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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty: Controlling perspective with the wideangle lens > Dinner in the square, Place Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh, 2006
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24-DEC-2006

Dinner in the square, Place Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh, 2006

Inexpensive yet ample dinners are served by the thousands each evening in the Place Jemaa el-Fna. Locals, as well as tourists, throng to them. I used a 28mm wideangle lens held vertically to stretch the scene, anchoring the image with a pair of hands at the bottom, and allowing a twisting line of twelve soft drink bottles to draw the eye into and through the image. Meanwhile, a family of eight enjoys dinner around the perimeter.

Leica D-Lux 3
1/100s f/3.2 at 6.3mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis19-Feb-2008 19:22
Thanks, Michael, for participating in this image. That is why I organized it as I did. I wanted to invite my viewers to invisibly take a seat here and join the feast. The geometry you mention is an S-curve, formed by the soda bottles that begins in the lower right hand corner and curves through the center of the table, ultimately leading the eye to the huge platter of food at right. Meanwhile, the people themselves curve around the other side of the table, echoing the curve of the bottles.
Guest 19-Feb-2008 14:38
definite echoes of the rigid geometry applied by the classic artists. the perspective from the 28mm concentrates the scene around the table and the light play assists in drawing the focus to the center of the table, the food. Much more than an image Phil it *is* a scene with a story to tell. I do feel like I'm intruding on their meal.
Phil Douglis19-Jan-2008 03:58
Hi, Ana -- good to hear from you again. It is always good to hear from you. I am trying to shoot more and more verticals, even though I find it a bit more difficult to do, because most of my shots are horizontally designed and often shot form waist level. But there are times that call for verticality, and this one of those times. They are a bit easier to shoot with this particular camera, since it does not have a flip out viewfinder. My other camera, a Leica V-Lux 1, does.
Anna Yu19-Dec-2007 18:45
I like vertical shots. Coupled with a wide angle view they become special. Hope that all is well with you Phil.
Phil Douglis11-Jan-2007 19:27
This is the great gift of the wideangle lens, Judy. It allows you to move in for detail yet still embrace the entire sweep of the story at hand.
judy sidonie tillinger11-Jan-2007 15:56
this is terrific: the vertical sweep of the story beautifully contained.
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