Walk of life, a photo from Zuid Holland, South

Photographer's Note

Beach walking is one of the favourite pastimes in Holland. Especially in the weekends, and if the weather is fine, one can see crowds of people walking along the North Sea coast, often making tens of kilometers a day. Couples, friends, families with children and dogs - all are united in this slow and relaxed movement, which is supposed to calm one down and bring one into the harmony with oneself and the world. Even in summer, when sea water isn't cold, hardly anybody is swimming in the sea; just walking on and on, covering miles and miles along the sandy beach.

I have made this shot from the pier gallery in Scheveningen, a beach resort near Den Haag. At the horizon you can see chimneys of the industrial complex of Hoek van Holland harbour. It was a sunny spring afternoon, and people were having fun and enjoying the weather, but to my, I guess slightly perverted, mind, this long "river" dissappearing from view at the horizon with the smoking chimneys, somehow seemed a sad and fatalistic metaphor of human life...

"Walk of life" is a song by Dire Straits, from "Brothers in arms" album (1985).

tcht, roamermark, Floydian, ktanska, luisafonso, gabrielpat, jlynx, Davidh34, jaywalker, Paolo, john_c, nwoehnl, syd1946, feather, cherryripe, macondo, designsoul, Clairedelune, coco, sabyasachi1212, elmec, balatrek, Baileys, tigra, managua, nbj, galtis ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

roamermark (1592) 2006-10-27 5:16

Excellent looking shot Alexander...
i love how they appear to bemostly pairs in the foreground and stretching so far off into the distance to the faint sight of a factory belching out smoke....I know it is from this year but this image is straight out of another time
Well Done
cheers
Mark

tcht (7565) 2006-10-27 5:17

Hi Alexander
What an impressive pic. The BW tones is extremely effective. Wonderful angle and framing here, and trully Stunning depth! This could be a seen in a movie...whtever. Real good work, I enjoy it a lot, bravo!
Cheers
CheukHin

maki (0) 2006-10-27 5:18

Hi Alex,
This is wonderul shot. The B&W tonality made it special, old-fashioned, like from the beginning of the XX century. Wonderful using of wider plan and those silhouettes of people with all its shades are really wonderful,
regards,
maki

bantonbuju (51815) 2006-10-27 5:28

aljek, this is stunner! i simply love this view here, it is amazing - vast vast beach and the tiny figures scattered, somehow randomply but somehow also making some sort of logical pattern;
great work,
bw, j.

Floydian (30970) 2006-10-27 5:40

Hallo Alexander,
Dit is mooi man, echt goed..!!
Hier in het noorden loopt nooit iemand op het strand (is er ook eigenlijk niet) en ik weet dat het in het westen behoorlijk druk kan zijn. Zelfs op dagen dat liggen niet mogelijk is, wandelen dus wel, en dat laat je hier heel erg mooi zien. Vind dit een knap stukje werk, zoiets zou ik ook wel willen maken.
De diepte die je hebt weten te creeren is fantastisch.
Heerlijke foto om naar te kijken en perfect in zw om de contrasten nog sterker te laten lijken...heel erg mooi gemaakt..!!!
Prettig weekend, Henk

mesutilgim (0) 2006-10-27 5:44

Dear Alexander,

Congratulations.
Wonderfull POW and composition. And Black & White is simply the best solution for such a compositin.

Best regards

MESUT ILGIM

Gerrit (62042) 2006-10-27 5:47

Hi Alexander,
Prachtige foto. Van het licht op het water tot dev groepering vanm de wandelaars en de fabrieken aan de einder. Perfect.
Groeten Gerrit

ktanska (44484) 2006-10-27 5:48

Hi Alexander,
I have visited the place in March, and there certainly were less people that time. But it doesn't seem to be too warm on this one either with people having so much clothes.
And I don't remember the industrial background either. Maybe the weather wasn't so clear then.
On this one it certainly gives strange ideas about the fate of those walker. And B&W fits well with it.
Kari

sebinho342 (19329) 2006-10-27 5:54

Hi Alex,
hhhmmm a pleasure to see an excellent picture from you, i really love this one !! Excellent turn in BW for those human ants walking on the beach ... an excellent POV for a beautiful result.
Brilliant :)

lasscor (7640) 2006-10-27 6:47

Hi Aleksander,
Wonderful B&W composition.
Great relaxing calm atmosphere.
TFS,
Corinne

luisafonso (862) 2006-10-27 7:29

I really like these images Alexander. And what I like more are the tiny shadows that double the human presence here. The light on the water's edge is always something that holds my view here... Love to see that industrial stripe on the top. What a contrast! It almost throws this scene to the beginning of the XIX century! Great shot!

craiggc (2509) 2006-10-27 7:34

Nice conversion to BW Alexander and nice image with a story.
Your could have added a hint of sepia, because your image is looks very Victorian (1900-ish) to me
TFS
Craig

gabrielpat (7163) 2006-10-27 7:47

Good idea,a diferent way to see the beaches.a nice vertical and b and w shot.i like the background industrial.

jlynx (12647) 2006-10-27 8:08

Hallo Aleksander,
The May-beach, still surely too coolly on something more than only the walk at the seaside. The sun lightly afternoon throws elongated already shadows of human forms on the bright sand. On the horizon the port-infrastructure and smoky chimneys. In this composition the visible collective walk is a clean health. Nice B&W, the profitable lighting, good framing and the very good quality.
Best regards,
Jurek

danyy (0) 2006-10-27 8:21

Hello Alexander,
on dirait que l'air et le bruit de la mer ont l'air de plaire aux promoneurs. A côté de cel, on distingue bien les usines moins 'pures' à l'arrière plan.
Une photo aux allures intemporelles par le bw.

Best regards.
Daniel.

Davidh34 (838) 2006-10-27 8:30

Hi Alexander

It's an intersting metaphor, and an interesting scene. I've not seen anything like this before. In the UK you get a few hardy souls walking the beach in the spring, autumn and winter, and in the summer, packed with sun bathers. This is a perfect composition in my opinion, the industrial element at the top is important, it shows that from which the people have escaped, and to which they must return. There is a sadness here. TFS

jaywalker (16105) 2006-10-27 8:42

Hi Alex, wonderful photo & great composition in B/W, love the smoke from the factories in the background it adds to a superb DOF, excellent POV sweeping right up the beach, great shot, kind regards Wilson.

Paolo (41258) 2006-10-27 9:25

Hi Alexander, excellent shot, with that long, long view on the beach, full of people! excellent the POV and the beautiful b/w.
thanks, ciao

brevbrev14 (140) 2006-10-27 10:08

Hi ALexander, i like a lot this shot...very graphic with the POV so high and the people so little..!
Very interesting work!
Well done i like a lot!
CIAO!
Valeria

sc07 (1292) 2006-10-27 10:20

Hi Alexander!
Superb picture! It looks like an old photo which is straight out of the 1920s...industrial plants in the background, people walking on the beach for the "promenade", that really makes me remember these old times when people didn't go to the beach in holidays yet.
Seb

john_c (24666) 2006-10-27 12:27

Hi Alexander,
The lighting is just right for this to work well in the B&W motif. The vertical format allows for great depth, and the eye keeps roaming further and further into the frame to walk alongside of the beach people. The quality of the image is first rate, as one can discern the very texture of the sand. Well captured, Alexander. I like this one very much.
John

nwoehnl (122) 2006-10-27 16:44

Very cool photo, Alexander, one of the best uses of a wide angle that I have seen on TE lately. The staggered arrangement of people on the beach is excellent, the perspective leading to the "industrial" background is very good, and the high-contrast b&w was precisely the way to go with this one. Great job indeed, and thanks for bringing this fine add to the song title theme.

syd1946 (1167) 2006-10-27 17:38

Hello Alexander,
Very fitting title with this beautiful song.When I was younger Dire Straits was on of my favorite rock groups.About your photo,the b/w is the right choise for my opinion.The perspective is great,the point perfect to shoot.Indeed a timeless scene from the war years.
Congrats,
Thomas

ben4321 (9875) 2006-10-28 6:04

I think this is outstanding, Alexander.
Using the tele end of your zoom has compressed the perspective slightly and I like the result.
It works well as a black and white image, and the absence of colour allows us to concentrate on the patterns made by the beach walkers and the shadows that they cast on the sand.
I also like the inclusion of the smoke-belching factories on the horizon.
Cheers,
Ben

feather (51130) 2006-10-28 6:53

My first thought was this is like an LS Lowry painting, with the matchstick men and the industrial chimneys. Even though I'm not a B&W fan I love this shot. You couldn't have arranged the people better if you had directed them and the POV is perfect. Great shot.
Kath

pastadog (13111) 2006-10-28 15:39

A great achievement, Alex! you're right about the "river" effect, it's amazing. and the chimneys definitely makes me think about the meaning of this scene and some other things... anyway, congratulations and thanks!

Budapestman (82620) 2006-10-29 4:36

Hi Alexander!
This is a very expressive and spectacular impression! What a superb observation and splendid POV! Its an excellent composition and good choice the B&W. Suggestive and fascinating shot!
Thank you, nice days
George

cherryripe (21033) 2006-10-29 7:28

Hi Alexander
I guess this is not my idea of paradise but your photo of all these clothed people on such a wide beach and with the factories in the background is very impressive. The B&W gives so much atmosphere. The vertical format accentuates the depth. Well seen.
Regards
Nikki

macondo (20449) 2006-10-29 8:41

Hi Alexander. Yes, it seems somehow fatalistic, the way they are most of them walking towards the smoking chimneys. It makes me think of Orwell's 1984. Yet, it also has a charm about it of seeming to be an image from a bygone age - smoking factories are nothing new, after all. Anyway, it is a surprisingly effective photo of nothing more than a great number of people ambling along a beach. The b/w is the essential factor here.
Regards,
Andrew

jinju (14265) 2006-10-31 4:35

This has a sad look to it. It reminds me of America in the industrial revolution. Factories spewing smoke. Whats cool is how the factory's smoke seems to be turning into clouds and then building and building and building up in the sky. Thats fantastic. Second, the expense of the beach and all that life on it is beautiful, all hapning under the smke from that factory.

yanseiler (20) 2006-10-31 21:14

Hi Alexander, nice view with beautiful shadows, a timeless piece...
Cheers
Yan

rosaline (0) 2006-11-01 2:31

Hi Alexander
What a great capture. I don't think I've seen anything quite like this. The B&W is an inspired choice and the depth created is brilliant. An excellent realisation.
Aubrey

designsoul (17843) 2006-11-02 10:09

Alexander, this is art! This is so beautiful, I am sorry I missed your gallery in the past little while. Many treasures here.
Wonderful composition. The whole shot is made so touching and beautiful by your smart perspective, bird's eye view. It does look like a picture from the end of the nineteenth century with the faded chimneys behind. Masterful!
sasa

Polonaise (5802) 2006-11-07 21:53

Dearest friend.
How's that this wonderful photo reminds those made on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day 1944 ?
The same character, those silhuettes on the beach, even the B&W edition of this gem reminds of 'those' infamous ones.
That upper narrow strip of smoky skies...What an incredible addition to already unusual scene.
All of my thumbs go up for this babe.
THX, Alex.

Have a great one.

Yura

Clairedelune (4923) 2006-11-08 22:19

Concert of praise for this photo. Well deserved Alexander...
Yes here, I have to say that your framing is really good. You give all the place to that long beach, with the tiny (at this scale) human walking alone or in couple or in group. I especially like the two guys in the foreground, one with the umbrella. And you left a small portion to the smoky and cloudy and foggy background.
That black and white... Perfect...
"Sad and fatalistic metaphor of human life"? But dear Alexander, there is shadows in the ground. And you know what it means, isn't it? It means there is light somewhere...
Hopelessly seeing the other side...
Claire

coco (30439) 2006-11-09 16:15

Hi Alexander.
I don't know what is best: the vertical view, the people, the black and white or the background.
But we are lucky: all these elements are in the same photo.

Splendid work.

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2006-11-12 5:35

Hi ALeaxander,
There are so many plus-points here that it is diffucult to mention just one. But still what impresses me most is the timeless quality this picture has achieved. Beautiful B&W tones helps in accentuating this belief.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

elmec (12210) 2006-11-12 13:13

Hello Alexander!
Very nice composition with people walking on the beach and factories in the back!
Very good colours, just like postcard from XIX century!
Congratulations!
Best regards!

balatrek (7455) 2006-11-14 14:58

Hi Alexander,

The black and white creates an interesting atmosphere, the perspective is perfect to give depth to the scene, it seems an old photography, of many years ago, the composition guide to the glance until the horizon, I like this work, congratulations.

Regards
José

Baileys (667) 2006-11-18 20:57

Hallo Alexander,
this one is definitely one of the photos on TE which made the greatest impression on me: those people walking towards the line of the horizon, some making their way with another person, some surrounded by many people, some of them walking alone... that is very moving metaphor of human life indeed. B/w creates universal atmosphere, if you hadn't put the date, it would be impossible to guess whether the picture have been taken May 2006 or 100 years earlier...
What I like about about this particular photography and actually in photography in general is that it makes us see well known places in completely different way, often allowing to see them as stages of more universal truths being played on them - and that is exactly the case of this perfectly known Schevenigen beach.
Great picture, Alexander. Really - thank you for sharing.
Hanna

wolf38 (30) 2006-11-24 10:40

Hello Alexander. Moves along the beach is a marvelous pleasure. The people enjoy the sun and inhale fresh air. They converse and are lucky. The photo shows many people from a good perspective from above. As contrast to the people one sees a city and factory smokestacks in the distance. Altogether a very interesting and well taken picture. Greeting, Wolfgang.

greg (2835) 2006-11-28 6:37

This one's great... seems I'm not the first to notice! I like especially the grey industrial backdrop, and the fortuante pose of the two closest characters. Together with the high contrast, they put this into another time.

anes_lc (14968) 2007-10-05 4:44

another one...great framed,excelent picture.
thanks sharing .
congratulation
best regards,anes

managua (902) 2007-10-18 11:37

wow alexandre!
you were right, it's superb!
only if you look really well the persons and how they are dressed you can understand that is an actual photo.. it'seems an image of the past.. of the industrial revolution in England or of the end of the past century in the east coast of USA..
special one!?
regards
andrea

nbj (2097) 2008-02-16 1:22

superb composition and perspective. i love the pattern of the people walking, the smoke of the factory in the background and the somewhat old times feel to the picture.

galtis (26) 2009-10-19 16:57

slow life...
excellent pov and great use of b&w effect.
if not the fact that everyone is wearing trousers it would look like an old, pre-war photo ;) J.

Photo Information

Copyright: Alexander Pasternak (pasternak) (15185)
Genre: Lugares
Medium: Blanco y negro
Date Taken: 2006-05-25
Categories: Vida cotidiana, Naturaleza
Camera: Canon PowerShot A95
Exposición: f/6.3, 1/500 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versión de la foto: Versión original
Tema(s): Photos with Titles of Songs 08, My B&W photos, Your favorites [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-10-27 5:13
Favoritos: 1 [Ver]