Flat Stanley, Down & Out

[arne saknussen]

Hello Everyone, my first post. I thought I would start by posting a recent shot I took in Washington DC. This was a literal "street shot". I found this guy abandoned in a crosswalk. Like to know what you think.

 

[The_Traveler]

While the composition and focus are fine, this is sort of like taking a picture of graffiti.
It is there to be seen and maybe photographed and so it isn't much of a triumph to capture it.

Keep on, you have an eye (the composition shows that) and so you will get more and better shots every day you go out.

Lew

 

[arne saknussen]

Thanks for your reply. I originally thought that this was a "found object", something that happened accidentally, as if someone lost their Flat Stanley and he ended up on the street. But, because of your comment, I performed a web search and found out that this is a deliberate street art object (look up "stikman" if you are interested). So, I have to agree with your comment, photographing someone else's art, without another context maybe, isn't all that laudable. Nice snapshot, but not a great photo.
My main point is that I should have researched this before posting it.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I have a stickman image too! LOL I was in a hurry and it is out of focus. I'll dig it up if you want. But yours is worlds better.

I can see this image differently than taking a picture of "someone elses art" or the typical graffiti shots. YOU had choices to make how to shoot this to create an effective composition, which I think you did.

 

[The_Traveler]

Arne,

I didn't mean this to sound negative.
Your picture is composed very well, caught very well - and you saw it so I think you have 'the eye.'
Now all you need is the opportunity to exercise it.

 

[arne saknussen]

Thanks, Traveler. I didn't think your comment was a negative, but, rather, a good point.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

While the composition and focus are fine, this is sort of like taking a picture of graffiti.
It is there to be seen and maybe photographed and so it isn't much of a triumph to capture it.

Before finding out what the photo is, I totally disagreed with this ^^^^

Now, I still disagree because not everyone knows what it is. I didn't, the photog didn't, how many others? Not to forget that this is not just a straight on documentary type of image. It is creative, very creative. It may not be a triumph to capture it but, on the other hand, how many people did capture it?

I remember a show I did with cast off/found images and a few photogs told me they had a bunch of those in their darkroom. True, all photogs did but I was the only one to put them in a frame after sorting them, cropping them, etc.

I'm not much for shooting others' work but it works very well here.

To the OP :thumbup: