Tuesday, October 10, 2006
In Case Of Fire
Comments:
I do try to resist saying "I would have....." about somebody else's photo, but I think that this would be a much more powerful print without the left hand edge (just a couple of percent trimmed). Losing the bright patch changes my point of attention to the right, and losing the context given by the receding distance creates a little mystery (an eye game).
I like the concrete urban plainness of it all. I presume that the black marks are some form of mould, and not paint. Nature hanging on in there.
I don't normally tinker with other's pictures either but I agree with Auspicious about losing the left hand edge. Nice angles and the wall texture is a redeeming feature for what would otherwise be severely minimalistic! For such a feature, I wonder what it would be like in colour...
For me that glimpse round the corner helps with the sense of isolation. That leads off to infinity.
It changes the image dramtically cropping off that side.
I'm fine with the left hand edge, but I'd be tempted to drop the exposure down a bit for a print.
Other than that, I think the point of the image might unfortunately be lost in translation. Without the title, I'm not sure how much you've got here.
John - in colour save for the left hand edge and the fire extinguisher box it's pretty much that colour.
Thanks for the feedback regarding that edge. I see a leaning wall and the fire box is almost identically leaning back in to the picture by the same angle. I thought the latter could be viewed as holding the former up rather than any explanation required as to its contents or use thereof. A better title to explain it to the viewer? The photo should say it all - so back to the drawing board with this idea methinks.
Thanks for the feedback.
The colour comment was aimed specifically at the fire appliance - how did it match those in other countries was the thought. Your explanation about the wall has opened my eyes to your concept, which I buy into. It might have been better to call this something like 'urban corner' or maybe even less specific.
The box is red. The second large Japanese character is for fire.
Fire is a big problem in Japan given their liking for wood constructed houses. In the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 I think four people died as a result of the actual quake (i.e. knocked off their feet and hit their head). The rest (in the hundreds of thousands) perished as a result of the fires that ravaged Tokyo. Pretty much the same happened in 1945 when the US Army firebombed Tokyo.
You'll see boxes like the one I photographed all over the city and they are never vandalised (apart from graffitti). That's how seriously everyone takes the fire risk here.
I'm having trouble relating to this image. I don't know what I'm looking at, which can be a good thing, but there's not enough mystery/beauty/confusion/etc to invoke any kind of emotional response from me.
Perhaps some colour would help change that? Perhaps a different composition? I'm not sure there's a crop that would change things significantly.
Hope this doesn't come across as too harsh akikana.
johnjo: All well and dandy by me! I'll see if I can find you a more beautiful/mysterious/confused photograph of this subject matter on future perambulations around Tokyo. Your feedback is invaluable as it has now given me a theme to explore...
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I like the concrete urban plainness of it all. I presume that the black marks are some form of mould, and not paint. Nature hanging on in there.
It changes the image dramtically cropping off that side.
Other than that, I think the point of the image might unfortunately be lost in translation. Without the title, I'm not sure how much you've got here.
Thanks for the feedback regarding that edge. I see a leaning wall and the fire box is almost identically leaning back in to the picture by the same angle. I thought the latter could be viewed as holding the former up rather than any explanation required as to its contents or use thereof. A better title to explain it to the viewer? The photo should say it all - so back to the drawing board with this idea methinks.
Thanks for the feedback.
Fire is a big problem in Japan given their liking for wood constructed houses. In the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 I think four people died as a result of the actual quake (i.e. knocked off their feet and hit their head). The rest (in the hundreds of thousands) perished as a result of the fires that ravaged Tokyo. Pretty much the same happened in 1945 when the US Army firebombed Tokyo.
You'll see boxes like the one I photographed all over the city and they are never vandalised (apart from graffitti). That's how seriously everyone takes the fire risk here.
Perhaps some colour would help change that? Perhaps a different composition? I'm not sure there's a crop that would change things significantly.
Hope this doesn't come across as too harsh akikana.