Reviews from

On the break of Dawn

San Antonio Suburb at dawn

6 total reviews 
Comment from Dazzleme


Great with the angle for this shot as you have captured the sky well which indeed looks ominous! Your light is perfect here for the dawn photo and you have presented it well.

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 20-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes this sky was ominous almost frightening but I loved the different shads of grey and colors in the clouds.
Comment from Jac Rocha-Catarina51


I love it but I also know that I will have many difficult to tell why :( So, it's interesting to the great photo having captured yet the colors on ground like the green grass and the cars, with their lights. But the sky is in fact the most beauty and unexpected to see and you got a wonderful moment with the clouds giving several tones, since the light so far to dark clouds at right. Just Wonderful!

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 20-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much. Yes me too, I was fascinated by this sky. I understand very well what you try to say.
Comment from ZenTrip


On The Break of Dawn expresses those moments as I often see them in the earlier hours with the school buses on the road and the lines of cars with their headlights on, Cleo.

So my first reaction is with an emphatic vision of reality that you've captured using your chosen material.

The darkness and gloominess of the overhead sky resulting from the stormy night then draws my attention. It pulls everything into perspective and adds that visual touch of 'importance' as when one underscores a word. It, to me, is the crowning charm and beauty of the image.

Then I notice the sidewalk disappearing into the distance, and the way you have framed the houses that lie either side of the street.

The composition and thought behind your thinking, along with your camera setting and exposure, then carry it beyond being a mere snapshot of a morning in San Antonio.

It becomes a meaningful statement with visual impact and interest that places it into the category of effective photo journalism.




 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 20-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much for understanding another of my pictures.
    Yes it is the unusual in the usual here. The thing to what nobody gives a second look if it isn't underlined. There is something else. Do you realise how empty the sidewalk is to the business of cars? There are no people visible in the picture.
    The sky got my attention too. It was a grumley, ominous almost frightening atmosphere around but I loved these beautiful layers of gray and color in the clouds.
reply by ZenTrip on 20-Mar-2009
    You're most welcome, cleo. And I'm happy I was able to interpret this one somewhat. I didn't take note of the empty sidewalk - other than to notice how it added that nice perspective. And for some reason it didn't occur to me that there were no people in the scene. Amazing what I "don't" see sometimes. I'm sure I have, but I can't recall, every seeing a sky that threatening and dark and ominous. I like how you saw this image.
reply by the author on 21-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much.
    I think I know why you didn't note they missing people. The scene is to typical for US cities to note it. When we had to spend the 8 months in Texas in 2007 I saw barely people in the suburb were we lived. Not even walking the dog. Everybody seams to hide behind walls and 8 feet high fences. Here and farther south are always people out on the sidewalks.
reply by ZenTrip on 22-Mar-2009
    Sign of our times isn't it. Eight foot fences and walls to hide behind. I would much rather live on the freedom of an island with only palm trees to shade me.
reply by the author on 22-Mar-2009
    Me too!!!
Comment from RaineC


Rating is based on the following:

Initial Impact - 5
Creativity of presentation - 5
Color Harmony - 5
Center of Interest - 5
Technical Excellence - 5
Story Telling Ability - 5
Lighting - 5

Tumultuous sky! Nice capture.

~Raine

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 19-Mar-2009
    Thank you so much. Yes, this sky was something unusual, almost scary.
Comment from Desborokev


really like the atmosphere you've captured and it shows resilience in ensuring the schoolbus is kept going through any likely bad weather to follow. The foreground is a touch too dark but the sky is excellent

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 19-Mar-2009
    Thank you for your generous review and your suggestion.
Comment from Snopaw


Different take on this contest Cleo, but I would expect nothing less from you. Great sky and cool silhouttes of the busy street full of morning commuters. Best of luck in the contest Shirley

 Comment Written 19-Mar-2009


reply by the author on 19-Mar-2009
    Thank you Shirley, You are right: I love the unusual.