photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Sixteen: Story-telling street photography > In the alleys of Chinatown, San Francisco, California, 2007
previous | next
11-JUN-2007

In the alleys of Chinatown, San Francisco, California, 2007

The narrow alleys of Chinatown, built 100 years ago following the great earthquake, are lined with small shops and haunted memories. I entered this alley in the late afternoon – as the sun gets lower, the alleys of Chinatown get darker. Using spot metering, I exposed on the white awning of the jade shop, making the shadows bring a feeling of night to the scene. I photographed many different people walking down the opposite side of the street. This man was the most evocative – he is an abstraction, and timeless silhouette. He carried a cigarette to his lips just as I shot, his motion frozen by the shutter, and his body caught between the shadows.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/800s f/8.0 at 7.4mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time11-Jun-2007 16:04:37
MakeLeica
ModelV-LUX 1
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length7.4 mm
Exposure Time1/800 sec
Aperturef/8
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis02-Jul-2007 20:06
Thanks, Tim. You made an image on this same side street (http://www.pbase.com/mityam/image/81226950 ). Each of us feature an abstracted person walking in shadow towards the same odd shadow that looks like an exclamation point. Our figures approach from different directions and each of us use different backgrounds to add context. And both of our images are metaphorical stories about the economic contrasts within this changing community.
Tim May02-Jul-2007 18:36
Chinatown is very much about shadows. The real Chinatown is lived off the tourist street, in the side streets and alleys. Here we see the vibrant alive culture and the poverty just below the surface. That is what the shadow is about to me.
Phil Douglis20-Jun-2007 17:46
Thank you, Tricia -- this image is all about light and shadow. Otherwise it is just a shot of a guy walking down a street.
flowsnow20-Jun-2007 15:14
You definitely created that mood in your image Phil. Good play with the light and shadow here.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment