Ki?, a photo from Iowa, Midwest

Photographer's Note

Base on the word aiKIdo, KI is the strength that is available without using muscles, will, struggle, or effort.
So, if we don't use muscles, will, struggle, or effort, how do we then practice? Well, this is the mystery that you have to explore during your own practice. You can find the answer to this in your body, but the best way to start is to try, intentionally, not to use muscles, will, struggle, or effort. See what's left.

jcdurka1, melmcree, scobert, abulafia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

balakrishnan (6) 2007-12-23 9:44

Beautiful composition in B&W

gabrielpat (7163) 2007-12-23 10:00

splendid movement.nicely framed too.

Traczewska (14) 2007-12-23 14:54

You succeed to press the button in the sharp time.. ! Oposition in between boy's movement and static master, makes the scene full of vibrant energy. Really good compostion !
Merry Xmas! Agnieszka

jcdurka1 (1950) 2008-01-11 2:10

Great capture of the movement, but some details distract a bit the attention, as the hand on the top left corner. You can erase it with Photoshop.
Jean-Claude

jvsb (1382) 2008-01-16 5:40

Hi Tola!
Very nice composition and timing, although I agree with Jean-Claude in that you could easily eliminate the distracting hand on the left. The shutter speed was excellently chosen as to convey the sense of immense impact felt by the student. The contrast between the solid black and white areas and the three guys in the background, uneasily looking at their possible fate in the foreground, add a lot of compositional tenseness to the frame. The fact that their heads are cut by the frame doesn抰 bother me; in fact, I think it leaves space for our minds to fill in their apprehensive complexion. The BW was well chosen, but the post-processing resulted in a overly soft picture. Maybe you could have applied more sharpening in PS.
Regards,
Victor

daniel59 (114) 2008-01-19 14:51

Bonsoir
Bonne photo d aikido bien vu pour le N/B je pratique l aikido depuis de nombreuses ann閑s c est tres bon pour le corps et le mental (je pense que tu pratiques aussi ?)
Cordialement Daniel

melmcree (18) 2008-01-23 8:19

Hi Tola,

Excellent use of motion blur. Just the right about used. The guy on the left is still in focus and the other participant is visible not. The other students in line seem to have a smile. They either have just experienced it or are in line to receive it soon enough.

Well done,

Mel

scobert (5355) 2008-01-25 9:34

Hello Tola,
Real nice action shot! I like the contrast between the frozen pose of the older students and the beautifully captured motion of the young student patiently being guided by his martial arts master. This is excellent excercise and discipline for a kid this age to learn, along with a philosophy of self control and nonviolence unless in delf defense, which has stood the ages. Good work!
Stan

MayaG (2415) 2008-01-26 13:44

KI, you say? no usage of muscles, will, struggle or effort? Gosh, sounds perfect for me, I'm a high-school teacher :)))
I think you did really great with this photo. Not only the blur, but I also like the 3 figures in the background, their position inside the frame. Maybe just a wee more contrast in this B&W, but I'm not sure.
regards
MarijaKI (from now on)!

crckt (7222) 2008-03-24 16:46

Hi Tola,
Nice timing on this shot. One static and one dynamic element in your shot draws me towards it. B/W was the right choice too.
Well done,
Shaeri

abulafia (4900) 2008-04-04 1:48

Hi Tola
Good picture, appropriate with the B&W!
I like how easy it looks for that guy to flip the other one around.
Very nice
Harry

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-04-07 11:28

Ola Tola ,
Fant醩tica foto cheia de movimento , boa escolha pelo preto e branco , bom trabalho , parab閚s!!!
Um abra鏾 Gon鏰lo

ElAprendiz (30) 2008-04-16 12:25

Hello Tola:

One takes very dynamic and well-balanced composition.

Perhaps that would have erased black sleeve on the left is displayed the effect on black and white is very appropriate and the frame is very well prepared.

John

ilvao (2308) 2008-06-30 2:14

Hi Tola,

you manage very well the speed of the shutter
it's a beautiful composition
and sometghing different on TE
i love it
all the best
olivier

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2008-12-02 15:43

Hi Tola.

Epsssss......great picture. The exposition was the perfect to get this effect!

My compliments!

Dyerco (10185) 2010-03-04 19:36

Hi Tola
Nicely composed with the old master teaching his pupil. Why not clone out that stray arm to the left?
Phil

kiasari (62) 2011-02-09 12:38

Hello Tola,

I believe that sometimes colors distract the mind from the main message of a photo. As a B&W photos lover, I really like the black and white tones of this shot. Well done!

Regards,
Abbas