One from October

FlyingginaFlyinggina Registered Users Posts: 2,639 Major grins
edited January 20, 2011 in Street and Documentary
I've been struggling with coming up with a single "best of 2010" street photo to post and find that I haven't posted much in the forum this year to choose from. Even looking at my entire body of work for the year, I am uninspired. Although there are many that I like a lot, there aren't really any that I think of as standing out from the others. Overall, it's been rather a blah year for me.

Anyhow, for today, at least, this is my favorite from 2010 - a candid taken in October in Paris that has not been posted here before. Since the rules are that you shouldn't post a picture in the "best of" thread unless it has previously been posted in the forum, I'm hoping this will qualify.

Comments are welcome. of course.

1063298423_HXkk8-L-1.jpg

Virginia
_______________________________________________
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know." Diane Arbus

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Comments

  • michswissmichswiss Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 2,235 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    I'm with you. I've looked at what I've posted through the year and I feel that it's been mostly technically good, but I feel disconnected from it.

    I can see why you like this shot. It appeals in that it uses the edges of the frame, but the geometric shapes and the heavy red overtones are a little overpowering for me.
  • lizzard_nyclizzard_nyc Registered Users Posts: 4,056 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    HI Virginia,
    I want to comment on this, but it's so very different from what I'm used to seeing.
    I like the colorful abstract background, but can't help but think he interrupts this, however without him, you would just be taking a photo of someone else's art. ne_nau.gif

    I like that it's different from most shots and I hope it invites lots of c&c.
    Liz A.
    _________
  • FlyingginaFlyinggina Registered Users Posts: 2,639 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Jenn - I appreciate that the color and graphics could be experienced as overwhelming. I like the geometrics and the color palette, but it may be that our monitors are calibrated differently. Your description of how you are feeling about your work reflects my feelings exactly. And in a lot fewer words than I used. bowdown.gif

    Liz - It is interesting that you feel that the man is interrupting the photograph. When I took it, I was taking a photograph of a wall that I thought I might be able to use in a collage and the man walked into the frame. I didn't realize it until after I clicked the shutter. From my point of view, it was a happy accident of timing. It is helpful to me that you learn that experienced it differently. thumb.gif

    Thank you both for commenting.

    Va
    _______________________________________________
    "A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know." Diane Arbus

    Email
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,323 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    Hey Virginia,

    I don't often drop into this neighborhood ( too much B+W for me :D ) but there's a lot of talent over here and some good folks doing the shooting.

    I, like Liz, feel the human element in this shot is perhaps an intrusion. In fact, I think any other element, human or otherwise, would constitute an intrusion because of the strength and power of the forms and colors on the wall. You elected to emphasize the dynamics of the art on the wall and I feel that should be the sole focus of the shot.

    Take care,

    Tom
    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • rainbowrainbow Registered Users Posts: 2,765 Major grins
    edited January 19, 2011
    I like the pattern which is captivating. If no person was in it I would be less interested and move on quickly.

    So the person is good, but I think something is missing. He is "just there" rather than being of interest or perhaps even looking at the pattern. If accessible, it would be worth reshooting from different angles and with different lenses.
  • billseyebillseye Registered Users Posts: 847 Major grins
    edited January 20, 2011
    Hmmm.... I was actually thinking that the intrusion is the point of the image. It gives context to the rest of the image. Without the man, the image could be a wall, a ceiling, a floor, a mosaic... and the scale would be indeterminate.

    So, from my unschooled perspective, it works quite well. I also like that the color palette is complemented by the man's coat and skin tone, but contrasted with the shirt and hair.
    Bill Banning

    Check out billseye photos on SmugMug
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,961 moderator
    edited January 20, 2011
    A little backlogged are we, Virginia? rolleyes1.gif By all means, put it in the Favorites thread. deal.gif

    I like this shot. The color is great and at least some of the diagonals lead us to the guy at the edge. But it's always a little risky working the edges, as some will complain that the person is cut off, bitch about the rule of thirds, whatever. This shot reminds me of the very first pic I posted on the old Whipping Post, which wasn't as good as this one but also had a partial person at the edge. I later reworked the color and crop a bit, but despite some misgivings I decided that the person was essential. I think that's true in this one as well. thumb.gif
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