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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Facing the fall, Portland, Oregon, 2006
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13-JUN-2006

Facing the fall, Portland, Oregon, 2006

By juxtaposing an abstract symbolic figure of a small man contemplating the awe-inspiring force of an equally abstracted Multnomah Falls at close range, I imply such human values as futility, and our ultimate destination. Using deliberate under-exposure, I only hint at the natural beauty of the falls here – reducing it instead to a fierce plume of surging spray that implies (for the faithful) either a descent into hell or ascent to heaven. The image is also rich in tension – created by contrasting the surging vertical flow of the falls against the horizontal bridge and frame. Ultimately, it is the scale incongruity here that speaks the loudest -- reducing man to trivial size in the face of nature’s massive power. It reminds us all that we are only here for a while, while nature rules for an eternity.

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Phil Douglis03-Oct-2006 05:55
The ghostly water, caused by the relatively slow shutter speed of 1/50th of a second, creates a sense of mystery and power. Thanks, Chris, for seeing that, as well as the effect of the abstraction caused by under exposure.
Chris Sofopoulos18-Sep-2006 20:13
Under-exposure is the key here, in my opinion, for a great composition. All the things around the waterfalls and the man in the middle are a bit dark, while the water almost white seems so dramatic and powerful. Even the exposure time 1/50sec adds to the effect of the water here.
Phil Douglis10-Aug-2006 17:41
You have found many human values in this image, Zandra. Bonding, acceptance, admiration, appreciation, respect, love are all values that we share as human beings. I like how you also find the darkness to be a metaphor for the dangers of pollution, and how you find a parent-child relationship here between nature's power and mankind's needs.
Guest 03-Aug-2006 10:48
This speeks to me about the bond between man and nature. This is very "Down to earth". As if the man silently expresses his acceptnace of natures power over mankind. Yet nature gives so freely of its life force. The water. Adminiration, apriciation, respect and lover for the mother to us all, mother nature. Teh water, so fresh and clean in its dark surounding. The darkness in the photo makes me think of the polution in the world and the combination of the dark surounding and the water reminds me of a mother love for her child. A deep discussion between mother and son, both sharing ther thoughts about the world and wisdom they have gathered.
Phil Douglis28-Jul-2006 23:49
Thanks, Emi -- you are right. He faces the power of these falls not because he has to, but because he wants to.
Guest 28-Jul-2006 16:28
Agree with Jen that this picture suggests human facing challenge of nature to me. Plus, he is so willingly to do that because he(she) was the one who decided to get on the bridge.

Emi
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2006 19:22
I like your phrase "we are all holding our own conversations with nature," Jenene. Is he thinking about jumping to his doom? Or is he standing there in awe of nature's majesty? And how would we be thinking about if we were standing there in his place? He must be full of questions at this moment, and so are we. That is why I've made this version of Multnomah Falls as I did. I had entirely different reasons in mind for the other image you mention. Yet both images expressed ideas more effectively for me than any of my previous pictures of the falls without these tiny figures standing before them.
JSWaters19-Jun-2006 18:39
What can I say that Jen has not already? I, too, am drawn to each of these images, and the very different responses to each. Ultimately, they are a testimony to the endurance of natural world and the human spirit's ability to adapt to our own forces of nature. Whether the mood is one of joy, reflection, despair, or resignation, we are all holding our own conversations with nature, seeking answers to the same questions asked over eons while standing at the waterfall.
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2006 18:04
I was glad to see you link this image to another one I made at the same site, Jen. They are two entirely different approaches to a similar subject. The differences come, as you saw, in the degree of abstraction I applied to this one, and of course in the body language of the human subjects. The woman is playful, in love with the power of nature. And yes, it is as if nature is giving her and all of us a big hug. In this image, the man is reflective. I darken the image to darken the mood and imply futility and triviality. I am delighted that you are able to apply your own view to it as well -- you see both man and bridge as "standing firmly in front of the great force of nature." From there, you grow the idea in your own imagination and conclude that it is all about facing difficulties and believing in ourselves. I have often said that we interpret photographs to reflect ourselves in them -- and that is what you have done here. You have always struggled with the very thing you see him facing -- things that seemed so much larger than yourself. And you are coming to believe in yourself, just as you see him coming to believe in himself. So maybe those things that stand in your way are not as large as they once seemed to be! The heart of this image is its ability to trigger different ideas in different minds. And that is exactly what has happened here. I am thrilled that you think enough of it to make it your desktop photograph. It is my great pleasure to dedicate this image to you, Jen.
Jennifer Zhou19-Jun-2006 08:06
I was cheered up by this similar photohttp://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/62016410 when I first saw it in your Oregon article. That photo along with this one are definitely the most memoriable moments of your trip. Same waterfall, but two totally different feelings and messages.

In that picture of a woman in a joyful pose, I feel joy, passion, excitement and love----our love for the great nature. It is like the woman is embracing the nature, and in return the nature gives her and all of us a big hug.

However, in this picture, the underexposure reduces the picture down to its essence. It is like a silent conversation between man and the nature. Instead of futility, I feel a great strength in here. The arms of the man echoes the arch of the bridge, and just like the bridge standing firmly in front of the great force of nature, the man is showing no fear. Yes it is true that we are so small compare to the nature, but we can have a very big heart that contains everything inside, and I guess we can never know what we really achieve unless we try. This picture is about facing straightly to the difficulties in life and believing in ourselves..

Thank you Phil for making this powerful and inspiring image for us, I made it my desktop photo and it would encourage me everything I look at it!
Phil Douglis18-Jun-2006 03:41
That was my intention, Christine. I tried to make an image expressing human values with immediacy and impact I am glad it makes the intended effect on you.
Guest 18-Jun-2006 03:05
Very powerful impact, Phil.
Christine
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