This photo reminds me of a quote from Susan Sontag's "On Photography," a book I hate, but one which I assign to my students because there are pearls of wisdom buried deep in its manure pile:
"When Cartier-Bresson goes to China, he shows that there are people in China, and that they are Chinese."
"When Cartier-Bresson goes to China, he shows that there are people in China, and that they are Chinese."
Fantastic!
I've come back and looked at this photo several times, Jen. I wanted, after the first time, to say there wasn't much there. But there really was and I just couldn't put my finger on it. B.D.'s quote says it all. The ambiguity is hidden right in the directness of the shot.
I've come back and looked at this photo several times, Jen. I wanted, after the first time, to say there wasn't much there. But there really was and I just couldn't put my finger on it. B.D.'s quote says it all. The ambiguity is hidden right in the directness of the shot.
Actually, my point was that there is nothing there but a Chinese man riding a bicycle. Period. End of story. Well, actually it is a well exposed and focused photo of a Chinese man riding a bicycle in China.
Actually, my point was that there is nothing there but a Chinese man riding a bicycle. Period. End of story. Well, actually it is a well exposed and focused photo of a Chinese man riding a bicycle in China.
Yes, exactly (although I did think you were complimenting the photo )! I kept coming back to it because it had a dynamic quality that I couldn't find. When you posted I realized that was because it wasn't there. However, it still has it.
Comments
This photo reminds me of a quote from Susan Sontag's "On Photography," a book I hate, but one which I assign to my students because there are pearls of wisdom buried deep in its manure pile:
"When Cartier-Bresson goes to China, he shows that there are people in China, and that they are Chinese."
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed
I've come back and looked at this photo several times, Jen. I wanted, after the first time, to say there wasn't much there. But there really was and I just couldn't put my finger on it. B.D.'s quote says it all. The ambiguity is hidden right in the directness of the shot.
Actually, my point was that there is nothing there but a Chinese man riding a bicycle. Period. End of story. Well, actually it is a well exposed and focused photo of a Chinese man riding a bicycle in China.
"He not busy being born is busy dying." Bob Dylan
"The more ambiguous the photograph is, the better it is..." Leonard Freed