Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
October 2025 - Garage Love
Original
About the Image(s)
Here is ”Garage Love”. I stumbled on this secret tender moment in a dark garage. Fuji X-T4, 27.4 mm, f/4, 1/110 s, ISO 8000. I think that DXO Pure Raw handled the noise well. - I could not get the tones and contrasts to my liking, and finally tried to put the image through Aurora HDR that I think did the trick. I added a vignette to make a cosy nest for the pair. What do you think?
11 comments posted
Hi Kirsti - I think this shot makes a good black and white. Also, I really believe everyday, regular items can make compelling images and you've certainly done that. My only suggestion for a change to consider would be to raise the exposure of the tires on the left of the frame and darken the tires on the right side of the frame. To my eye, the tires on the left side with the heavy, interesting tread are much more interesting to look at than the tires with the dirtier, lighter tread tires. Just a suggestion - well seen shot. Posted: 10/09/2025 16:37:14
Thank you, Jeff! That is a very good idea and will really make a difference! Posted: 10/15/2025 14:50:14
Good afternoon Kirsti,
I love the humor in your description - "tender moment". I am not sure what story this would suggest to me, but I found myself studying the image for a clue to what the metal items between the tires might be.
That, to my mind, is the real success of this image - it causes me to stop and study it, giving my mind a chance to identify the items and that opens the door for a story to develop.
I do agree with Jeff that the left side lighting could be brought up some to provide more definition of the tread pattern of the truck (or off-road) tires - judging by the heavy tread pattern.
Great catch Kirsti - thanks very much for sharing it with us. Posted: 10/13/2025 19:56:05
I love the humor in your description - "tender moment". I am not sure what story this would suggest to me, but I found myself studying the image for a clue to what the metal items between the tires might be.
That, to my mind, is the real success of this image - it causes me to stop and study it, giving my mind a chance to identify the items and that opens the door for a story to develop.
I do agree with Jeff that the left side lighting could be brought up some to provide more definition of the tread pattern of the truck (or off-road) tires - judging by the heavy tread pattern.
Great catch Kirsti - thanks very much for sharing it with us. Posted: 10/13/2025 19:56:05
Thank you, Ed! I have no idea what the metal things are, but are they not leaning to each other in such a loving manner! That overflowing garage of a collector was such a treasury of objects for various purposes stocked together in unexpected alliances that I think one could have spend a week just finding new still life formations to photograph! Posted: 10/15/2025 15:03:57
Hi Kirsti!
I played with the tires a bit and brought up the left and darkened the right and completed with a vignette.
Such an interesting photo! Posted: 10/13/2025 21:13:15
I played with the tires a bit and brought up the left and darkened the right and completed with a vignette.
Such an interesting photo! Posted: 10/13/2025 21:13:15
Thank you, Doug! I love the effect! Now they just glow in their dark nest. The handling makes all the difference! Posted: 10/15/2025 15:06:25
This picture made me smile. I agree that the left weakens the composition. I think brightening it makes it worse. In my opinion, I thnk cropping out the deep shadow on the left and sharpening slightly the tire on which the lovers are restingimprove this very creative picture. Posted: 10/14/2025 16:40:47
Thank you, Al! I'll definitely try the new crop! Posted: 10/15/2025 15:08:45
Great shot. Do you think you need the hind legs? I think cropping it to the right knee would get our attention to the bear's face and forearms. I would lighten the bear's eyes, giving a tad more life to the animal. I don't think darkening the background would work, because the beaar then w old appear be merging to the background. I would try blurring the background and sharpening the bear. Posted: 10/14/2025 16:56:49
Hi Kirsti. Nice creative eye. I really like how unusual details can grab a photographer's attention. Composition-wise, I'd personally crop a bit off the right side to cut out some of those tires - they are less visually interesting compared to the ones on the left and the brightness draws my eye away from the tools. Since the light is coming from the left, I'd recommend darkening the tires on the right so they don't draw attention away from the subject. At the same time brighten the tires on the left only where the light hits to naturally guide the eye toward the tools. Posted: 10/24/2025 14:13:57
Thank you, Barbara! Sounds good! Posted: 10/25/2025 17:34:28