photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Gallery Twelve: Using color to express ideas > Courier, New York City, New York, 2010
previous | next
Courier, New York City, New York, 2010
15-JUL-2010

Courier, New York City, New York, 2010

Two layers of vivid blue color bring this image together. The courier on the bike in the foreground of the image wears a blue shirt and blue cap, nearly the same hue as on the peeling plywood construction site wall that makes up the entire background. In between them, I use a framing device -- two white vehicles parked so as to leave a space between them. I freeze the courier within that space to create maximum tension. Between the cars and the wall, a woman walks in the opposite direction. Neither the courier nor the woman acknowledges each other’s presence. Such is the nature of New York City.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
1/1000s f/8.0 at 56.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original
share
Phil Douglis 20-Aug-2010 21:15
Thanks, River King, for spending the time to enter my image and think about the relationships I am trying to express here in terms of both time and space. You are right -- the streets of Manhattan can be among the most turbulent places on earth. Yet in this image everything is stopped for an instant. As I noted, the courier and woman do not acknowledge each others presence. They never saw each other. Yet I have suspended them in time as they about to pass each other, linking them within an urban moment that has, at least for you, produced a sense of peace.
Guest 20-Aug-2010 21:04
One thing I love about your photography, is that I can stare at the images for so long and still don't feel tired of it. This picture is a good example of it. Both courier and the woman were moving but your photo frozen the moment so well that gives me a great sense of calm and peace in such a busy scene.
Phil Douglis 11-Aug-2010 22:31
Thanks, Tim -- the brown also speaks of how New York works (or doesn't work.). Some business entity papered the wall of this construction site in blue as a nod to the neighborhood, yet people have ripped chunks of the blue paper away, exposing large areas of raw brown plywood instead. The ubiquitous graffiti adds a chaotic touch to the scene as well.
Tim May 11-Aug-2010 17:01
Brown also plays a unifying role here - the brown of the people and the brown of the fence. I also note the whiteness of her blouse and the wonderful play of the shadows and her hair.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment