Snowflam3 (The snow flamethrower!)by
permapierComment by David.C: It would be wonderful to get snow like that here again -- not much at all for the last few years. I think your comments in the box above demonstrate you view this for the novelty of the snow and not for any photographic merits it has.
That said, there are a few things to notice about it -- one you said you used a 4 sec shutter, but obviously also used the onboard flash -- with it taken at night, the flash essentially became the shutter, stopping the motion of man, machine and snow. Not completely, however, as there are since of motion blur on the snow blower. Without a fuller description I can only guess, but I would say the blower had lights on it that continued to iluminate after the flash fired; which gave the flame-like glow and motion blur.
Things that held it back in the challenge would include the use of the onboard flash and the harsh shadow to the left and the motion blur. If the blur could have been eliminated while still producing a flame-like glow, it would have been much better.
The spray of snow creates a diagonal that gives the image strength and motion, but I agree with the commentor below and cropped most of the gentleman out. In addition, a couple of steps to your right would have created feeling of observing the action rather than the feeling of having just missed the action I get from the nearly direct receeding of the individual.
I hope you enjoyed the visit with your Girlfriends parents. (I also like how you capitalized 'girlfriend') :D
David
Critique Club
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