Reality

Well done, Marius. A reality that we Romanians know very well. Acute observation, good composition and a message hard to forget.

I think the crop on this is great. I wouldn't cut it down at all. I do have another idea for a title

even though "Reality" is a great title in the spirit of a documentary.

 

"It's what's inside that counts." :-)

 

dale

To the cropped version - No Way ! The original annoys me because the photographer had all the time in the world to INCLUDE that full meter bottom right - not cut it through the centre and unbalance the composition forever.

The original framing is very precise (if you take the time to look at it). No changes are needed in order to sanitize the composition, thank you very much. The title should give the viewer some small hint that this is how the scene presented itself to the photographer. There is no need to try to improve on "Reality."

Yes, this is realty.. and sadly it is the realty for billions of humans in the word, well captured.. You leave a large space to tink in the human kind.. at least this kid have heat at home.. others dont.. Maybe this imagen let us tink in contemporany issues... WELL DONE!

he frame the little kid in the window as if its a wall painting. i like the idea very distinctive. bravo mr. Samoila and to the "Elves" for choosing such an outstanding composition very good learning material for future photographers.

This image grabbed my attention immediately. It is perfect as it is shown and needs no crop. How great do I think this picture is? It is the very first picture I have ever taken the trouble to comment on since joining photo.net! Nice work, Marius. Best regards, Bill

Love the photo. I'm a fan of the ugly side of life. Don't get me wrong, I love any amazing photograph, but I think they can be just as amazing on both sides of the scale. Like the famous Vietnam photo of the guy being shot in the head is as amazing as any photo I've seen.

 

The crop (or lack of) is fine. Maybe it could be better, but it works. And a tight crop kills the whole point of the picture. They it just becomes a kid looking out a window with slightly ugly exterior, you loose the jumbled, complex feeling which is what makes you care about the kid in the first place.

 

I get a sense of a place which is struggling to keep up with the "modern" world. The buildings built without consideration for wiring/plumbing, then having them slapped on haphazardly after the fact. It's an excelent microcosm for poor neighborhoods in general. An odd detail that gives a much wider impression.

 

And the title "Reality" is very fitting, since most photos show staged situations or lanscapes most people will never see. In other words, things that are not the reality of the masses.

 

I could go on, but I'm at work and their probably tracking my key-strokes.

 

Mike

As presented, I feel this is very representative of our era.....digital technology, gas $

meters, lifes struggles...the beat goes on...

Although analog street work had it's day, our place in history resides in our ability to

grab shot's such as this, often before even thinking of the ramifications. Discovery

awaits.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this being in color works well, the composition is good,

but the undeniable message is it's strength.

Perhaps the child is a symbol of our lost innocence. In any case, I like this on a number of levels. It is surprisingly aesthetically pleasing, but, as some have noted, the real power of this one is the message.

 

--Lannie

Definitely do NOT like it cropped closer - it loses the whole meaning, imo. "Reality" is that many children are no longer brought up in the country, with fresh air, fresh milk, a yard to play in and so on. They live behind windows and bars. I like the original composition; cropping was not quite perfect, but it's still very good.

the original framing is good as is... otherwise the sense of chaos given by such cahotic piping would be lost or diminished.... also i just stepped into an "organic" interpretation for the image: pipes are bloodlines giving life to the block, so also to the boy... he looks out of the window and is careless of what kind of complexity keeps him confortable.

When I opened photo.net this morning, my first impression when I saw this image was "What a powerful Image!"

There are images you see and forget the minutes after, but some will haunt you for a long time, this one is just it!

- steve

Quote>>> GungaJim Downs - Denver Area Photo.net Patron, July 10, 2006; 03:06 P.M.

Finally, a POW that presents vivid, unvarnished realism. Well done. <<<

 

I agree. I disagree with cropping out the meter boxes. However, to me it lacks colour, it appears a little flat. But all else is great. I was still wowed by it. Lucky shot

When I looked at this photo, suddenly I had hope; I too have taken a photo of utility boxes, but the misfortune not to have seen these or the child.

 

Art is where you find it, and it can be found in the rough geometry of utility pipes, meters and boxes on a wall, juxtaposed by the warmth and innocence of a child peering through a window for a nice human touch.

 

For the commentator who noted 'lucky shot' above, I offer this story: While a photo editor at Associated Press, a plane crashed at Idylwild Airport (Kennedy), and a photographer was sent there for crash scene photos. He came back with photos of an investigator amid the wreckage carrying one of two 'black boxes' -- flight data recorders, and I said 'lucky shot' to him, really meaning 'extraordinary shot.'

 

He hung with the mob and the FBI at different times, and carried a gun in an ankle holster. He almost went for his pistol to shoot me, he was so angry and fulminating at my poor choice of 'complimentary' words -- lucky shot? Heck no!

 

He planned it that way exactly.

 

Good photographers don't generally take 'lucky shots', especially when they're framed like this.

 

Good shot!

 

John (Crosley)

I am going to differ from many, if not most, of the comments made thus far. I just don't see the sense of irony (or contradiction, or whatever) that many others see in this image, and I don't believe that any amount of cropping (or any other kind of adjustment) is going to change that. While the many of what appear to be gas or electric lines (and meters) make for a rather unattractive wall, I don't see any sense of suffering or despair on the part of the child. By the very existence of the lines, the child appears to be well-dressed, warm, and well-cared for. We might not think that the surrounds are terribly attractive, but they are functioning, the wall appears to be recently painted, there appears to be no physical damage to the property, and the child doesn't appear to be disadvantaged or suffering in any way. While very competently done, I just don't see the point.

I like this picture. It's an interesting composition, and it has some feeling to it. There's a bit of a "story line" to it. It is not a mere display of technical perfection. I'd like to see more pictures like this as it is the kind of photo which interests me the most.

 

The child's expression and the way he/she's holding the curtain I find poignant.

The best photo I've seen in a long time. I have seen great photos recently that may have been "technically" better than this, however, I really feel this photo. When I see a photo that makes me feel, I'll add it to my favourites over any "technical photo" anyday.

Interesting shot, but it lacks something to be excellent. The message is somehow lost in that flat picture. What bothers me a little also is that cropped meter box on the right in contrast with boxes on the left. To balance the composition it needs cropping from the left. Michael Seewalds crop is quite much for my taste. I was also curious how does it look like in monochrome or b&w. See the attachment for comparison with original.

Once again the attachment

Once again the attachment. Hope it works this time.

Now this is a photograph. I like as Beau described it, the early 20th century modernisim of

the electrical boxes and conduits which themselves are "modernist icons", electricity etc.

juxtaposed with the soft and victorian portrait of the child creates a really post-industrial,

post-modern tapestry where the electricity now is not a thing of modernism, but is really

on the edge of decay, including the ideas that created it. With the juxtaposion of the

child, what was once a positive concept of how people should live together now appeaers

squalid and hostile almost and unsupportive of humane living. I mean as others have said

about the contrasts, this impacts on many levels from the personal level of the child's

interacton, what it says about the social habitat for that particular place, what it says about

that particular locality and its history and then even on a more macro level just about irony

and cultural themes on the planet....whew...that's a lot of stuff. S

 

Also, disagree with Doug in that cropping changes all the relationships between the

elements in the photo and though it looks nice enough as cropped it would makes it a

completely differnt picture because of the size of the child relative to the rest of the

picture...at least to me. Totally changes the emphasis. You are free to disagree. I would

love having a huge print of this, and would be happy to put it over my couch or some

other nice big wall space.

Thank you for all your comments!!!

I like the very graphical juxtaposition of two very mundane subjects; the haphazard yet orderly gas lines and meters, and a half-awake kid. Like it's overused title, it is so devoid of meaning that much can be read into it depending on the viewers imagination and choices.

Imediat ce am vazut contoarele alea, mi-am dat seama ca trebuie sa fie facuta in .ro :D Bravo! E o poza pe care ai trece 99% din timp fara sa o vezi. Felicitari ;)