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Craig Persel | all galleries >> Photo-A-Day-Ish >> April 06 > 28-Apr
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28-Apr

Montreal, Canada

The Boy in the Box

Nikon D50
1/500s f/5.6 at 85.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Ronny Van Eeckhoutte26-Jun-2006 19:34
this is one of your splendid street portrait..V
Gary Winters05-May-2006 15:24
Really like the photo and it's candid feel, and I find the commentary really fascinating. The measure of the photo might be in how much discussion it generated! Anyway, great stuff, Craig. Congrats.
SRW04-May-2006 11:35
Great picture; and an interesting discussion (which is what great photography should promote/inspire/provoke...). (V)
Rob Rosetti30-Apr-2006 17:39
I think it works fine, weel seen as always. GMV. Roberto
Richard Calmes29-Apr-2006 13:27
This shot kept my attention for quite a while. There is a lot going on. Well seen! V
Chris29-Apr-2006 04:44
Not seeing the top of the busstop across the road gives this a more abstract feel. I stared at it a while looking for the illusion and that was...pretty cool.
Greg Harp28-Apr-2006 20:47
Beautiful shot--appreciate the composition. :)
Bill Harris28-Apr-2006 12:50
I find nothing wrong with this composition. It breathes, it puts the characters into a life perspective and is a very good street shot. And has my vote.
Eckhart Derschmidt28-Apr-2006 12:36
Basically I am very much in favour of the discussion going on about this image. That is somehing that could or should happen much more often on pbase. All the "beautifuls" and "excellents" are of course welcome as a feedback (better than none), but a more in depth discussion could be much more valuable. Of course, this takes a lot of time, and it is almost impossible to write, say, 100 words in every comment.
Concernig the discussion around this image, I would say, it is better like it is and no further crop should be made. If the feet the old man were visible completely, that would have been even better, but as the image was taken in a hurry it obvioulsy was not possible to take care of that detail, and in the end, it does not matter much. I like it very much as it is. GMV
Craig Persel28-Apr-2006 11:58
Since we are in dialogue mode . . . I'll write again. :-) Lawrence is right in that it was a "candid" shot. I usually work, very, very quickly (many times while walking our dog), so framed and shot this image in a manner of seconds. Very little time for perfect composing, but wanting to capture "the decisive moment" as best as possible.
Guest 28-Apr-2006 11:49
Love the dialogue on here. This is what pbase needs more of - thoughtful feedback to either agree or disagree with. The thing of course to bear in mind is that pbase is a community site first, and a critique site second. This is good and bad but dnot mean one is more / less important than the other. However, to see this kind of discussion happening is great and I welcome any of the same on my own work. Anyway, seeing as we're talking about the image I'll give my 2c. My take on this image is that this was something that was quickly spotted and quickly taken - it's a brief moment siezed. As such, it clearly falls into the category of "candid", and as such I consider the important aspects to be in the meaning of the message and the moment captured rather than the technical details of whether an extra inch of shoe should be revealed or not (or bus stop). This is clearly not an architectural, landscape or flower shot and I'd rather see a dozen rules broken / disobeyed / ignored than a more correct / less meaningful photo. Is it perfect, no (but then what is although I propose that Craig has come close on more than one occasion :)? Is it a great shot which additionally, relays a message about distance and separation? Well, that's what I'm voting for.
Craig Persel28-Apr-2006 10:51
I am glad that Antonio wrote his honest feedback. As long as it isn't personal it is good to have some honest, critical analysis. In response, I tried cropping the man's feet, but it didn't look right at all. Unfortunately, what you do see of the feet is all I had to work with (wish I had a little more). I don't agree with cropping down to the roof of the bus stop either. Again, it would have had the same effect (in my opinion) as cutting the man's feet. The image needs that little extra breathing space to emphasize some openess around the "box" to heighten the feeling of containment (otherwise the whole image feels contained). The important element (as Guenter states) is the street between the two which acts as a gulf between the generations and the fact that the man is in the "open" and the boy is in the "box." I won't go any further into what everything might represent because I think it is important for the viewer to bring their own ideas and interpretation to the image, so I'll stop there. :-) Craig
Guenter Eh28-Apr-2006 06:27
IMO the main thing to display our pictures here in pbase is to create a "momentum" with the message. And you did it - as usual - with your recent one Craig! I don`t mind the feet of the old guy are cutted! It`s not only the box, it`s the "broken" line of the pavement as a symbol for the difference between the two generations. The young guy is caged in the box, caged with his hopes for the future.

A big bravo for Antonio for his encouragement to have his own opinion and to tells his criticals here for us in a constructive way! Perhaps we are all a bit to friendly" in our daily comments?
Antonio Pierre De Almeida28-Apr-2006 05:24
ok so I will be the black sheep. I don't agree with the majority.

There is something about your composition that bothers me. I do not like the way you cut the feet of the sitting old man. I would have completely cropped them ( either while taking the picture or during the post processing ) or would have completely let them be part of the composition.

I would not mind not seeing the roof of the bus shelter, as it would have given an even stronger idea of "incongruity" of the space where these two persons are, the physical space that separate them and the metaforical space that separate their generations and that is were I think the feet of the old man would have been important to leave or to crop in your composition.

But then, that's one small opinion, one small humble point of view between an ocean full of them.

Antonio
Guest 28-Apr-2006 02:53
Nice image -
AL28-Apr-2006 02:48
Two persons from different sides of the world. Different generation. Different experience. Different traps. And different hopes. You've brilliantly captured and left open so many interpretation to us. Voted.
Guest 28-Apr-2006 02:38
Bravo, superbe composition et excellente lumière!
Michael Todd Thorpe28-Apr-2006 02:31
Cool, like the color tones...
Doug Kessler28-Apr-2006 02:04
Brilliant comp and tones here. Big vote.
Ray Rebortira28-Apr-2006 01:43
There is a disturbing, cautionary tale here which I find intriguing.
De'Carr Studio28-Apr-2006 00:41
Great candid, Craig.
...duncan28-Apr-2006 00:10
Yes, V
Guest 28-Apr-2006 00:00
Excellent. Both waiting - one for the bus, the other for the end of the day maybe. And of course your unique treatment. Voted.
laine8227-Apr-2006 23:57
How cool is that comp !! your a magician ! ~gmv
Guest 27-Apr-2006 23:20
Your ideas are getting better all the time, I love an imagination that runs riot, as you would say:-) Bravo :-) GMV
Sue Robertson27-Apr-2006 23:06
Wow this is fantastic. Perfect composition. Love the tones and mood you have created. v
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