In search of an idea, by Dandan Liu, Wheeler, Oregon, 2006 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Seven: As others see me > In search of an idea, by Dandan Liu, Wheeler, Oregon, 2006

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09-JUN-2006

In search of an idea, by Dandan Liu, Wheeler, Oregon, 2006

My friend and pbase student Dandan Liu, had been making pictures of me on board an abandoned passenger car on a rusty siding in this tiny Oregon town. (See: http://www.pbase.com/image/65001081) As I left, she kept on shooting, and using the powerful leading lines of the rusted track, she creates a masterfully composed image of a photographer in search of an idea. In shooting me from behind, she creates superb abstraction, one that gives me a view of myself that I have never seen before. The tiny abstracted figure offers scale incongruity, and the color a touch of melancholy. I never did find that idea. You can see this image, as well others she made on this Oregon photo trip, in her pbase gallery at http://www.pbase.com/celestine/oregon06

Nikon D70
1/200s f/4.5 at 18.0mm iso200 hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	09-Jun-2006 15:28:08
Make	Nikon
Model	NIKON D70
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	18 mm
Exposure Time	1/200 sec
Aperture	f/4.5
ISO Equivalent	200
Exposure Bias
White Balance	(10)
Metering Mode	multi spot (3)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program	aperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		07-May-2009 17:31
Thanks for coming back to this shot two years later, Chris -- it is one of my own favorites, too. I have always considered expressive photography as a serendipitous journey -- you never know what you may find. Dandan portrays me on this journey here -- as Jenene points out, I am in search of my voice, my own artistic trail, along with every other expressive photographer or artist. Am I on the "right track?" That is the question this picture asks of me. And yes, as Jenene also notes, it is among the most thought provoking images in this gallery.

Chris Sofopoulos		07-May-2009 06:52
I couldn't stand to comment this photo once again because is one of my favourites.

Phil Douglis		21-Aug-2007 06:52
I will let Dandan know of your warm and thoughtful comment, Patricia. She gives us a metaphor for creativity itself here --creativity is always a journey, with many choices along the way. And as my friend and student Jen Zhou said earlier, whichever track we choose to pursue will lead to wonderful discoveries, as long as we keep on searching.

Patricia Lay-Dorsey		21-Aug-2007 03:47
Yes, I am also in awe of this photo, not just as a photographer but as a human being...and one who has trod many a path in her day. This, to me, is the single most expressive photo I have yet seen in this gallery. It resonates on a deep level with all I am coming to experience in this adventure called life. My compliments to Dandan as the artist who saw and recorded this image, and to you, Phil, for being one who also walks your own unique paths.

Phil Douglis		16-Apr-2007 05:16
Thanks, Xin, for adding a new vision to Dandan's image. I have made my choice here with confidence and determination. Dandan catches the essence of quest in this image, and that is what photography is for me. I am always searching for new ways of expressing ideas visually, and this photo is all about that search, choice, and the passion I bring to it. I like the symbolic blur of green that Dandan creates with her lens here-- it is a new realm of life: the unknown. Thanks for coming to this image, Xin -- Dandan will be very pleased.

Sheena Xin Liu		16-Apr-2007 02:26
This is a very inspiring picture. I honor Dandan¡¯s sense of composition and perfect selection of perspectives. It seems to me, that you walked with strength, poise, confidence, thoughtfulness and certainty. You seemed to know which road to follow at the bifurcation, as you turned on one of them, still possessing great composure and determination. You seemed to walk into a fullness of green , a new realm of life, and you embraced it. Phil, you converged into a vision! I truly love this picture.

Phil Douglis		22-Nov-2006 21:35
Thanks, Chris -- a portrait need not even show the subjects appearance to be effective. Here, Dandan tells a story about me by placing me into a symbolic context.

Chris Sofopoulos		22-Nov-2006 21:14
I am always fascinated by the rails and trains. I love the perspective and angle here. Very good composition! A bravo to Dandan Liu.

Phil Douglis		23-Aug-2006 00:15
Thank you, Jenene, for tracing the your own pitfall-strewn path to knowledge upon Dandan's abstract and thought provoking image of me. You are right -- it is the image in this gallery that abstracts me the most, yet also stirs the imagination to the greatest degree, for the very reasons you point out. I am sure Dandan had a similar thought in mind -- she, too, struggles with the medium, and often thinks little of her own accomplishments. Yet this image proves that she has the vision to be a very expressive photographer if she wants to be.

JSWaters		22-Aug-2006 20:25
I find this to be the most thought provoking image in this gallery, Phil. It relates to all of us in our attempt to blaze our own artistic trail. It's also highly symbolic if you think in terms of what your teaching means to your students. We follow a path you've followed yourself, we try to avoid the pitfalls and potholes you've already mapped, yet inadvertently we stub our toes on unseen obstacles. The lesson is perseverence, and searching for our own voice. Jenene

Phil Douglis		13-Aug-2006 19:30
Thanks, Jen, for this wonderful comment. I think Dandan deserves more than a single gasp -- it is a remarkable image, expressing all of the idea you mention and others as well. I think the key is the relationship between my abstracted figure and the railroad tracks, a lovely metaphor for the creative journey all of us take as expressive photographers.

Jennifer Zhou		13-Aug-2006 13:04
I gasped as I see this photo Phil, the style and the mood perfectly go with you and your character (at least I think so). I can imagine how you quietly walk along the track, and I can even hear the sound of you stepping on the stones.. It is a road we all once or will walk on, and we can all imagine it is us there in the picture. The process of searching is sometimes difficult but very enjoyable and fruitful, we should never miss out on it.. The rusty color of the track repersents age and wisdom, just like Phil yourself, and the color of the tree is a symbol of new and hope and that is where you were led to, I like the fact that Dandan captured you just at the point of the dividing track, but either way, will lead you to wonderful discovery as long as you (we) keep searching.. right?

Phil Douglis		12-Aug-2006 17:32
Glad you pointed out the effect of the blur in the background here, Ai Li. Since Dandan uses a wideangle lens, I doubt if the blur is due to selective focusing. More than likely, she added it in post processing. It does make me seem as if I am walking into the unknown. Which, in fact, I was. Whenever we are in search of an idea, the future usually looks a bit fuzzy. The symbolism of the dividing tracks is a thought provoking idea as well. As for finding what I was looking for -- no I did not find an image worth posting. But I always find something. In this case I found knowledge -- i learned why something did not work. Meanwhile, Dandan makes a memorably expressive image out of my quest.

AL		12-Aug-2006 05:38
Oh wow, it's truly amazing scale! Not sure if she's done any selective focusing but the blur backdrop in the distant added a great feel to this shot. A brilliant perspective to show the leading track, an infinite one to me as it goes beyond the frame to an unknown. Another interesting thing I like is the split dividing track, a choice to be made, and the direction you'd chosen. The colors did also make me feel abit weary as I watched your tiny physique walking on the almost endless track. Hope you found what you're looking for, Phil... A wonderful shot by Dandan.

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