Engrossed: In the Station 1979

You guys all migrated over here during that crazy POW thread, didn't you? Probably Colin's doing for posting that link there. I followed it and was surprised to find myself on this page! Anyway, what a lot of fun that was last night, for me, at least. I was cracking up. For once, the elves should leave everything posted so people will know what fun this place can be. Too bad they have to obey the chief elf, whoever that is.

 

Thanks for finding your way here. I have to say, this is the first time I've ever seen my name and Steichen's in the same sentence.

 

Also, I don't know if it will make a difference, but I've re-posted using a lower jpg compression, or higher, I don't know which way you're supposed to say it. A higher number means less compression, I think. The version you saw last night was compressed at 5, this one at 8, so it might not have that splotchiness that Steve mentioned. I hate that stuff.

Extremly well done, this is an very sensible and emotional shot. By the way, I prefer your original composition and low key exposure, don't change a thing, it is perfect. You feel the world around this woman disapear as she get involved in her book. It carries also strong sense of solitude and serinity you might expect near the end of your life.

Nice photo Doug! Your original version is the one I prefer!

Doug, stick with your own version. It's the best. Love every detail right down to the framing.

I realized that some people here (or just maybe one) seem to have a monitor which doesnt show the two persons at the back. I've uploaded a grayscale. Can't remember where I got it from but the copyright belongs to that guy or whomever designed it, so ©Someone Else.

 

Anyway, please adjust your screen till you can see all the bars from A to Z.

Actually I like Marc's no.2 upload which concentrates on the lady and the two persons behind her. One in the light, two in the dark.

And that huge space behind that hides a certain mystery... Only problem with that is the original context is lost and a different story gets told.

It's the story, ChoeN, that kills many a photo, I bet, and not the crop. I can't stand it when you can crop a negative several different ways and what you end up doing is deciding, based on the crop and sometimes with anquish, what story you want the negative to say.

 

The gray scale is awesome, but I think I have a sick monitor. I can't see 26 divisions. I see A and B as one, C and D as the second, E F, H I, etc, but S is one block, and then Z is one block. Is my monitor in bad shape?

 

Thanks for posting. I hadn't seen any evidence of you on photonet for quite a while until very recently, and it's good to see you back out and about.

 

Thanks also to Ans, Nana and Hanna for stopping by and offering your support. Hey, only 4 letters between the three of your names!

Hey where did that gray scale come from ;-)?

 

I came back to see this one again. This is such a beautiful photo, Doug. Story, you said, above, to Choen. Yes, story. I see one in each and every single variation posted above (including my own not so compelling hack). This old lady is really fascinating everyone I guess, and so is the man on the other end behind her. The way she's holding the book, her face and her sitting near the window at the end of the chair -- this one is loaded with stories, with variations of moods, with slight twist here and a slight turn there with every modification.. And it's tough for me to pick one out of these, but I guess it comes down to what mood/story appeals to one at a given instant.. Anyway, I love them all. I'll come back again to see if she ever managed to turn that one page she seems to have been engrossed by, all this time.

Hi Doug. I seem to be coming very late to this photo, and everything has been said. A great picture indeed. Ultimately, it's so touching because so human. Thanks for posting it.

Thanks for that grey scale Choen. I must save it. I can see the bars almost to the end. The last three get a bit hard to distinguish the depths of the blackness. Choen, it the perfect place to put that scale, too. Everyone is coming back to look at their little old Gramma. Making sure she is allright.

 

Balaji, I am still trying to find out where I took the grey scale from...I hope he or she would react in a positive manner when he/she sees it here for it is being used in a positive manner!

 

Margeret, you really have to thank the maker of the grey scale (I merely stuck it here :)

 

Well Doug, I've been busy with things lately i.e. doing work and taking picture rather than discussing about photography :P . Now, seriously, I've been uploading images into photo.net, so much that I am many pictures above the quota.

 

Do drop by and have a look when you have the time!

 

(and now I will be away again for a week...sigh)

oh, one more thing about the grey scale, folks...it is permanently sitting on the screen of my monitor, as the wallpaper. You'll be surprised how it looks like in XXL size. Your eyes will almost be fooled by 'shadows' as the greys progress across each zone.

 

If I am not mistaken, the naked eye can only distinguish 16 shades of grey at any one time?

Have to confirm this.

Reading for ever, I guess...:-) She's really beautiful, Doug. After a few days, I come to a bit the same conclusion as Balaji's. All versions are actually quite different from yours (except my No1), and it all works, to me... But I see nothing clearly better than the original. So, I came to amend my rating... A 7 / 7 it is - after really giving considerable thought to it - trust me on that.

I'd really like Tony's opinion on this one. Guess we'll have to wait till it gets its POW...:-)

Besides that, have you all seen this fantastic shot (from behind) of an old lady in a church, by Richard Sintchak ? I must say, in a way, your old lady has some connection with Richard's shot. The atmosphere is a bit the same to me... Cheers.

Freaking awesome, don't change a thing! Love it the way it is.

Question: is she reading, or looking through a photo album?

Choen, if you're still wondering where it came from, I remember seeing it at dpreview.

 

In terms of # of comments (this being the 45th) this one is starting to approach POW territory, so here we have a POW without consent of the elves...? The only confirmation it needs to be considered unofficial POW is comment by T Dummett and others who hibernate most of the week.

 

Thanks for all the continued support, return visits and comments. This is surely my most widely received posting. But, since every silver lining is attached to a dark cloud, and since I made this picture during my crazy fugitive days, I am beginning to wonder if I passed my prime without even knowing it, and maybe I should lay down my cameras, retire, and quit while I'm ahead!

 

ChoeN, she's reading a book. Somewhere above I uploaded a second negative which shows this more clearly.

Not at all, Douglas, I meant no offense. Your comments are as valuable and thought provoking as any others, for instance the post last night.

 

My intended meaning is that some members presence is only known by their appearance on the POW from week to week, not by the quality of their comment, but by the actual physical presence of it.

 

I'm sorry if what I wrote was offensive. I didn't mean any harm or insult.

I like the original image. 6/6.

 

 

 

Through ChoeN's inspiration, I've made another step tablet. The pixel values start at RGB 000 (absolute black), go to 5, and then progress in increments of 10 to 255 (absolute white) . Use it, download it, sell it, whatever. I'm posting a small one here to compare it with the one ChoeN posted (who knows? Maybe I didn't do it right) and will link to a larger one in one of my folders.

Click here for a fun time with Doug's big monitor callibrator

I want the guy in the back to go away. Just leave the area black.

Doug, trust your first instincts. Its like "use the force, Luke." Don't second guess yourself. This is a great image in several variations, but the one you choose is the most important. Other viewers will often have a different opinion. This is your image.

great shot! love the hat of the man in the back. Robert Frank feel to this shot.

The composition is outstanding ! The concept of 'empty space' together with the man in the background make this photo tell a story ... Thanks for sharing with us

The background is too dark, you should either give more exposure to the background or get closer to the woman.