Condemned Man

Will Chris put us out of our misery and let us know the story behind this compelling image?

LOOK at the pix. Close. Is there something wrong?

Or I am wrong. You tell me. Im am open.

Well done. Ful of what's missing from much of the work here - emotional impact. Very good job and another argument against capital punishment.

Remarcable moment.One of the best photos I've seen until now. I would like to know its story. Chris, this is really a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing with us.

I agree that this is a very disturbing image. Perhaps thats why, I am not quite sure about the correctness of photographing people who are obviously facing inconceivable misery and then discussing the virtues of lighting, exposure and composition in the photograph. Doesn't quite feel right people. Of course, I am just expressing my opinion and certainly don't mean to belittle the photographer or his work in the process. After all, I wouldn't be commenting if this photograph wasn't so compelling.

Congratulations Chris! An excellent image. I fully agree with the explanation of why it was chosen as POW. One can "Feel" this man's pain as well as clearly see it. Composed and exposed very, very well

Very deeply. It´s grateful to know there are people with such capacity of read the reality. Photo know how is there. Congratulations

This shot is a good example of a photo that derives a large amount of its power from its title. Imagine that, rather than "Condemned Man," it was called "Asylum Resident," or "Criminal Detainee." It would, no doubt, still be a good documentary shot. But this title gives it moral heft that it otherwise would lack. The title places the viewer in front of a very dramatic scene.

 

It's a good lesson for me, at least, because I often dash off a title at the time I upload a picture, without much thought.

Looks great!

Although the thoughts this image is evoking are not that "nice" this image is really superb! It looks very strong in every aspect and it really makes you wanting to know what the story behind this image is (whether this is a wax figure or not, it looks very real _and_ strange).

 

Very similar and yet completely different to the images of Ian MacEachern's Asylum series and this is one of the best compliments you can get. ;)

 

Somehow it reminds me of the different sceneries in "Blade Runner" or the book "1984" (Orwell) or even the music from "Tool". Do you know what I mean?

I'm hoping that Chris responds soon on this image. I'm confused by the arm and how it seems to disappear in a pocket almost at the elbow. Is it a restraint and not a pocket? I also get a feeling that this is a painting or a wax image as someone suggested... especially when I pull it into my computer and zoom in on the very wooden - and - to me emotionless face. Maybe it is the look of a man who is dead inside? I don't know but the face is very dead - void of emotion to me. I know I was not struck by this image when I first saw it. Maybe it is just me but I see this as a dark, dreary image that doesn't move me. Just my opinion for whatever it is worth. Probably not worth much as I'm obviously in the minority here ;-)

Anyway, congratulations on POW and I'm sure it will be a very interesting week full of enlightening comments and observations.

I have to agree with the accumulating consensus that this is a photo of a wax figure in a diorama display, perhaps in one of the Madame Tussaud's "Chamber of Horrors." If that is, indeed, the case--presuming tripods are not allowed (as they generally are not in museums and exhibition halls) how did you do this? It appears to be well-lighted. There is no evidence of flash that I can see. There is evidence of D&B in the printing. The negative's kind of grainy for Tri-X. Did you push it a stop?

 

Comparing this with Ian MacEachern's psych hospital series is rather far-fetched, don't you think? This reminds me more of Jo Voet's tongue-in-cheek shot of a diorama in a Brussels museum of natural history, wherein two leopards are menacing a gazelle.

On the titles thread, another bad, or different title could have been: Tired Welder.

Looks like a wax figure to me too. And unlike a previous poster, I would NOT still consider it a great photo if it was not a real person. I am not saying it is definitely a fake. Just that it doesn't look real to me. Maybe Chris can post another picture of the man in a different position to confirm his authenticity. I would find it hard to believe that somebody would only snap off one shot of such a compelling subject. If he is real...kudos on a magnificent image.

I'm with the theory that this is from "The Chamber of Horrors". Most of the kudos he is receiving should land in the lap of the person who created the wax figure. No?

Cool portfolio none the less.

I'm not sure why this is, but presentation of photos on photo.net always cause problems for me. Why such a huge border on this image? what's the point? Doesn't it violate the image rules in place?

 

I'm going to get nailed for this meta-discussion but oh well. I've seen far too many 1200x1200+ pixel uploads in the past month(s) to let this go.

Are we taking bets? I bet it's a genuine photo, not a wax figure.

Guys,you are photographers,c'mon!!!!!!What happened with the photographic memory???? Don't you recognize our old friendly monster from Frankenstein,played by Boris Karloff??It is a wax figure of him!!!!

I'm beting!

Robert

Seeing as this photo was made in France, could that "B" stand for "Bastille"?

It's very "classic", the black and white, the somber tone and the dark and depressing subject. The whole deal is kind of all laid out there, like it is following some recipe for profundity. Stylistically and formally, I don't find it that interesting, perhaps as good as it is, it is just too familiar. Like something from an old Life Magazine. It is certainly a great depiction of hopelessness, depression, an anonymous individual's personal agony and hell. . .so what does one say about it? Gee, what a nice picture? Nice tonal range? Oh, I just love the expression you've captured? Would the subject perhaps care for a dozen wallet sized prints for the relatives?

Transcending the photograph for a moment, this image elicits recollection of two passages from literature. The first is from Dostoyevsky's novel "The Idiot." Prince Myshkin describes the scene of an execution by guillotine he witnessed while recently in Paris. He emphasizes the condemned's anticipation of the inescapable as being the real cruelty and terror. The second is from a short story by Somerset-Maugham. I don't recall the title. The scene takes place at the French penal colony on Devil's Island. A murderer is executed by guillotine for the edification of new arrivals. Somerset-Maugham emphasizes the hysterical, animal struggle of the man to break free of his bonds, and escape. Dostoyevsky describes the pallid resignation of the prisoner. He had himself been once condemned in Russia, on a charge of sedition, and had awaited his scheduled execution--only to be reprieved at the last instant, and have his sentence commuted to ten years at hard labor in Siberia. The experience precipitated his first epileptic seizure, which malady troubled him all the remainder of his life. Like the character Myshkin, Dostoyevsky was himself an "idiot."

Regardless of whether or not it is wax, the image has a strong mood and elicits an emotional response from the viewer. Nice work overall. If it is from a wax museum, much of the intrigue is diminished, but the final product still works. The area around the cheek has me leaning towards the wax vote. It is funny how some of the most detailed, opinionated and prolific critiquers never noticed the odd appearance. It makes me smile just thinking about it. You gotta love controversy.

the man's hair stood out at me from the moment i viewed this. it looks like its been dodged a bit too much to bring out the detail. now that whole area, including the wall he is leaning on, seems like its at a different contrast level or something. am i imagining this?

if I'm one of those fooled critiquers it's because I'm not used to seeing condemned men all that often and this one fits the billing.

 

The border is quite large, and for no apparent purpose, Rob is right. Fortunately, in a JPEG compression, all that white doesn't take up much file space.

 

Gordon, that's his neck between his head and his body. Necks are quite common in the males of our species. Maybe you're referring to something else?

 

Camilo, what's the image you posted all about?

 

He does look like Boris Karloff, I guess, but he doesn't have any bolts in his head, or neck.

This is picture of the week?

The face is turned away from the camera, no eye contact. There is nothing around the subject or in the background to covince me that this chap is most certainly suffering. Also either the printing or the scanning is poor.

Meanwhile I looked at Chris's folder and he's got some great stuff in there, well printed and scanned too. There are even one or two pictures that I think could be a real picture of the week.

Is it just me or did the photographer over-dodged the head of the

subject? The hair just looks too grainy as if he wanted to

separated the subject's head from the background.