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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Four: Photographing the tourist in all of us > Reflecting the past, Bodie State Historic Park, California, CA
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21-OCT-2006

Reflecting the past, Bodie State Historic Park, California, CA

The old hotel that stands on the main street of this ghost town draws visiting photographers to its windows in search of a vision of the past. Looking into these windows, one can make out an old pool table, a telephone switchboard, and hotel signage. From my own vantage point, these same windows reflect the main street of the town, its old houses almost buried in fields of golden sage. I photographed this tourist as he works on his own photograph. I see what he does not see – the surreal reflections of his surroundings have placed him squarely in the past.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
1/125s f/4.0 at 68.4mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time21-Oct-2006 08:14:30
MakePanasonic
ModelDMC-FZ50
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length68.4 mm
Exposure Time1/125 sec
Aperturef/4
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.66
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

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Phil Douglis29-Oct-2006 18:32
Your comment goes to the very heart of this image, Ceci -- he stands both inside and outside of this building. He is part of both present and past, but does not realize it. I do -- and so do all who may look at this image. The reflection is, as you say, full of ghosts. He does not see those, either. He is too busy photographing what at he sees beyond these reflections, deep inside the building. It is ironic that while so desperately trying to picture the past, he has no realization that my image has enveloped him within that past.
Guest 29-Oct-2006 06:35
Such vivid juxtapositions, this modern man and his hi-tech gear leaning into old windows that are in continuous meltdown through time. He is wearing clothing and has equipment made of oil that has been altered, extruded, shaped, and blended -- and stands before a sagging building of wood, glass & metal. His own reflection seems to be another figure inside the building, as though they're adversaries. The abstractions in the glass are marvelous, perhaps partial images of all the dust-choked ghosts of those who once roamed the town?
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