She lights up the room

Ted Szukalski

Some of the most interesting or funny, as in this case, street photographs are created where two unrelated elements create a new combined value. In this case combining the advertising poster with a men dressed in woman’s skirt provides some visual humour.

rundadar

Ted Szukalski wrote:

Some of the most interesting or funny, as in this case, street photographs are created where two unrelated elements create a new combined value. In this case combining the advertising poster with a men dressed in woman’s skirt provides some visual humour.

First of all, I like the shot. Second, I like the shot because of the guy dressed as a woman. As for the technique/strategy of shooting people against the background of a poster (bum/expensive watch, businessman/kid with baloons, grey/colourful, old lady/long-legged model etc., etc.) - I have a strong negative opinion here (and I know I am in a minority here).

While most of those shots are getting praised for creativity and get "well spotted!" comments all over the place - I hold an opinion that this is a tired, overdone and gimmicky type of a shot (not THIS one in particular - but rather the whole category).

Yes, those shots get to the level of 'Interesting' with a remarkable speed and consistency, but then (for me) they inevitibly fade and hit the 'glass ceiling', to never reach higher than 'interesting'.

As I've said - I realise, my opinion is in a minority. It's fine

BTW, the upper part of a sign needs cropping, IMHO.

Cheers,

Alex

Ted Szukalski

Alex, we all have our viewpoints and I respect your opinion. I've had very few successful "finds" like that. They are much harder to come by than you think, especially when they are not staged.

As for the crop I keep 2x3 ration and cutting the rest of shop name would mean cutting the man on the right.

mmroden

Never reach higher than 'interesting'? Maybe it's just me, but what's higher than that? The way in which something is interesting may change ('emotionally grabbing', 'piques scientific curiousity', 'aesthetic color appeal'), but I'd think a photograph would have to be 'interesting' first, to grab the viewer, and then some subversion of that as an explanation. But whatever it was that drew the viewer in in the first place is crucial.

To me, it was hard to tell it was a man (as opposed to a very ugly woman) in the foreground. I do like the lighting on her, and the juxtaposition with the message in the background, and either as an ugly woman or as a man, I think the shot works well.

urbanaries

Ted Szukalski wrote:

Some of the most interesting or funny, as in this case, street photographs are created where two unrelated elements create a new combined value. In this case combining the advertising poster with a men dressed in woman’s skirt provides some visual humour.

Love this shot. Its my favorite of yours since the gentleman on the steps. I like your use of color, and the juxtaposition is quite amusing! also agree that the "woman" in the foreground is lit quite nicely. Well done!

rundadar

mmroden wrote:

Never reach higher than 'interesting'? Maybe it's just me, but what's higher than that? The way in which something is interesting may change ('emotionally grabbing', 'piques scientific curiousity', 'aesthetic color appeal'), but I'd think a photograph would have to be 'interesting' first, to grab the viewer, and then some subversion of that as an explanation. But whatever it was that drew the viewer in in the first place is crucial.

re: what's higher than [interesting]

music, romantic, lasting, soul-touching, unusual, unique...

re: ...have to be interesting first

obviously. don't have anything against 'interesting'

re: is crucial...

not crucial... just a pre-requisite.

All IMHO, of course. And as I've stated - I am content with being in the minority on that.

Mrs F

This shot works. It's interesting (sorry Alex). I think it would be cool if you didn't explain the photograph...let the viewer scan the photograph and realize what's going on in the shot on their own. It would create a small "Ah ha!" moment.
As my sister would say, "I'm not as think as you dumb I am."

I like your work in general, but I particularly like this one. Good job.

rundadar

Mrs F wrote:

This shot works. It's interesting (sorry Alex).

Well, I did say myself that:

a.) I liked the shot (i.e. 'it works')
b.) this kind of shot was/is the shortest route to be 'interesting' (i.e. it is interesting)

So, no disagreement on my part, whatsoever and no need to be sorry )

Thiago Sigrist

Ted,

this is a very interesting shot and it made me think interesting things as well.

I really don't know if the contrast or visual humor thing would be the thing in your shot. And that's pretty amazing, because, even though you pointed that out in your brief comment, and it's something that could be spotted even if you hadn't mentioned it, I think the shot works better if seen as a scene, if you notice the passersby, the light which is great IMHO...

It reminds me of some shots I've taken where I aimed for something as the main point and they turned up nice for completely different reasons, almost as if the subconscious was way smarter than the conscious, or something like that!

Thanks for sharing this so cool shot!
Take care!

-- thiago

Ted Szukalski

I apologise for the too obvious commentary, but there is another viewer involved and I've come up with this saying describing it "picture is worth a 1000 words but Google is blind".

Mike02

Um... ok.. nice shot?...

Thiago Sigrist

Ted Szukalski wrote:

I apologise for the too obvious commentary, but there is another viewer involved and I've come up with this saying describing it "picture is worth a 1000 words but Google is blind".

Hi Ted!

You're right in saying Google is blind!

But your comment sure isn't obvious. How could I say... after some viewing, I believe I myself could, eventually (but this might have taken some time), figure out the opposition between the guy against the girl in the poster.

But that would probably take time (perhaps a lot of, with multiple viewings), as I mentioned, and it's only a part of it, because we would have no way to figure out whether you had that intention when shooting or not. So, I believe it's a fundamental comment, since it communicates great insight from a fellow photographer and friend!

Sorry if I couldn't word this properly before!
You know, it's always nice to see a post of yours here, and it's even nicer to know what passed by your mind at the time, it's a great thing to make us fellas feel more in touch with you (it's all about the people, the friends) and to really learn photography!

So thanks again Ted!
All best!

-- thiago