photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Seven: As others see me > Double Vision, by Tim May, Maur, Malaysia, 2007
previous | next
01-SEP-2007

Double Vision, by Tim May, Maur, Malaysia, 2007

This is the only image (so far) in this gallery that not only shows how another photographer sees me, but also another observer. The man watching me work here brings his arms inwards, and appears to be quite relaxed. In contrast, I seem to be gasping for air. Two old geezers – one is passive, the other active. As Tim notes in his caption http://www.pbase.com/mityam/image/87404543) , “as we travel, many people look at what we are photographing and seem to wonder what in the heck we see. We see the world with new eyes – to them it is every day stuff.” Tim loves to photograph visual puns, and this image is a double play on the word “vision” in the sign just behind us. Both parties here wear glasses, and there is a large pair of spectacles on that sign. It also underscores another point: expressive photographers are often fixated on using their vision well. One more bonus here is the striking pink pair of trousers in the background, worn by our Malaysian host, pbase photographer Cecilia Lim. She and her husband Chor traveled with us through Singapore and China as well – and those pink trousers often helped us keep her in sight.

Olympus Evolt E-510
1/13s f/5.2 at 55.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time01-Sep-2007 14:21:12
MakeOlympus
ModelE-510
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length55 mm
Exposure Time1/13 sec
Aperturef/5.2
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
share
blizzard29-Dec-2007 18:46
favorite
a great example of the man and is work v
Phil Douglis27-Oct-2007 19:19
Thanks, Ai Li, for your cogent thoughts, as usual. Tim does indeed encourage the viewer to become a participant in the image by identifying with the guy's fascination in the background.
AL27-Oct-2007 07:02
Truly brilliant, Tim! Very well seen, timed and juxtaposed. I like how my eyes are being led from the man to Phil to his camera and the sign. I'm now another observer, with my chin on my hand, just as curious as the man, wondering what caught Phil's eyes :-)
Phil Douglis19-Oct-2007 05:04
Hi, Cyndy and Tricia -- I am delighted that you both enjoyed this shot, and I am sure Tim will be as well. Thanks, Cyndy, for bringing up the two motorcycles and the concept of repetition here. I also like the two arms in action on both of the primary subjects, and I like the pairs of feet repeating from front to back as well. As for what I was shooting, Tim made this shot at 2:21 pm on September 1. I just checked my files and saw that I was shooting a huge clock which was on the second floor of The Muar Bazzar -- just across the street from us. I did not use that image in my galleries ( I shoot 5,000 pictures on a three week trip, and use perhaps 100 of them in my teaching galleries.)
flowsnow19-Oct-2007 02:11
A great image that Tim caught you! Perfect description, Phil.
Guest 18-Oct-2007 20:59
"Visual pun" is an apt description of this image. I like all the repeated figures: photographer and the observer, the two motocycles, the double lenses in the background. Interesting and fun photo. What was in your viewfinder, Phil??
Phil Douglis18-Oct-2007 20:18
Thanks cmarcos and Suwanee for your comments -- glad you both found the explanation of value. Ultimately, each of us will bring our own context to bear on the subject, but it is always useful to get additional context from either the photographer or the subject of a picture. In this case, you have commentary from both.
Guest 18-Oct-2007 12:42
This is brilliant shot with alot of meanings. Your explanation helped me see more from the image.
Guest 18-Oct-2007 03:58
I like this image a lot, and the explanation also!!!
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