Crucifixion enactment in Croydon

[Iggy]

Hello Tom,
Thanks for advising us about Crucifixion enactment in Croydon yesterday.
It was such a lovely sunny day that I decided to go out and I am so glad that I did.
I stayed there for the whole event and many a time I was on my hands and knees but sometimes up on the benches getting the shots that I wanted. So it was pretty hard work with lots of running round that tested my fitness.
I am generally happy with some 10% of the shots that are suitable for newspapers.
To get to CCC standard on a few images will need a lot of cropping and editing to get away from the judges' favourite comment of the image is too busy.
Being my usual self, I did chat to a few people that included the bishops and even "Jesus" just before the Crucifixion, in the back area. Also spoke with Toni Suffolk (organiser), Bill Y, Mike F, Nina L & Caje M but didn't see Peter A who was also there.
Attached are a couple of images, one to make you LOL!
Iggy

[toms]

Hi Iggy,

Thank you for posting the pictures and by the look of your list it was a good turnout by the club. I hope everyone who went got something useful from it and I look forward to seeing more images in due course.

At least I know the group email worked to good effect.

Regards,

Tom

[Iggy]

I was hoping that some one else might take up Tom's suggestion and post some more images, but it hasn't happened.
So here are a couple more images from that morning.
First image not cropped or Photoshopped.
Very quick photoshop on second image to darken white hair of man on the right, so that it is not glaring using the techniques learnt during the last CCC meeting. I need to do it better. Cropping on left and right sides of image only.
And no, I could't get the two offending men to move out of the image so that I could just have Mary & Jesus
I moved as much as possible to the right to get Mary's face in. Took a dozen images here with various zoom, which I have yet to check.
How would this fare in a CCC competition after building in some blue over the brown boot so that it becomes part of the man on the left, although further cropping would be easier for me?

Comments would be most welcome. Paul? Graham L? Everyone?

Iggy

[Bill Yates]

I suggest you try a close crop like this - no need to change the colour of the man's shoes and concentrates on what I assume (from what you have written) you really want to convey.
Regards,
Bill

[Iggy]

Hi Bill,
Thank you for the suggestion.
Severe cropping is obviously one way to go with this image, which I did have a look at before putting that image out.
I personally prefer the more expansive image that shows more of the body language which I feel adds to the whole atmosphere.
In the cropped image, the hands suddenly take on a life of their own.
I must take a look at the rest of my images of that scene and see how they crop down.
It was good to see you on Saturday and have several chats between scenes.
See you tomorrow.
Iggy

[Mike Farley]

I personally prefer the more expansive image that shows more of the body language which I feel adds to the whole atmosphere.
In the cropped image, the hands suddenly take on a life of their own.

I am with Iggy on the otherwise unexplained appearance of the hands, especially the one on the left. I do not know if the shot is already a crop, but it would be better if the viewpoint were raised so that the top of the man's head on the left is not chopped off. That would both reduce part of the lighter areas at the bottom and make the overall composition stronger. Of course, that might introduce other unwanted elements, but that is just one of the challenges such unposed photography brings. If it were mine, I would be busy darkening areas down and cloning things out to remove the many distractions which are present in what is potentially a powerful image.

[Iggy]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your helpful suggestions. I think you probably got to the Crucifixion enactment too late to shoot these scenes.
The scenes where Jesus falls were predetermined "poses" and held for a minute giving photographers a chance to fight for the best positions, as per the protruding Canon 70-200mm lens in the first image. Then there was the sun to contend with especially on the walk back carrying Jesus' body when one had to shoot towards the sun.
Here are three other unprocessed images of the same scene that look better for manipulation, just before the sun came out and cast a strong shadow on Jesus' face.
Large AIO computer with Epson 550 scanner now installed in my home office: just need to get more familiar with PhotoShop 6 now!
Still working on this on my old lap top downstairs
Iggy

[Mike Farley]

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. I think you probably got to the Crucifixion enactment too late to shoot these scenes.

Hi Iggy

I am happy to comment and help a fellow member. You are right, I was late to the scene and, by the time I saw it, I knew it was unlikely to result in a good shot.

Looking at your other images, the last one does look like the strongest as you have caught the interaction between the actor playing Christ and the man on the right, which forms a strong diagonal. The eye follows the line down to the Christ figure which is reflected back by his gaze. Unfortunately it has the issues I have already noted, for me at least. Photoshop might help you resolve the compositional problems, but it would involve a lot of effort and ultimately might not prove fruitful.

A wasted opportunity? Yes and no. This type of work not easy and knowing what has not gone well on one occasion can inform as to what to do the next time something similar presents itself. It is all part of the learning experience.

just need to get more familiar with PhotoShop 6 now!

I hope you mean CS6. PS6 is very long in the tooth and does not have all the functionality which came in later releases.

[Iggy]

Just for the sake of completeness of the event, here are a final two images
Iggy