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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > A hug at sunset, Bruges, Belgium, 2005
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13-JUN-2005

A hug at sunset, Bruges, Belgium, 2005

A simple hug on this park bench conveys many human values. Intimacy, possession, pleasure, passion, and ultimately love, all come to mind. In this image, made with a long 432mm telephoto lens, I carefully wrapped this couple in foliage as well, adding a layer of nature’s own embrace to this image. The evening light is warm and low, the woman’s dress is passionately red, the greens and browns around them are soothing and comforting, all adding important context and additional human values to this photograph. Even the park bench they are using adds a subtle human value – its legs are fashioned into winged serpents, which in mythology have often been regarded as guardian spirits. The man gathers the woman to him with both arms, the winged serpents provide a stable platform, and the old tree provides a natural canopy, all of which tells us that there is a good deal of protection – another important human value – suggested in this image as well.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20
1/500s f/4.0 at 72.0mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis09-Aug-2005 16:18
Glad you noticed the role of the tree in this image, Dandan. Nature, as I said, is embracing them both.
Guest 09-Aug-2005 10:15
Phil, to me, this is a very sweet and touching image. The foreground tree leafs formed a little world for them, like a security blanket. The hugging couples are so much in love and happily looking forward to their future life…
Phil Douglis06-Aug-2005 19:17
Thanks for being the first to comment this image, Harl. As for the light, that is exactly the way it was -- rich, deep, and warm. The best light for this kind of shot, I think. This image is focused from the tree bark through to the ground -- it was important that detail be visible, because of their expressions. As for who may be getting the most from that hug, I saw it as more of a protective gesture than a passionate one. There is greater passion generated by the red dress than by the embrace itself. It is the moment that counts -- two young people who care about each other share an evening's embrace. He guards her, as the serpents on the bench guard them both. Nature, meanwhile, provides its own embrace.
Guest 06-Aug-2005 18:53
First the techneque, as I see it. Red and green is normally a winner. The frame inside a frame, classic. Dead center position, also classic. The people not in sharp focus, makes their actions more the subject than them themselves. The light itself seems a bit much, but this is a now or never type shot....

Now the interpertation. He loves her more than she does him, or at least is more willing to make a public statment of his love. He is pulling her to him, he has her held in both arms. She, would be sitting more upright, if he had not embraced her and pulled her to him, she is not really in an uncomfortable position, but not a real comfortable one either.. Her arms are inside his embrace, but not returning it.

I am also amazed that I am the first to make a comment on your image here. Everyone must be tierd from gallery 1. I myself had to take a break from there and is why I am here. :o)
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