Five Legs & Bundles of Sticks

Posted by Richard_Irwin (Belper, United Kingdom) on 10 February 2008 in Abstract & Conceptual and Portfolio.

I am back to the archives for a bit, as I injured my back earlier this week lifting stuff that was too heavy for me. So, as I'm not able to get out with the camera this weekend, I am going to have a go at working on some archive images with Photoshop.

This one was taken in the Alpujarra region of Spain, some time around 1990 on B&W Ilford HP5 (anyone remember HP5?), a 400ISO rated film that was really popular and easy to process.

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Comments (21)

Gary from Cochise County, United States

Sorry to hear you hurt your back. I hope it gets better quickly. This is a great image and I really like the tone of it.

10 Feb 2008 2:58am

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

Nice shot. I remember such film well. Have a speedy recovery.

10 Feb 2008 5:12am

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

You did great with this image! I was just thinking - when I opened it - that it cannot be UK...and it wasn't! Get well soon.....and stop lifting things!

10 Feb 2008 5:36am

Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa

I like it when a image put a smile on my face.. and this one did! Lovely composition, colors and detail.
Hope you are 'up and shooting' soon!

10 Feb 2008 5:59am

@Ina: Thankyou, I am working on more of this series which I hope to post this week.

Betty from New Jersey, United States

Hope you feel better soon, Richard! Great shot!

10 Feb 2008 6:05am

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Hey Richard! Take care of that back! When I was shooting film, Panatomic X was the only film I would use. Cool shot above!

10 Feb 2008 6:08am

@Craiger: Thanks for all your wishes. I was acting dumb, in that I tried to lift the back of my motorbike, whilst at the same time pulling it backwards up a slope - this has earned me an 'idiot' award, and the prize was damage to the muscles and ligaments of my lower back....ouch

martie from Okinawa, Japan

Beautiful photo! Rest that back, take it easy, and speedy recovery!!!

10 Feb 2008 6:47am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Sorry about your back, sometimes enthusiasm isn't such a good thing ;) Hope it's better soon...Now as for this 'backended' photo lol in so many ways, it's wonderful, full of feelings, the tone is magnificent!

10 Feb 2008 7:20am

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine, I acted just like that donkey when I was parking my bike the other night.

GJC from Kyoto, Japan

Funny that you hurt your back and then posted a picture of a pack animal! I like the composition and pov in this one. Get well soon; we all count on you for lovely pictures to show us.

10 Feb 2008 8:10am

@GJC: Ha ha, I wondered if anyone would see the connection, thank you for the wishes.

Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan

Good luck with the back, know what that's like. Great quality to this shot. Scanned very well! I have no experience with scanning photos, how easy is it to do?

10 Feb 2008 8:12am

@Daroru: I use an Epson f3200 film scanner, which does a very good job, and usually scan 35mm at very high resolution (these were at 2400dpi, but I often go much higher). The scan quality is excellent with this scanner, but you have to watch out for dust, and as my kit all those years ago wasn't up to much (bad lenses) I have tended to over process in Photoshop (tinting, framing, selective blurring) to give a more artistic interpretation.

Chris from South Jersey, United States

Sorry about your injury - don't spend too much time in front of the computer that you injure your finger clicking with the mouse!! Great image - I love the point of view...

10 Feb 2008 8:29am

Earnest from Oklahoma, United States

Excellent processing and photo, Richard, and I certainly sympathize with you as I've been cutting branches, gathering limbs, and stacking lumber from an ice storm we had some weeks ago (yes, there is a LOT of it)... amazing how your back never complains until you are done and sitting down or trying to sleep.

10 Feb 2008 11:22am

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

excellent image and tone selection - great job

10 Feb 2008 12:07pm

e. from New York, NY, United States

Oof, I hope your back gets better. This is a great shot!

10 Feb 2008 3:09pm

Daniel from Stranded in Kenmare, Algeria

strange! Disconcerting how two legs are missing!

10 Feb 2008 3:52pm

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Ouch! that's sounds painful Richard, hope your back gets better soon.
A great shot, I love the processing on this, it works really well with subject.

10 Feb 2008 4:16pm

Steven from Montreal, Canada

I really like this shot!

10 Feb 2008 4:28pm

amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada

Maybe stretching it a bit... kind-of reminds of the Led Zeplin cover of many moons ago... not that I'm aging myself at all... ahem.. VERY sorry to hear of your back, having just gone through my own travail, just take it easy and slow. Now back to the pick: LOVE it. Great framing, toning, subject, title... perfect!! And yes, that Ilford HP5 was all I used... and preferred the Ilford paper in my darkroom, too.

10 Feb 2008 5:53pm