Peek-a-Boob!!! © 2007-2012 All Rights Reserved, John Crosley/Crosley Trust

This photo has taught me lessons:

1.  Never underestimate the power of a good 'story'.

2.  Never throw out anything or refuse to post anything because of technical 'defect' if you think it has other redeeming qualities (e.g., 'blur vs. the story).

3.  Never presume that you know more than raters and those who would view.  They are the ultimate arbiters of what popular taste is, even if you think you have a corner on the market for 'good taste' they are the ones who are going to 'click'.  This is a point that Rupert Murdoch, among others, respects very well and why he has gone from an Australian tabloid newspaper to a world historical individual, poised to help shape US and international politics through his ownership of the Wall Street Journal and Fox News (all the news he his minions deem fit to print).

In other words, never other estimate popular taste.

Sometimes, as well, popular taste can be quite good.  Some of the most famous authors in the world now, started out as London newspaper serialized story writers, drawing out their stories to keep those payrolls rolling to keep them and their families fed.

Nothing more.  They were less in many ways than wage slaves -- they worked essentially like many agricultural workers -- by productivity -- so much for each serial installment instead of so much per each pound of green beans or so much for each crate of strawberries or box of cherries picked.

4.  Also, never underestimate the wonders of having things occasionally 'work out' even if it's to your own amazement.  Note that the woman's left breast top is the only perfectly straight unblurred line in the entire photo, I think, and it has as a parallel line her 'bra' strap which is a 'hot pink' which denotes sexuality in many men's minds.

There's a secret in the hidden part of the breast, there's envy on the part of viewers (many men would like to do this but won't own up to it to their wives at least), there's a story in the woman (mannequin -- also very blurred) turning her head scoldingly.  This is an entire episode in one frame.

In short, this is quite a story, but it also is a flawed telling, however the flaws mostly are outside the main point of the story -- the breast and the guy looking, and in effect the FLAWS DRAW ATTENTION TO THE SHARPNESS.

I state that in capitals because I don't think on this photo that analysis has been written before.

And it's one part of its success, besides the story.

In other words, if the entire photo had been well focused and not blurry, even accounting for shallow depth of field, it might not have been so successful had it not been blurry in areas that didn't count.

How's that for a wonderful happenstance for this photographer?

Of course, that is a one in a half million sort of thing, I think, (SO FAR!).

Thanks Janice for the kind comment.

john

John (Crosley)

Oh my, this is so funny! You were right not to throw it out (I often turn mine into very abstract images)! I don't mind the blur at all because the story comes through so well. The expressions on the faces of the mannequins seem to go along perfectly with this man's peek; the one in the back looks annoyed or disappointed that the man would prefer to have a peek at the blonde in front and the blonde mannequin looks rather pleased at his interest in her! This is just such a funny capture and statement on society, right down to even the rivalry between females! I have always found the implied to be sexier than when it is put right out in front because that sometimes is so cliche and leaves nothing to the imagination. Wonderful capture John...I love it! Thank you for sharing. :)

That this has turned out to be my most viewed photo after being hidden for a couple of years in the middle of a decidedly 'secondary' folder, has caused me to learn a lesson about 'rules of photography, and in this case about sharpness.

I was going to ditch (not post) this photo in favor of a sharp photo just showing him alone peering just like this but without the rear mannequin, and thus with a much lesser story.

Mistake.

I now have learned.

Sometimes the 'story' is foremost even over what seems like insurmountable 'rules'.  The rules should serve the image and the message of the image rather than vice versa -  a lesson you will see elsewhere in this portfolio too.

Thanks for the supportive comment.

john

John (Crosley)

This photo has been featured prominently in my gallery for several months after several years of obscurity, but in the process achieving over 200,000 views, almost all of them 'clicked views' -- probably all of them.

Since its posting prominently several months ago, it has achieved another approximately 20,000 clicks.

For whatever faults it has, this is a very successful photos - from the point of popularity -- and it's entirely 'candid'.  I posed nothing - just stood by with a camera/lens, pointed and released my shutter. 

Oh, I did frame it, for sure!

Life can be like that when shooting 'street' sometimes, even for a photo seen partially as 'flawed' - especially when the 'flaw', seems to accentuate the 'focus' and hence may not be a flaw at all.

john

John (Crosley)

Love the isea. This shot brings a smile on my face. Two main aspects that I would like to comment on are; 1) The picture is blurred. Maybe a little more attention on focusing and shutter speed was needed. 2) I suggest you to try it again using a real model and not a doll. I belive it would be much stronger. Congrats.

Thank you for commenting.

It would be helpful if before commenting, you read the above comments; they addressed ALL the issues you mentioned as 'needing improvement'.

This is, as mentioned above, an entirely candid capture, and I do have others of this scene minus the 'disapproving' mannequin, left that are pin-sharp, and they are decidedly less appealing.

I do not 'pose' such photos.  These are not 'dolls' but life-size mannequins, and captured just as I saw them.  I do not 'set-up' photos as these -- remarkable for being 'outsized in their physical attributes' and was 'captured' from real life -- with no interference or setup.  I just don't do such things; almost none of my photos except portraits (and mostly not even those) are 'setups' or even posed.

As to the 'blur', besides it being an 'accident' of equipment failure (VR Switch had been inadvertently switched 'off') it may indeed be that because the line of the woman's top left breast (as she views us) is totally sharp and straight with the rest blurred, that the effect is to draw our eyes in to that 'focal point' of the photograph and in actuality what may seem to be a 'defect' may indeed be a 'strong point' in terms of the photo's ability to draw in viewers. 

That is NOT a justification at all, as I aimed for sharpness, but a revelation after discovering that this photo has the capability of drawing in hundreds to thousands of viewers a day, and is my most-viewed photo of all despite what some - including myself at first - viewed as a 'defect'.

(Again, please read above, where EVERY issue you raise is mentioned and treated in exquisite detail.)

I am glad this photo put a smile on your face.

I wish I could take 50 other photos so 'defective', which also are so good and viewable.

john

John (Crosley)

This photo was posted AFTER the change to clicks for views so every view was an individually clicked view.

The count now is at one quarter million and climbing, though not so rapidly as before (It disappeared from Google Images under my work in its color version; probably someone complained).

I don't think now, on reflection, I'd change anything.

john

John (Crosley)

A great capture and I'm sure its popularity is based on a universal male obsessiional curiosity, being enacted in the most blatant way - apparently with the aquiescence of the "model".

It also illustrates a strange quirk of this curiosity which is that the covered breast seems to be more interesting than the already exposed ones.  The disapproving look of the other "model" could have several interpretations: "How dare he?", "How dare she?" and "What's she got that I haven't?"

 "All life is here!"

Yes, Jonathan, you are right.

Caught in a matter of a second, and imperfect at that, this is my most-viewed photo by almost twice.

And that is so because it tells a story, and an extremely good one, and rewards me because I didn't 'set it up'.  This is a true 'street capture' although the guy here seems to be posing for a friend, but the friend cannot possibly have had the 'disapproving' other mannequin in his photo.

I only have one of these - I have others of him and this mannequin alone, but just one of the three of them, and boy am I glad.

You have most capably analyzed it, and for all its blurriness (V.R. was accidentally off for this slow shutter speed, long mm setting), there is one perfectly in focus straight line -- the top of the mannequin's breast - all without manipulation).

It's an unexpected treasure, which illustrates the necessity of keeping one's wits and shooting rapidly when one 'sees' something that may be interesting and not being afraid to press the shutter.

Thanks for an enlightened comment.

It now is over 250,000 views and climbing, not counting the B&W version, also posted in another folder.

john

John (Crosley)

That is a funny shot.  Man is just checking out the goods.  Very practical.

I almost didn't post this because of some fuzziness (not at her breast though, it's razor sharp).

Funny, how things work out.

It's my highest viewed photo of all times with over 1/4 million 'views'.

Plus the black and white version, too.

Of course, she's plastic, not a good sign, though not inflatable, which may be some solace for some.  ;~))

Not me, though; I require the real thing, though not in such massive proportions, and in fact am not picky at all about size -- small can be wonderful if the rest of the package is enchanting, and in fact few women with large breasts aren't overweight (there are some, however, and not the silicone type, just rarer).

An infectious laugh and eyes staring back intently in acceptance at the man's are the world's best aphrodisiac, I suggest.

Thanks for a heartening comment.

John (Crosley)