Sometimes when you visit a place, the ambience seems all wrong:
ISO 200 17mm f/5.6 1/1000
This is The Little Mermaid a nice statue in Copenhagen. I just couldn’t help but feeling the background doesn’t fit the statue. Instead of trying to edit out the background or make it more appealing, I decided to let it stand as a bit of statement on our modern world. We like to surround ourselves with beautiful things but industry is still required and is always lurking in the background.
The photo above I took with my point and shoot camera. I then edited it in Lightroom. I’ve applied a Nik filter for a photographic look and then I boosted the yellow and orange tones in Lightroom and added a vignette. While I was visiting this statue I also posted a version taken with my phone to Instagram:
With this version, I boosted the blue tones. Again, I chose to leave the industrial background in.
If you google The Little Mermaid, you will see lots of different interpretations, and a lot of them have the background fixed up in some way. I have to admit that I had seen so many images like that that I was surprised when I saw the statue in person. Has that ever happened to you? That the version of a place you have seen on-line looks nothing like what you see when you turn up? What do you think of my versions? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
That’s interesting.. I remember seeing the Little Mermaid and I was more concerned about getting a photo of her without people clambering all over the the rocks to have their photo taken closer to her.. perspective is interesting isn’t it?
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Yes, that’s a challenge, a photo without any people. My tip, go early on a cold winter morning! There were still people, just a lot fewer. When we wandered back an hour later there were a lot more. I find perspective fascinating, it can change everything!
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I love this! I’m always drawn to image that avoid the cliches and show me something new and relevant!
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Thanks very much. In real life I was a bit disappointed at what I saw at first, but it really made me think, and then I wasn’t so disappointed.
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Both are great but I really like the IG version! Nicely done. 🙂
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Thanks very much.
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I actually like the fact there are industrial buildings in the background. It reminds me of the land vs water, nature vs man-made themes in The Little Mermaid movie I watched while growing up. The warm hues look like they work very well with this image, contrasting very nicely with the rock hard coolness of the statue. I think when someone points out something for you to see, you have to see it to believe it and then make up your mind on what you feel about it.
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Ultimately, this statue made me think a lot, mostly about the themes that you mention. It’s all that tension that gave me so much to reflect on. I agree too that sometimes things that everyone labels a “must see” are the things that you have to think the most about and really give some thought to if you are liking just because everyone says you should.
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Agreed. The “must sees” are always laden with more stories than meets the eyes. However, sometimes the “not-so-often sees” are also equally as captivating. Like that lovely plant in your latest post. Ordinary, but extraordinary from the way you framed it.
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Thanks Mabel, I have to admit that I often find the ordinary more interesting.
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At least you got to see her! When we went to Copenhagen she was touring China 😀 I like the instagram photo better possibly because it is brighter?
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Oh my goodness, I wasn’t aware that she ever went on tour!
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very cool and I have never heard of her – but I can see why – as noted – others change the background. And I like how you left it in – it does give it a raw vibe and the contrast is cool.
side note – was just reading that when Monet painted some of the trains – it was to embrace the industry while many of his friends were refusing to do so and did not want to paint industry – it was just a quick read while having lunch, but cool how it ties into exactly what you noted here about “industry is still required and is always lurking in the background”
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It’s interesting too, what artists decide to depict and what they decide to edit.
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yes, and in the digital age it is just so much easier to tweak and change things – not so easy 20 years ago….
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Agreed, to me it’s also a question of resources. If I don’t like a digital file, I just throw it in the trash bin, no chemicals or darkroom to worry about. To me, it’s a better system. Either way it’s a choice of how much time you want to spend in the creation process.
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yes… always a choice….
and side note – I recall back in the day – late 80’s – when they would not charge us for photos that were blurry. Oh what a joy that felt like.
but Never did the dark room stuff like you and many others have – and only heard about the process….
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I don’t ever remember not being charged for blurry photos, where did you go that had a policy like that? just curious…
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Like it. It’s so deep!
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Thanks 🙂
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Have you been to Vancouver? They have “Girl in a Wet Suit”, their answer to “The Little Mermaid”.
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I have been to Vancouver, and I can’t believe I haven’t seen it. Will make a point of finding that next time I am there!
Also, just wondering if you are still writing a blog? I can’t seem to find you if you are so I was just wondering.
Cheers, Amy
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I love the juxtaposition of the statue against the industrial background, that is amazing. Your Instagram image is so evocative. For me, it conveys a sad feeling that the mermaid is a relic of something from a lost time. It brings to my mind the loss here in Seattle of the native inhabitants’ living space of our main harbor. Thank you!
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That is an interesting connection you have made here. Indeed her background is always changing, I heard while I was there that they are building an artificial ski slope and some new retail that would be in the background of this image if it had already been built.
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That’s interesting. Old vs. new vs. newer. Hmmm! There’s a story there! Would you consider allowing me to use your photograph image – with credit and a pingback – in a very short story on my blog? No worries if you prefer not to!
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Yes, that would be fine and thanks for asking. I appreciate the credit and pingback, and would also appreciate when you post, if you would come back and leave a comment with a link to the blog post as well. I would love to have that available here. If you are having trouble with getting the image off my site, let me know and I can e-mail you a version.
Cheers, Amy
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Amy, thank you! Yes, of course, I would be happy to fulfill your requests. It may take me a few days to come up with a good story to go with such a wonderful image. I’ll be in touch! – Theresa
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Great thanks, there’s no rush 🙂 I just like my comment section to be full of real conversations.
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Amy, if your offer to email the image is still open, that would be great, and of course you’ll see the credit and pingback when the story is done. 🙂 email theresa.barker at goddard.edu
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Ok, I’ve sent a test e-mail to make sure I type in the address properly. Thanks!
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Perfect! I just edited my story to add your image and the photo credit information you included in your email, and I also wrote a paragraph about how much I enjoy your work and that readers might like to check it out. I’ll post it later today. I’m excited, I like the story that came out of this. Hope you do too!
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Great, I’m looking forward to taking a look at it 🙂
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There is a pingback at the bottom of this post for Theresa’s story, but it is also available here:
https://tjbarkerseattle.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/and-now-a-line-from-the-little-mermaid-2/
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I know what you mean. This is nicely processed though 🙂
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Thank you very much.
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I like the statue against this industrial background, quite a contrast there and gives perfect sense of the place..!!
the phone shot looks crisp and gorgeous!! 🙂
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Thanks, I was pleased with the phone version, I thought the blue tones turned out well. I appreciate your visit.
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Well done. I have seen it few times in Copenhagen. Thank You for this post.
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Thanks 🙂
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I like that you left the background alone — it’s an interesting juxtaposition with the statue and different from so many other shots.
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Thanks, once I got over the shock of what she looked like in real life, I began to think of all the other options.
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Great shot!
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Thank you!
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I really like your version, because of the contrasts between the 2 worlds. The industrialized city and the sad marmaid .. Plus I never saw this perspective before, making it even more unique!
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Thank you very much and thanks for your visit.
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Oh… so beautifully done! Love the blue tone, and the soft sunlight in the background. Love it!!
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Thanks Amy 🙂
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One of my favourite statutes in a delightful city! It has brought back many memories, thank you.
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Thanks for your visit and comment.
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I have been there too! and like you, I was slightly disappointed when I got there, expecting a little more of a photographic moment. My daughter and I clicked a photo very quickly, trying to avoid the people who were attempting the same goal. It was extremely cold, sleeting and snowing, and there was no sunlight to utilize (January)…I am so glad I got to experience this photo that you took. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you and I am glad that you enjoyed my version. We were there in December but it was unseasonably mild that day. It was amazing to me the crowds.
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