Silent Howl, Walker, California, 2004 by Phil Douglis

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19-OCT-2004

Silent Howl, Walker, California, 2004

This store clerk is so involved in running her rural general store that she no longer seems to notice those silent howls coming from just behind her. I am always looking for incongruous juxtapositions such as this as I travel. I knew the wide-open mouth of the stuffed coyote would provide an incongruous basis for my picture, but I needed to compare it to an appropriate gesture from the clerk. When she spontaneously covered her own mouth (To stifle a howl?) I knew I had the shot.

Canon PowerShot G6
1/15s f/2.5 at 14.4mm full exif

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Phil Douglis		25-Jul-2006 06:25
Glad you are reading my captions and the other comments, Emi. They make a big a big difference. And thanks for telling me how the levels of incongruity are working for you here. You are right - it is like putting a forest and an office together in the same room. And yes, it is "weird," but that is part of how incongruity works best. Weird means something supernatural or uncanny. And that is what is happening here, isn't it?

Guest		25-Jul-2006 04:16
When I first looked at the picture without any caption read, I saw it as a misplacement of the coyote in an office place. Its weird to see a coyote with documents together. Moreover, there is something around the coyote like a tree or what. Its an incongruity in putting a forrest and an office together in the same room and on the table. I agree there is a sound issue here. But that isnt created by the guesture of the girl as nut said, its created by the gesture of the coyote( making howl, the gesture of its mouth doesnt suggest silent howl as nut said, its actually a loud crying one as I almost can hear it howling), and the girl at work( I bet she didnt make any noise when she was so concentrate on her work at that moment). Also agree with Brian. This pictures contains different levels of incongruity. Emi

Phil Douglis		20-Jun-2006 00:28
Good eye, Brian. If you put your hand over each half of the picture, we indeed have two different time dimensions. The coyote is set against a darker background, accompanied by a branch, log, and an animal skin. That half is even partially framed in an animal skin. Meanwhile, the oblivious, otherwise engrossed woman stands against a shockingly white window, almost a futuristic vision. When you see them together, the incongruity becomes overwhelming. She does not hear the coyote in her world, and it does not see her in its world. As a result, the howl is silent. Thanks for the comment.

Guest		19-Jun-2006 22:50
The inconguity here, for me, is that the two parts of this picture seem to be in different dimensions... with the coyote howling to be heard, but being invisible to the girl... who appears to be in a more modern time - keying into her terminal, yawning... oblivious to the drama behind her. For me, this picture has something of a comedy horror movie about it!

Phil Douglis		27-Feb-2005 04:35
Hi, Junwu. Yes, I used my spot meter. I always use it. I metered off the face of the woman, as I recall.

Jun Wu		13-Feb-2005 15:49
Striking picture, Phil, the fangs of the coyotte really add much force to it. The lighting is rather tricky but you handled it very well. Did you use your cherished spot meter in this shot？ If so, where did you meter off?

Guest		22-Dec-2004 01:46
that is also true, her fingers are not tense nor it is an agresive posture :S I made my own impression having left some details behind. sorry.

Phil Douglis		22-Dec-2004 01:37
Thanks, Mikel, for your perceptive comment. I don't see that hand to the face as either worry or seeking silence. I think people will often lift their hands to their faces when they are deep in thought, as well. And she is thinking so hard here, she never notices that silent howl behind her.

Guest		21-Dec-2004 23:22
this is a very incongruous picture indeed the dominant subject here is the coyote for it's expression although it is stuffed. Don't know if in this case I wold read this photo as the girl is worried rather then seeking for silence. Usually when people are worried they touch their face alot, and if the coyote wold be alife, I wold asure you that I wold go out running probably... ;) And yes, it is a very funny one too.

Guest		01-Dec-2004 19:38
this is very fun.

nut		08-Nov-2004 16:44
No problem. I have a long night to get it.

Phil Douglis		08-Nov-2004 06:01
Sorry, Nut, but I have a typographical error in the last sentence. It should read "holding her nose," not "holding her knows." It has been a long day!" Phil

Phil Douglis		07-Nov-2004 23:24
Nut, you are using your imagination again! I love it when you do this, because it shows me my picture is working for you. If this woman held her hand to her nose, you would have every reason to think of a coyote with stinky breath. But it would still be incongruous, because we know the coyote can't have bad breath. It is stuffed, right? Yet here she would be, holding her knows as if it were stinky.

nut		07-Nov-2004 15:04
This is the incongruous photograph in term of context. Context here is "Quiet", but the stuffed coyote make a howling silent. Quiet-Silent Howl I think if this woman cover her hand a bit higher up to her nose. If she cover her nose by her hand because she smell something from the stuffed coyote (I believe this coyote don't have toothbrush and toothpaste). Bad smell from the mouth of the stuffed coyote and what she act are not incongruous. So it will become to what?

Phil Douglis		04-Nov-2004 20:20
A great observation, Tim. Incongruity is always a matter of context, isn't it? She never gives these animals any more thought than she gives the wall, the ceiling or the window. They are all just "there." And this image says that. We find it very incongruous. But she doesn't.

Tim May		04-Nov-2004 16:36
I also think about the commonness of the situation. As Nevada Weir suggests part of why we travel is because of our desire for the exotic. This young woman lives in the beautiful valley and works everyday amid these animals. They are not exotic to her - probably they are a bother. We on the other hand see the oddity in the situation.

Phil Douglis		01-Nov-2004 22:24
Glad you see what I am trying to say here, Nut. I like your phrase "anti-synonymous act" -- a new definition of what I have always called "incongruity." The idea is a simple one, and does mirror my perverse sense of humor. It is also very rich in human values. "Oblivious" comes to mind.

nut		01-Nov-2004 07:49
I heard the silent howl and saw "Please keep quiet" on this photo. One example on the frame to describe the meaning of anti-synonymous act. Simply and full of sense of humour. Sharp eyes, wise purpose and full of human sense.

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