Is That All There Is?

Great !:)

she does seem a tad underwhelmed

I hate it when I try on a new outfit and look in the mirror and that very 'thought' pops into my head?? I stress the 'all'. Perfect title. Makes you wonder what the person was thinking who 'designed' this Mannequin??? Were they going after 'wistful', 'deep thoughts', 'I lost my dog', 'hmmm...wonder if he will pay for supper?', 'it isn't even Wednesday yet', 'he didn't even notice I had my hair done'. Man the list could go on forever. But I think yours is the BEST!!! Once again you have proved that there is ALWAYS an image out there!!!

Thanks a lot for your comments on this picture which I count among my recent favorites. I especially appreciate your wonderful thoughts on this picture, Gail. I took the photo just yesterday and as with all special (at least to me) pictures, there's an accompanying story:

I had ridden my bike over to my favorite Italian restaurant (yes, we have Italian restaurants in Japan), bringing along my little Nikon 1 just in case I came on something interesting. There's nothing more forlorn than a photographer without a camera when a picture possibility shows its curly little head. Anyway, on the way back I rode past a tiny little dress shop and caught this mannekin out of the corner of my eye. Just that quick glance was enough to get me to rein in my bike and stop. There didn't appear to be anyone in the shop; it seemed deserted except for this mannikin. For all I know, the mannikin owned the shop. I had never seen a mannikin with such a wistful and lifelike expression and I knew without doubt I had to have this image. It immediately brought to mind a Peggy Lee song from 1969 which is where I got the title for this picture. If you've never heard Peggy Lee performing this song, you can find it on You Tube. It's well worth the visit.

I like the inclusion of the ceiling elements. You always seem to make the best use of the linear elements in your photos. In this case, they keep my eye moving in the frame. Obviously, the mannequin's expression and title are perfect.

She doesn't seem to be convincing me to buy anything today. Well maybe some of those mind altering pills that I see advertised on TV or perhaps a bathrobe to shuffle around the house in. 

I've always had a thing for the un-living because they seem completely honest and of course unflinching. A while back one of these creatures hitched a ride home with me and has been philosophizing downstairs and scaring the crap out of unwanted visitors.

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated. Amy, I liked the deiling myself, especially the way it angles towards the hapless model. Drew, always nice to have you around.

Dennis - What a shock to find a comment from you. I guess you're wowing them on Flikr but I don't make it over there very often, though I still have an account. Hell, it's hard enough to stay here on pn which has dramatically deteriorated compared to halcyon days of yore when we were still idealistic, young snappers full of blather and bullshit. Now I feel like more like an after thought in a world that has somehow passed me by, disappearing over the rise, nothing left but the echo of calliope music, some old circus handbills and a few piles of steaming elephant turds. Sometimes I feel as bemused as the mannikin I pictured above.

I miss the grand epoch as well, such is the circumstance of being old. I never wow anyone other than myself. I'm too particular in my own affection for certain things to be able to march along with the goose-step of popularity. Photo sharing sites seem to rise and fall like the little empires that they are. I spend more time on Facebook now trying to cultivate interest in would-be models desperate for fame of their own. 

Solitary observation with little or no interaction is the way to go. It asks no favors and offers no compromise. Observe and shoot. The only editing is inclusion or exclusion. Unfortunately the general public is only interested in fleeting celebrity. 

I love photography and I adore a good image. I will not be remembered.

Hi Jack,

Thanks for the story behind this capture!!! I would have stopped as well! I've never seen anything like this one. Her eyes seen so 'life like'. Afterwards I thought of all kinds of 'comments' that would go with this expression, some that I wouldn't post but are comical at the same time.

Funny, while growing up, my Dad had a huge collection of Vinyl He always was an 'audiophile'. He had an excellent collection of Nat King Cole and still regrets selling them in a Driveway Sale ears ago.

But he did have Peggy Lee albums and loved her. Many a Sunday morning we would awaken to him playing one of the albums. I have seen her perform that song many times on TV. She was 'one of a kind', a real treasure in my mind.

Dad also has this record that was just 'sound effects'. He would have it just 'blasting'. There was the sound of a train coming and then it's whistle. The sounds of a baby in a crib, it drops it's bottle then begins to cry, a phone ringing, I can't remember them all but the sound quality was very clear, but totally annoying to me. I always thought it was this one album and the cover art was the weirdest Abstract (scary for a child) but I've always thought it was called 'Night on Bald Mountain', but in my search on the Internet I cannot find the image that was on the cover. I thought it was a painting by Dali, but that has led me nowhere as well. I will have to talk to Dad and see if he still has it.

Sorry about getting off track there, ;-) Gail

A great picture with a great story - inducing new stories.

I must admit, that I first saw the racks behind her and they reminded me of the old times, when the people being photographed had such supports behind their necks. The non over cheery look also went together with my slow life observation. It took me some time to get your title, but then it struck. Now I am in love with her.