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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Three: Using light and color to define and contrast textures > Sliver of light, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006
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29-DEC-2006

Sliver of light, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2006

A photo of someone talking on a cell phone in the street is not expressive photography in itself. However, in this case, the woman on the phone wears textured clothing, and she stands before a wall in Marrakesh’s old walled city that is equally rich in texture. A sliver of morning light slips between two buildings to illuminate just the edge of her garment. I used my spot meter to expose on this highlighted area, allowing everything else in the image to fall into shadow. The rough texture of her clothing echoes the heavily textured wall. These intense textures complement the intensity of the expression on her face, and help this image tell its story.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/125s f/3.6 at 11.5mm iso100 full exif

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Phil Douglis25-Apr-2016 22:20
Great to have you return once again to my galleries, Marisa. And yes, this woman has metaphorically merged with the rock wall behind her -- a study in texture and light -- to, as you say, "become part of the history of this place." And I share your view that tradition and modernity can harmoniously blend. Tradition defies a culture, while modernity refreshes it. Thank you.
Marisa Taddia25-Apr-2016 18:55
It looks like the woman is part of the rock, and in that way become part of the history of the place. And still, a history of progress is been told here. The woman (in her ancient wear) achieves a point of modernity with the cell phone. Progress is not the death of tradition; both can live in good harmony.
Phil Douglis11-Aug-2007 20:24
Thanks, JMC, for your comment -- I hope this example will be of help to you.
Guest 11-Aug-2007 19:50
Striking image! V
Phil Douglis01-Feb-2007 18:32
Thanks for the compliments, Verdi. I appreciate them. It is always an honor to have my photographs likened to paintings. Paintings are produced by hand, wholly from the imagination. Photographs are based on facts recorded by machine, but interpreted by the photographer. I am delighted that my interpretation of these facts makes you feel that I've expressed the essence of my subject.
Guest 01-Feb-2007 16:16
Like a painting...stunning image Phil
The moment you have catch is right for what you want show about the situation...
Superb

verdi-
Phil Douglis28-Jan-2007 22:38
Thanks, Azlin. The textures, as defined by this light, give this image its vintage look, along, of course, with the traditional costume. The out-of-synch cell phone creates an incongruity that helps this image express its ideas and tell its story.
Azlin Ahmad28-Jan-2007 08:43
Stunning work, Phil! I like the ray of light on her. I note your point on textures, but what strikes me is that the phone looks so out of synch with her outfit. I will echo what has been said by the others. so I'll leave it at that!
Phil Douglis28-Jan-2007 00:58
Thanks, Suwanee, for your comments. This is photo of a woman, not a man, yet this image has still given you all that I wanted it to and more. The framing, light, texture, and colors all are working together here to tell a story. And you have summarized that story quite well.
Guest 27-Jan-2007 13:57
Phil,
I love both the texture on the wall and the on the subject's clothing. It looks like a painting. I think the composition here is very powerful, it speaks strongly of the story here. And him facing away from the frame symbolize the contrast between modern and new world. Though the subject is still in his traditional clothing, modern technology still has a hold on him. Your framing, the body language of the subject, speaks to me, in that, somehow he is still not quite ready to embrace the modern technology completely.
Phil Douglis23-Jan-2007 22:53
Beautifully put, Iris. You go beyond simply recognizing the presence of yesterday and today in this picture. Rather, you tell us that this image symbolizes the fact that yesterday and today live side by side within this woman, and indeed, within Morocco itself. Thank you for adding still another dimension to this image, which as I told Celia, was almost trashed because the original conception failed to work. Fortunately, I was able to crop it and bring it to you in a coherently expressive form.
Iris Maybloom (irislm)23-Jan-2007 22:43
Phil, visually this is a magnificent work of art. Expressively, it communicates the dichotomy between tradition and modernism prevalent in so many parts of the world. It's nice to see in this image that the two can coexist and that a choice does not have to be made.
Phil Douglis22-Jan-2007 19:32
Thanks, Jim, for adding your comment to this image. I hope it will help inspire you to make the most of light and texture in your own imagery.
Jim Chiesa22-Jan-2007 08:02
Phil, an excellent shot very well composed. I also love the textures, the lighting and the warm atmosphere. Another inspiring shot that sets the reference to follow in this domain.
Jim
Phil Douglis21-Jan-2007 03:29
A perfect commentary, Celia -- you articulate so beautifully what I was trying to express with this image, and you describe the role of each element I place in juxtaposition here perfectly. As you can see, this photo is drawing many comments, most of which manage to express new and fascinating meanings. It is ironic -- I almost tossed this picture because it orginally was a horizontal, and a partial bike parked against that wall filled a good part of the right hand side. i was trying to say something about both the woman and the bike, and this idea did not work. Yet I was still fascinated with the textures and colors and the incongruity of the woman on the phone. I was able to isolate and intensify the strengths of this image by my crop. I removed the bike altogether, changed the shape of the image to nearly vertical, and made sure to include as much empty wall behind her as I could --for the very reason you state: she has turned her back on the rest of the world to communicate privately. Thanks again for your eloquent words here, Celia. They express everything I was trying to do here -- and more.
Cecilia Lim20-Jan-2007 23:35
What a mesmerizing image - I find myself drifting back and forth between the worlds of reality and art... between the old and the new. These old textured walls and her traditional dress resemble a painting done in oils and pastels, but the incredible realism of her face throws us into confusion as we realize that this deceiving photo is not a painting at all! We also come to a shocking realization that this seemingly classic, traditional portrait of a woman, who appears to live in a time long ago when textiles and buildings were crafted traditionally, is actually taken in the present day when we see the glint of a super smooth, shiny handphone pressed to her face. I find all these juxtapositions extremely fascinating, and they add intrigue and depth to an image about a very mundane, everyday subject.

I also love your masterful placement of the lady to the left and the huge void you left behind her - you communicate very effectively with your use of space to say that she has turned her back and disconnected herself from the rest of the world, while she connects privately to the phone, to be in her own thoughts and emotions - a behaviour that appears to transcend all cultures during this age of the cellular phone.
Phil Douglis19-Jan-2007 18:28
What a wonderful thought, Jude -- I never looked at this image in that way, but from now on I shall see it with new eyes. Thanks for the observation, as well as for reminding me of my own quote.
Jude Marion19-Jan-2007 14:58
Phil, you had left the following comment on one of my images ... and I see it rings true (pun intended) "No matter how far we may wander around the world, Jude, there will always be someone with a cell phone standing in our picture..."

I am drawn to the textures and colours in the image, and the long sliver of light highlighting the womans robe, emerging from the shadows. Perhaps this woman is also trying to emerge 'from the cultural shadows'?
Enrico Martinuzzi15-Jan-2007 21:29
I like ir a lot.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 19:15
You are right, pingupingu, about the painted look of that garment. That is the direct result of the play of light on its texture.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 19:12
And thanks to you, jnconradie, for those kind words. Yes, I am pleased to include this image in my galleries here. But I will be even more pleased if it can help others notice and take advantage of the interaction of light and texture.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 19:09
You always notice those subtle things that add meaning, Kal. Thanks for seeing that small lean -- I had not noticed it until now, but it does make a difference. The concept of a metaphorical cultural anchor is valid as well -- her culture is evolving and changing, and this image could be seen as a marker for this evolution.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 19:06
Thanks, Joel -- those textures are what inspired me to make this image. Without them, it is just a description of someone on the phone.
pingupingu14-Jan-2007 17:55
Superb
The suit really seems like a painting
vote
jnconradie14-Jan-2007 15:16
Splendid photograph! It caught my eye immediately. I would have been delighted and proud if this was in my own portfolio. Compliments! ~jnconradie
Kal Khogali14-Jan-2007 14:00
I love the light here, and the slight lean on to the wall (as if for support). A kind of metaphorical cultural anchor. K
Guest 14-Jan-2007 08:28
What I like here are the textures, wonderful wall and material, don't speak anout the colors....really nice image!
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 03:09
The nature of the fabric is the key to this image, David. Its texture does look like its brushed on. It almost looks like brushed aluminum. The reddish brown stucco wall behind seems to absorb light, while he garment amost reflects it. You are right about the presence of the phone, too -- it defines the present time here. Thanks for your observations.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 03:03
And thank you, as well, Jeffrey -- the textures do look painted, and there definitely is a contrast between old and new here. The fabric and wall are esthetically lovely, almost ureal. And as you say, the juxtaposition of the reality of the face and phone stand in stark contrast.
Phil Douglis14-Jan-2007 02:54
Thank you, Ed, for this comment. When I saw that she was on the phone, I instinctively put more of the image behind her than in front of her, for just that reason. While she may be speaking in a public place, I wanted to imply the need for privacy.
david procter14-Jan-2007 02:08
Yes a very interetsing image. traditional costume and modern technology is always an interesting justapositon. Without the phone this image could have been anytime in the last four hundred years. The textures/colour are super; her clothing (not familiar with Northern African female attire or it's evolution over the past four hundred years!) looks as if it's rendered in pastel and charcoal.
Guest 14-Jan-2007 01:03
This is a really lovely effect you've created. The colors and textures combine to make most of the frame look painted, with only the hands and face appearing "real". It's the contrast between the brushed fabric of the clothing and wall, and the almost harsh reality of the face and piece of modern technology (the phone) that really strikes me... really a feeling of collision between old and new.
Guest 14-Jan-2007 00:37
really interesting image
I like this composition with the woman facing out of the frame.
She would do so to keep her conversation private
lovely texture
I wish that I could apprecite the colors more. I am somewhat colorblind
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