Back street and monk

[The_Traveler]

 

[JAC526]

It's really hard for me to tell that he is a monk.

Was him being a monk important to the message you are trying to tell with this image?

 

[The_Traveler]

It's really hard for me to tell that he is a monk.

Was him being a monk important to the message you are trying to tell with this image?

no, not at all, just thought that might explain the robes, backpack idea and place the image a bit geographically.

I just like the backlighting, etc.

 

[JAC526]

It's really hard for me to tell that he is a monk.

Was him being a monk important to the message you are trying to tell with this image?

no, not at all, just thought that might explain the robes, backpack idea and place the image a bit geographically.

I just like the backlighting, etc.

That makes sense. I think the buildings definitely do a good job of placing image geographically. Even if I didn't know the guy was a monk I would think southeast asia somewhere b/c of the buildings and the motorbikes.

The back lighting is really nice and I love the shadow it creates.

 

[invisible]

Even if I didn't know the guy was a monk I would think southeast asia somewhere b/c of the buildings and the motorbikes.

I didn't initially associate this image with anywhere in Asia, the motorbike and the big building in the background probably being the reasons for it. The type of construction is not necessarily telling of the location – this could've easily been a backstreet in Mexico City, in which case the story being told would've been different.

I don't think the people in the background add anything to the image and would consider cloning them out, but that's just me.

That being said, this image kept me looking for more than the usual time that one gives to images on forums. The processing looks spot on, with nice tonal range and an effective, subtle toning. There are lots of different types of textures that add impact. I think the shadow plays a good part in how the story is told – the monk appears to be commuting at the beginning or the end of the day. The rest of the story is up to us to tell ourselves in our minds.

 

[The_Traveler]

That being said, this image kept me looking for more than the usual time that one gives to images on forums.

The rest of the story is up to us to tell ourselves in our minds.

First, thank you for the comments.

I think your latter comment is crucial. IMO, a successful image gives enough structure to outline a story but leaves enough unsaid to make the viewer want to complete the story.

 

[molested_cow1]

Lew, I have had a similar shot in Paris years ago, which was an old man walking his old Beagle down a Paris street in the morning with the sun's ray shining down. I was using ISO400 film so I had to really crank up the aperture on my F1.2 50mm. The result was rather pleasing. The focus did a lot to help the eye to stay on the subject while the environment still takes a significant presence, but not over powering. I was thinking that perhaps it would have made your attempt here a little different.

Juan02-R4-24.jpg photo by molested_cow | Photobucket

 

[amolitor]

Very nice, there's a great deal to love in this photograph. I get a definite asian flavor, even without the title, and that's enough for me. There's a good little story in here, as has been noted, there's enough stuff to look at that we can project our own story on to and that is, ultimately, what makes photographs of this sort succeed or fail. This one succeeds.

My only quibble, and it is a minor one, is that I feel a little visual confusion in the area right of the monk. He;s not really separated from the stuff in the background, and the motorcycle next to him is slightly distracting, it pulls my eye off the monk and tries to be the subject (but it makes no sense as the subject, so it can't be). I think a couple seconds, or a couple feet to the right, a strip of bright road might have appeared on the right side of the monk to visually separate him a little.


ETA: The light is nice. Yes, there's a lot of unimportant stuff that's blown out, but you get a very strong sense of morning/rising sun here, which is lovely.

 

[fjrabon]

Love it.

I find that a lot of images on here fall into either being too simple and thus something I quickly look at, think "that's cool" but then am done looking at within 30 seconds OR it's way too cluttered and I never start looking at it.

This image NAILS that perfect balance. The monk, because of the lighting, lines and composition and the fact that he's a person, gives me an obvious starting point and organizes the composition. From there, I notice the girls in white looking at the monk, adding a new layer, changing my thoughts on the monk. From there I notice the atmospherics and the long shadow and I begin to really appreciate the perfect depth in this image. It literally feels as if I am walking a safe distance behind the monk, this is enhanced with a perfect focal length choice. I then begin taking in the feel and texture of the buildings, which again slightly alter my thoughts and feelings about what it would be like to be in this photo. There was enough going on that I then take the journey a second time and perhaps a third with my eyes, each time noting subtle details I didn't the first time.

Definitely a winner here Lew. I'd say it's right up there with the image in your signature blog link.

 

[The_Traveler]

Very nice, there's a great deal to love in this photograph. I get a definite asian flavor, even without the title, and that's enough for me. There's a good little story in here, as has been noted, there's enough stuff to look at that we can project our own story on to and that is, ultimately, what makes photographs of this sort succeed or fail. This one succeeds.

My only quibble, and it is a minor one, is that I feel a little visual confusion in the area right of the monk. He;s not really separated from the stuff in the background, and the motorcycle next to him is slightly distracting, it pulls my eye off the monk and tries to be the subject (but it makes no sense as the subject, so it can't be). I think a couple seconds, or a couple feet to the right, a strip of bright road might have appeared on the right side of the monk to visually separate him a little.


ETA: The light is nice. Yes, there's a lot of unimportant stuff that's blown out, but you get a very strong sense of morning/rising sun here, which is lovely.

Andy,
thanks.
Re; the people in the background.
One of the absolute problems with actually taking this was that I was essentially working blind, looking into the glare.
I thought/hoped the shot would be good but I couldn't tell anything as I clicked it off.
There was time for one shot, exposing by guess, and he was gone.
The shot was saved by Noiseware.

Love it.

There was enough going on that I then take the journey a second time and perhaps a third with my eyes, each time noting subtle details I didn't the first time.

Definitely a winner here Lew. I'd say it's right up there with the image in your signature blog link.

Thanks a lot.
This kind of analytic response means a lot and reinforces my biases about the image.

Lew

 

[agompert]

Wow. just wow. Im jealous

 

[BKSPicture]

awesome shot!

 

[fiziwig]

I like this shot very much. Just an odd observation: I was viewing the full size image, which wouldn't fit completely on my laptop screen. The result was that a lot of the sky was cropped off the top giving the image a more "widescreen" aspect ratio. I thought it looked better that way with less sky and a wider aspect ratio. Personal taste, of course, but it sort of looked like a still from a Cinemascope movie that way. Try it yourself and see what you think. ;-)

 

[The_Traveler]

Thank you, agompert and bkspicture.

fiziwig, I did what you say and really missed the impact of the blush of light on the house fronts and the opening to the sky that was reflected in the street.
On the whole, I prefer it as it but thank you for looking and taking the time to respond.

Lew

 

[fiziwig]

Thank you, agompert and bkspicture.

fiziwig, I did what you say and really missed the impact of the blush of light on the house fronts and the opening to the sky that was reflected in the street.
On the whole, I prefer it as it but thank you for looking and taking the time to respond.

Lew

Well, it's hard to go wrong with such a nice shot! Good work.