Jide Alakija | photoblog

21 Apr 2006 • 1694 views

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I'm testing the use of these border which I got from Hendra Lauw who apparently has a wonderful photoblog of images. Here is a shot I took last summer in Lagos as I was just about to step back into my flat.

It's HDR for those of you that are wondering and for Suby who seems to think that HDR shots performed by Photomatixs don't come out sharp, well I really don't know what else to say, I haven't done any post processing work to this one. No sharpening, no colour management just very slight brightness improvements. I know that now you are going to look for something to trash the shot.

Unto the subject, These are two drivers who are using their bored minds to play a game of draughts (or checkers for our US friends). Sometimes I ask, how can you work like this? As in drive all day and if not driving waiting, at least these guys are doing something that is engaging their minds but otherwise they'd be very bored sleeping.

Oh for the rest of you who care, I'm still feeling under the weather so can't do anything very creative at the moment.

Post processing: HDR from single RAW, toning through solid colour, increase in brightness, cropping.

Unto something else, a good friend, Bukkie Opebiyi, a Nigerian photographer is exhibiting her work the whole of next week starting with a private viewing on Friday, 21st April 2006. The title of the exhibition : 'Nigeria, My Bias'. The exhibition is on till the 26 April at:

London College of Communication, Lower street Gallery, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6XB.
Times: 9:30am - 8:00pm.

You can see some of her work here

comments (30)

david

Australia

21 Apr 2006, 00:40

nice one! they look deep in battle

Jide Alakija: Thanks David

Ashish Sidapara

Singapore

21 Apr 2006, 01:01

Lovely shot!

Jide Alakija: Thanks Ashish.

outdoorexposure

United States

21 Apr 2006, 01:12

i like the balance in this shot

nice composition and color tone

Jide Alakija: Thanks....

Sele

Krypton

21 Apr 2006, 02:23

I actually like everything about the photo:

the quality - the sharpness aids to portray the feeling of "happening-right-now"... i actually feel like i'm in the "present tense" with the photographer!

the colour - not too excessive (which would detract from the reality of the image) and not too dull (which would detract from the essence of the shot).... just right!

the composition - the surrounding/background tells me a story about the subjects: driver passes time with friend while waiting for oga (who is getting ready to go out)!

*Good ol' checkers*

Nice one J.

ps: nice soulicitation photos

Jide Alakija: LOL...very funny Sele.

aaron @ moeview.com

United States

21 Apr 2006, 02:30

gerat use for a parking space. Love it.

Jide Alakija: Thanks Aaron.

Sele

Krypton

21 Apr 2006, 02:33

I guess i should ALWAYS read FULLY the descriptions, abi? Plus u could be less descriptive... allow us think more!!!

Sidney

Philippines

21 Apr 2006, 06:13

My kind of picture! Wonderful !

Jide Alakija: Somehow I knew you'd like it...took a few lessons from you though

Thanks.

Tuffer

United States

21 Apr 2006, 07:12

Love this shot. I'll have to agree w/ Suby that HDR often seems to lack sharpness but you're right that there's no problem with that here. I think the color palette is my favorite part (aside from the nice composition of a cool scene).

Jide Alakija: Thanks Tuffer. I think HDR has not been used properly, it really should be used as a tool to increase the Dynamic range of the image, in some cases it's been over strecthed.

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

21 Apr 2006, 09:45

Jide, Yep still not feeling HDR, HOWEVER, this shot is a cool one, the sharpnes is there I grant that to you (darn)

I would have cropped the left hand side of the image, the space.... whats the use?

All in all, good job, I am still playing around with HDR myself, just never happy with the results I achieve. Maybe, maybe one day i will shock all by posting a HDR shot (don't hold breaths people)

Hey why would I be looking for something to trash the image? If it's good, I say it, the fact Suby not feeling HDR don't mean one cannot get wonderful images like the one above. I just hate admitting it

All in all, good shot, keep up the good work bro.

Suby

Jide Alakija: I agree with you, as I said to Tuffer, HDR has not been used properly, to use it successfully I've had to increase the dynamic range with very little stops and also no lunminosity at all. The results are usually plausible, try it.

Nkx

LONDON

21 Apr 2006, 11:01

Class shot

Jide Alakija: Thanks Nkx.

Erik

Sweden

21 Apr 2006, 11:23

Great capture!
They look concentrate.

Jide Alakija: They do indeed. they didn't even notice me taking the shot...Thanks.

Chantal

Netherlands

21 Apr 2006, 11:32

Great capture of this scene, like the impression.

Have a great weekend!!

Jide Alakija: As usual, thanks Chantal. You too have a great weekend.

Brent Vermilyea

Arizona, US

21 Apr 2006, 11:42

One of the finest shots I've seen from you. The central composition is so perfect, as is the exposure and location. I'd love to just sit and learn from you about post-processing and HDR because this is an example of when HDR images WORK. And I'm glad I didn't give in so early with your previous HDR shots because I am really feeling this, and I would love to see more work like this. I am just really smitten with this shot. It has so much character. Fantastic, Jide! Regards, Brent

Jide Alakija: When you're ready I am...I can do a little walk through on the blog so everyone can learn...infact that's what I'll do I'll put the steps there. I've put some tips on my reply to Tuffer's comment. Come back and check it out.

Next week I plan to start some stuff that I don't think many will like but again it's all an experiment.

Tosin

Great Britain (UK)

21 Apr 2006, 11:47

this is a brillant, excellent and wonderful shot. I can almost smell the gutter there!!!

Love T

Jide Alakija: xxx

Micki

21 Apr 2006, 12:16

I love this shot, their clothes are such a contrast for their surroundings. A wonderful image!

Jide Alakija: Thank Micki...

Gary

United States

21 Apr 2006, 12:39

excellent color tones

Jide Alakija: Thanks Gary.

BeakerSt

21 Apr 2006, 12:41

Very crisp and very impressive, particularly with your control of the lighting

Jide Alakija: Thank Simon. Bookmarked you on Photoblogs.org

Ka-el

Krypton

21 Apr 2006, 13:19

What nonsense, how the hell can that imposter Sele be from Krypton. For those who don't know, Sele is NOT from Krypton, I am the last and only survivor of Krypton, don't let me use my heat vision and melt ur candy a$s.
anyway on to the shot, its a nice shot but it doesn't hit me like some others u have. Interesting that u used HDR. I for one know that HDR works, U just need to know how to use it. This shot seriously reminds me of nigeria, where I will be in a few hours he he, thanx for always sharing ur shots Jide and see U later

Jide Alakija: LOL...funny.

Paxton Prints

United States

21 Apr 2006, 15:24

Wonderful shot! I love that you didn't frame it so tightly.

Jide Alakija: Thanks Man.

Yinkavelli

Ijebu Igbo

21 Apr 2006, 15:50

"A kparawa laiye O!! Ojoro..." All thats left is a bottle of Sheman shinapps (i.e. Seamans Aromatic Shnapps)

Nice Pic!!

Jide Alakija: Funny as ever Velli.

Ayo

21 Apr 2006, 15:58

Fantastic shot! and since you're still "testing" let me be the first to say i really don't like the borders.

Jide Alakija: Thanks Ayo, I don't think it works for this shot. But Hendra has somehow made them work for his. I wonder...anyway tomorrow shot should be good. It's another of my Lagos shots.

mr skee

skeetown UK

21 Apr 2006, 18:47

Good for what it is.

About the borders, I don't think they work either, abit too tacky, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, as above. It's really not that type of picture to use a funky border for.

Azhar Chougle

India

21 Apr 2006, 21:00

Love it!This photo has a central theme - brown and the colour is portrayed in different forms and aspects with unique characteristics.It's a very special images because the theme incorporates people into it and a setting with a perfect scene.One little 'hitch' I would say is that car on the right side of the photo - kind if disrupts the flow.Overall - LOVE it!GREAT GREAT shot!

Raymond Tse

Australia

22 Apr 2006, 07:19

Very nice HDR - like the border too.

deji77

newcastle, uk

23 Apr 2006, 16:00

something abt the image is just right. it feels good and i like it. i think the border is alright.

Funmi

26 Apr 2006, 19:25

soooo good... and d border fits just right.

IQ test

France

28 Apr 2006, 14:13

The scene is excellent, but the light is not so good in my view ...

Reza

United States

9 May 2006, 03:09

This picture is filled with so much backstory. I really like this. WOuld you think a BW would be just as effective?

Hendra

Singapore

3 Jun 2006, 17:58

This one is wonderful, Jide, but I think it'll better if you crop it more tightly.

zebigleb

France

25 Jul 2006, 13:41

Very nice work on this shot

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