Old Synagogue, Heritage Park, San Diego, California, 2004 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery One: Travel Abstractions -- Unlimited Thought > Old Synagogue, Heritage Park, San Diego, California, 2004

previous | next


15-APR-2004

Old Synagogue, Heritage Park, San Diego, California, 2004

I did not want to merely describe the interior of the historic structure that once housed San Diego’s first synagogue, because the room itself is now basically a barren hall filled with empty benches. It has been moved to its present site in a San Diego park for display an example of Victorian architecture. My goal was to suggest its former function as an actual house of worship, and abstraction was my tool. I used my spot meter on the light source itself – the frosted pane of a large window. Only this pane, and the warmly glowing light on the wall, wooden paneling, as well as the back of a bench, remains visible. Everything else goes black, creating room for the imagination of the viewer to enter and fill in the details.

Leica Digilux 2
1/125s f/4.0 at 9.1mm iso100 hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	15-Apr-2004 17:47:12
Make	Leica
Model	DIGILUX 2
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	9.1 mm
Exposure Time	1/125 sec
Aperture	f/4
ISO Equivalent	100
Exposure Bias
White Balance	(9)
Metering Mode	multi spot (3)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program	program (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto

previous | next

Phil Douglis		20-Jul-2006 23:41
If you see a person praying in your mind's eye, Annie, the image is working for you. It is intended to provoke your imagination, and that was exactly what happened to you. Thank you for opening your mind to this image, and appreciating the tremendous power of abstraction and implication.

Annie J		20-Jul-2006 23:39
This is a place to find comfort and solitude, to be alone with your thoughts. I can see what you mean about having a person there praying detracting from the image, but in my mind's eye, that is exactly what I see...this room isn't empty, there is a person (maybe more) in the shadows praying...even if not there in body, they are still there in spirit.

Phil Douglis		29-Sep-2005 20:00
Beautiful interpretation, Yaqub. It is amazing how the interplay of light and shadow can transform an image and activate the human imagination.

Ya"qub Adedeji		29-Sep-2005 12:12
This is a very nice picture,the dark part of the picture to my own interpretation is the time of imprisonment,and the reflected light shows that after a dark moment,that is,the time of imprisonment,their will be light.That is Freedom.I believe anybody that sees the light,their lives will not be the same.

Phil Douglis		26-Aug-2005 16:58
Thanks, Ramma, for this comment. I do not ever consider what is "normal" when I make a picture. A picture that is almost entirely made up of shadows is not "abnormal" to me -- it is just the way I want to use abstraction in a particular setting and for a particular purpose. Don't impose any standards of normality upon yourself as a photographer, either. Keep your mind and eye open for the opportunity to express yourself as you wish to do it. Open minds make the best pictures, Ramma. Thanks so much for responding so positively to my thinking on this example.

ramma		26-Aug-2005 09:34
This is a beautiful image. Although almost 50% of it is Dark, and 30% is almost completely dark, which normally is'nt a very good idea. However, in this image it compliments the light. It helps keeping the focus on the window and the reflection of light. Beautifully done.

Phil Douglis		12-May-2005 02:20
Ana, I welcome you to these galleries -- your first comment was astonishingly insightful. Your definition of abstraction by light as "simplicity of composition that leaves room for the eyes to be lost, yet grabs our attention for what really matters," is as good as any I've ever seen on these pages. Your ability to bring your own physical senses to bear on this image is evident as well -- to think of "that little pool of light shining on the bench" as if your own hand was resting there "caressing the wood" tells me how much this image resonates within you. I also find your definition of this image as an "x-ray portrait" taken from inside of a quiet, giving person with a warm heart who "never feels it," is wonderfully inventive. Far from sounding weird, Ana, you come off as extremely imaginative. And since the whole purpose of expressive photography, as far as I'm concerned anyway, is to arouse the imaginations of my viewers, it looks to me as if this image must qualify as expressive. I hope you will feel free to come here often and let your imagination soar as you study these images, and then apply what you've learned to your own inventive art. Thanks again, Ana, for speaking so honestly and profoundly to us about how this image makes you feel, and what it says to you. I look forward to your continuing impressions, questions, and suggestions with much anticipation.

Ana Carloto O'Shea		11-May-2005 23:41
Starting with your first gallery, it was alredy hard to pick one photo. But I've finally decided on this one! In this excellent photo are most of the things that "make my heart" race when it comes to photography: First, the beautiful play between the shadows and the light, then the colours which are perefctly saturated, then the refelctions which are fantastic to the point of creating a human like shape on the wall and finally the simplicity of the composition that leaves to room for our eyes to be lost, but instead grabs our attention to what really matters! It's also a very peaceful image, with strong diagonals that guide our eyes from the window to wall to the bench in a very serene way and natural way. I love the fact that we can still see the wooden panels on the walls and mostly the way the light that shines on the wood benches makes them come to life. That little pool of light shining on the bench on the right is a beauty, looking at it, it's almost like my hand was resting there, caressing the wood. This is almost like an "x-ray portrait", in the sense that it's like the photo from the inside of someone... Someone with a quiet and giving nature, someone that even when totally alone always has a warm heart and never feels it. Someone blessed! I know this might sound weird, but I guess that if I wasn't honest, than this comment wouldn't count! Describing it in just one word would be impossible, but in two I can come up with something: A beauty!

Phil Douglis		27-Feb-2005 06:36
Thanks, River. As for my "always" goldenish and "heavy feeling" pictures, I was not aware you felt that way about my work until now. I try to use warm, rich color to express warm ideas richly. If the idea is not warm or rich, I would never use them. I always try to put function ahead of form, and do not think of myself as using any technique or color as a matter of course. I am glad you find this one to your liking, however. I was not aware of the human form on the wall until you mentioned it but now that you have, I see it, and like the way it works here. And yes, it does give a spirtual, ghostly feeling. Thank you for pointing this out to me. And as for my use of rich golden colors, I will, of course continue to use them when the subject matter and my intentions call for it, but be assured that I do not use any color palette as a matter of course or "style."

Guest		25-Feb-2005 15:35
Hi, Phil, This image gives me a "fresh" look... remember how I said your color is always goldenish, and it leaves somewhat "heavy" feeling after seeing it for a while... but this picture's color tone is lighter, and it feels lighter too. Okay back to the image itself. What really caught my eye is the light projects to the wall through the window. It leaves a "ghost" type of motion... compared to the window, the window is in focus, sharp and still, but the light on the wall is slightly blurred, and feels it's actually moving. The light through the cicular glass projects a human-head-shape on the wall, makes the light on the wall like a human, yet, blurred and moving, so it's more like a somewhat "spirit" or "ghost", whatever it is proper to say. A cool picture indeed. In fact, when I saw this picture, I said to myself, "Phil captured God in his picture!" As you can see, I viewed that light on the wall as God's Spirit.

Phil Douglis		15-Dec-2004 00:04
And thank you for bringing it up, Mikel.

Guest		14-Dec-2004 23:30
Just hit in the nail Phil, thankes for explaing it in an easy way

Phil Douglis		14-Dec-2004 22:39
I think what you are trying to say here, Mikel, is that this image makes you feel glad to be alive, just a you feel when you awaken and find sunlight streaming into your room. The window, and the light coming through that window, can be a wonderful symbol for the energy of life itself.

Guest		14-Dec-2004 22:14
I love this image, although it is darck in this case it gives me peace of spirit the window as a way out to the exerior and the calid light reflected on the wall is like hope still exists or perhaps the feeleng you have when you wake up of a good night sleep and feel wonderfull when you see the light is shining throe the window just that little part of a second when you open your eyes, you know what I am trying to explain, that very first impression once you open your eyes.

Phil Douglis		11-Dec-2004 19:49
Thank you, Alister, for sharing your feelings on this photograph with me. It is in my gallery on abstraction because that is what makes it say what it says. To abstract means to take away until only the essence of the idea is left. A praying person would have, as you say, destroyed the implied solitude, and made this image less personal, leaving less room for the imagination of the viewer to enter the picture and think. Solitude can a powerful element in photographic expression, and it is often represented through strong abstraction.

alibenn		11-Dec-2004 16:49
Again, I like this a lot and would be happy with this on my office wall. What works for me is it's simplicity, very little detail, but what there is is subtle and sensitive. The light is delicate and the solitude implied by the emptiness works for me. Had a figure been in the frame, even in prayer, it would have not added to the power, and may in fact detracted from the personal nature of the image. I find a touch of irony in the fact that the light on the wall is a little Phallic!!

Don Guo		04-Dec-2004 07:47
it's absolutely stunning...so sensitive.

Phil Douglis		01-Dec-2004 22:31
We all read photographs differently. You are a very spiritual person, and it is not at all surprising that you read this image in those terms. I admire that, and urge you to bring your own perspective to all of my images, Clara.

Guest		01-Dec-2004 17:38
i like it simple, as it is. means silence, spiritual manifestation, solitude.

Phil Douglis		12-Nov-2004 18:13
Thanks for seeing the light, Jen. (Pun intended!) Always remember, the simplest images are usually the most effective. Each additional element introduces the possibility of distraction. And that is a very good observation about the symbolic value of the semitransparent window, as well. It allows the light to come in, yet seals off this room from the world.

Jennifer Zhou		12-Nov-2004 16:17
Phil, I never thought about sharing the room with that praying person. Yes, I agree with you, just keep it simplest, it is a picture for the heart. I also notice the window is semitransparent, make it apart from outside the world. It totally quiet and private. Jen

Phil Douglis		11-Nov-2004 17:17
A very thoughtful and perceptive comment, Jen. I'm glad this image allows you a place to rest your heart in. For me it is a place to exercise the imagination. That is why I disagree with your suggestion to put a praying person into this image. If a praying person were to have been in the picture, you would would have had to share this space with him or her. With no praying person in the picture, you have this place all to yourself and to your imagination. I agree that the light can be interpreted as a religious symbol. To me, it represents vitality, bringing warmth to a building that has been essentially forgotten. Remember, this building is no longer used as a religious structure. It is a historical building. Nobody ever prays there anymore. By abstracting it, I make it incongruously dark and empty, and in doing so, I try to awaken the ghosts of the past. Be stressing the light on the wall I add that human value --vitality -- to the image. If you look closely and feel strongly, you will see whatever spiritual presence you want to see in this room. I hope you can now see why I did not want to make this a more literal and predictable picture by bringing a praying person into the image. It is far better that you enter this image all by yourself, Jen, and make of it whatever you will.

Jennifer Zhou		11-Nov-2004 13:01
Phil, For the simpleness, for this quite moment, for it is a place I can rest my heart in, I totally fall in love with this picture! I remember what I did with my church shot, it is a beautiful image but it stopS there. There you show me a good example that how a church shot can be made to make people think or even feel it. Yes, I can feel this place with all my senses, as if you bring me with you that day. The light is for me a symbol of religion, if you give your heart to it, it will give you all you ever wanted. You know Phil, I love this picture, but I was kind of hoping there is a person, sitting in the bench where the light casting on, and he/she is praying silently~ And this picture is no longer about a place but a person and his/her heart. Actually this is a picture goes far beyond just as a place, it can be all, if you give your heart to it! Jen

Phil Douglis		09-Nov-2004 05:35
You are right, Nut. You can create a sense of warmth and peace by how you use color and light. In this case, abstraction does much of the work.

nut		09-Nov-2004 04:33
Warm and peaceful and this is nothing about region.

Phil Douglis		30-Oct-2004 22:54
A very simple image, Nut, based on the interplay between light and shadow. I am glad your imagination found more food for thought here.

nut		30-Oct-2004 16:03
Good idea about the source of the light. It's the generation of the light source. Nice desige on this room, only one source but can build our feeling so warm.

Phil Douglis		26-Apr-2004 20:22
Thank you, Jill, for your response to this image. I am glad you see it as I intended it to be seen. Phil

Jill		26-Apr-2004 19:58
This is exactly how it was meant to be captured.

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment