Hurlers on the ditch

[madcrow]

Taken at a hurling match.
Title means the best hurlers are sitting looking on.
Comments welcome.
Thanks, Maurice.

[James G]

Hi Maurice, an interesting shot... I like the way you have captured their concentration... I kind of want to know the outcome

The light on the nearest man is very warm looking ...evening sun? I think if it were my shot I'd be inclined to crop in closer keeping the letterbox format to really focus on the 'lads'.

It has been a long time since I've been to a hurling match.... dangerous game, last time I played (as an english cousin), the ankles were taken out from under me!

[madcrow]

Hi Maurice, an interesting shot... I like the way you have captured their concentration... I kind of want to know the outcome

The light on the nearest man is very warm looking ...evening sun? I think if it were my shot I'd be inclined to crop in closer keeping the letterbox format to really focus on the 'lads'.

It has been a long time since I've been to a hurling match.... dangerous game, last time I played (as an english cousin), the ankles were taken out from under me!

James, we won and you are right evening shot. I will give the crop a try. Cannot trust the cousins.
Thanks for comments, Maurice

[IzzieK]

Maurice, I had not known you very long so I do not know how you'd feel if I asked you to clone out the pole at the back of the head of the gentleman on the right...I kinda like the light on the face of the young man on the left but his eye seems a bit red to me. What's with the expression of the face of the guy on the right side? He's scowling a bit there...

[wilgk]

Makes me smile, which is always a good thing, but I'm with Izzie, the pole detracts from the composition.

[James G]

I do not know how you'd feel if I asked you to clone out the pole at the back of the head of the gentleman on the right.

I'm not a great fan of cloning things out, mostly because I'm no good at it! Cropping much tighter as I proposed in my earlier post has the advantage? of reducing the impact of the post.

He's scowling a bit there...

Izzie, you must get to Ireland one day. Gaelic Athletics is entirely amateur, and teams compete from town level up to All Ireland. It's truly tribal (in the best way), with whole communities involved. I'd put good money betting that the gentleman concerned played all his life. He has the look of a serious man with strong views of the game.

My earlier reference to losing my ankles agaainst my cousins (40+ yrs ago) was down to me being english and used to hockey. They run bouncing the ball on the hurley (stick) and are allowed to 'fire' the ball around the pitch using the hurley as long as its not raised over shoulder height. They do very little ground dribbling. From their point of view I was 'cheating. stopping them getting it onto the stick and away! So the chopped the ankles out from under me! If you believe the historical sources the game is a war gamer with the severed heads of opponents substituting for the ball.

[madcrow]

Maurice, I had not known you very long so I do not know how you'd feel if I asked you to clone out the pole at the back of the head of the gentleman on the right...I kinda like the light on the face of the young man on the left but his eye seems a bit red to me. What's with the expression of the face of the guy on the right side? He's scowling a bit there...

Izzie, comments and advice are always welcome.Helps me to look at my photos in a different way.
Thanks, Maurice

[madcrow]

Makes me smile, which is always a good thing, but I'm with Izzie, the pole detracts from the composition.

Any photo that makes one smile is always good. I will take out the pole.
Thanks for comments,Maurice

[Ndukes]

I think it means they talk a good game. I love the image, it speaks volumes about the passion this game inspires.
I never played it, but a training companion of mine when I ran marathons many years ago did play hurling for his county, Kilkenny. I recall asking how hurlers avoid serious injury and he replied that the secret is to get in so close to your opponent that he can't take a swing at you. True in many aspects of life I believe.
Thank you for sharing a great image.

[madcrow]

I think it means they talk a good game. I love the image, it speaks volumes about the passion this game inspires.
I never played it, but a training companion of mine when I ran marathons many years ago did play hurling for his county, Kilkenny. I recall asking how hurlers avoid serious injury and he replied that the secret is to get in so close to your opponent that he can't take a swing at you. True in many aspects of life I believe.
Thank you for sharing a great image.

Neville, thanks for kind comment. The Kilkenny man knows what his talking about and that comes as no surprise.
Thanks, Maurice

[IzzieK]

I'm not a great fan of cloning things out, mostly because I'm no good at it! Cropping much tighter as I proposed in my earlier post has the advantage? of reducing the impact of the post.



Izzie, you must get to Ireland one day. Gaelic Athletics is entirely amateur, and teams compete from town level up to All Ireland. It's truly tribal (in the best way), with whole communities involved. I'd put good money betting that the gentleman concerned played all his life. He has the look of a serious man with strong views of the game.

My earlier reference to losing my ankles agaainst my cousins (40+ yrs ago) was down to me being english and used to hockey. They run bouncing the ball on the hurley (stick) and are allowed to 'fire' the ball around the pitch using the hurley as long as its not raised over shoulder height. They do very little ground dribbling. From their point of view I was 'cheating. stopping them getting it onto the stick and away! So the chopped the ankles out from under me!

Cruel game!!!

If you believe the historical sources the game is a war gamer with the severed heads of opponents substituting for the ball.

I heard a story about that game a long time ago. I didn't know it was THIS! game. Yikes!!!