PHOTOGRAPH INFO

This photograph was taken today. We had heavy rain and Jakey did some repair work to a rusted pipe which helps pump manure. Although I've photographed Jakey welding before, it's challenging and fun to try again because of the odd light and because I like guessing at the intervals during which sparks will fly. The light inside the pipe really caught my attention this time.

Post-processing: Shot with the Canon EOS 5D and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens at 24mm, ISO 1000, shutter speed 1/320s and aperture f/3.5. Curves adjustments for contrast/saturation; color balancing for tone.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

--Kathleen

Great picture, beautiful colours - can almost hear the pop as the sparks burst forth.

Wonderful shot. The sparks, the light inside the pipe, the entire composition is fantastic.

I really like this. Really simple but perfectly crafted.

Another flawless exposure on this previously-explored (and proven!) subject matter. I do love the glow in the inside of the pipe, and I wish it were included on the other shot of Jakey welding, but I still much prefer the previous one, I think because the dark background gives it an ambience that is lost in this version, whose background is a little too distracting and doesn't give the scene that post-modern, almost post-apocalyptic feeling.

With all that said, though, I still quite like this shot and it's definitely one of my favorites. Great work.

Andy,

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

The other welding shot was taken at night and you're right, it's a whole different atmosphere. That's one of the reasons I posted this shot - because you can see the environment in which the welding takes place, with the large tractor wheel in the background, the weeds, the various equipment, etc., which are part of the story of Jakey's worklife.

There is also a foreground, middle ground and background in this shot, each with its own circular symbol - the inside of the pipe in the foreground, the emblem on the helmet in the middle ground, the tractor wheel in the background. The shapes of those elements tie the composition together and give the story more depth, and possibly offer some symbolism if you wish to stretch the interpretation in that direction.

Excellent photo and lighting. The sparks give great vitality to the photo.

Kathleen - thanks for the response. With all of the aloof-ness of today's noteworthy photobloggers, I'm pleasantly surprised to see the beginnings of a discourse here.

So let's keep it going: I think part of what inspires a conversation between these two photos is that they are at once very similar and yet distinct in their styles. Whereas the first shot accomplishes what I've casually dubbed a "postmodern feel," complete with dark surroundings and altogether non-existent background, the second profits from multiple layers to tell more of a story. For that reason alone, I think it's a much more valuable addition to your "Farm Life" series.

Which explains, I think, why I prefer the first shot to the second one (not that I don't love the "Farm Life" series!). While "Jakey Welding" doesn't do much to tell a larger story than the scene it captures, I think its compressed layers and single source of light do more to contain the scene and, as such, keep my interest inside the photo rather than around it, if that makes sense.

Which is all to say that I do really like both shots, but if I could only get one print between the two, I would certainly choose the first.

All this just to describe a personal preference... :)

Great action shot, love the atmosphere you caught here!

Great! I do love the glow inside the pipe.

Nicely done!

love the angle and composition, beautiful!

Hi Kathleen I really don't know about your photography it seems once you can use PS as in the one with the basketball its stunning and then there are the others

Andy,
I'm thrilled that you'd go to so much effort to state your opinion!

Normally I don't like to talk too much about my images because I don't want to sway or influence anyone's interpretation. If I'm aloof (which I don't mean to be) it's because of my firm belief in letting people see and think what they will.

I don't care to lead anyone by the nose. I trust my viewers to build their own ideas about an image.

In this case I mostly wanted to chime in on my reasons to post two similar shots. :)

Ok, enough from me, hahah. Thanks again, Andy!

Great shot. Weldone.

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