A COuntry of Contrasts

I wish the man with phone was in DOF. I feel the scruple of the photographer.

Thanks for the comment. Although I can't claim that I knew when I was taking the picture that the man on the right would be so out of focus, I think I like it better that way as he does not compete as much with the main subject, the man with the beggars bowl.

I guess to me, this picture is more worthwhile because I believe that it captures a portion of the contradictions that so struck me living in China. In this scene there is a public garden in the background, a beggar next to the wall (not uncommon as public gardens/parks...and more so in Hong kong/Macau, temples due to their traditional role in social welfare...draw crowds and seem to be popular with beggars) and in the foreground is the buisness man with the cellphone. For some, and many on the coasts, development is coming and has enabled them to move into a new realm of consumerism while for others (more so as you move inland or westward) although their standards of living may also be improving, the gap seemingly grows larger and larger. The focus, thus is on the beggar as I want to emphasize that some are being left behind rather than emphasising the man in the front, oblivious to all but his conversation, as signifying development.

I am uploading two other crops of this same picture that perhaps capture the idea I was looking for a bit better. If you have time I would appreciate any comments on these two possibilities as well. Thanks.

-West

And the second alternative cropping...