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© Copyright (©) 2010, John Crosley, All Rights Reserved

'Saturday Night Out: Reminders of Jobs Undone Fill His Mind'


johncrosley

Withheld, from raw through Adobe Raw Converter 5.5, then Photoshop CS4, slight right crop (for aspect ratio only. Not manipulated.

Copyright

© Copyright (©) 2010, John Crosley, All Rights Reserved

From the category:

Street

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Have you ever slipped out of doing a task only to have the undone task

haunt you as you did other, more 'fun' things, and have that fun partly

destroyed by guilt at not having tackled that task? That is the theme of

this photo, taken in an oceanside communithy in California. Your

ratings, critiques and observations are invited and most welcome. If you

rate harshly, critically or with to make a good faith remark, please

submit a helpful and constructive comment; please share your

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks!

Enjoy! John

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Locks to buy, keys to duplicate, leaky pipes to fix -- home ownership is not always 'free and easy' and chores like those can interrupt a man's (or woman's) free time out . . . and that is the whimsy of this particular photo, taken not so long ago.

 

Let me and readers know if you ever have been haunted by an undone task that spoiled an evening, a weekend, or even a vacation. (like failing to Photoshop spoiled my entire evening last night so I stayed up all night looking for overlooked captures that previously I had vowed to post -- like this one . . . . . which never left my mind, but got pushed back in one of my huge hard drives . . . as I kept shooting, and shooting, and shooting.

 

A surprising number of members and other people read these comments including many who don't comment, rate or critique. Someone might appreciate hearing your interesting story of a task left undone that haunted YOU.

 

Thanks.

 

John (Crosley)

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You caught the man at just the right time. A masterful composition (gee, I just noticed that the lock is a Master lock so it is "masterful" no matter how you cut it!!) and a wonderful photo!
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As you can imagine, I didn't just 'happen' to raise my camera/lens combination as this man happened by, thereby 'happening' to catch him at this particular nexus.

 

When I photograph, I always am looking for something special or extra, that goes with unusual or interesting surroundings such as these, and these are very interesting surroundings that practically say 'shoot me' but just a simple photo of them will fall 'flat'. They needed something else, however much a neighborhood landmark they might have been.

 

So, I sit a ways away, and await the ideal combination,not sure exactly what it is, but firing at likely combinations of pedestrians, and like this one. Such things produce lots of waste, which I seldom delete, even then only for 'out-of-focus issues. My best friend, says 'you sure take a lot of very bad photos' to which I rejoin, 'but that's the price of taking a few good ones, and you notice the number of 'bad ones' to good ones has decreased rather remarkably in recent times.

 

I can still pick off single shots.

 

I did it yesterday in a mall. I shot one shot. My only shot of the day, and it was a keeper, but I am no H. Cartier-Bresson, who at the peak of the Paris Student Riots of 1968 was said to have taken no more than 4 photos one hour (but he used a manual rewind Leica and film, (which he sometimes misloaded, leaving sprocket holes in his captures -- which he demanded be reproduced, to ensure that nothing was cropped (not even the sprocket holes, that showed his film-loading screw ups.

 

However, I am unaware of any publication actually publishing one of those screw ups -- it probably was just to make a point to publishers intent on cutting up his photos, which should not have been, just as this would not withstand a crop without destroying its composition! I try to take 'entire' compositions which resist cropping (in general, though there are exceptions).

 

I'm glad this one pleased you; it received a lukewarm response when first posted; and it definitely is for 'special tastes'.

 

Thanks for sharing your kind thoughts.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

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Ah John, this is an online Rebus...will return when I've got the answer...Very well captured momentum. Candid street par excellence. Compliments!
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I sometimes (often) see life as a fun challenge of Rebus(es) (brain teasers), so many of which I try to 'solve' by compressing the Rebus (and/or its solution) into a photograph.

 

Here, the Rebus (and solution) together are entirely of my own making, from my whimsy, of course, and entirely extemporaneous.

 

Just drive by, see the unusual building, drive around the block, park, pick up camera, and wait a few minutes for the precise moment.

 

A review of my captures reveals I waited a while -- not too long as I could always return to this place if it didn't yield what I wished, but there was more than one 'moment' which might have sufficed, this being the best.

 

Like much of my work, there will never probably be another like this one -- life for me is highly inventive -- just take the principles or fundamentals, master or try to master them, set about applying them, and see what unusual and interesting things result.

 

This is one such.

 

As to 'candid' and 'street' this is both, but nevertheless, it was a carefully thought composition, even if on the fly, which required this man (or another like him) to be captured at exactly the right place in exactly the right attitude (which is what happened).

 

My best to you, my woman of charms.

 

John (Crosley)

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This is an experiment, one of ten or so photos from one download from a year ago, I went through for the first time since ten months ago, looking for 'things' -- anything of interest that didn't strike me in the face right away.

 

I do all my own posting Photoshop work, and frankly except for the issue of interpreting my work, Photoshopping literally bores me. I put it off, procrastinate some more, and although I don't watch TV, almost ever, I'd turn on the TV before Photoshopping, but out of desperation, when I do, I get inspired.

 

Then I'm hooked, finding all sorts of wonderful stuff I'd overlooked, and even one download becomes alive with possibilities I had overlooked or just was too intent on following the obvious 'one or two photos I had in mind' that the others which often are very inspired and workmanlike (or even more inspired) have gotten overlooked.

 

So, now I am my own curator, aided by a new trick. I discovered in Photoshop Bridge, 'slideshow' settings and with a 'fast' dual or quad-core processor, one can view full size captures at one per second, hit the escape button to (1) stop the slideshow when something interesting comes up, and (2) mark or 'select' the frame on the Bridge display, whether or not its thumbnails or very large size is being displayed.

 

What a boon!

 

It's just what I was looking for in image review - full size and machine gunning at me, almost as fast as I take them.

 

If I see a series or want to go back, I hit 'escape' and just reselect the starting frame, then hit 'slide show' again and off to the races, or I can reset the interval with the menu just below slide show (as well as the 'transition' -- I choose right to left, as though they're being played from a deck of cards and each photo 'covers' the last')

 

I can see that this is the way to view my photos from now on. I've tried everything before, from Picasa, to Irfanview to whatever.

 

It's always too slow,and I end up with my eyes drooping somewhere, then missing half the shots displayed.

 

This way, I'm really engaged and miss nothing, but if I do, just go back, start at the dropped off place, and GO LIKE BLAZES.

 

Assuming no frames are chosen, one can go through 600 frames in 600 seconds -- about ten minutes. Wow! Of course, one will want to slow down, hit frames, then use the cursor keys to go back and forth if one wants.

 

Now, about your photoshopping. I have hired, here in Ukraine a capable person to do some photoshopping for me, but she needs direction, and for this photo, I'm going to point her to your workup.

 

Her 'skills' are first rate, but her 'street vision' is not tops, and for captures I've worked up, it's not much of a problem, except one like this . . . . which I just knocked out, not thinking much of it.

 

Well, again, I'm surprised by raters, even though it sat there for a half day with about 4 or 5 views and eventually got one low rate -- damping my hopes at all.

 

I happened to like it, and always had intended on showing it - just because it was craftsmanlike, and frankly, unusual.

 

It needed, however, a good caption, but then I'm pretty good at that. A good caption can make a workable photo into a winner sometimes . . . by pointing the viewers in the right direction.

 

Miles, I miss seeing you -- are you in London, SE Asia or elsewhere?

 

I'm freezing my 'ass' off in Ukraine with -26 Celsius tonight and the power just on at 4:00 a.m. after 6 hours no power and almost no heat. (Gas was on so I baked some chicken -- heat and food).

 

I fly tomorrow, so the TSA may have chicken grease on their hands if they get too snoopy;~))

 

I'd love to renew our acquaintanceship/friendship in person one of these days if you have an inclination, and to see your work and hear your stories - your shooting has been excellent - really top notch, and even was better than I recognized when I first met you in Bangkok what is beginning to be quite a while ago.

 

It was a felicitous meeting, and I'd love to continue it someday, possibly soon, particularly since I'm often just across the 'Continent' from your erstwhile 'home base'.

 

Best to you.

 

john

 

John (Crosley)

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Hi John,

 

I'm pleased you like the PS work I did. I quite enjoy the post-process work actually but then I like to work quickly. I whizz through the images at the rate of 1 or 2 a second on Aperture software, pick the ones I like and do a few global edits in PS (B&W conversion, curves, local contrast and possibly some dodging and burning - just a few minutes per shot) because I don't even know how to (want to) use layers.

 

I would also love to renew our acquaintance in person. I feel we have much in common in our photographic tastes and very much enjoyed your company last time - we had some good conversations and covered a lot of ground in a short period of time. I'm in SE Asia right now but am normally in London in the summer - get in touch if you are ever near.

 

Thanks for your compliments, I also admire your work hugely and am particularly intrigued by your vision both in terms of composition and verbal dissection after the event.

 

I won't bore you by telling you it's 90 degrees here (oops!), maybe you need a break in the sun and we can catch up over a bowl of noodles.

 

Best to you,

 

Miles.

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I thought it would be Miles in Bangkok (or somewhere nearby).

 

I'd love to come,but the electricity is back on in my Kyiv apartment and the temperature today was 30 degrees Fahrenheit not -6 F of last week when I left (with no electricity) or -25 C. and a very, very cold apartment.

 

Someone who went in today said it was almost 'too warm' which is something I have not experienced ALL WINTER, so I will hurry back as soon as I can to enjoy the winter heat inside, but there is slick ice on all the streets.

 

I was in an auto accident several years ago, my insurer cheated me on paying medical bills, a major reason for going to Ukraine, as I had (among other things) dental injuries, which are much much less expensive to fix in Ukraine, or I might easily be joining you there in SE Asia; you know I love street cuisine - noodles or whatever, and adore even those simple fried noodles a bit of pork, some egg and soy sauce, wok fried with a little Asian vegetable in 90 seconds. Ymmmm and so simple but impossible to get anywhere in Europe generally.

 

And of course in Ukraine, not at all that i know of (if you know Svetlana K., please send me a message or give me a post.

 

Miles I may very well may either choose to visit London or just extend an invite to come to Ukraine if I'm able (lots of room and nice digs, when not spending time in the USA, which also is substantial but intermittent.

 

I'm going to be trying for a fellowship,I think but won't reveal to world which one, or to anybody until I am certain . . . . as I don't want to be competing with the best of the best (like you and my other few friends if I awaken you . . . as you would be serious competition.) ;~)))

 

As well as another friend or two, who do 'street'.

 

I've found copy negs (4x5 from most of my early photos and am off to a service bureau to see if they have deteriorated much (early attempts at flat bed scanning yielded poor results for these newly-found "priceless' negs which were believed lost forever (original negs were lost for all time) but these are copy negs of exhibition quality prints, Balloon Man, Nixon, Men with Air Conditioners coming down escalator, Bill Lear, etc. etc.,etc., but I'm quoted $50 per for drum scans and don't have the scratch without a sponsor (something more about my insurer having cheated me big time.)

 

Really, without that, I would have not been hospitalized or lost all of last summer, just a week or so, a quick operation (paid for easily), then no six months and longer recovery period . . . .and from auto accident of several years ago, no loss of use of half my mouth from traumatic abscesses (need implants . . . which are next on schedule . . . . after major root canals . . . from head impact/trauma . . . . .. and finally figured out not long ago that my insure did have plan to cheat me on this and other claims -- (they overstepped one last time and revealed themselves -- they just got too clever by half and gave their ill intentions and total disregard for me away . . . . shockingly clearly.

 

I'm astounded that I didn't pick up on it before, but then, it's not my business . . . . to be looking under rocks for slimy things or things that crawl around. . . . . but indeed I found some . . . and I'd bed everything on that.

 

And I've paid dearly with lost health, lost use of much of my body, upset beyond belief, and even deformity and lost operations(s) to relieve my present pain (you remember that).

 

The list is pretty long,and now I've figured it out, that as it lays now it could have gone a different course, but I was dissed (disregarded) not unintentionally, but with a plan to do so, and the last straw was when the plan involved a final 'diss' that was so blatant it would offend the head of the Republican National Committee or even the Chamber of Commerce (well maybe not THAT far,as all's fair with them, no matter what.)

 

Enough bitching, I gotta life to live.

 

As you can see, I put up and bull my way through life's worst circumstances and still do OK, despite the machines that throw C*rap at you like those pitching machines, snoop on you, etc. One time I found 'investigators, posing as electrical linemen with a bucket lifter headed for my utility pole where my phone line was attached (It was my personal pole on my isolated private property).

 

They arrived on Friday, had no ID, with a far out of state license, claimed they 'forgo' their driver's licenses, had no 'mobile or walkie talkie' to talk with their boss 'but he's gone home anyway' and they were going to drive their bucket lift to climb my power/utility/telephone pole which served only my home while I had a claim outstanding.

 

What you wanna bet they weren't from the telephone company?

 

They backed down 1,300 feet of private road and just 'high-tailed it' as I watched from a different (unseen) vantage.

 

I never heard from them again (so they probably had a 'black box' guy at my main telephone switch on a nearby road, doing 'black work' instead of on my telephone pole . . .. . . ).

 

Sneaky 'b*stards.

 

Miles, if it's not always visible 'where I am' you can guess why.

 

I may be 'here' or 'there' or somewhere in between. Or even elsewhere.

 

Only God and me know for sure, and sometimes I'm not so sure myself.

 

e.g. Jet Lag, reroutings, and so forth.

 

I learned that sometimes companies that are out to cheat you will do 'illegal stuff' and even if caught they will deny it . .. right to your face. . . . . then skedaddle, while a new team probably takes over, or even double or triple team you.

 

It's a good thing I'm a California resident who's just visiting Ukraine (teeth work from accident let go because abandoned by insurer,etc. and visiting UK to take photos) but always return regularly and for long times to home (California) -- with my original CA ID, and all the good stuff. intact and no intention to leave -- ever.

 

Ukraine is 'second home' but just that - second and temp.

 

I'd love to get together, but SE Asia before they start using squirtguns is improbable, I think and that time is too hot (even if dry)

 

Boy do I miss those noodles!!!!!

 

Your cohort (not in a bad or evil way, either) in the US and Ukraine and maybe soon Italy or Argentina? Cheap mouth work also in Argentina . . . as cannot all be done in Ukraine (a bit backwards, some of it.)

 

john

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I chanced upon this photo while viewing your recent "gentle giant" upload. The only comment so far has summed things up very nicely; I could not find anything new to contribute there.

The first thing that struck me was (in addition to your caption) that of man being more and more converted to an item in a universal toolbox. The busy lives we pursue day after day has turned most people into some kind of machine. The brute force of modern life has turned people into some mechanical, emotionless, robotic beings (not unlike Chaplin's opening shot of "Modern Times"). We have been turned into people who tick-box things and are satisfied with such achievement.

In this photo, the timing of the shot is more than just to represent how his mind is occupied. It is also a reflection, an mirror-image of his mind, where, rather than the softness of a paint brush, hard realities predominate.

The dry tap (emptiness), wrench (manipulation), lock (imprisoned) dominate the presence of a key (a ray of hope). Metallic items are rather cold and harsh, much like the realities of life. The grain in the image contributes a measure of grittiness.

Rather surreal photo, with some hope incorporated amongst the misery; only for those who can find it.

Best wishes.

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Samrat Bose,

Your interpretation of this photo borders on the sublime.

I always had mixed feelings about this photo because of difficulty understanding its 'meaning'.

Was it a mere 'gimmick' photo in which I incorporated the background and tried to make a pleasing composition in the process?

At times I had tended toward that analysis. 

But I took it for a reason, and sometimes those reasons are well hidden or not revelatory quickly to those who observe.

But you may be an incipient literary genius disguised as a photographer/photo critic.

Your explanation of this photo, especially the reference to Chaplin's 'Modern Times' and the metaphor of man as a 'tool' (in slang an object of derision is to call someone a 'tool' -- in America at least).

But even if man is a universal tool within life's toolbox, he is the most essential one.

For all the functions you mentioned, it is only man who can unlock or use them, thus man is really the 'key' to everything, in my view.

He is a 'tool' in your view, I think (perhaps in mine too), but I always admired those who were handy with tools.  There always has been a bit of mysticism in how mankind uses various tools and so well too.

My two main tools are a camera and a keyboard, and with the latter, I have made a living most of my life (or a reputation here with the latter, as well as the every day tool for Americans, the automobile, yet even as to that, I'm somewhat of a dunderhead, knowing how to drive well enough, but not to take the darn thing apart (or really caring).

I only have to say that your remark made me sit up and take notice (I had been lying down and was thunderstruck by it, to be more precise).

Thank you for a wonderful analysis.

john

John (Crosley)

 

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