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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Two: Travel Incongruities > Balancing act, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 2007
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09-NOV-2007

Balancing act, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 2007

Balancing on a few feet of rock over a 1,000-foot drop is not for the faint hearted. Yet our tour leader Dave Wyman incongruously seems quite at home in such situations. He looks away from his perch above the chasm, which makes this image seem even more frightening and incongruous. The play of light, towering cliffs, and scale incongruity make him seem even more vulnerable than he is. (I hope that he doesn’t try this again -- all it takes is just one misstep and....)

Leica V-Lux 1
1/400s f/5.6 at 10.6mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis07-Sep-2008 17:49
Thanks, Wojciech, for appreciating the quality of light and composition here -- it makes Dave's balancing act seem even more dangerous, since so much of the scene is in darkness and therefore undefinable. Dark often signifies danger and that is what is happening here. By placing him off to the right, I lesson the sense of balance, and intensify the dangerous feeling.
Guest 07-Sep-2008 06:42
Great photograph! I particulary like your comosition and back light here!
Phil Douglis29-Apr-2008 01:29
That's Dave -- he is a man without peer when it comes to lack of fear. I wish he would not do things like this, even if I do take pictures of him in peril.
Iris Maybloom (irislm)29-Apr-2008 00:27
I took a picture of Dave at the edge of a rock in Zion. If it's blurry, my acrophobia caused some camera shake. This image reminds me of my fear. Fortunately Dave does not share this phobia and, therefore, gives us these wonderful photo opportunities. It's nice of him to wear his red jacket, as it adds significantly to the danger!
Phil Douglis13-Mar-2008 06:04
I guess Dave feels that if that edge was going to snap off, it would have done so by now. All he is asking is for a few moments of stability from a rock that has, as you note, been there for a million years. As for the sleeping rock cat, I am sure Dave has stood on a few of those in his time. Thanks, Michael, for your thoughts on this image.
Michael J. Parkinson13-Mar-2008 03:49
Whenever I see a shot like this I think Of Willy E. Coyote. I am less concerned with the individual losing their balance than the edge, after a million years, snapping off.
PS. Dave looks like he is standing on the back of a sleeping rock cat.
Phil Douglis19-Jan-2008 04:55
You are right, Azlin. Simple details can mean a lot in expressive photography. Just a turn of the head and Dave no longer appears to be conscious of his precarious position. There was a collective gasp when he struck this pose.
Azlin Ahmad13-Jan-2008 14:43
A very jarring image. You're right, the effect is intensified by his head turned away. Such a simple detail but it creates a lot of impact
Phil Douglis13-Dec-2007 06:47
Glad you can see the other side of Dave here, Jenene -- this man is incredibly comfortable amidst nature. He is
made for it. And it shows here. Tim and I will be taking two more trips with Dave in 2008 -- Yosemite in May and Yellowstone in October. It will be my second visit to those places, and we are looking forward to it. It would be great if you could join us -- you can read about Dave's 2007 trips athttp://www.davewyman.net/iqtours.html
JSWaters13-Dec-2007 05:40
I fully share yours and Patricia's feelings of discomfort in seeing Dave balancing on that rock. But what a wonderful job you've done of conveying his absolute comfort in his environment.
Jenene
Phil Douglis11-Dec-2007 19:55
You see exactly what I was trying to say here, Patricia. I place Dave off to the right, creating an imbalance that makes his tenuous hold on that rock seem even more terrifying. The rim light on his arm separates him from the chasm beyond and calls attention to his situation. I agree with you -- I want to take more trips with Dave, and hope that
he will go easy on our hearts in the future.
Patricia Lay-Dorsey11-Dec-2007 17:49
Zowie! This gives me heart palpitations! Your choice of format enhances the sense of terrifying scale here, and the backlight on Dave brings him even more to the forefront of our consciousness. Yes, I hope he doesn't try this again.
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