Tuesday, September 19, 2006
One Man and his Dog
Comments:
Did I see a print of this while I was in Tokyo? It looks very familiar.
In any event, I like how the man's crossed legs echo the dog's stance. The power lines and cross walks work to create a perspective that isolates the subjects.
Talking of elephants, I wondered why he was holding something like a shinto stick with his left hand until I realised that it was a stripe on his trousers!
I like this as picking out a characteristic of the city. One of its many denizens, seemingly aping some quarter of London, Madrid or New York but maybe it all started there! There is some added benefit of street detail too. The two are isolated in the street, this is normal everyday activity. But there is an encounter with the photographer and you couldn't have picked a guy with a more expressive pair of eyebrows!
Preumably a shinto stick is used in Japanese rules shinty?
I keep seeing a second person in this photograph. The post set in the ground to the right of the nominal subject has an oblong sign or lantern above it which has eyes, nose and mouth.
Stick man aside, this shot works for me because of perspective. Isolating the subject by size as an alternative to doing so by depth of field. The (real) man on the left provides size continuity to show that this isn't a shot with a backdrop, yet he remains peripheral by dint of being right on the edge.
Were you crouching? Was he posing?
There is always a temptation to comment along the lines of 'what I'd have done'. No problem here as I seem to lack the courage to do this type photography but I'd like to master my 'shyness'
The things that I noticed about this was that the man and dog are well separated from other people and 'clutter' and also that they are striding towards you as if you are not there.
Matt: I think you did as I don't do many street portraits.
Auspicious: Shinto sticks are used to beat religion into their worshippers... I also have a little more of this shot to play with so I can reveal more of your stick man.
Johnjo: ...any particular tune?
Rex: As mentioned above I do very few street portraits. when I do do them I kind of sense that the subject feels comfortable with a stranger grabbing their picture. I'm not a big fan of the 'shooting crowds and hoping for choice exporessions' genre of photography. He realsised I was there as I was crouched down for a few seconds waiting for them to stride in to the zone. It was luck that lead and legs were crossed and his expression seemed to mirror the dogs. I'll do a small print and carry it around in my camera bag in the hope that I may bump in to him in this area again. Hopefully he'll like the shot.
Thanks for all the feedback and comments.
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In any event, I like how the man's crossed legs echo the dog's stance. The power lines and cross walks work to create a perspective that isolates the subjects.
I like this as picking out a characteristic of the city. One of its many denizens, seemingly aping some quarter of London, Madrid or New York but maybe it all started there! There is some added benefit of street detail too. The two are isolated in the street, this is normal everyday activity. But there is an encounter with the photographer and you couldn't have picked a guy with a more expressive pair of eyebrows!
I keep seeing a second person in this photograph. The post set in the ground to the right of the nominal subject has an oblong sign or lantern above it which has eyes, nose and mouth.
Stick man aside, this shot works for me because of perspective. Isolating the subject by size as an alternative to doing so by depth of field. The (real) man on the left provides size continuity to show that this isn't a shot with a backdrop, yet he remains peripheral by dint of being right on the edge.
Were you crouching? Was he posing?
The things that I noticed about this was that the man and dog are well separated from other people and 'clutter' and also that they are striding towards you as if you are not there.
Auspicious: Shinto sticks are used to beat religion into their worshippers... I also have a little more of this shot to play with so I can reveal more of your stick man.
Johnjo: ...any particular tune?
Rex: As mentioned above I do very few street portraits. when I do do them I kind of sense that the subject feels comfortable with a stranger grabbing their picture. I'm not a big fan of the 'shooting crowds and hoping for choice exporessions' genre of photography. He realsised I was there as I was crouched down for a few seconds waiting for them to stride in to the zone. It was luck that lead and legs were crossed and his expression seemed to mirror the dogs. I'll do a small print and carry it around in my camera bag in the hope that I may bump in to him in this area again. Hopefully he'll like the shot.
Thanks for all the feedback and comments.