Brooklyn, NY, September 2006

I admire this shot... what a great capture. I have never been a fan of cat shots, but obviously this one goes far beyond what most of us have seen before. I can sense the stress in the animal, in the way it awkwardly forces itself to stare and breathe into the corner of the claustrophobic box in an attempt to keep warm. As a whole the entire photo from subject to composition is rather 'unfomfortable' and I think this above all is why I find it works so well. A photo of misfitted elements, which (oddly enough) relate to each other. Very nice.

 

Regards,

The fact that it's just started raining very hard is important for me but not very evident in the photograph. I can see the drops beginning to fall on the ledge but only lightly. If it were immediately apparent that it is raining, even better if it were pouring, the cat's predicament and less than perfect solution would be sad and comical at the same time, like Chaplin. For that to happen the rain needs to be as strong in the image as the cat. The graffiti, a 3rd element, is almost context to me: a contemporary city; people mark here too; the cunningness of cats has enabled them to inhabit all manor of jungles. I'm not sure that the position of the graffiti is as important to the picture as the problem of the sudden rain to this cat. That's where the drama of the picture takes place for me.

 

I am disappointed that with a stunning and truly original portfolio and large selection of better photographs to choose from, that this particular photo was chosen to represent Beau. That seems to happen a lot.

Wow. What particularly works here is how you tell the story using color. The cat is obviously in a stray and unloving environment. It is nearly entirely shades of red in a dominant scale. The cat's environment is much contracted and almost entirely grayscale. It is driven into itself. The only rogue notion in the crimson conformity is the bit of errant graffiti. This is an image that will get viewers to see aspects of their life as being a bit like this. It all works. It all works together. You can't take anything out. This is a real treat to see the first bit of color from you be something so strong. Wow.

what about

Cute, amusing, and entirely aesthetic for a cat photo. Nicely done.

Congratulation to Beau * for this POW which I find very attractive but for other reasons than the ones I have seen in the comments above. I'm not convinced that "telling a story" is an overall valid criteria for a good photo. In this case the story would be fairly banal and in my view of limited interest although I love my cat and its habits.

 

The attractiveness of this photo I find in its composition (a play of a vertical, horizontal lines and squares), its colour tones (red and grey/black tones enhanced by the rain and the re-paint on the door) and the variety of textures (stone, wood, the soft fur of the cat). The graffiti on the wall can be appreciated because it calls to our attention the warm colours and the straight lines in the rest of the scene.

 

A final word on the choice of this photo as a POW. It is the only colour photo Beau * has in his present portfolio and the folder is named "Colours ?" where I?m sure the question mark is important. In my view his BW photo deserve much more attention. They are brilliant. This is merely highly attractive. My personal view of course.

I think this is a really great photo. I like the subject matter of course, original and at the same time quite amusing but a little sad too in the end. But I also like it for the way it was photographed. This picture's success, for me, relies on the following:

 

1) The cat's box is white and the cat is mostly white, and then there are 2 little white areas at right, on the wall, and on the right door. All these "white areas" are connected with each other simply because everything else is red in the frame - with exception of the grey ground. That's how the white and mostly the main subject are made to stand out.

 

2) I like the composition very much. As somebody already noted, it's all straight lines, whereas only the cat and writing at right are curvy. This also contributes to lay emphasis on the cat, and the cat therefore appears as a living creature "trapped" in a word of straight lines, this world that "boxed him in".

 

Very clever composition on a great photographic opportunity. As I said in my cmment on your top ten presentation, Beau, I think this color picture is really among your very best images here. Seeing how strong and graphical your vision of color photography is, I think you should perhaps try your luck at color photography a bit more often... :-)

I want to step in here and say that I am honored to have my photo selected for POW, and more importantly, that I am very grateful for the extremely thoughtful comments that other members have taken the time to write.

 

In general, the comments of photo.net members have been hugely helpful to me in understanding why I took a photo or why I liked the result enough to submit it. Many of you are first-rate critics and I have had many a revelatory experience upon reading your thoughts. I've been humbled and encouraged and my pictures are vastly the better for it.

 

I will try to respond directly to some of the comments in due course, but for now, many, many thanks and, if I may be so greedy, keep it coming!

Outstanding shot. Not sure if I like the original, or if I like the version (noted above) where the commenter bumped the color saturation. Regardless, the framing is outstanding. And most importantly, you captured *the* moment. It makes you feel like you're there, which is kinda the point, no? Looking forward to seeing the rest of your portfolio.

Regards--j

Hi Beau,

Great shot. The black and white cat in a white box surrounded by red...I'd have to agree with Stephen in that a lesser background colour would have lost it. Cheers

I know this sounds frivilous, but Beau has managaed to take two of the most overworked subjects - cats and red doors - and has given us an image worthy of our attention. The words "edgy", "soulful", or maybe just "real" come to mind. Hopefully someone else will do a better job describing the tone of this image.

Photographs are very person statements and can be more profound than the labored canvas, simply because of the immediacy of the medium. Our subconscious prods us, the camera is there, the moment in time is captured. Cats and people go back together millions of years. I'll leave it to the scientists and philosophers as to just what the cat's influence has been. To me, the shot works because of the square format - keeping the eye within the frame. I have trouble cropping my square images. They seem to change character when I do and not always for the better. Nice thing about a big chrome - you can hold it up to ambient light 60 years from now and be transported right back to that time and place without any intervening apparatus. I have Kodachromes from the 40s that are as bright and sharp as the day they came back to a young, impatient photographer in those yellow boxes from Kodak. I doubt my granddaughter, now 13, will enjoy a similar experience. Great photos also have another quality - They suggest to us that there is an interesting story, perhaps a mystery, about them. They invoke higher emotions, like compassion. I'd give Beau a ten on a scale of seven.

Well, when you get 15 minutes who can blame you for trying to parlay it into 16 or 17...

here's an interview I did earlier today if anyone's interested: woosta.com

Just one quote: "There?s always a tension in using photography as a tool to become more fully engaged with your experiences and surroundings. If you?re not careful the act of photography can obstruct your participation in moments that really matter, particularly in the context of human relationships. I find that I don?t use my camera much among loved ones and friends, only when I?m alone, so I guess that?s how I manage it."

 

That is one very in depth interview. I really really like your exposing your whole self to anyone who wants to read that interview. I must bookmark it. Also, to keep your personal 'real life' experiences seperate from your photography is important to your basic grounding and ability to view through the lens and still be objective. Thanks for telling us that important point in street shooting.

 

About your one and only color 'street' photo -- its still great street with great color. You have an exceptional eye for the things that are happening in our world. And the ability to show it, whether in color or black and white.

 

This photo, from when I first saw it, pulled at my heartstrings. Not so much because of the kitten, but because people in my town are sleeping in boxes in doorways of places that are in business during the day; and are places to sleep for the homeless at nite. The homeless sleep in boxes like this kitten.

I would invite everyone to read that interview of Beau. Great inside of a personality and great photographer. I would however copy one paragraph that directly concern the POW:

 

"That's the only color photo I ever submitted there, after years of putting up my B&W images, and then just a few days later, bingo. I guess I should get the message but, I don't know, color is really hard to do right. There are just so many more factors you have to juggle. By the way, that particular shot basically created itself -- sometimes god just gives you a big kiss on the mouth."

 

I'm still, also after having read this, especially looking forward seeing the future BW photos of Beau. In my eyes, he has a very special style in BW that would not easily be translated into colours.

I love the image, the situation, the composition and the story !

The coulour here really adds to the mood and aestetics.

 

The story is a reminder to all of us, go around with your eyes open and keep your camera always at hand. The life is full of surprises wherever you are, there are great opportunities for a visual story or for capturing the beauty and wonder of the world around.

 

Jana

Beau*'s portfolio has always been one of the driving forces in my interest in photography.

When I first joined the site I was taken a back by all of his photos. So much so that a few

months later I took a darkroom class at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was

a beginner's class and there were a lot of people in it who were loaded with enthusiasm for

the B+W medium. I started to take some alright photos and some of the people wanted to

know more about what I liked. I sent a bunch of people (including the instructor) a link to

his work. It was the talk of the class for a while and everyone was really into it. Years later

it's even more interesting. Beau's work (and thoughts on photography) peak the interest of

newcomers and seasoned photographers from his first posted photos to (obviously) his

latest. I am lucky enough to view some of his prints in person instead of just on my

monitor and having them framed and up in my living room pays off everyday. I have a

newborn son and his favorite things to stare at are (in this order) Mommy, the orange

lamp in the stairwell, Beau's photos, and me. When I think back to my childhood 'flashbulb'

memories and think about how they stick with me it's exciting to think maybe Beau's art

will be a part of my son's memory of being introduced to the world around him.

 

Congrats, Beau* and I hope more recognition (and minutes) come your way soon.

It's funny, the first couple of times I looked at this image I read what I now think is

the cat's ear as an eye (in the black furry area), giving a kind of sidelong look toward

the

viewer's right, and making this appear to be quite a strange creature indeed. It's still

difficult to distinguish for sure, but I think the cat's eyes are in the brown area and

they are shut, facing straight down. Certainly I'm not the only one to see it as

ambiguous in this way.

 

At any rate, congratulations Beau on having your work placed front and center!

I like everything about this image and how the size of shapes ranges...to find this tiny

kitten in the box...delight for the eye

Her eyes are closed and that is her ear which itself is held close to her head so she will fit better. She has managed to squeeze herself into too small a space as cats will do. Nonchalantly she ignores everything that doesn't have to do with finding a place to nap in this shoe box. We, on the other hand, understand the actual situation and the difference between her understanding and ours is the source of the comical. It's the basis for comedy. (a misunderstanding of a situation which then directs the action which should work but doesn't because the initial understanding was incorrect) But the picture is more than simply comical or cute and this is where my hat's off to Beau because the cat's problem is real. What you experience as sad is softened by the comedy and what you experience as comedy is made to hurt a little by reality. That's Chaplin.

Great shot, simplicity and graphic impact. To me the best it's the good feeling, when I look this picture I remember the end of "Breakfast in Tiffany's".

It's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' because remember, Audrey Hepburn is eating her

breakfast out of a bag while looking in the display window from the outside early in

the morning before

Tiffany's has opened. I think it's near the beginning of the film.

In the novella Holly Golightly tells the narrator that she has berakfast at Tiffany's every morning. It's the same image as the light at the end of Gatsby's pier - on the outside looking in, even when you're on the inside. Very American, or at least very New York. ("If I can make it here I can make it anywhere..."). This is a very New York cat. Hope she gets her big break.

Absolutely stunning.

 

Marvelous saturated colours and a perfect composition.

 

Best regards,

Jan Martin

Re; Breakfast at Tiffany's

 

It's the opening scene of the movie.

And contains another New York classic red color; the early morning streetscape of 5th Avenue, looking south, as the sun begins to infuse the sky with a gentle rose glow, the top of the Empire State Building just noticeable in the distance...

Like Paris, New York City has a special light found nowhere else.

 

Well worth getting up early to capture.