Still raining ?

I can't tell if the guy on the left is pointing to something on the other side of the road, or if he's extending his arm to feel the rain fall on his palm as though the torrential downpour enveloping his entire body isn't enough to convince him that it's actually raining. That's a lot of rain! And it's amazing there are no water drops on the camera lens. Was it taken through a window or from within some protective canopy? Well done!

an amazing B&W !

this is a keeper for sure!

Thank you, everybody for feedback !
I want to tell you, in short, the story of this photo :
Summer time. A grateful rain after a hot morning. Waiting quietly the end of the rain under a canopy ,..., when they approached, I took the camera and I asked : ' Still raining ? ' .
There was no person in the left, out from photo, no dialogue, only the motion with hand for checking, after my question ! ... and laughs, of course !
The color version, for those interested :
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l111/mirceatt/DSC_0190FCfr.jpg

I took only two shots with this people.
The second one was made after 4 seconds from first and here you can see better the ... laughs !
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l111/mirceatt/DSC_0191bwpnfr.jpg

As new to this forum, I was encouraged by the content and quality of the various comments regarding last month's POTW simply because they seemed of a more serious and developed range of experience than the usual comments made in the usual "empty-nester, housewife's" community photography club. However, this week they seemed to have regressed. I am hopeful that this forum will somehow remain compelling to serious students of photography through thoughtful and studied critique comments.
Largely, I agree with the various positive comments about this image as to the technical and compositional elements. I am in complete agreement with Tom Meyer's comments, though, as to the subject matter. Ernest B's interpretation is stupefying as to where that "depth of subject" came from! I'm not sure I was looking at the same image!
I cannot help but wonder if this image would have any interest to anyone if it were not placed in this forum for critique. I would presume we all struggle to produce "relevant" art. Or, rather, if someone is not interested in producing "art", is it worth our time to even critique? On occasion, we run across images produced with such high and exceptional technical quality that they reach artistic stature.
This image is neither of those to me. It is, however, uncommon to me in two respects: 1) We rarely see technically good photography taken in such inclement weather because photographers usually won't do it. 2) The subject matter is SO common that it compels one to study it for significance and interest. Unfortunately, I don't find any and would take issue with the comments on in this thread that stretch mightily to find "meaning".
As much as I respect the producers of this site for their attempt to provide eclectic subject for our critique, it would seem to me that more provocative and uncommon material would make the effort more worthwhile.

 

Mircea, the decision to do a monochrome conversion was a good thought. Difference of opinion, the leaven in the dough, Gerry B. Yours is interesting.

I think this image seems better in B/W. Very good!

The scene looks pretty common at first sight, people walking in the rain is certainly not a new subject matter in photography and my first impression about this shot was that it's nothing more but a nice try to take a pretty decent, in terms of technical quality, photo in rather tricky weather conditions.
However, there are at least two things in this photograph that makes the difference for me. First, the hand gesture of the man on our left looks nearly mistical and reminds me delicacy and beauty of lines in Japanese drawings. Capturing the men in this very moment turned them into almost a kind of spiritual beings and for this reason I think the timing here is one of the key elements that makes this shot exceptional and absorbing. The photo taken 4 sec. later loses much of its charm just because the moment is simply less meaningful.
The other thing I like about the scene is that it makes me think about our human attitude towards adversity and the ability to go 'against the grain' with a smile. In this context, the disappearing car, as if escaping to a more friendly world is an important component.
The only thing I could complain (if I had to) about is the contrast, personally I think it's a little bit on the low side, at least for my taste, but as is, it by no means spoils my positive impression here.
Congratulations Mircea, best regards.

Out-stretched hands in rain and their smile ,accentuates fun of a rainy day and enhances the beauty of this image. Admirable choice of tone. Interesting image to me, aesthetically and technically.They are enjoying the rain.We too are enjoying that sight ,without getting wet.

very good moment

I love the connection of the two central characters to each other and their connection to the environment and their current situation. It seems more "accepting" than stoic. They are not fighting it or enduring it. "It is what it is" and so just enjoy it.

Terrific image. It captures a mood well and captures the overwhelming amount of rain.

Reminds me of Woodstock photos from my youth.

And thank you for inducing a fine memory from my college days 3 decades ago - in such a downpour a friend appeared on my porch looking like a drowned rat and said when I answered the door, "I'm running away from home, do you want to go with me?" My first thought was that he had suddenly gone crazy. My second thought was "Why the hell not?" and walked out into the deluge with him. We walked and laughed for an hour and saw our little college down in a very different light. It was a fine time I will never forget. Thank you Mircea for the memory.

excellent capture nice dof. but composition wise second one is better. first one is good but the tire and net is disturbed the composition. there is no point of interesting but second one is superb. color one is also good.

my best.

aungshita.

Gerry Boughan , March 06, 2010; 12:29 P.M., wrote:

"As new to this forum, I was encouraged by the content and quality of the various comments regarding last month's POTW... However, this week they seemed to have regressed. I am hopeful that this forum will somehow remain compelling to serious students of photography through thoughtful and studied critique comments.

". . . Ernest B's interpretation is stupefying as to where that 'depth of subject' came from! I'm not sure I was looking at the same image!

"I cannot help but wonder if this image would have any interest to anyone if it were not placed in this forum for critique. . .The subject matter is SO common that it compels one to study it for significance and interest. Unfortunately, I don't find any and would take issue with the comments on in this thread that stretch mightily to find 'meaning'."

Well Gerry, it seems possible that you can be easily stupefied. The particular quote you attributed to me ("depth of subject") is a term I did not use, and it does not convey the idea I presented.

What I actually wrote carries almost an opposite meaning, i.e.: "...the sense this photo conveys of unassuming authenticity, of real experience. It's not pretentious... it captures and preserves, in a simple way, the kind of moment that usually passes quickly in our lives, with little or no conscious recognition of a visual experience."

And that's precisely what I like about this image--it's a common subject that has been seen uncommonly well, and preserved in a way that most such moments are not.

It's a truism that the response of viewers to any--every--image must differ from individual to individual, based on his or her past experiences, memories, associations, and a host of other subjective factors. This picture evoked an immediate response in me, a very pleasurable response. Having now reread the comments in this thread, it's pretty clear that it had a similar effect in others as well.

The effectiveness of this photo (for me) is not diminished, even slightly, by the fact that it falls short of your rarified standards ("stupefied"). You wrote: "I cannot help but wonder if this image would have any interest to anyone if it were not placed in this forum for critique...if someone is not interested in producing "art", is it worth our time to even critique?"

I can't answer that, Gerry, and won't try. Indeed, your time may be too valuable, your standards too lofty...only you know.

Yet I too am "hopeful that this forum will somehow remain compelling to serious students of photography..." In furtherance of that goal, we should never be shy--as you, "new to this forum," have demonstrated--about expressing our candid reaction to the perceptions of others.

 

"The subject matter is SO common that it compels one to study it for significance and interest. Unfortunately, I don't find any..."

http://mariagimenez.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/artwork_images_424175658_232693_henri-cartier-bresson1.jpg

Excellent exposure Mircea.It must be a very heavy rain, it seems like a curtain of water, although the camera speed wouldn't be slow.Nice moment, unpleasant for the two guys, i don't think they are refugees or homeless though, to feel any compassion, this could happen to anyone.Regards.

Excellent image! Bravo! You just feel wet looking at it, wonderful rendition.

Excellent, even the car in the background fits.  For me it's one of my favourites !