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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty Four: The Workplace -- essence of a culture > Brick carrier, Shuhe, China, 2006
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31-MAR-2006

Brick carrier, Shuhe, China, 2006

A huge pile of new bricks fills a Shuhe street from curb to curb. This woman will stack and then carry them on her head to a nearby construction site. I fill half of the frame with bricks to stress the huge number of bricks waiting to be stacked and carried. I abstract the woman by shooting her in the shadows, making her a symbol for all who do such work. I photographed her at the very moment she places still another brick on the ever-growing stack.

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Phil Douglis16-Jul-2006 02:11
I am glad you came to this image, Xin. You raise a valid comparison between street photography and commercial photography. I would like to extend that comparison -- all commercial photography is done to please a client. It is a business, designed to sell products and services in the slickest, cleanest, most perfect form possible. If the client is not happy, the photograph fails. The viewer is secondary. On the other hand, non-commercial photographs, which includes art photography, travel, wildlife, landscape, photojournalism, street photography etc, should be made to express ideas to the viewer. There is nothing to sell, and no client to please. The photographer works for his or her audience. He or she is a communicator, a story teller. The purpose is not to glorify, but instead to tell the truth, as the photographer interprets that truth. Hope this helps. This image, as you say, expresses the nature of work as it is, not as some executive wants it to be. Quite a difference. Ironically, it is the commercial photographer who is the highest paid. The dollars go to those who gild the truth, rather than tell it.
Sheena Xin Liu15-Jul-2006 22:35
I have found that many of your images expressed the hardship of human labors . Adversity, poverty, rawness can always raise deep sympathies from the readers. I think this is one of the difference between street photography and the commercial photography, where the latter seems almost inclined to express the shining, lustrous and showy models , exposing their luxury dresses and worriless lives.
Phil Douglis08-Jul-2006 01:29
I waited for this bricklayer, who is a woman, by the way, to enter the shadows before I shot. I wanted to abstract her, making her more a symbol than reality. And you are right, Armin -- the light on the bricks make the task ahead seem even harder.
arminb08-Jul-2006 00:05
What I like particularly about this one is that he's in the shadow, but his burdon is even emphasized by being in direct sunshine...making it so dominant!
Phil Douglis14-Jun-2006 17:29
Thanks, Jack, for coming to this image. It is one of my favorites because of the degree of abstraction created by light and shadow. There is considerable weight to the day ahead for this person, and I am glad you feel it as well.
Guest 08-Jun-2006 22:29
Great composition with light and shade!! The daunting pile of bricks and the figure's concern says a lot about his day ahead.
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