping on the railway tracks and then getting run over by a train. Fortunately there is nobody sleeping on the tracks in this picture, as it is about 7.30 am in the morning and people are on their way to work.

I cropped this from a colour negative which I scanned and then used about 25% of what was in the frame for this composition. I desaturated it because there was not much colour in the original, and anyway I think black and white gives it more atmosphere. I cropped it so that the railway lines lead the eye away from the bottom left hand corner, into the distance past the cyclists crossing the tracks. Using a 3 x 2 format was not an option because there was a man standing on the left and the bottom of a signal gantry on the right – both of which would have detracted from the composition. I used the PS clone tool to remove some of the litter on the tracks in the foreground as this was distracting to the eye (the amount of rubbish on the tracks can still be seen in the background). I adjusted levels slightly and then sharpened.

achakladar, jmignot, hispic, yasoda-nandana, ninix, FORJP001, ramthakur heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

bbs (149) 2005-06-25 6:46

Something I really like about this shot. Good work.

jeanfrancois (1260) 2005-06-25 6:48

Great. I knew it was Delhi.
This is the atmosphere of Delhi mornings.
Fantastic job David.

achakladar (786) 2005-06-25 7:20

A wonderful picture, as they say this picture is speaking more thana thousand words. Absloutely great and captures a certain vibrancy !

kinginexile (2598) 2005-06-25 15:14

Nice work david, with plenty of atmosphere, and the tracks lead us right into the scene. the amount of PS work you spent is rewarded with an expressive morning daily (Dehli!) vignette.

Furachan (0) 2005-06-25 20:26

I like tis shot, David. In combination with yor excellent notes, it makes a powerful statement about the relationships between Indians and their railways...Absolutely righ to go with B/W Might have been nice to have one person closer in the foerground but this works fine. Cheers, Francis

bnallama (3763) 2005-06-26 4:22

Hi David, nicely captured atmostsphere. I like your crop. I think the quality suffered a bi from the scanning here.

Bala

ducnc (814) 2005-06-26 6:22

Hi David,

Great photo, It look like our country (Vietnam). I think that this is very good photo when You convert to B&W.

Rgds,
Ducnc

sandip (3492) 2005-06-26 7:11

a good one for me. I like it a lot David.i like the zigzag of railway tracks here as well as different layered tree in the background. a nice one in B/W.

kabe (2011) 2005-06-27 2:59

That's a very original object. Very interesting.
Composition, b&w are splendid and exposure is excellent. Very well done.
I like it very much.
Very well done!
Regards, Krzysztof.

kensimage (8563) 2005-06-27 13:29

This is very nicely composed, with a lot of atmosphere, David. Nice how the train signal is silhouetted against the sky. The whole thing feels very mellow and "everyday."

A couple of small comments--it looks like you focused a bit too much into the distance, beyond the first bicyclists. Also, there could be a little more contrast on the near side of the bicyclists for more drama. But it works quite well as it is!

RGatward (20108) 2005-07-01 11:02

Oops missed this great shot. I love the way the activity recedes into the distance. Great range of tones.

colinbrenchley (6431) 2005-07-11 18:25

Excellent subject for B&W treatment. The light on the tracks leads your eye into the core subject of the picture, the people crossing the tracks. Low POV works well.

ninix (957) 2005-08-11 9:57

Hi David,

Thanks for the feedback on my picture. I had a look at yours too. Wow that's a very interesting range. I can't see them all daily.
This one I specially like. The black and white gives it an extra load. Very good.

Hendrik

FORJP001 (3819) 2005-08-30 23:42

Very interesting the way those tracks are laid. Locomotives must run at very low speed and surely dont have six wheels bogies. (Jean-Pierre)

santhosh_ermal (122) 2005-09-20 9:37

wow..you wondefully covered the typical indian railway Gate cross in the morning....

nice shot....

thanks

santhosh

krakowiak (4762) 2005-11-10 18:24

Hi David,
I love atmosphere of this photo :)

MOULIGVC (371) 2006-02-03 18:38

classy b/w picture

MichaelTrezzi (3374) 2006-05-12 16:36

Hello David, Thank you for you kind note. I like your pics, I always wished to get the chance to take pics in India and not being perceived as an foreigner, not having all the beggers around me. I believe you git this chance as your pics do show the spirit of the Indian society. Congratullations ! Here you managed to get into one picture two symbols of India - railway and people. Like your picture especially the B/W. Thank you for sharing. Cheers, Michael

s10001in (0) 2006-05-28 12:17

David ,
Nice live daily life shot of India.

Nice B/W effect.

Very well done.
TFS, Shailendra

ramthakur (1559) 2007-02-20 12:41

The Y of the rail tracks in the foreground sets the mood of this typical Indian ambience picture from the Western perspective, David.
You did well to present it in B & W; suits the situation.
Needless to say, I am feasting my eyes on your work today.
Ram