'Two Right Arms'

This is the story of 'Two Right Arms' at least one caught momentarily,

both at LA County's famous (or infamous) Venice Beach where

California's Southland (and some of the rest of the world) comes to

gather and play, together with a huge assortment of oddballs almost

without any social class separators, as frankly there is almost no class

at all at Venice Beach! Your ratings and critiques are invited and most

welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, or just wish to make a

remark, please share your insight and your photographic knowledge to

help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

Well seen, John ... lovely captured and titled. Regards.

This began as just two growing skateboarders sitting kibitzing under the edge of a large poster next to the restaurant drink counter, with bystanders mostly in the way.

Somehow, across the street, varying my shooting angle with my telephoto lens, I managed to escape their scrutiny, and was free to shoot away for some substantial period (for 'street' a substantial period might be eight to ten minutes).

During that time there were breaks in the bystanders or I varied my viewpoint (where I was standing) to shoot around bystanders, and toward the end, I was able to catch these guys briefly engaging in some hand horseplay -- some spontaneous hitting.

I always have 'C' (continuous servo, successor to 'motor drive') turned on, and shot some sequences, hoping for something more than just two guys in good fading sunlight under a fading poster of a lady with an outstretched arm with a hamburger on it and a great expression.

Well, I was rewarded.

The one boy reached out to hit the other, and in one shot I caught him before he connected (connecting would not have made the 'mirror' I wanted, although I got the 'connection' also.

This was not about one boy 'beating on another' even in fun, but about two boys and their background -- it always was, and in the end it ended up twice the photo I had intended because the theme of boys and background had the additional element of 'mirroring' or repetition.

In color it's also great, even without the mirroring, and with the mirroring and color it may be just a bit confusing -- one doesn't know whether to reward good colors (dull, rust and fading yellows) or the double raised right arms -- as the two themes seem in conflict.  You would have to see it to be the judge.

So, I chose black and white and probably will post the color on another service -- as it's good also, just in a somewhat different way.  I'm putting lots of work into my 'B&W, Here to Now' folder and other B&W work, which is also how this one ended up getting chosen over color.

Thank you for the recognition -- this opened to what seemed  like 'yawns' from the raters and critiquers', but response has climbed over the day.

I looked before posting to my 'best' street photo to post from my huge 'to be posted' folder, and this was it!

I'm glad you seemed to understand that; the background is faded and dull tones because the restaurant poster is faded, and I didn't 'work it' to make it more contrasty, as many might have; I believe in minimal photoshopping.

john

John (Crosley)

I seem to have an 'unusual' number of well-seen photos in my portfolio, and the reason is really rather simple.

Part is I have learned to identify likely situations in the 'street'.  See my 'Presentation' 'Photographers:  Watch Your Background' a work still in progress but I think Photo.net's largest which is a good tutorial on the process of lining things up in the first place and then positioning one's self where things are likely to look better if they happen at all.

Then look throughout my portfolio to see how many shots look like I chose a likely situation then just either happened to 'see' something or when I had a basic element lined up, other things began to line or pile up on top of those to make those captures 'interesting'.

After all, it's all about making 'interesting' and 'pleasing' captures' even if we call define those words in various ways.

I'd hate to have posted 1,500 extremely dull photos, all variations on a theme -- and strive to keep my viewers interested.

Otherwise I'd soon run out of viewers, and viewers would stay in droves (which they don't seem to).

I spend hours and hours mentally cataloging places I go when I go there, 'for the next' time, so when I return someplace, I'm not stuck, and I have ready-made possibilities next time.

It happened that way tonight, at a place where I struck out on a previous outing, but got three very pleasing photos tonight.

It is a method which makes best use of limited resources, talent and energy, for greatest, most pleasing output.

A great background does not a great photo make, or even a decent one.

But cataloged in my mind, when I see something happening in front of it another day, another time, or even another year, it can add up to Photo of the Week (as it did once, when I rushed ahead to capture my subject in front of a great background and 'nailed him!).

It's a method that works!

Notice, in this shot, there's even repetition in the skateboards, the rolled up mats, left, and the wall clapboards behind -- all roughly rectangular shapes if one is not too picky - a small element of repetition, in itself, and not one that is prominent, but one begins to pick these things up 'AFTER THE FACT' as I often shoot very inchoately, not picking things apart (as a forum topic this week devoted to a Susan Sontag statement suggests photographers do.  I mostly pick them apart later, after I've done my 'constructing. . . . but am learning to do so before the fact.

john

John (Crosley)

Thank you so very much.

This could easily be Ukrainian kids or U.S. kids, couldn't it?

It speaks to the universality of what I photograph often; skateboards are very, very common among the youths I encounter in Ukraine, as well as the U.S., and I think the skateboarders have a common culture if not a common language.

I appreciate your comment.

john

John (Crosley)