Helen...

[casil403]

I wonder what she would think of the view behind her now.... wonder what it looked like when she was laid here?
Hers was the only grave with a simple wooden cross...all the others were granite headstones.
First 1 is HDR...I am trying the free Photomatrix and they put watermarks in the copy until you pay...sucks but i wanted to try it to see how it looked.
The last is an original w/out HDR.

[casil403]

Here's a couple more...I want to go back there and try more angles because for some reason this photo tells me such a story and really affects me!

[Marko]

I Like the concept behind these shots and perspective is very interesting. Good eye for spotting it!

[jjeling]

Nice job here. The thought is excellent. That one of the concepts I think a lot of photographers dont see so clearly. To me, I can look past the quality of an image depending on how well a photographer tells the story.
Here is my interpretation of this, this is not a critique....

The color images puts a little more emphasis on the skyline. It almost tells the story from the perpsective of the city. Your left thinking that the city will continue on without her. The story here is more of a current perspective, from the city, looking down on her. The first color image has less distractions to me, fence and other gravesite. To me the Quality of the image is the best.
The black and white image puts more emphasis on the gravesite. My eyes are drawn to her first, and then into the background wondering what it she would think of the city's and the world's current situations. This is more from her perspective and not the city's. I prefer this shot, but would love to see the years more clearly. The second image in the first post would be nice in black and white.
The distractions maybe like by you or others. However, that is a giant hill to cross, fully understand the idea of telling a story through an image. Good job.

Maybe you can tell us how good your food is with a few pictures.

[edbayani11]

Nice job here. The thought is excellent. That one of the concepts I think a lot of photographers dont see so clearly. To me, I can look past the quality of an image depending on how well a photographer tells the story.
Here is my interpretation of this, this is not a critique....

The color images puts a little more emphasis on the skyline. It almost tells the story from the perpsective of the city. Your left thinking that the city will continue on without her. The story here is more of a current perspective, from the city, looking down on her. The first color image has less distractions to me, fence and other gravesite. To me the Quality of the image is the best.
The black and white image puts more emphasis on the gravesite. My eyes are drawn to her first, and then into the background wondering what it she would think of the city's and the world's current situations. This is more from her perspective and not the city's. I prefer this shot, but would love to see the years more clearly. The second image in the first post would be nice in black and white.
The distractions maybe like by you or others. However, that is a giant hill to cross, fully understand the idea of telling a story through an image. Good job.

Maybe you can tell us how good your food is with a few pictures.

very nice story/interpretation jj.
the photo is an image of contrast. life and death. life in the city and eternal rest in the cemetery.

[Mad Aussie]

I agree JJ ... there's a story here ... and questions left unanswered.

I like shot 2 the best because it hides the nearer buildings leaving the cross versus the city scenario more clear.

I'd love to see shot 2 taken with a dramatic sky of some sort whether it be a sunset/sunrise or a sky heavy with dark cloud.

[jjeling]

I just looked at this again recognizing something else. I already mentioned it is good to see you try and tell a story through the image.

This time, I want to say good job trying to tell a story through the composition, by trying to eliminate certain objects through the composition, the fence, buildings gravesite. It refreshing to see a photographer tell a story through composition and by recognizing objects and distractions and moving around to fix it "in camera."Good job again.

[casil403]

Here's number 2 in black and white...

Thanks so much for all you comments and obsverations...I think for me this could be the best shot I've taken so far if I can get everything right.
I can't wait to go back there again!

I also love that the "N" in "BORN" is backwards...I wonder what story there is behind it.

[Michaelaw]

Wow...That cross is looking pretty good for seventy five years of Calgary weather, whoever makes "Thompsons Water Seal" should take a look at that puppy! I really like the last shot because she never died and also the comp works for me. Good stuff!

[JAS_Photo]

I like it too.

The cross divides the picture in half representing past and present in the fourth photo. The right side is rather dull and the second cross puts Helen's cross in context. We know it's a graveyard. The dullness of that side represents the past. On the left is the modern city pushing forward into the future. It represents life. The horizontal cross of the grave marker is large in the frame and runs on the top third of the photo which gives it strong placement. The city on the left corner is balanced by the smaller cross on the right. There is the possibility of a lot of symbolism here. Helen could well be a founding "mother" of the city. Not wealthy, but well loved enough for someone to build her a sturdy cross. The one thing I do not like in the photo is the trailers and chain link fence but other than that it portrays a strong story.

I like the B&W just above but I just like the idea of the smaller cross balancing the city in the other photo more. Nice work, Cassil!