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Tim May | all galleries >> :Asian Journeys:: A Collection of Galleries :: >> A COLLECTION OF GALLERIES::China -September 2007 >> GALLERY:: Impressions of Beijing, China - September, 2007 > Scaffold Man
Beijing, China September 2007
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16-SEP-2007

Scaffold Man
Beijing, China September 2007


Sometimes photographers can curse the situation where they find themselves. For example because so much was being done for the Olympics much of the Forbidden City was behind scaffolding. I like to find pictures where I am in whatever circumstances I find myself. Thus, a picture of the scaffolding. I believe my friend Phil Douglis has a similar picture from another visit.

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Iris Maybloom (irislm)06-Apr-2008 23:10
Yep, I was one of those cursing the situation!!! While I was trying very hard to avoid the scaffolding, you incorporated it into this amazing image. I've learned something from both you and Phil and I thank you both for expanding my vision.
Tim May20-Mar-2008 03:43
Thanks "Sunlight." This is one of the rare instances where Phil and I have almost the exact same image. Taking into account how often we have been in the same place at the same time making pictures it is worth noting that this hasn't happened more often. It is also interesting, because as I said, I remembered his picture from an entirely different trip of his.
But it does raise and interesting issue that I run into when out photographing with other people. It is the question of wanting to make the other person's shot. I really find it hard when another photographer shows me an image they found at a place, while we are still there, and my heart leaps to it. I wish that I had seen that, or done that and I really have to have a conversation with myself about not making that same picture on my sensor. I usually say, "Trust yourself Tim, you've got some decent shots here, just enjoy the gift of _________'s picture, and move on." I have an ancillary feeling of fighting stinginess when I see a glorious shot or scene. I feel as if it is photography karma to say, "Wow! look at that," to allow the other's with me the chance to photograph it with their eye. I think the world is ultimately better for many people recording the wonders that are presented to us.
sunlightpix19-Mar-2008 22:00
I've been very fortunate to be viewing Tim's and Phil's images since our 2006 Yellowstone trip, and I see creative differences that instantly make an image "Tim-esque" or "Phil-esque". Both are great artists with so much talent! I think you even mentioned that one prefers vertical compositions and the other horizontal compositions. Keep the fabulous images coming!
Phil Douglis09-Mar-2008 23:24
We definitely influence each other, Tim. We can't help it. We have been shooting together now for exactly five years. We have been dealing with the same subjects in Santa Fe twice, Yosemite and the Sierras, Laos, Mexico, Utah and the Mohave Desert, Yellowstone and the Sierra, Death Valley, the Bay Area, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam. We have respect for each others vision, and we freely adopt ways of seeing from each other that fits with our own objectives and styles. To some it may seem as if we are copying each other at times, but there always special differences that makes a Tim-shot Tim's and a Phil-shot Phil's.
Tim May09-Mar-2008 21:31
I, of course, remembered that you had taken a similar shot. I think I remember even mentioning it to you while we in the Forbidden City. Yet, I hadn't realized how close my image was to yours. There is of course the difference in people on the scaffolding. Yet another example of how we never are at the same place in the river of life and that we each bring ourselves to our image making. In this case my subconscious eye must have remembered liking your image. Throughout our years of taking pictures together we have influenced each other's work.
Phil Douglis09-Mar-2008 19:45
Yes, we are always dealing with scaffolding when we travel, Tim -- the world's greatest monuments are constantly being refurbished. I love the loneliness of this man -- all alone up there in a sea of scaffolding. Great scale incongruity, Tim. I made nearly the same shot as you, and use it in my Worldisround.com article athttp://www.worldisround.com/articles/336906/photo100.html I show a bit more context, and bit less detail. The reason I did not use this shot in my pbase instructional galleries is because, as you note in your caption, I already had posted a Forbidden City scaffolding shot made on my 2006 visit. They were working on another one of the palaces, and I caught four men in what seems like an aerial ballet. http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/58759158 )