Party over

[marlunn]

We went out this afternoon to Parc Slip,local nature reserve close to us at Tondu to look for fungi to photograph or anything else that took our eye. On the approach road there are a few gates for dog walkers and farmers to access the fields, spotted this as we drove past and had to turn back to get the picture - one of those you really wish you knew the story behind - or maybe not !

c&c very welcome as always

[Kaye Leggett]

Love it.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mark . I like the image. If it was mine, I would try cropping it from the top and from right in order to use the wooden gate like a frame. It might look interesting

[marlunn]

Thanks kaye,

Hi Binnur, cropped as suggested - not sure to be honest, I see what you are saying about the 'frame' effect, see what you think, I think the right hand side gives view of it being a path that links it to the shoes and a gate, without it, not sure the image has the same context, but very open to peoples views, either way

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Kris V]

I like this. Makes you wonder what the story behind is.
If it would be my picture, I would make the crop less severe - something like this, so the whole frame is still part of the picture.
Just my idea.

[IzzieK]

Hmmm...After reading the comments and analyzing each edit, I still think the first shot is the right one as it show the elements of a more expanded way to tell a story behind the shot sort of thing. The shoes for walking, the path perhaps taken after the change of footwear but forgot the shoes left behind. One cannot possibly (or can) walk on tippy toes along that path unless the area or house you're going to is near this gate. The shape of the water itself is an indication of the path, a wet path so either a wellies or rubber boot was in exchanged here or a sports shoes. Then one can expand this story to tell more. With the other two last edits, I am sorry to say, it doesn't spark any interest apart from frame the shoes at the gate. The first crop doesn't even indicate it is a gate but just a frame. (Sorry Binnur...sometimes I do have to disagree with you and this is one that I do...) and Kris I like your edit better but have lost the shape of the water on the path. Not criticizing you at all, just the manner of the crop. (I think I better go back to bed. I am getting too critical I think....)

[Dave Humphries]

It is an incongruous subject for the location, but let's face it, this is just laziness and littering

The broken shoes should have been taken home and disposed of/recycled properly by the owner.

However, it did give me an idea - there's nothing to stop us, as photographers, taking props such as these out to a location, getting our shot - then 'doing the right thing' with regard to disposal.

I wonder if you considered (or even had the time or kit for) different angles, shooting distances and focal lengths Mark?
The environmental context might have been better served by shooting from closer, with a wider angle of view, to get more background in.

Mind you, 'going to town' (photographically) on a subject such as this might attract some odd looks and comments

BR, Dave

[Shadowman]

I think I've got the answer to the question no one asked. A woman was sitting on the fence, was startled by some unknown sound or movement, leapt forward leaving the shoes behind. Not really littering just self preservation.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I like to think the lady is still out gallivanting around in the field barefoot and will return for her shoes later.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mark I agree with you that the crop doesn't have the same context but I still like it as a different image.

[marlunn]

thank you all, glad it interested and intrigued you all. I think each crop has merit as an image but for me the 1st gives the reason I turned around and went back to capture it.

I was limited to a 50mm and my 150 macro on a crop sensor so used the 50mm to ensure I got the background to create the 'story' aspect.

yep littering, albeit 'tidy' littering and sorry to say I left them there - I did not dare go further down the path for fear of what else I may come across

[marlunn]

However, it did give me an idea - there's nothing to stop us, as photographers, taking props such as these out to a location, getting our shot

Reminds me of a story from long ago, a landscape photographer got 'caught' when a few very good landscape lake shots from different locations all appeared to have the same small dead tree in the foreground, he took the tree with him on top of his landrover 110 defender on shoots in case there was no good foreground at the location !

was this a true story? I never did get to the bottom of it but the idea is valid !

[Geoff F]

Not sure if it happens elsewhere but where I live you often see things placed in a prominent position like this.

Someone has lost an item so the finder displays it somewhere obvious in the hope that the loser will return. Gloves, glasses, hats, children's toys, walking sticks, camera lens covers, etc; in fact, anything which can be dropped.

I have personally recovered a dropped pair of glasses which some kind finder left like this until I returned a couple of weeks later.

[Dave Humphries]

yep littering, albeit 'tidy' littering

and

~ where I live you often see things placed in a prominent position like this.

True, but the heel strap is broken, rendering (one of) them useless.

No, I've not tried hopping in one good high heel, but I bet it wouldn't end well


As an aside, I saw someone's bright shiny yale type door key on a footpath in Windsor Great Park yesterday, but decided it was better to leave it where it was (in case they retraced their steps) as there was nothing to place it on that would have been more obvious than where it was. Normally I would do as Geoff suggests, but couldn't in this case.

[thegman]

Nice shot Mark, well spotted, I guess someone will be doing a ''bare foot walk of shame'' back home inthe morning