• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

WIPE OUT!

© Michelle Alton

WIPE OUT!

Uploaded: January 20, 2012

Description


-----
On New Year's Day, in Center City Philadelphia, the police were not monitoring Love Park for skate boarders, though this activity had been banned long ago. So there were throngs of teenagers practicing their jumps on the granite platform (around the fountain) and stairs.
-------
This boy was about to crash down HARD on his tail bone. He got to his feet directly, but I didn't see him jumping again in the fifteen minutes that I observed this dangerous activity.
----
My 23-year-old step grandson, a skater through his adolescence and young adulthood,is now suffering from seven herniated disks, and lives in constant pain--often severe. Imagine what his life will be like when he is 50!
----
City Hall, directly across 15th Street, is seen in the background.
------

Exif: F Number: 5, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/400 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1000, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 42.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 7D

Comments

Michelle Alton January 20, 2012


---
Another skater about to crash.
---- #1437727

Neal D. Hatcher January 20, 2012

Super capture--The adrenaline rush is great but "O" the crash #9930669

Alan L. Borror January 20, 2012

Great action image! A very scary pastime and I can understand the danger in spinal injuries. Beautifully balanced image . #9930670

MELODIE C. ROBERTS January 20, 2012

Not for me
I hate stubbing a toe!

Great action capture Mickey #9930700

Danny B. Head January 20, 2012

Just glad he has on underwear! lol Nice action shots Michelle! #9930720

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe January 20, 2012

Both are outstanding Michelle!! There is probably a lot of things that we all did that we now wish that we had not... We all live and learn. #9930757

Jyri Vissak January 20, 2012

Great timing! Well done. #9930777

Carolyn M. Fletcher level-classic January 20, 2012

Well, I guess he will find out soon enough how dumb he was. Ouch! #9930803

Ellen Hodges January 20, 2012

Fantastic action shot, Michelle!! #9930805

Gord MacEachern January 20, 2012

Both are just incredible images Michelle, my fav is the second one, that stop action in mid air is so good!! #9930920

Tiia Vissak January 20, 2012

a cool scene! #9930927

Shelly A. Van Camp level-classic January 20, 2012

Super captures in actions, Michelle! #9930959

John Rivera level-classic January 20, 2012

Great capture Michelle! #9931063

Monnie Ryan January 20, 2012

Terrific action capture, Michelle! #9931136

Lindley Johnson level-classic January 20, 2012

A fabulous action shot, Michelle! Very well composed with the bystanders included. #9931234

Stephen Zacker January 20, 2012

Great street shots. Concrete is hard
:-) #9931365

Tammy Espino January 20, 2012

Fantastic action captures!! Those kids around here make me crazy :) #9931493

Mike Clime January 20, 2012

Both are great action shots, Michelle! Like how all of the people are looking to see the outcome. #9931575

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer January 20, 2012

Great timing and action scene with wonderful interaction around the subject, Michelle.
But ouch! Poor kid.
And I feel so sorry for your step grandson. How awful.
#9931641

John Connolly January 20, 2012

I am not much into pain either Michelle! You have captured two wonderful graphic action images, well done! #9931712

Jack Gaskin January 20, 2012

Nice capture of the RENEGADE SKATEBOARDER
City life at its best

Jack #9931792

Rony Sagy January 20, 2012

Wonderful captures, Michelle. #9931851

Ian M. Hill January 20, 2012

The price you pay!!Cool captures Michelle too! #9932014

Mike F. Anderson January 20, 2012

Great documentary image Michelle. Some times it's good to count the costs before doing something, but then when you are young, who ever things of that ... #9932285

David Phalen January 20, 2012

Terrific action shot Michelle!!

We're all indestructible at that age. Heck I was a hockey goalie when they didn't wear face masks. I was lucky. #9932322

Phillip R. Connolly January 20, 2012

You have depicted just how dangerous this activity can be if not performed with some care, Michelle!! I can't help but cringe just looking at it and reading your comments!! Excellent capture!!

Phil #9932323

Tamara K. Walker level-classic January 20, 2012

Skate parks are good places for pictures opportunities. I think we all did thing in our younger years we now feel, I use to thing think I was going to be a horse back trick rider. #9932485

Patrick Rouzes level-classic January 20, 2012

Your tones, clarity, detail & stop action are superb, Michelle!
I guess we learn the hard way- I did! I still cringe when I see them do these moves though! Exceptionally well done, my friend! #9932528

Barbara Waldoch January 20, 2012

Excellent catch, Michelle! #9932555

Craig D. Minton January 20, 2012

Great action shots of the sidewalk surfers, Michelle. Water is softer, at least most of the time. I'll stick with surfing. #9932639

Jeffrey R. Bange January 20, 2012

Fantastic captures Michelle, I love both of them. Sorry to hear about your step grandson. I can truly relate to what he must be going through, has he undergone any operations. #9932655

Mariann Kovats level-classic January 20, 2012

Fantastic capture, Michelle! I am sorry about your step grandson. #9932722

Heather Loewenhardt level-classic January 20, 2012

Wonderful street capture and in motion storytelling. You just cannot tell the youth of today anything. Maybe we didn't listen either. #9932780

Heather Loewenhardt level-classic January 20, 2012

Wonderful street capture and in motion storytelling. You just cannot tell the youth of today anything. Maybe we didn't listen either. #9932781

Ujjwal Mukherjee January 21, 2012

An excellent capture of the moment,Michelle!! #9933139

Lorna Shutter January 21, 2012

I could be wrong, but it would appear that both pics are of the same skater ... either that, or they're twins 'cause they're wearing the exact same clothes and shoes! I think! Ha! Ha! Love both captures! My son used to skateboard a lot but never attempted risky stunts like his friends did! I'm glad! Sorry to hear that your step grandson is paying the price now for his adventuresome ways. Unfortunately, we can't rewind our lives. I think a few of us wish that we had done some things differently. Have a good night, Michelle! :) #9934501

Randy D. Dinkins level-classic January 22, 2012

Nice catch of the activity. I'm with Lorna - a few activities would have been done differently in my life had I the gift of hindsight at the time. But, as always, reflection is 20/20 :). #9934795

Patricia A. Casey level-deluxe January 22, 2012

What is the saying...Youth is wasted on the young....I know I was there....didn't do much skate boarding...however...well we won't go there...I guess we all have our paths to travel in life....some of the paths are painful, mentally & physically....the price of being a human being....others are joyous and celebratory....It sure is nice to be able to make the choice....enough of "my philosphy 101"...cause that's all it is...is opinion...but I do have a clear opinion about this shot....Neat! both of them.....Cheers Michelle =^..^= #9935309

Evy Johansen level-classic January 22, 2012

Wonderful capture, Michelle!! Great composition! #9936135

Carolyn McIntosh January 23, 2012

Ouch, the young think they are invincible.

Right now my son is watching his 37 year old friend with a 5 week baby girl, die of a severe head injury. #9937486


To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

You &

Love It!

BetterPhoto.com Editor's Pick


Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Michelle Alton.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.