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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Intimacy, Agra Fort, Agra, India, 2008
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27-MAR-2008

Intimacy, Agra Fort, Agra, India, 2008

I found this couple seated at the end of a gallery, alone in their own little world. I framed them with ancient marble columns, and backed them up with a marble wall befitting the emperors who lived here. They can see none of it. They only have eyes for each other – among thousands of visitors, they have carved out their own space, a space expressing the human value of intimacy.

Leica V-Lux 1
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Phil Douglis20-May-2018 22:12
I accidentally deleted your comment, Merri, that inspired my response just below, but was able to locate it and I reproduce it here:

Merri
19-May-2018 22:41
I loved this beautiful picture of a couple who are obviously have little interest in anything else around them at this moment. I appreciate Tim's thoughtful comment, but I am going to disagree. The young man is up against the pillar; he doesn't have much room to maneuver. The young woman is in a much better position to choose her place and yet she presses in as close as she physically can then leans in more. She is obviously entranced by him. I get this human value intrinsically. For his part, I bet the young man feels valued by her rapt attention which likely makes him also feel more tender towards her. The carved stone around them enhances their lovely moment.
Phil Douglis20-May-2018 22:07
I am glad that you disagree with Tim's interpretation that "she listens and he speaks." You make me see this image in an entirely new light, Merri. Tim's interpretation seemed accurate ten years ago when I posted this image, however I now see this image as far more than role playing. Her body language expresses the human value of intimacy - as you say, she is indeed pressing in "as close as she physically can and then leans in more." Yes, he may do the talking, and she does the listening here, but she certainly seems to be as you note, "obviously entranced by him." That's made clearly by the intimacy expressed through her body language.
Phil Douglis22-May-2008 02:47
That was my intention, Alina -- to express a form of intimacy by isolating them in the frames created by both building and camera.
Alina13-May-2008 03:25
Romantic shot, for sure they like to be with each other.
Phil Douglis26-Apr-2008 20:03
This does reinforce the stereotypical view that the man is anchored to reality, while the woman drifts apart from it. Yet they themselves chose these positions. I did not put them there. I found them there.
Tim May26-Apr-2008 17:15
I like the almost stereotypic interaction here. She listens, he speaks. The wall behind them reinforces their roles. He is solidly in the frame, she moves out of it.
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