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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Seven: As others see me > Train enthusiast, by Dandan Liu, Wheeler, Oregon, 2006
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09-JUN-2006

Train enthusiast, by Dandan Liu, Wheeler, Oregon, 2006

One of my pbase students, Dandan Liu, ( http://www.pbase.com/celestine ) traveled from Montreal to Oregon to take Dave Wyman’s Vision Quest photo tour with me. I was making an image from a long forgotten railroad car while Dandan was quietly making pictures of me. Even when I noticed her, she kept shooting, and certainly caught my enthusiasm in this image. This train may not be going anywhere, but it almost seems as if I am about to magically make it ride the rails again. When I finished shooting here, I left Dandan to find her own images. She did – catching me as I trudged away down the track in search of an idea. You can see it at http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/65001079

Nikon D70
1/60s f/7.1 at 70.0mm iso200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time09-Jun-2006 15:41:44
MakeNikon
ModelNIKON D70
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length70 mm
Exposure Time1/60 sec
Aperturef/7.1
ISO Equivalent200
Exposure Bias
White Balance (10)
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis21-Aug-2007 06:47
Thank you, Patricia, and I will be sure to let Dandan know of your comment. That camera in my hand here is my little Leica Diglilux, which I wear on my belt at all times. It has a 28mm wideangle lens on it, which makes it a perfect complement to the 35mm-420mm zoom lens on my prime camera, the Leica V-Lux 1.
Patricia Lay-Dorsey21-Aug-2007 03:38
Utter joy & delight, a warm inviting smile, and your beloved camera in your hand. This is the Phil I am honored to be coming to know. Please thank Dandan for this wonderful gift to us all!
Phil Douglis27-Mar-2007 17:23
Simplicity is the essence of good communication. Dandan does a good job of it here. Thanks for the comment.
Guest 27-Mar-2007 14:54
Simple shot but it tells alot in this image.
Phil Douglis22-Nov-2006 21:38
I thank you on behalf of Dandan, Chris -- she places me in an incongruous setting, organizes her image effectively, and triggers a response from me that tells the story well.
Chris Sofopoulos22-Nov-2006 21:18
Trains, trains, trains.. Fantastic! The angle and the diagonal, the heavy sky and you make a beautiful photo. I love it!
Phil Douglis06-Nov-2006 21:16
The sincere enthusiasm of your comment is heartwarming, Raquel. I have a long-standing working relationship with Dandan, and she may well have had some of what you say in mind when she made this photo of me. I see the train as a symbolic journey of exploration that I take with my students, and I guess I am welcoming Dandan, as well as all of who view this picture, along for the ride. I am flattered that you see a mentor-mentee metaphor here, Raquel, and that you see me welcoming aboard all who may come my way. Yes, I do welcome any serious student to use me as a mentor, resource, and teacher, and always will. Thank you for seeing that in this image. I hope that you, too, will come to pbase soon and get on this train with me, Raquel. I am also sure that Dandan will enjoy your comment on this image.
Raquel 06-Nov-2006 20:07
Hi Phil! I love this photo by Dandan! :o) I love how she is able to capture a moment but I think also, she has captured a fraction of your very essence as a person and the perspective (would that be the right technical term for it?) from which she took the shot stresses this all the more. Dandan was probably at the platform looking up at where you are, being slightly elevated. Figuratively, i imagine it as that of a mentor-apprentice relationship. She looks up to you and has great respect for your knowdlege and expertise,AND AT THE SAME TIME, you reach out to her by making an effort to peer way out the window and flashing that beautiful, warm smile. This is exactly how I see you. As a great fan of yours and your work, I see the genuine interest you have in people...regardless of race or social class or cultural differences or time difference...you welcome everyone who comes your way. I see this, too, when you enthusiastically answer emails and respond to comments! YOu reach out to people and just as you generously flash that beautiful, warm smile, you generously share what you know and what you have experienced to others. I am grateful and equally humbled by your selflessness and passion. Not too many people have the heart and mind that you do :o)
Phil Douglis12-Aug-2006 17:28
Thanks Lawrence, Linda, Ai Li, and Kal for noting Dandan's skills at expression here. Her composition is energetic and she certainly found a moment of spontaneous enthusiasm to relate to it. And yes, I do look like I am in charge of this journey. The train may be going nowhere, but the two images that Dandan made of me here are valuable additions to this gallery.
Kal Khogali12-Aug-2006 07:58
This is happy...maybe the fact that you have a camera in your hand, or maybe just seeing Dandan...but in the end...happy. K
AL12-Aug-2006 05:18
To me, it's you coming back with a great smile. Perhaps because I usually associate hesitation and tears with farewell as the train rides off. On the other hand, joy and excitement to return home and meet loved ones are what I expect to see as the train rides into the station. That's what I see on your face, Phil. But instead of waving your hand, you got your camera :-) I really like what Dandan has captured here, not only your great expression, but also her great perspective of the train. The almost diagonal composition worked very well, with you at the start of the frame, riding into my screen. And a BIG welcome back, Phil!
Linda Willets12-Aug-2006 02:52
look like the engineer of the train..
Guest 12-Aug-2006 01:26
Great image. V true also - absolutely have the feeling you're about to ride off on this old thing
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