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grand canal
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Hi people,
I’ve been lurking round here for a couple of weeks – great site and some really informative helpful info swapping going on. top stuff.
Anyway, here’s the thing: It’s my mums 70th in a couple of weeks and I have been working on a series of three images for her. I am shooting on DSLR and will be converting to B+W. I chose water as my theme and worked from there. I have picked two of the three images but am really struggling for an appropriate third. I’ve walked myself into a symbolistic cul de sac :roll:
The first pic will be of the furry glen in the phoenix park. It’s near to where she has lived for most of the past 30 years and as a stroller it’s a place she likes. This is the shot I am going for (very rough edition but feel free to c+c)
The three trees on the far bank represent herself and her two sisters and the two trees on this side are her folks. Her early life.
The second shot is this of the four courts (again rough and the final one will be looking downriver as opposed to up)
She raised four kids, and all by the banks of the sniffy hence the four courts. Her middle years if your keeping up with story here :oops: .
The problematic third shot is to be of the grand canal ( she was borne in Athlone and grew up in Harolds cross so seems appropriate). This shot will represent her later years i.e when she finally got rid of her kids and got back to enjoying life again. I would like it be shot facing east (following the athlone to harolds cross symbolism) and to convey an idea of the future and general positivity ( there’s a bit of spark in the aul one yet ;) )
But I am struggling to find a shot and running out of time. I don’t know the canal past driminagh and I am not sure if I’ll have the time to explore it all. I am looking for thoughts, locations anything really to get me going again as I’ve pretty much got photographers block here and even any little observation on my idea might get me kicking again.
I find the GC to be full of cranes, traffic, pretty unspectacular architecture, rubbish etc and also I have to admit I am really struggling to come up with a decent composition anyway e.g.
When I have the final three together I’ll be looking for a spot of C+C
go raith maith agait
BrendanI’m not from the big smoke so can’t help out location wise, but have to compliment you on your thoughts for your mother and the general story.
I love the shot of the trees and its meaning.
Why not leave the first in b&w and maybe the second , but try the third in colour to symbolise the future being ‘bright’
just a thought
Well done
and welcome to the sitePat
thanks pat,
I hadn’t thought of using colour at all but it could be worth a try, maybe even a colour pop?
I had a quick look today over the map of the GC – there is an aquaduct in Sallins where the liffey crosses the GC so that fits the bill.
I am off down there now to have a look.
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3 from sallins today for me to have a think about. For me it’s prob between little eden and the 2 swans.
I waited till the rain came for 2 swans to float by little eden but no joy :(the aquaduct wasn’t as photogenic as my imagination portrayed but some other parts were nice down that way.
Brendan –
Lovely idea, and I like the images. #1 is very nicely composed and conceived. #2 is also nice, but you need to straighten the verticals – the Four Courts looks like it’s going to tip into the Liffey!As for the third, east along the canal is a tough one as you can’t use the typical ‘view into the lock’ shot. I might consider rethinking the eastward requirement and have a look at the locks near Harold’s Cross. Failing that, the last one you just posted (with the barge half in it) is quite nice. My only critique is that the barge is, well, half in it. It would be better without it, or with it in its entirety.
Hope that helps.
Peter
Thanks Peter, great advice on all counts. I’ll give the straightening a try.
The saga continues…
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