The Expedition Leader Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another picture from East Greenland taken in July, 1970 during an eight-week expedition to Scoresbyland from Dundee University, an expedition in which I, as a 22-year-old student, was fortunate enough to participate.

This time a picture of our expedition leader, Dr. Iain Smart, an experienced mountaineer, explorer and sailor, standing in the prow of our little 16-foot clinker-built boat, with oar at the ready to fend off ice floes while I gingerly drive the little five-horsepower outboard motor.

A shot from the archives, this was taken with my old Edixa Prismat SLR using an old Weston Master III meter (both of which I bought secondhand and still have) on Kodachrome 64 colour transparency film and scanned into the computer. Looking at this, I don't really think my photographic skills have improved at all in the last 40 years!

All comments/critiques/advice welcome!

graffer trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

graffer (1764) 2009-09-26 2:34

Hello John,

I am amazed at the quality of this nearly 40 year old image. What did you use to scan the slide?

Taken from the knee level of your subject, it's difficult to see the full height image on the TE web page, but it comes alive when it's downloaded into the trusty FastStone viewer.

A difficult shot to take – particularly when your leader is shading the top of his face against the strong Arctic sun. It was a good job that with one hand on the tiller, and another taking the photograph, a sudden swerve didn't deposit your leader into the icy sea!

Workshop
See WS for diagram.

An area or element of particular interest.
In this image there are three main elements of interest:-

A. The standing man – his right leg lies on a line of thirds and the line passes straight up his leg and through his camera case – [I've got one just like that] – at the intersection of the thirds, and clips his right hand.

B. The boat and its contents.

C. The floating ice.

Links within the picture.
I have drawn two triangles [RED] showing the strength of the composition.

Leads in, or across an image.
The line of ice makes a strong lead across the picture. It also divides the whole image into 1/3 – 2/3 proportions[YELLOW].

Contrasting and/or complementary elements.
In this image the strong blue of the sky and water contrasts well with the sunlit woodwork of the boat and the red strap of the rucksack.

Dynamic elements.
There is nothing actually moving in the image, but the gaze of your leader into the distance is a strong element.

Weaknesses in the composition.
The only weakness I can see here is the way the oar passes through the top of the picture[BLACK arrow] taking the gaze away from the main areas of importance.

Kind regards,

Peter.