Self Portrait with Fish as Yukihiro Looks on Amused

Jack, I love your titles.  There is "no confusingly inscribed welcome mat to puzzle over", as Billy Collins has said.  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/29783

 

Yukihiro can be amused all he wants; this is a wonderful self-portrait! The brightly-colored fish in the foreground against the more muted tones direct us to both of you. I like your chosen post processing as well, as if it's on hand-made photo paper; suggestive of meticulous craft where no decision is left to chance.

Amy

What works so nicely here is how vibrant and glowing are the colors of the fish and contrastingly how muted are the colors behind, which is a natural phenomenon but lends a photographic charm and distinction. It's really a portrait of two bicycle-mates and it's also a story. There's a bit of surrealism in how the fish float and in our perception of depth and the water. Even though I doubt you positioned anything or anyone here, it has a strong sense of intentionality, which may just come naturally for you. It's got that good combination of spontaneity and design.

This is fun, unique, and a little surreal. I like it.

(-:

it's cool how the different layers interact - like Fred wrote "good combination of spontaneity and design"!

At first glance, I had the impression you were holding video game controller or remote control (to steer the fish).

:) Great:)

sumpin fishy going on here :)   Nicely done, hardly no reflection too.

 

i hitch a ride on everything Fred says Sensei; words, punctuation, everything!

 

A selfished ,,,oh i like it so much...:)

As I usually, do, I've waited too long to thank folks and now I'm faced with trying to reply to reply to a lot of individual comments (as I should and too seldom do).

 

Mark - Thanks. I'm always glad to meet a man of words as well as pictures.

 

Amy - Thanks for the extended critique and glad you like the picture. The edges of the picture that appear so ragged are actually the border around the old fish tank these fish were housed in. It was a lucky accident.

 

Fred - Thanks as always for you clear and beautifully expressed impressions of this picture. When I look at my pictures I'm often disappointed but this one I thought caught a bit of the rather surreal (as you noted) spirit of the moment. I think its the vibrant color of the fish against the darker, flatter colors of the reflected world. The question, I guess, is which is the true subject, those dumb fish or the two camera-toting idiots who are staring at them. I yo-yo back and forth on that point and maybe that's why I like the picture so much.

 

Chuck - Thanks. I see you picked up on the surreal quality, too.

 

Ilia - Thanks for dropping by, glad it gave you a chuckle.

 

Tatjana - As always, nice to see your name on one of the comments. About time for some fresh pictures from you, isn't it?

 

Marie - Just a terrible pun. Reflection? What reflection???

 

Carlos - Riding along with Fred, huh? Well, Fred certainly drives a school bus of a comment; plenty of room for everyone to hitch a ride.

 

Niels. Thanks for dropping by. I haven't seen anything from you for a long time and that's a shame since I'm a big fan of your work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I too would like to add my appreciation of this photo.

Really like this very much, Jack! & Nodding in agreement with Fred's comments as well.

( & I like the fact that you're keeping 'your head above the water'...

I'm not too active on PN of late, but I note that you're are still going strong, and with quality work!)

What's the inactivity about? Used to be we kept up with each other, commented back and forth, got dialogues going. What happened? Is it that everyone's gone to Facebook or is it simple malaise? Lots of our lives are very busy. So, are we not stimulating each other enough? I heavily blame the new administration for not keeping up with the times, not having yet changed some mechanisms which might encourage more participation, not communicating publicly about plans, and generally maintaining an absentee presence. I also wonder if we should run with the ball ourselves and figure out ways to engage each other in a more substantial fashion, getting more regular dialogues going, responding in kind to each other. How about some sort of photo club among some of us on PN? Maybe we could make some sort of commitment about commenting on each other's work as a group and discussing each other's photos in more depth than is usually done. I have heard a lot of similar statements lately about where PN is going and the lack of participation. I haven't heard many propositions on whether or how to address it. I'm feeling at a loss. There used to be a lot to gain here and it's fading away. Is there anything we can do? 

It looks like a layered composion,.  The colored very beautiful fish, second you , blurred, and than the  blurred even more figure on  the RHS, and the lighted part at the LHS..

Real well composed.

 

I agree with Fred's comment that the participation is going down,and it is  a good suggestion to open a group of members that will help each other.

Hi Fred, PN is a gallery for photography, for images, for shots, for Pictures in the first place. "good Pictures" talk their own language, they talk for them selves and actually need no comments at all, the # of views tell that the message has been read,,,in an open mind,,,,what you or I or anyone think or recognize,,, always say more about me and less about the image. Pictures talk in image-language,,, and translation into Words makes no sense to me.

It is a question of how you spell meaning,,more correct meanings. // I think Jack already has made the forum you ask for,,,what more to wish.

// Some of the very best photogrphers here at PN,,imho,,,never been seen viewed or become any credit for thier huges talent,,,,,,and man will never recognize it !,,ps maybe that was my point in the very first place,,,sorry for my interruption.

Best niels

Niels, I have responded to Jack, who has bemoaned the fact many times over the last months that there is a lack of commenting and dialogue back and forth. When I want to just see photos, I have lots of opportunities. I can do it alone in my house with a good photo book. I can go to a museum or local photography gallery. I can quietly look through web sites on line. I come to PN to engage with other photographers. I do not use it as just a gallery, though that's part of it. For me, it also serves a different purpose. I completely understand that you have your own wants and needs and your own way of dealing with photos. And I am not asking you to change that. I am suggesting that those of us who miss the kinds of communication we used to have might do something about that. Talking about our photos and sharing our ideas is not a substitute for looking at what is a visual medium. I see it as an addition and often an enhancement. But those who want to remain mute should certainly remain mute. I accept all approaches.

I couldn't have put it any better myself, Fred, that's exactly the point. Somehow the idea of community has become debased in the last several years. I see it here and I see it in the world in general. I understand that there are increasing demands on our time (for many of us, at least) and such a dizzying array of choices and options competing for our attention that it's difficult not to become distracted and unfocused. I'd like to say I am secure in the evaluation of my own work but that's not really the case. I can look at a photograph and think it's pretty good but I post it here to see if anyone else sees something of value in it. The photo becomes more than just a picture, it becomes a sort of calling card to attract hopefully like-minded and creative individuals. That's the way it goes, we are constantly adjusting our course both consciously and unconsciously responding to the ideas we encounter, the people who surround us and the demands of the environment through which we travel. In terms of this discussion, it's a case of stimulus (the picture), response (the comment) and the further stimulus that is triggered by the response. None of us exist in a vacuum. The connections we make with others often generate creative energy which can impel us in new directions or give us a deeper understanding of the interplay of life and art. At the very least it reassures us that we are not completely alone. I seldom show my pictures to family or friends because for the most part they either can't quite grasp what I'm doing ("Why would you take a picture of garbage when there are so many beautiful things in the world?") or are incapable of putting their feelings (if any exist) into words which is understandable in a world where people swim in wading pools of communication like twitter and facebook. Their view of the world is just too settled, too unquestioning and very seldom meshes with my own understanding of things. It's probably been like that to a greater or lesser degree throughout history. I expect more here. I expect a more diverse range of opinion, a deeper appreciation of photography, of art, of the power of the image and of the creative process. I hope there exists a certain curiosity about what makes a good photograph and a willingness to share any insights that may come our way. Intelligently expressed comments, critiques and opinions are the glue that binds us together into something more than a random group of people posting pictures on the internet. We draw support and inspiration from each other. I'm sometimes frustrated and disappointed by the lack of considered response but on the other hand, when a picture sparks a dialogue as this one has, I have to say I'm gratified and appreciative. Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.

If there's a photo club for those interested, please count me in. The discussion is the best part of PN (and, of course, I wanna play with the cool kids).

 I definitely feel that this community is a place to find like-minded artists and also to get some "raise-the bar" reality checks. It is a privilege to be a part of this group. Like Jack, most of my family and friends do not share my same vision in regard to photography. It is here that my efforts get validated and called on to improve. I am most appreciative of that.

Amy

Lets do it! I think it will be very rewarding,at least to our group! WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Fred. I think you should take the lead and responsibility, put up the structure and up we all go.

What makes this work for me is the lack of context for the fish. I have no sense of them being in water and little reference to a fish tank, they are just there swimming on past a couple of onlookers on the street.

I agree with Gordon that the lack of context for the environment of the fish makes the scene unexpected, and it causes curiosity about what's going on.  The layered appearance that others have mentioned, and Fred's observation about the vibrant and glowing colors of the fish contrasting with the muted background, really add to the effect.

main reason, why I'm still hanging around at PN is exactly because there are people like in this thread who take the time to think about a photo and to write comments that go beyond "great shot" or "crop here". Plus: here I can find jewels like this photo - taken not to conform any style or standard but based more on immediate motivation of the artist.

The photo-club is an interesting idea - I was also wondering whether there was some means to work around the clumsiness of the PN user interface and miss less frequently new photos and posts of relevant people. Could a 'club' in whatever way work on PN or would a more modern platform like flickr (there is at least this group feature) tumblr or whatever else work?

As a side note: I have to confess, I'm using twitter - and in fact, I found that when following the right persons (or accounts), you can find quite interesting posts, links and even discussions.

!!!!

While still present at PeaNuts, I just want to say Au Revoir to all of you, hoping all best to you. Court Jester niels