Alan Lichtenstein, QPSA
October 2023 - June 3, 2014-Moai of Easter Island
About the Image(s)
Easter Island, also know as Rapa Nui, is a Chilean dependency 2,200 miles east of South America. The heads shown are part of larger statues called moai, some reaching heights of 70 feet, were placed facing seaward, at the end of the island several miles opposite to where they were quarried. Legend says the statues walked to where they stand, which they did with a little help from physics. Ropes were tied to the heads of the moai and by resolving forces, the statues were made to “walk.” This was necessary because there is very little wood to build carts and wheels for transport.
Gear: Olympus E-500, Zuiko 18-180mm
Specs: ISO 100, f/8, 1/320 sec.
Metering”Pattern
WB-manual
EV -.7
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Alan, very interesting image. I have read a lot about Easter Island, and is one of the places that I would like to visit. I found your image very dark, of course caused by the side illumination. Anyway, I added just a little of light to the heads to show more detail. The fence in front of them do not add, and are a little distracting so I cropped the image. It is sharp. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do with the double head arrow in the background. I just wonder if there was a way to avoid them by changing your vantage point. Posted: 10/01/2023 11:33:35
Isaac, as you are aware, I do no post-processing and did even less in 2014 when I created the image. Olympus, which I was using at the time, allowed a metering choice to consider the highlights or shadows. I was unskilled in using that feature at the time, but perhaps that could have been a way of reducing the shadows. Regarding the fence at the bottom, I could have cropped it before I submitted it, but did not because I wanted comments regarding the composition, such as yours.
I did not want to change my vantage point primarily because the effect of the two heads was greatly reduced and the composition less of the image less pleasing. If you see pictures of the Easter Island Moai, you will usually find this exact view, something I knew at the time and deliberately chose that vantage.
The image is somewhat dark, partly because I compensated it at -.7. Actually, I was bracketing at time and the brackets were -.7, 0 and +.7. I have since learned to compensate at only -.3 as that enhances the color while not making the entire image too dark. Using a DSLR, I had to pick three compensation values as unless I went to live view, I couldn't see the compensated potential image. Using a mirrorless, I no longer have that problem as the compensated image can be seen through the viewfinder, and thus, I no longer bracket.
Getting to Easter island was a trip-and-a half and is not particularly simple. But you can e-mail me privately to discuss going there. It'll be well worth the trip. Posted: 10/01/2023 11:47:10
I did not want to change my vantage point primarily because the effect of the two heads was greatly reduced and the composition less of the image less pleasing. If you see pictures of the Easter Island Moai, you will usually find this exact view, something I knew at the time and deliberately chose that vantage.
The image is somewhat dark, partly because I compensated it at -.7. Actually, I was bracketing at time and the brackets were -.7, 0 and +.7. I have since learned to compensate at only -.3 as that enhances the color while not making the entire image too dark. Using a DSLR, I had to pick three compensation values as unless I went to live view, I couldn't see the compensated potential image. Using a mirrorless, I no longer have that problem as the compensated image can be seen through the viewfinder, and thus, I no longer bracket.
Getting to Easter island was a trip-and-a half and is not particularly simple. But you can e-mail me privately to discuss going there. It'll be well worth the trip. Posted: 10/01/2023 11:47:10
Alan, I agree with Isaac's comments. I find the fence and arrow sign distracting and the subjects too dark. Isaac's crop improves the image. Having a person in view would have increased interest by adding scale. Posted: 10/01/2023 20:57:40
Susan, here's one with a person (my wife). I couldn't get the angle to fit her in and include both heads because of the way the path wound. Additionally, Easter Island was not very crowded then and probably is still not very crowded today, as there are not that many visitors, so including others was not really an option. To step back to get others would have increased the amount of fence and there was simply no way to eliminate the arrow because of the way the trail wound. Posted: 10/02/2023 06:03:06
Isaac, get on the next plane. It's a fantastic place. I think the photographic challenge is to show the monumentality of the moai. Shooting from a low angle helps. Having a tourist in the picture doesn't quite do it, for atmosphere at least. Posted: 10/06/2023 12:32:25
Alan, are you familiar with "border patrol?" Scan the edges for anything that is cut off or protrudes in and crop. Just a thought. Posted: 10/06/2023 12:37:38
I haven't referred to it by that term. But I understand your thought. Posted: 10/06/2023 14:36:57