A Contrast in Style

But they both have smartphones in their hands!

A contrast in style, and a consequent complete ignoring each other? Not so much celebrating diversity, but just recognising it (but no more) ?

There is something rude and discomforting about how the one on the left seems to show his back, it almost seems deliberate. Very much a decisive moment photo; as a photo it has a lot more story in it than I imagine the actual moment itself had. Great work.

Adding to Wouter's comments: this is a great example of a short instant in time when all the bustling chaos around us suddenly falls into order and allows a short glimpse into reason, just to immediately switch back to chaos - leaving us wondering...

i too like to see the 2 very different personas here.  the rebel and the cause. the lover and the fighter.. it almost seems staged like the director calls ok enter stage left and cut

Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment.

Adrienne - Nice catch. Those things are the curse of the age. I call these people cell phone slaves. I'm the only person I know who doesn't have one. Shinjirarenai, ne?

Wouter - It's an interesting experience living in another culture and observing it as an outsider. Generally speaking, in modern Japan people really tend to keep aloof from those who are not members of their immediate group. There really is very little interaction. I think this picture is at least symbolically accurate in portraying that trait.

Wolfgang - Yes, that's a good observation and is one of the things that attracts me to the constantly shifting world of street photography rather than posed or carefully arranged photographs. You just never know what will come along next.

Stefanie - Yeah, the differences between the two couldn't be more distinct. The man in black seems a scale model figure compared to the one lounging with his cell phone, as if he were a member of a completely different race. In fact he almost seems to exist on a wholly different plane. That's what struck me most about the scene.

I like how you did this snapshot and title did,is true they have something in common, them gadget.Is true that today every where go especially young people have all the time smartphones in there hands and how you named this age is true.

Cool.

Jack, you've captured the Japanese version of the Mods vs. the Rockers.  Clearly these individuals wear this social affiliations on their sleeves.  I like your timing with the shutter, resulting in each man standing on different sides of the structure in the middle.

Beautiful capture, Jack!  The cellphones give us the opportunity to connect, but most of the time we'll remain disconnected in our own little worlds.  Your image links us perfectly to that reality. Well done!  Warm regards...Bill

Jack, thanks for reverting, indeed I think the photo is more than "symbolically accurate in portraying that trait" (what a gorgeous understatement). I think it is also a photo that practically can only be made by somebody who isn't part of any of those groups culturally - it is the photo of the keen, but outside, observer. Not outside in a sense of social outcast, but (based on the relatively little experience I have) somebody who knows the culture very well, yet isn't integrated into it.

For many of your photos this rings true, though this one maybe more explicit than many others. It's a fascinating point of view.

Ditto Wouter & Wolfgang.  Nicely done, Jack.