Anthony Gormley statue, a photo from Merseyside, England

Photographer's Note

This is an image of one of Anthony Gormley's statues on Crosby beach, North Liverpool. There are 23 statues on the beach in total and the installation is called 'Another Place'.

I liked how the statues were all looking outwards towards the sea, to think of faraway places in hope and to welcome those who visit from the sea. A metaphor for Liverpool as a sea port itself. Where I was stood on the beach gave me a different view of Liverpool as a port/city. I am so used to walking around it and never really thinking much of it as a port apart from when I go to the docks. But from this beach you can look back at the city and see how well it is positioned as port and it becomes easy to understand why it did as a result and gave me a whole new perspective in my mind of Liverpool.

The starburst is a result of using f22 - something I never do but it was necessary on this occasion due to shooting into the sun - I also underexposed the shot by two stops and the there is a minimal of post processing except the adding of a vignette and some sharpening so I think Will might like this one more!

Enjoy.

adores, CLODO, PaulVDV, holmertz, tyro, Energysavingelk, worldcitizen, pajaran, ourania, jean113, kabel, Royaldevon, COSTANTINO, ikeharel oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

adores (46939) 2015-12-04 5:47

Hi Michael!
This is great, the composition and the exposure. I really like the star effect of the sun and it was a great idea to include the whole shadow. Great shot!

serp2000 (46924) 2015-12-04 6:22

Hi, Mike,
What's happened? Why I can see only the empty shelfs and naked walls in your gallery?... What is a reason for so unusual action? Anyway, I like to see you here gain. Welcome back!
Superb shot! It looks some philosophic. Original work. TFS!
Best wishes from Urals,
Serghei

CLODO (39521) 2015-12-04 7:17

Hi Mike

He looks really like a live person! The low sun stretches his shadow and reveals the ripple marks at low tide. Good off centering and management of the light not to get underexposure
have a lovely WE
CLODO

PaulVDV (42871) 2015-12-04 7:19

Hello Michael,
Wonderful textures of the sand on the foreground!
Very beautiful with the extra long shadow, the statue and the sun in star shape nicely on one line.
Best regards, Paul

rbassin (25841) 2015-12-04 7:41

hello Michael,
bonne prise de vue en contre jour, les ombres sur le sable céent un bon graphisme.
Bonne utilisation du soleil et de la stature avec son ombre.
Bon W_E
Roland

batalay (41259) 2015-12-04 7:58

Hello Michael,

This is a masterpiece of Surreal Art that Salvador Dali would have envied. With the sun creating the long shadow of the statue... looking out at the sea. The sunburst effect could also be done with a star filter, at least, that's what I used to do with analogue photography. As for the statue looking outward, in January 2014 when I visited Easter Island, I found all the statues, "the Moai" facing inwards from the shore.

Warm regards,

Bulent

holmertz (73005) 2015-12-04 8:02

Hello Michael,
This is a terrific photo, for the statue and for the way you captured it. The bright sun and the long shadow across the muddy ground are amazing. It's a beautifully composed photo with masterly handled light.
Best regards,
Gert

tyro (27064) 2015-12-04 9:39

Hello Mike,

This is a brilliant photograph and you have also written a fine note about Anthony Gormley's statues and also about the city of Liverpool.

You have taken and composed this photograph extremely well, the bright low sun beaming out right above the figure's head and casting not only fine long shadows of the statue but also bringing out some wonderful shadows, contrasts and textures in the rippled sand in the foreground. A beautiful blue sky too, as well as some lovely starry effect from the sun itself.

What really intrigues me is how you manage to take a picture like this with little evidence of lens flare. O.K., I see (I think) a tiny crescent of light at the bottom of the picture in the shadow of the statue's head but this is nothing compared to the horrendous lens flare which I always seem to get if I try any bold contre jour shots like this. What's the secret? Is it f/22? Or avoid a filter in front of the lens?

Brilliant!

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. Got your email - will reply again soon!

P.P.S. I see that Gormley's statues of himself feature in other places too - I hadn't realised that until I found one in Oxford!

No_One (4) 2015-12-04 11:12

Hi Mike
Wow , that is a powerful shot and at first glance my thoughts went to an alien landscape or an Australian desert. I love the star burst effect of the sun positioned just over the figure who is perfectly creepy . I would really love to this exhibit and just add you say, this gives a while me vision of Liverpool.
Cheers
Noel

baclama (19044) 2015-12-04 11:16

tres beau contre-jour!!! et tres bel etoilé
vraiment superbe!
bon WE
vero

Energysavingelk (4352) 2015-12-04 11:41

Hi Michael,

this is not only well calculated and arranged, but also proves deep mastership of light management. The shadow on the mud ripples is simply great. Well done!

Regards from Rhineland
Sven

worldcitizen (11224) 2015-12-04 11:43

Hello Mike,
As others have already said, it's great to see you back on TE. You are a master with the camera, and you were able to handle the lighting here brilliantly. I like the large solar flare, and the ripples in the sand. The statue looks very life-like, and he definitely casts a giant shadow. This is a beautiful composition.

ourania (51103) 2015-12-04 12:38

Hello Mike,
welcome back, I hope all's well! I like very much this picture with the solitary silhouette, his long shadow, the sun flashing above like a spectacular firework and the vast setting where all these exist. You did a superb work on the light and the effects of the shadows, the texture of the beach and the ink-black sea look mesmerizing. I also like that the silhouette turns slightly to the left, this somehow gives him a more interesting character and makes him less rigid. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

kasianowak (12461) 2015-12-04 13:15

Hi Michael
Brilliant shot, excellent composition. I love the fact that the sun, the statue and its shadow all lie on one horizontal line and to hell with the rule of thirds.
Sand ripples are a nice touch too.
Best wishes
Kasia

jean113 (10719) 2015-12-04 13:40

Hello Michael, an excellent shot with the silhouetted figure of the Gormley statue providing a strong focal point, and backed by the starburst of the sun.
I particularly like the texture of the beach which draws the eyes into the picture.
And of course, the shadow is very impressive.
Regards Jean.

emka (126499) 2015-12-04 17:13

Hello Mike, Back to Liverpool:). Impressive composition. Beautiful silhouette of the man (statue), facing the see, with its shadow on the sand and the star just over his head. Superb picture.

WArm regards Malgo

pajaran (80927) 2015-12-04 23:25

Dobar dan.
Interesantan i lep pogled, dobar tekst ...
Dobra ideja i realizacija lepom fotografijom ...
Dobar rad i kompozicija, lepo pokazana plaza i silueta coveka, dobar kontrast i perspektiva, lepo uhvacen trenutak sa suncem i senkom.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Interesting and nice view, good text ...
Good idea and realization of beautiful photography ...
Good work and compositions, beautifully demonstrated beach and silhouette of a man, a good contrast and perspective, nicely captured the moment with the sun and shadow.
Have a good day, all the best, good luck.
Paja.

jemaflor (116702) 2015-12-04 23:42

Hi Michael,
Bravo, excellent photo, very original and very well managed, great light capture, tfs.

lousat (111131) 2015-12-05 1:26

Hi Micahel,no needs comments but just a big and long standing ovation,this is the pic of the day on TE,no doubts,a fantastc backlight made in an impressive quality,i like it! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

BennyV (24993) 2015-12-05 6:09

Hi Mike

Wow! This is a terrific shot. Although I haven't made it to Another Place yet (grr...), I've seen lots of pictures from it, one year even had a calendar of it up on our kitchen wall...and this shot features among the best I've seen.

Now surely next time in Liverpool I'll have to make that short trip up to Crosby beach. I just have to...

Cheers & thanks for posting this gem here.

Benny

Royaldevon (55118) 2015-12-06 3:40

Hello Mike,

This is a stunning shot!
The limited colour palette adds to its impact!
Everything in the shot is useful and impressive from the tall statue and its elongated shadow, to the undulating textures of the sand!
The sunburst over the statue's head gives it an almost Biblical appeal!.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

Karolina999 (0) 2015-12-08 9:03

Dear MJW,
fine idea, fine take, amazing light and shadw, wonderful shadowplay, good contrast.
Thanx for sharing.
Cheeers!

COSTANTINO (82632) 2016-01-19 10:02

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
I visited your gallery tonight
and I liked very much this photo
of one of Anthony Gormley s statues
on Crosby beach North Liverpool
original verison
fantastic photo for the way
you captured it
regards
Costantino

mkamionka (46535) 2016-03-30 7:45

Hi Mike,
I remember seeing this one before, I think you have showed it to me on your phone at the meeting in Manchester when we were on the tram.

The effect is quite spectacular. The light amazing. Very challenging always when one take photos against the sun and such a closed aperture often brings away dirt on the lens or sensor.
The surface of the beach is fantastic so well emphasized with the long shadows. The statue of course adds to the effect and the star shaped sun decorates it wonderfully too.
A real master piece,
M

ikeharel (92356) 2016-09-27 2:57

Hello Michael,
Fantastic ourcome of this pic. with the sun just above of the statue head, made a long shadow that gave extra sens of the DOF.
Amazing pattern of the wind-carved sand as beautiful waves.
An intriguing technique that shown wonderfully.
My best regards,
Ike

daredevil (20) 2018-01-08 6:22

This is looking amazing.

I can feel the texture of sand. The photograph is very well composed with shadow. I really liked it.