Amsterdam biking, a photo from Noord-Holland, South

Photographer's Note

Some time ago, I happened to argue here, that riding a bicycle made you cool and good-looking.
I was strangely met by some incredulity from certain corners.

But I'll just keep amassing evidence to prove my point...

SylFondacci, MiguelP, Baileys, Isabelle has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SylFondacci (4087) 2006-07-27 18:10

Hi Torben,
Great job ! I love the fact the biker is sharp and the rest of the world is completely blurred ...
A lot of humour in your note :))
TFS
Sylvie

MiguelP (14470) 2006-07-27 18:30

Cool and good-looking? This panning example makes you look cool but not so sure about good-looking. I think at the end everything is just a question of how much elegant are you able to be. Interesting photo, with a curve mood that I find very visual and attractive. Take care Monsieur Torben.

startacked (1395) 2006-07-28 4:17

Hi Torben,

SUperb panning shot! Excellent sharpness on the lady and good colors. Dramatic effect in spite of the low speed. TFS, Gilbert

Baileys (667) 2006-07-28 15:33

hallo Torben,
great panning picture!
cycling every single day here in the Netherlands I can say that the outside world sometimes seems to be so blurred as the background of your picture. I can also confirm - cycling does make you cool and good looking! ;-)))
best regards, Hanna

Ebbe (9625) 2006-07-28 16:18

This pan is very special. A lot that is thanks to the casual style of the biker but there is also due to the exaggerated speed of the Kдrring-Honda. Fine corner position.

Isabelle (9046) 2006-08-04 9:24

Iґve tried to look to this picture not linked to this one, but just canґt help myself doing it, so here it goes (and itґs gonna be a loooong look):
Except for the fact both human figures are positioned in the same ahh region in the frame, i see both as counterparts to each other.
While in the first image there is this magic sober purple clean sky and the cam (or the photographer) was close to the ground, here the pov is the opposite: master Torben and/or his cam observe people passing by from an upper level. Suddenly there are this woman and her bike being the anchors of this magical colorful blurred background.
The man in the other image becomes even more ephemeral, vanishing away among masts, and the word ‘erection’ comes to my mind.
With her the world around gains round contours (especially the yellow bike behind her, a delight to the eyes), but still there are two “masts” (the trunk right in the middle and that gray something beside the white car) but definitely we have curves – in the bikes, in the element behind the yellow bike, even in her boots!.
Of course no one will notice the tilt in the womanґs shot while the fragile man walks in a steady horizontal frame ;)
This is a beautiful picture – youґre a master when it comes to panning technique – but I think itґs even better if looked with the other in the back of my mind. Both are deeply connected in a certain way. Both carefully planned as counterparts, no matter if unconsciously.
(if you donґt mind me saying)

keribar (43841) 2006-09-04 21:42

Hello Torben,

Panning is a technique I am also a fan of.I enjoy finding situations where it can be applied. Especially on dull weather as it is the case here. But here I believe there are some bothering elements such as the burnt white car which was accidentally there, and the fact the bicycle is getting out of the picture instead of getting in. I am well aware that it has become " En vogue " to replace classical composition rules with more aggressive ones, and I am also tempted to think " Why not ? " But there are the good parts too, such as the well followed and still looking bicycle with your panning movement, and the good blurred effect on trees and houses in front of the canal which shows us the motion and speed.
Having said everything that passed through my critical eye, I must add that I like the picture despite what I mentioned above.

rhizomes (15343) 2006-10-02 15:19

Hi Torben,
I like this serie about bikes ! This one is great with this blur ! Technicaly nice and graphically too !
Christophe

aralda (1240) 2006-11-05 10:50

Hi Torben,
Great panning shot.
The lady is quite elegant, despite her wearing blue jeans.
Raluca