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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery One: Travel Abstractions -- Unlimited Thought > Waiting for customers, Namdaemun Market, Seoul, Korea, 2006
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17-MAR-2006

Waiting for customers, Namdaemun Market, Seoul, Korea, 2006

I saw this man almost hidden in the shadows, waiting for customers to come to his stall in this busy marketplace. I exposed for the brightest reflections with my spot meter, which made the image get very dark. Outside of the product rack, the only things visible in this image are the highlights on his face and hand. I have used shadows here to abstract the subject, allowing room for the viewer’s imagination to enter the image and go to work.
Is he sad? Lonely? Anxious? Fearful? My image leaves the answers to such questions up to the viewer. Such is the power of abstraction.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/400s f/5.6 at 40.9mm iso80 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time17-Mar-2005 19:29:40
MakePanasonic
ModelDMC-FZ30
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length40.9 mm
Exposure Time1/400 sec
Aperturef/5.6
ISO Equivalent80
Exposure Bias
White Balance (10)
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis13-Sep-2006 18:32
You add a good measure of incongruity to this image with this comment, Jenene. I agree with your assessment. Perhaps this moment is his calm before the storm?
JSWaters13-Sep-2006 17:57
Everyone who's traveled this corner of the world knows well the aggressive nature of the marketplace, which is why this image is so interesting. The vendor rests momentarily, gathering himself for the next push, if you will, in what must be an exhausting lifestyle. He appears quiet and calm in his hawkish vigil of the buyer.
Jenene
Phil Douglis24-Aug-2006 17:33
You describe the behavior of the marketplace, Rodney. It is a world of passive aggressive behaviors. Politeness masks ruthlessness. This young man lurking in the shadows of his stall does indeed seem to be learning how to hunt by quietly watching. As you say, he wait for his moment to pounce. I think it is the play of light and shadow here that creates such a scenario as you describe. And, of course, his hesitant, watchful expression.
Guest 24-Aug-2006 13:08
I get a feeling of passive aggressiveness from the individual. He wants the sell, he's almost positioned to pounch on someone, yet he is hesitant. He is like a young predator who has yet to learn the art of the hunt. If a person stops and shows an explicit interest, his courage will rise and he will go into action. But, until he gets that external stimuli, he remains in the shadows, hopeful, but hesitant.
Phil Douglis11-Aug-2006 18:41
Thanks, Jude, for posing all of those questions. That is what an abstract image is supposed to do. It leaves out enough information to ask questions and demand answers from its viewers. I can't answer these questions for you -- they remain mysteries that you must dwell upon. By showing you less of him and his wares, I've tried to say more by provoking thought and stirring your own vivid imagination.
Jude Marion11-Aug-2006 17:49
This image is beautiful. It's chock-a-block with incongruities for me. First off, I look at the neatly stored packages but dont have any idea what it is he is selling ... it's a mystery. The man is cloaked in the shadows .. is he trying to stay out of the heat of the sun? is he hiding from someone or something? is he static or is he about to move? And the expression on his face ... it's it one of bordom? lost in thought? or is there a sense of weariness about it? And his hand ... is he reaching into a pocket? is it curled into a fist? is it at rest? The lighting highlights these three elements in the image - the packages, face and hand, drawing them together and separating them at the same time.
Phil Douglis02-Jun-2006 18:17
Hi again, Bruce. Thanks for the comment. As I noted in responding your previous comment, it can't not show up here because I have had to disable all comments from non pbase members due to an increase in spam messages. But I am copying your kind words and posting them below. You have hit upon the main purpose of this image -- to ask questions and demand answers from my viewers. I've posed those questions in my caption, and you echo them here, in your comment:

From Bruceter btollefson@kos.net:

"To me, this picture raises questions. I am struck by the fact that the man is enveloped in shadows, as if he were trapped in them. The light falling on his products suggests there is a better place to be. But why does he stay in the shadows? His face conveys an expression of earnestness, a strong focus on something outside the picture. What is it? The hand suggests imminent action. What will he do?"
Phil Douglis22-Apr-2006 18:16
As I noted in the caption, this image is one of those that asks many questions of my viewers. I was delighted to see your response to it, Jen -- the tension created by energy both raised and suppressed is palpable.
Jennifer Zhou22-Apr-2006 12:34
I feel the selective light which falls on the man here is very expressive. He is sitting still and in a total silence, but somehow with his parted lips, he seems to have thousand words to say, but with on one to listen. And his hand seems like about to grab something, but at the same time being so hesitated and powerless. In a word, I feel a kind of enegy is raising and being suppressed.
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