Why is this a good picture?

[Nigel_O]

I saw this image on the BBC F1 website and wondered why it has been used - its the sort of photo that normally gets deleted within seconds of taking it on my own camera, or if it makes it as far as home, it gets binned before the transfer to my hard drive.



I'm clearly missing something, but what is it?

[Tony1963]

Trying to give the impression of unbridled speed. But F1 cars ain't fast, really. Cornering and braking, yes. Top speed and acceleration, no. Desperate! Lol.

[GravelBen]

Wouldn't have even got close to being a keeper for me either tbh, can't see much good about it. I guess the general concept of the composition has potential, but it looks like they just didn't care about the execution.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 5th July 12:52

[Simpo Two]

Maye the tog said 'They're only paying 50p, I'll give them a st one'.

[DIW35]

Does nothing for me. Maybe one of those 'Emporer's new clothes' thing, whereby it was offered as a really forward thinking arty take on how cars in F1 should be presented, and some gullible fool bought it.

[GroundEffect]

Tony1963 said:

Trying to give the impression of unbridled speed. But F1 cars ain't fast, really. Cornering and braking, yes. Top speed and acceleration, no. Desperate! Lol.

1300BHP/tonne =/= fast acceleration?

[SCEtoAUX]

It isn't a good picture, it is woeful.

Not in a million years would I present a piece of garbage like that to a client.

[Lynchie999]

it went for "arty" ...

... and missed the spot.

[StevieBee]

It's a dubiously executed Photoshop rendition that, I assume, was intended to demonstrate speed. The motion blur on the trailing edge is heading down at 45 degree whilst everything else is flat at 90! I can see what they were trying to do but doesn't quite work.

Nothing wrong with expanding an image in this way but there are ways to do it and making it deliberately abstract is, IMO, the way to do it.

EG:

[jurbie]

I doubt it's a photoshop because that seems like a lot of effort for something that's simply going on the wires to your agency. I certainly wouldn't bother. Get it captioned, cropped, maybe some levels and away it goes.

A quick search shows there are much better ones available if they were specifically looking for 'Esteban Ocon slow pan' so it all comes down to whoever was manning the picture desk.

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/search/Este...

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edito...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that but good that some different types of shot are getting through.

[GroundEffect]

jurbie said:

I doubt it's a photoshop because that seems like a lot of effort for something that's simply going on the wires to your agency. I certainly wouldn't bother. Get it captioned, cropped, maybe some levels and away it goes.

A quick search shows there are much better ones available if they were specifically looking for 'Esteban Ocon slow pan' so it all comes down to whoever was manning the picture desk.

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/search/Este...

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edito...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that but good that some different types of shot are getting through.

Posted yesterday. Fantastic shot that highlights speed AND the fact it's Silverstone.

[Pericoloso]

I wouldn't delete that pic if I took it.

I also wouldn't post it anywhere, it would stay in my collection.

[jurbie]

GroundEffect said:

jurbie said:

I doubt it's a photoshop because that seems like a lot of effort for something that's simply going on the wires to your agency. I certainly wouldn't bother. Get it captioned, cropped, maybe some levels and away it goes.

A quick search shows there are much better ones available if they were specifically looking for 'Esteban Ocon slow pan' so it all comes down to whoever was manning the picture desk.

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/search/Este...

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edito...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that but good that some different types of shot are getting through.

Posted yesterday. Fantastic shot that highlights speed AND the fact it's Silverstone.

Oh absolutely, I and many others have shot that angle many times and no photoshop is required beyond getting rid of the dust spots. Whether a picture editor would pick it up is a different question.

[SCEtoAUX]

StevieBee said:

It's a dubiously executed Photoshop rendition that, I assume, was intended to demonstrate speed. The motion blur on the trailing edge is heading down at 45 degree whilst everything else is flat at 90! I can see what they were trying to do but doesn't quite work.

Nothing wrong with expanding an image in this way but there are ways to do it and making it deliberately abstract is, IMO, the way to do it.

EG:

To me that looks like two Windows wallpaper images from 2007 and a photoshop mistake.

[SCEtoAUX]

GroundEffect said:

jurbie said:

I doubt it's a photoshop because that seems like a lot of effort for something that's simply going on the wires to your agency. I certainly wouldn't bother. Get it captioned, cropped, maybe some levels and away it goes.

A quick search shows there are much better ones available if they were specifically looking for 'Esteban Ocon slow pan' so it all comes down to whoever was manning the picture desk.

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/search/Este...

https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-edito...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that but good that some different types of shot are getting through.

Posted yesterday. Fantastic shot that highlights speed AND the fact it's Silverstone.

I'm going to look like a right moaning Minnie, but that is awful. "Straight Outta Photoshop". That's not a genuine motion blur, it's an abomination from PS from someone who could even be bothered to find the right kind of blur.

[unsprung]

I'd use that photo, BUT...

it can be present only in a pool of traditional / clear images

it's an accent, a bit of drama

it's about bending a static presentation, in print / online / mobile, into more of an experience

not unlike making a distinction between news and journalism

[bearman68]

GroundEffect said:

Posted yesterday. Fantastic shot that highlights speed AND the fact it's Silverstone.

So why is the caravan parked in the middle of the picture?

[mike80]

SCEtoAUX said:

I'm going to look like a right moaning Minnie, but that is awful. "Straight Outta Photoshop". That's not a genuine motion blur, it's an abomination from PS from someone who could even be bothered to find the right kind of blur.

It's just a slow shutter speed, no added blur.

[StevieBee]

SCEtoAUX said:

I'm going to look like a right moaning Minnie, but that is awful. "Straight Outta Photoshop". That's not a genuine motion blur, it's an abomination from PS from someone who could even be bothered to find the right kind of blur.

As mentioned, this type of photography is all in the eye of the beholder. It borders on 'art' in the broadest sense and as with all art, it's entirely subjective.

For the person who took that shot, that may well be the right kind of blur to them, regardless of what others may think. There will be plenty (including me) that think it rather good.