The midnight cowboy

Powerfully graphic and well design.    Unique and good.

Our Don Quixote, astride the sloping back of his long legged-horse, prepares to do battle in the modern world of the great white screens. The curve of the theater curtain on the left puts him on stage; the vertical line on the right says this is not theater.

We non-Don Quixotes lurk somewhere in the shadows on the right.

More seriously, I am very impressed by how Becky has handled this composition. I am a little bamboozled by the up-kick of various lines just to the right of center, but I kind of like the effect, so I will choose to believe that they are by design. I especially like the line of the man's left sleeve and the anachronistic collar of his coat and his equally out-of-time hat. And all that private stillness on the right contains nothing but is completely necessary to receive the stuff on the left, IMO. Don Quixote needs his backstory.

a cowboy riding into town on a…kid's scooter…...o-kayyyy, mebbe he suffers from hippophobiar. let's not be too

judgemental.

 

odd reflection

odd reflection

ninny, it's a double-barred H, for horse.

"ninny"

No, whinny. Or nicker. Which may be in a bunch.

MAny thanks to the elves in choosing this photo for discussion !

Julie I like your take ....I left the right side because I felt he needed a larger platform to stand on . I also share your idea of the curtain

Norman didn't know about the ninny?

Mysterious detective in black inky tones. What's he plotting? Off beat. I like it. Alan.

Congratulations, Becky. I like the film noir effect; the tonal contrast is quite dramatic.

An enterprising photo, a bit similar in effect to Ms. Reese's "Wasted time" image (although Becky's "Time" image does not talk to me as much). Perhaps some details could be improved to "gild" the image, but I think it is a considerable success as it is, with or without the title. The large horizontal artefact (in front of the person?) seems to add a little additional tension or enigma to the image compared to a similar one in which it would be absent. I look forward to seeing more images in her portfolio. Art training is useful, however it is acquired.

Fine photo, which immediately grasp your attention with the anachronically looking gespenst standing in the opening of what seems to be curtains, confronted to the bright light of the banal modern building. The horizontal broad dark something, that cuts the scene, looks like a second thought of the scenarist changing his mind on the very existence of what we see. The long, long surrealist shadows of the legs come nearest to the reality of the scene. It never happened.
Cowboy, I see not, midnight, neither. Prefer it without a title.

Becky I am attracted to this image because of the originality and contrast, very clever effects and blur to

this fantastic figure. Congratulations.

I assume the "cowboy" is because of the hat and the allusion to the film of the same name. The camera shake and the high contrast has produced interesting horizontal linear blur lines in the image. Otherwise I am not gripped by the picture's content. Perhaps Arthur's assessment of "enterprising" is a good way to describe it. The treatment has transformed what would otherwise be a rather dull scene (man in hat with back facing the photographer) into something a little more interesting, but cannot altogether disguise its more mundane origin.

Alan, what a wicked web we weave!Thanks for your commennt

Michael, i do feel that the harsh tone adds a little mystique, thank you

Arthur, yes sometimes the title is there to convince the looker of an idea. a way of plotting or hatching thei intent or thoughts of the photographer.Thanks for your comment

Anders thanks , yes with the theme of the title it was just a passing thought in reality he looked most unlike a cowboy

Jorge,thanks! The blur is mostly for atmosphere i think?

Robin thanks.. i can't help but wonder if there is a tone of sarcasm in your commet? The blur, was not used as a method or means in anyway to distract or remove anything in anyway from the photo but was used to add character and originality. Its intent was not to create an illusion of interest and artistic approach nor was it meant to be a distraction or deception. As far as mundane .. i do feel that that is a mundane term in and of it self. A most overly used word much as the word interesting. I do thank you for your honest and unbiased opinion.

No sarcasm intended, Becky. Your explanation seems slightly contradictory though:

...but was used to add character and originality. Its intent was not to create an illusion of interest and artistic approach...

These seem to be contradicting themselves. There's nothing wrong with spicing up a picture with a bit of post processing. Originality is an important aspect of art and you added it on purpose, but then you suggest that this is not what you wanted to do (not to create...artistic...).

"Mundane" is absolutely mundane as is "interesting", perhaps I should have said "ordinary"(?). Not sure that helps.

These are/were just my thoughts, and are of no more importance than anyone else's.

Hi Robin.. i interpreted your comment as this.. you implied my post processing was meant to take an ordinary boring photo and attempt to create something not so mundane through smoke and mirrors? May i also add that you implied that this attempt laid flat and was not successful and that the effect couldn't hide the poor under lying tones of the photo. in essence you are saying take a bad photo and attempt to make it better and i am saying take a good photo and make it more intriguing... Regardless i enjoyed your comment.It made me think. AS far as someone's thoughts being more important or influential than another persons.. you bet they are. How many things in life are of equal value and identical? Your comment wasn't more important to me than anyone elses.. i do take away more from some statements than others and find some comments more relevant than others. If people actual have something to say about one of photos and have the patience to write it down and send it i couldn't be more delighted!

Interesting choice for photo of the week. Congrats Beckanie.

I have been looking at this photo for a week. Every time I do, I ask myself, is this a painting, or a photo. The effect is so close to brush strokes, that it reminds me of illustrations in graphic novels. A mystery plot, yes, but one in a comic book. For the same reason, the scene creates a sense of nostalgia.

The effect has been carefully added to highlight form and motion, obscuring shades and realism. The artist has taken the photo as a trace (as in a camera obscura) and applied her own touch. BTW, I think the photo would stand on it's own without the effect as opposed to the discussion here, but I may be wrong. The composition is quite effective. I respect the artist's wishes to see and show as she does, and I can start with her POV and walk further. I want to mention that I am quite impressed with her portfolio and her bold approach in experimenting with fog, soft focus and motion blur; a modern take on pictorialism? This one caught my attention. I look forward to seeing more of her creations.

HELLO SUPRIYO.T hank you for your insightful critique. i feel that when i take a photo that it should evoke some kind of emotion. Even if that emotion is i hate that picture or it gives me the creeps or i can't look at that photo. for you to say that you appreciate the art of photography i.e. foggy blurry shots... says a great deal to me. You have the Midas touch as far as photography goes.. a very eclectic tasteful portfolio and for that i give you kudos!

Hello Elves.. i would like to thank you again for making me a part of this elite club of photographers!

Becky, I have really enjoyed your thoughtful and balanced responses in this discussion. Thank you.

Hi Becky! I am a bit late to the discussion but have enjoyed reading the former comments.
My take on the image .......The main protagonist seems much like a Dickensian character, the odd shaped hat, the thin legs, could all belong to something from Pickwick Papers, or even "Sketches by Boz" The slight lateral movement adds to the sketch like impression and the tiny slits of light indicate an old wooden structure which all fits in with my perception of the mood and depiction of the character. I see nothing mundane about this. The silhouette allows a great deal of leeway for the imagination, a blank canvas in some ways, but with plenty of material for suggestion that allows for many interpretations. Sincere Compliments!