Clifford On The Road

Clifford meet Dudley, I think he needs your help!

While we must discount the comments of M. Spinak above (any relation, Mike? heh-heh-heh...) I must join the avalanche of praise for this photograph.

Put simply: it is a metaphor. The cute little button eyes, that cute little button nose, the incredible color of the fur symbolic of blood spilled (and yet to be spilled)... all juxtaposed against "those windshield wipers slappin' time" remind me of my childhood... days with Dad - an itinerant bucket salesman - in the car, travelling from town to town looking for a sale. I loved my Dad, but all I wanted was a dog, a puppy to play with and be my friend. All I got was, "Aaaaargh, shaddup kid", from him and maybe a backhander into the bargain. But I was happy. We were happy.

As Pop and I moved across the highways (and we must ask, "is this the highway of Life?"), we would see retard trailer trash also criss-crossing the country. Boy, was I lucky. Although we only ever stayed in one-star dingy motel rooms, I learnt that, in Life, there is always someone not quite as fortunate as I was, someone that I could truly say to myself was even lower down the head-kicking ladder than we were. Someone to look down on and despise: people who only had dingy trailers to call home. Yes, I realised then, as I do now, that there is beauty in bigotry.

But back to "Clifford". Is that name just pure chance? We can only conjecture about it, but something deep down tells me "Clifford" is a reference to something more than just a stuffed toy. The words of Saddam Hussein (Iraq's poet laureate) come to mind:

As Allah's dark armies

view the climax of

the mother of battles

as they ford the

river of blood..."

well, you know the rest... let's just say that Lawrence has achieved a level of subtlety here that renders my own work (and that of many others on this site) meaningless.

Technically this is a faultless photograph. From the converging parallax lines of the highway, to the excellent use of color enhancement Photoshop filters, this image screams, "Genius!". At first I thought some small cropping of the left hand side to get rid of the parked car might be advisable (who was asleep in that car? ... we can only wonder), but on a second viewing (and I will come back again and again to this picture) I realised that Lawrence had something definite in mind for this corner. This simple parked car is an allegory for all our lives: parked cars on Life's highway, going nowhere, signifying nothing.

Then there is Lawrence's brilliant use of negative space to the right. At first sight one sees only flat boring farmland, devoid of anything interesting at all. And then, on subsequent viewings, one is knocked off one's feet with the realisation that it is nothing. Negative space, signifying empty space: a poignant reminder that on either side of the road one will discover only more emptiness.

Even though I have taken many prize-winning shots in my time (just yesterday I approved five 40x60 inch prints for exhibition in the local scout troop's Forgotten Geniuses art show and garage sale), I feel like hanging up my Leica M3, with 50mm f1.4 Summicron and Gitzo panoramic calibrated tripod and taking up pavement art. This picture is that good.

Lawrence, thank you for sharing, except now I'm going to have to kill myself.

Tony,

 

Never before have I felt so completely and totally...understood. It's exhilarating and not just a little bit frightening.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank God for you Tony Dummett, the wind beneath my wings.

Just over a decade ago now, I tried explaining to my trendy, artsy friends how Flavor Flav* made one of the most influential gestures in 20th century fashion by hanging those huge clocks around his neck. They all laughed at the time, but just look in the streets today at the oversized pants, flashy running shoes, silly hats and supersized jewelry and you'll see who's had the last laugh. This picture is the photographic equivalent of that bold artistic statement by Mr. Flav. I will now have to completely rethink my whole approach to shooting in order to keep up.

 

Vuk.

 

*of the band Public Enemy--sorry for pointing out the obvious, but it's for the sake of certain totally unhip Photonetters and those living in extremely remote/isolated places like Australia

Vuk's comment, while rather trite and adding little of note to the discussion of this image, is actually correct... which is surprising, given his adherence to incorrect concepts like chemical-based film and vinyl records that can never hope to match CDs and CCDs, respectively, in pictorial or sound quality.

 

Vuk, I'm surprised you deigned to comment on a ... ugh ... digital image.

 

Congratulations on POW (in advance) Lawrence. This one'll go all the way. Move over HC-B, LCS's in town.

Hasn't anybody stated yet how beautifully Cliiford's ears reflect the outside world and the position of the 2 vehicles in front ? Certainly the sign of a message intended by the author, like "Listen to life instead of the Rolling Stones !"

At the same time, I am amazed at the usage of horizontal lines in this image. Clifford has obviously aligned his ears - symbols of his perceptions - with the whipers - which must be some symbol of protection.

Basically, this picture very obviously tells me: " thou shall make sure, that your senses reflect reality and thou shall be for ever protected of sorrow - and Rolling Stones...

7 / 7 - what else ?

Could someone please explain to me why this image is rated so highly? I just don't get it. The poor dog has windshield wipers growing out of his ears, for crying out loud! I think a lower angle would have really helped on this one. More dashboard, definitly. You can never have enough dash in a photograph.

The truly universal significance of this masterwork is evidenced by the

amazing diversity of interpretations we see here. On the one hand we have

from Mr. Dummett a fascinating and provocative piece of verbal detective

work, worthy of the Nostradamus Institute for Mystical Research and Tealeaf Reading;

but there are also highly instructive observations on the way that fundamental

principles of geometry are portrayed. My own fascination is focussed on the

subtle sensuality of the dashboard; the juxtaposition of its soft contours with the tensed, coiled spring is exquisite. I can barely refrain from caressing it.

A member called "Bailey Seals" gave this picture a "3/3" rating. Hardly surprising for someone who awarded a "7" for aesthetics to a photograph of... a lettuce.

Cunningly, Seals has "0 photos uploaded" so we can't revenge-rate. I've never seen a more open-and-shut case for getting even with a fellow member as this ratings outrage.

Did anyone notice that Clifford appears to be trying to keep his testicles cool by jamming his little bottom into the air-conditioner vent? If only others in these pages had done the same thing, we wouldn't have the flame wars that so beset the site nowadays.

There is so much to learn from this image.

We could fill baileys box to bursting with over sized lettuces, the bbb worm, (it comes with the lettuce).

What I really like about this photo is the barest hint of a ghost, directly behind the cool clifford between those two beautifully placed vehicles. It is almost poetic the way the ghost signifies Lawrence's chances of having such a magnificent work of art recognized here. And look, on one side of the road a yellow line, perfectly parrelling the white one on the other side, with Clifford slightly off center between them. This is a shot to die 4.

WhilST I do understand that Mr. Seals rated this mediocre image of mine a 3/4...:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/ratings_breakdown?photo_id=818498

... and whilst Mr Seals rated the whole site around 4 anyway - oooops, except for the letuce -... I am left wondering how he could possibly rate Clifford the same way !!!!!!

I can't stand the idea to have this image of mine - or any other on this site - rated a point more than Clifford in Originality !! First, my model didn't bark, whereas Clifford does. Second, my model didn't align her testicules on the air condition nor her ears on the whipers ! So how the heck does that make Clifford less original !?!

Please, Bailey, be kind enough, for once out your more than 7000 ratings on photo.net, to justify the only rating where you fail to recognize the geniusness of its author !

WE WANT AN EXPLANATION ABOUT THIS 3/3 !! Or else I'm affraid Clifford himself will write a complaint to Photo.net's abuse department !

Like my fellow commentators, I am speechless with astonishment at the artistry of this photo. It is clearly the greatest image we've ever seen at Photo.net and to give it a 7/7 simply doesn't do it justice.

No one has yet to mention the timing of the shot !! ............ Just at the last second managing to 'catch' the County road crew truck as they are maintaining the 'lush' xeroscaping of the median !! ...............

 

AND !! ......... as my 5 year old daughter points out - "This is the first known image of a County road crew which does not depict 4 guys watching with 1 guy digging !! " ........

I remember it like it was yesterday. A photography exhibition where I saw "Moonrise Hernandez" hanging alongside "Earth Rise" taken from Apollo 8. I stood there dumbfounded. Overwhelmed by the power of this art form. It was the most profound moment I've had as a photographer. Until this morning, when I saw Clifford.

 

After spending a few hours sitting in a closet, rocking back and forth and wringing my hands, I've gathered the courage to view this image again (and to face my own failures). As I type this my hands tremble, but I must express to the photographer the deepest gratitude - and respect. You've touched me.

 

The slight horizon tilt bothered me a bit at first until I realized the photographer had left it this way intentionally, as a subtle way of letting us know that it hasn't been Photoshopped to death, as is too often the case with other images we see these days. Clearly, the image he posted here is an image that was captured on the camera's CCD with a single, well-timed exposure and not one that he created, Frankenstein-like, from various bits-and-pieces.

Personally, I haven't felt this excited about photography in a long time and I can't wait to see more of this talented photographer's work over the coming weeks!

...is all I can say. An emotional juggernaut. I am going to sell my cameras since there is no wasy I can possibly live up to this incredibly high expectation.

....no doubt in my mind. Congratulations! Wonderful! I know this exact spot and often thought of what potential it has. This is just superb. Incredibly smart concept, and really executed with the highest degree of precision. I think this your best ever. You made my day. Stunningly well done. I'm jealous.....what a fantastic image, I really admire your work. Thank you for sharing it with us and the inspiration it provides. Conceptually, its a brilliant piece of work. Master piece.

Well done, a wonderful picture. Wow..

outstanding work. Wonderful. I have nothing but praise for this one. Clap. Clap. Clap. I like your technical details too.. This piece is wonderful. This piece is Art.

Yes, we can agree that its not everyone's idea of Art.

But lets sit back and enjoy it. Really a beautiful shot... Please keep posting... It just doesn't get any better than this. Period. just too good.

Very beautiful photo. One of the best photos here at photo.net in my opinion.

 

If you notice the light falling across Clifford's face doesn't match up with the shadows underneath the vehicles. Once again, photo.net has been duped by a very convincing Photoshopped composite.

 

I also would have cropped the utility truck out of the shot.

 

This picture hasn't been digitally manipulated. I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Duped ????? ............ Crop the truck ???? ................. !!!!

I must apologize for the ignorance of my previous post. After reading this thread I can see how I completely misunderstood the subtle artistry involved in the making of this photo. My only future hope is that I am able to retain any respect from my colleagues for failing to recognize a true masterpiece.

Don't take any notice of them, Lawrence. They're just jealous of your talents and only wish they could come even close to this masterwork.

 

Morwen was really onto something when he mentioned the dashboard. Since I took my first picture at the age of 2, with a shoebox painted black on the inside for a camera and a polished coke bottle for a lens, and developed my first film, in the snow, at 40 below, surrounded by bears, with only a translucent coonskin over the tent flap for a safelight, using one of my Dad's leaky two gallon buckets patched with lard and a little washing powder mixed with bicarbonate and dirt for developer, in 1942 (that's 60 years in the business in case you can't add up), I have been trying to photograph dashboards and never thought of combining them with wipers in quite the way you have. Dad and I musta drove near 400,000 miles, and because he wouldn't buy me a dog there wasn't much else to do but look at the dashboard, 'cept on special occasions when I got to work the window winders. I always believed I knew quite a bit about dashboards, but dashboards with wipers... now that's a different story altogether.

 

In my defence I must say that Dad didn't believe in wipers. He used to get me out on the bonnet with a chisel to chip at the ice. He reckoned it was cheaper that way. He'd let me warm my hands up on the exhaust pipe after, if I was good. Occasionally we'd see other cars with wipers, but I never seemed to have my shoebox ready, loaded with film to take their picture. I used to keep all my clothes in that shoebox too and I could never manage to empty it out in time and screw on the coke bottle ready for a snapshot. I guess that's what they mean when they talk about the Decisive Moment, eh?

 

Lawrence, could you give us some more information, please, on just how you managed to capture the dashboard so well and so subtly? Could you share your insights - technical and artistic - with us on that subject?

Well Tony, since you asked:

 

I could go on all day about f-stops and apertures and exposure lengths and angles of light. I could discuss the circles of confusion, and the intricacies of applying the Scheimpflug Rule. Getting the dashboard "just so" turned out to be extraordinarily difficult.

 

Ultimately, one piece of technology turned out to be essential to the success of this photograph: the little lever beside the seat that lets you lower the seat back. Once I'd adjusted the seat properly, a whole world of possibilities opened up to me.

 

It was this "seat adjustment technique" that allowed me to correctly capture the Fibinacci-like ratio of dashboard to windshield, thereby properly framing the gentle bug-splat between SUV and camper.

 

Colin: At the moment of impact...ummm...capture, there was no actual "driver" in the strictest sense of the word. As you well know, dedication to one's art occasionally requires a high degree of sacrifice. This was one of those events that made me examine my priorities. You put it in perspective, and ask yourself, "What is more important to me: to be a 'driver' or a 'photographer'?" The choices become very simple.

... This is why I like photo.net... Because it shows every day that we can learn at all ages. Especially by looking at the pictures like this one on the top pages !

Actually, I didn't even know that one could apply the Scheimpflug Rule with a digital camera, but now I can see how you so masterfully controled the DOF in this image... Thanks for sharing the precious details with the community. And thanks to Tony, who shares his knwledge on his latest uploads, which nobody apparently looks at.

I am glad to see, for once, the work of another genius besides Tony, finally appreciated for what it truly deserves. I will be back to study this masterpiece, and am already planing to hold a conference in a shoe box about Clifford as soon as I can - of course, with the permission of the author regarding this beautiful and non-manipulated true pure photograph that represents much more to me than any whiper !

Mmm... Interesting... Now quite a few things start to make sense...:-)

I used to know a Roger who was a rabbit, and rabbit eat lettuces, don't they ? Coincidence ? Maybe. But all rabbits should theoretically celebrate a dog with such ears... No...?