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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Lunch break, Shanghai, China, 2004
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12-JUN-2004

Lunch break, Shanghai, China, 2004

A cart makes a handy bed for this Shanghai worker on lunch break.
Population pressure forces people to adapt and invent, and both adaptation and invention, along with fatigue, are values shared and understood by humans the world over, not just in China. But I did see many people sleeping at midday in public while in China – it is just part of the scene, and accepted as such. I thought this image was particularly incongruous because a cart is not usually perceived as a bed, yet this one serves that purpose well. I also was able to effectively organize this photograph around the repeating diagonal lines offered by the ropes, legs, and pipes.

Leica Digilux 2
1/100s f/3.4 at 22.5mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time12-Jun-2004 21:23:12
MakeLeica
ModelDIGILUX 2
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length22.5 mm
Exposure Time1/100 sec
Aperturef/3.4
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-1.00
White Balance (9)
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis13-Jul-2005 22:29
The abstraction here, Rodney, rests in the implications. We do not know why he is there, until, as you note, I explained why in my caption. Anything that is not seen in an image is information left to the imagination of the viewer. Why is he sleeping in this cart? Is he lazy? Goofing off? Exhausted? Homeless? Is he allowed to do this? This image asks questions and demands answers from is viewers, Rod. In my intro to this cyberbook, I define abstraction as honing an image down to its essence to encourage unlimited thinking. Others will define it as dealing with ideas, as opposed to events. Those looking at it in an aesthetic sense would say that abstraction is freedom from representational qualities in art. This image, to me at least, is abstract in that it leaves so much unsaid, and because of that, involves the viewer's imagination to a greater degree.
Guest 13-Jul-2005 16:02
This photo is amazing to me. It's *very* well composed. I appreciate you mentioning the intentional control over the lines of the ropes, pipes, etc. I think a lot of people do not take such into account. I especially like the photo/text combination, as the text gives additional insight into what he is doing. Upon first look, I thought maybe he is homeless, or such. I knew he was in the street (as the car is there behind him, but not in a intrusive way). It is interesting to hear he's not unique, and that a lot of others do the same. It shows me he is a very practical person who is thinking of what is important to him. He is getting rest as he can, and that is more impt to him than what others may think about him sleeping. To me, though, the sleeping in the cart reminded me often we call cargo areas of vehicles "bed" (like the 'bed' of a pick-up truck). I guess he is taking it literally. :)

This is really an exceptional photo! I see the human value, and the incongruity. How would you define the abstract part?
Phil Douglis26-Mar-2005 05:47
Another wonderful observation, Benchang. Clara is a brilliant woman, but I think you've set her straight on this one. It is fascinating how such a simple object as a push cart can take on so many meanings, depending upon the culture in which it is used. That's why when we interpret the meaning of a picture, we need to consider the social context in which it was made, as well as the information in the image itself.
Benchang Tang 25-Mar-2005 12:01
Clara said he does not have valuable stuff, but I believe to him the cart is very valuable, from which he makes a living, am I right, Clara? I wonder if the main reason he takes a nap there is to keep the cart safe. Sorry, this is in China.
Phil Douglis30-Dec-2004 05:22
Yes, Mikel, I can see the incongruity of the car and cart in the same image. Thanks for pointing it out. And thanks for confirming the human values here of adaptation and invention, and going on to talk at length about the links between adaptation, invention, and our survival as a species. So if we extend the train of thought this image has triggered in you, Mikel, might we not want to also add survival as a third human value expressed by this image?
Guest 29-Dec-2004 13:36
Sorry, I said 1/3 of the air, it is 2/3 if my memory (brain) doesent fail. ;)
Guest 29-Dec-2004 13:34
Besides all you talk about the incongruences and abstractions that I agree with, don't you think that there is an other incongruence? The cart that is pulled by human force a simple design to carry things that exists since the begginings of society. And the part of a car in the background, a contrast in time and history. About the addaption and invension values it has and it is a primary necessity for our surviviour... and perhaps will lead to our destruction too, who knows. In any case, as I think I left in an ohter picture of yours, our inteligence is the resoult of our evolution and instinct to survive since we don't have speed or strenght as other animals. That has brought us to create protective enviorments and to continue to create new things that suply atificially what nature gives to other animals. Perhaps there is no direct link between a cart and an animal instinct but there is, self transportation, the same as the car. We are not strong or fast enough and we always have to bring our survival elements with us so we need something that gives us this possibility. Perhaps someone will think that this sleepeng guy is not bringing any self survival elements with him, but that is wrong, he has it for work that is retribuated with money and as such he can garentee him self food and shelter. And as such the same about sleepeng, not only for resting our muscles after a hard work but also our mind, as for doing a comparicance of how important our brain is too us we consume 1/3 of the air we breath only for our brain to work... wold like to know if with the animals it is the same...
Phil Douglis04-Dec-2004 04:36
That's my purpose! The more critical I can make you, Clara, the more you help me and help yourself, and help others reading your comments as well. That's the purpose of my galleries here.
Guest 03-Dec-2004 23:42
You are making me more critical as seconds pass!
Phil Douglis03-Dec-2004 21:19
Yes, Clara, the car was there. And there is a lot of crap in the picture that I wish was not there. But I knew if I kept hovering around this guy, he would sense my presence and wakeup so I made the best of that background. Back in my 35mm days I could blur out that background, but now I must accept that sharp cars as distractions. I am thrilled that you noticed this -- it shows me that my teaching is getting through to you, Clara.
Guest 03-Dec-2004 20:13
The geometry of the shot is good and well framed, only I don't like the car above, but as I myself say: "it was there!". Obviously he has not much valuable stuff to protect from thieves while he's sleeping, hence his comfortable nap.
nut 12-Nov-2004 07:35
Yes, incongruity.
Phil Douglis12-Nov-2004 01:53
Fatigue, yes. But what kind of a resting place is this, Nut? In the middle of a public street? On a hard wooden cart? Therein lies the incongruity.
nut 11-Nov-2004 22:08
Fatigue.
Phil Douglis12-Aug-2004 02:02
Nice comparison, Henk. Catching a lunchtime nap seems to be a universal perk, whether in China or Tami Nadu.
oochappan12-Aug-2004 01:12
You are right: not just in China. As my scanned photo was rather hard of colors, I soften it up like in a dream. See my Ritshawman
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