Good pic' under pressure

[Ledaig]

Not wishing to trivialise Benazir Bhutto getting it in the neck, but I have to say that the second image down on the BBC website struck me as extremely well executed. The application of the zoom burst to bring sharp focus onto the mans face has worked superbly.

The only question is whether this was a well timed and thought out shot taken in an extreme situation (bullets probably flying plus a bomb going off), or a software after thought.

Either way, technically the shot is excellent as a press toggy image (IMO).


Linky

[_dobbo_]

I don't think discussing the technical/artistic merits of an image trivialises the event it recorded in any way. That being said I can't see which pic you mean, the second one in the link is a tiny thumbnail image of a coffin so I can't tell if that's the one?

[Ledaig]

Just taken a look back at the page and they've changed the pics - bugger.

It was a Getty image sourced image, I'll try to find it elsewhere. Due to it being a current story + copyright I didn't save the image for use.

[Ledaig]

Right, well that sorts the in camera or software questions.

Images below, clearly the zoom burst was a software tweak, but it makes a huge difference to the imapact of the image:






(I'll only leave these images up for a short time due to the cr issues)

Edited by Ledaig on Thursday 27th December 19:33

Actually having looked closer, I'm not convinced that it is a software tweak as there are some subtle differences between the pic's.

Thoughts...?

Edited by Ledaig on Thursday 27th December 19:36

[RobDickinson]

I'd say they are 2 distinct shots.

Not going to say if shot 2 is naturaly or PS but IMO its the next in a series on from shot 1.

[tank slapper]

I think they are the same shot. No 1 is a slightly cropped version of no 2 without the blur. I don't like the effect of that - not sure it really adds much to the image. My personal preference is for press photos to tell their own story without artificial manipulation. It is already a powerful image, and I think a slightly closer crop around the subject without cutting his legs off would be more effective way to add emphasis.

Edit - Something like this, but without the zoom effect:

Edited by tank slapper on Thursday 27th December 23:45

[RobDickinson]

tank slapper said:

I think they are the same shot.

If so where did all the pixels go between the two peoples heads behind the guys left shoulder?

[tank slapper]

RobDickinson said:

tank slapper said:

I think they are the same shot.

If so where did all the pixels go between the two peoples heads behind the guys left shoulder?

Actually, looking again I think you are right. Can't be much time between the two though.

[Famous Graham]

tank slapper said:

RobDickinson said:

tank slapper said:

I think they are the same shot.

If so where did all the pixels go between the two peoples heads behind the guys left shoulder?

Actually, looking again I think you are right. Can't be much time between the two though.

Most obvious indication is blackjacket man on the right. Shot 1 his elbow is behind the bloke to the left, shot 2, there's a gap.

As the framing is slightly wider in the "burst" one, I would suspect it's been done "naturally", so to speak.

Edited by Famous Graham on Friday 28th December 07:15

[tog]

Definitely different fames. I suspect it's a happy accident of zooming in on the guy, while running the motordrive. I've had plenty of times this has happened to me while shooting quick moving situations. It was certainly not done in Photoshop - quite aside from the ethical issues, when wiring pics from an event like this snappers simply do not have time to mess about adding pretty effects for the fun of it.