The Bus Stop: The Real, the Unreal and the Reflection

It appears there are three figures all lined up with aesthetically pleasing

spacing in this photo, however, only one figure is photographed directly.

On closer inspection of the other two, one is an advertising figure, and

the other is a reflection. Things here are not what they seem. Your

ratings, critiques and remarks are invited and most welcome. If you rate

harshly, very critically, or wish to make a remark, please submit a

helpful and constructive comment; please share your photographic

knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! john

I love the 'eye' John. I think the street detracts from the focus of the image though. Maybe a crop along the left edge of the booth? Appears it may be tough because of the angle/perspective but maybe even the left edge of the tree? I am thinking/writing out loud here..just IMO. Great eye. Pete.

I think you are absolutely right about the detail of the 'street', left,  detracting.

I really needed a different aspect ratio for my capture, say 4:5 instead of 2:3.  That and some judicious cropping to that aspect ratio (say an 8 x 10 blowup)

That would justify a crop.

I stood where I did to avoid being 'reflected' by the sign that says 'Mars Needs Moms' (a stinker I am told - if it's the correct movie it may be one of the big box office busts of history; correct me if I'm wrong.).

That's right, the distant 'sitter' is really next to me, the photographer and that is a reflection in the photo - I take photos of images however they come to me, even if they're reflections.

In the original capture, the 'street', left, was nearly 'blown' -- barely perceptible because of lots of highlight and no detail.

I suppressed the highlighted street by using shadow/highlight filter, suppressing the highlights to 'bring them out' -- in retrospect probably a mistake.

I would have been criticized if I left the capture 'as is' and nearly blown, , and yet you make a valid objection -- I should have cropped left - your not knowing that 'almost blown highlights' left very bright instead of suppressed were available as an alternative help elimkinate detail, left. 

I suppose I would consider cropping, but I dislike intensely posting 'finished' photos when I can post them 'as taken' and give members a chance to give a full critique of the original, uncropped photo in cases where I think I can 'get away' with posting an original, uncropped image.

I think you have told me that was a bad idea for this image, and I think I agree.

Yours was a very astute observation and suggestion.

I accept it entirely.

Right is right and sometimes my judgment is not the best; I always can use good commenters to help me improve my captures. 

That's why I post 'em.

john

John (Crosley)

Thanks for the compliment about 'the eye'.

This is a recent favorite of mine, even if raters don't seem to like it. 

It stands out among my other captures in terms of composition, all taken in the course of several days.

(sometimes raters seem to fall in love with photos I don't particularly feel are so worthy, so there's a certain equality in this reception - I just do not know (and thus cannot cater to) popular taste all the time.

I follow my muse, post what I will, and hope for the best.

john

John (Crosley)

After reading your intro, and after the click on the thumbnail, I imediately did look for three persons. So, in a way, I wasn't watching in an objective way. I do only remember I was aware of brightness on the left, especially a tree.. The poster seeming a three dementional bus-stop is very reallistic. The comparing tones of the figures are great.

After reading the first comment on the suggested crop and after watching again I only thought the dark car a bit distracting. Without and another fraction, the point of view is clear. However, without your story probably myself and most (?) of the viewers wouldn't have made the discovery that we are watching a poster with reflection. Phoe..!

Yes, what to do, being the photographer. Telling the secret on forehand? Already knowing you and wanting to search myself, I would say no. Or at least afterwards.. Yes, that's a dilemma..! Perhaps it would have been easier if shown in color. :) By the way, I like your story and the image..! No, fo me the left side isn't a problem at all.  However, without, the man is getting more prominent. His look even seems to express that he is in the complot..!

Do encourage your body from me and do have some good or better days, Olaf. 

Interesting composition with advertising posters and reflection creates the illusion of a parallel reality.

I'm glad that the photo's left is not so distracting to you; it was a point to post it first uncropped and seek suggestions, rather than crop and no one knows that they might have been able to guide me on that point - one I was not able to resolve.  Maybe just lightening the dark car, or cropping just to the right of the dark car would be sufficient and keeping the tree originally lighter.

The tones of the 'three individuals' in color are just magnificent . . . making this conversion rather easy with a Nik black and white conversion filter.

I may post the color version 'on another service' sometime in the future.

You have correctly hit on the dilemma I faced -- to tell the 'story' or 'secret' at first, or have people maybe discover it.  But if it has low ratings, no one will discover anything as no one will see it at all.

And the first two ratings were 3s, and without getting 15 or 20 high ratings, a photo is pretty well damned when it gets a pair of 3s at the outset.

That's too bad; the order in which low ratings are attached to a photo may vastly affect the number of people who view it, and also ultimately rate it.

For me, I couldn't ask for a better photo, except for the left side crop or not crop issue.  In a couple of days of shooting 'street' this was just outstanding, but the color I think it really, really good (if you like this photo, and if not, well then . . . . )

You are a most astute observer.

And thanks for the encouragement for my physical body. I traveled 2,750 miles today in great pain, cramped in what was supposed to be a premium seat but a cabin divider left me with inability to stretch a leg and even a cramping foot. 

But, after a terminal switch and an inter terminal driver who just wanted to leave me (sans wheelchair) and heavy hand baggage on a curb at JFK airport, I made him go get someone.

I was rewarded when on my $35.00 (that's right) they upgraded me across the Atlantic in business class with lay flat beds, and custom everything (beats coach by a lot and 'free, free, free'.)

Sometimes things go from bad to worse, and other times they go from worse to better.

You never know until the end.

Thanks for the solicitous feelings about my health, Olaf.

john

John (Crosley)

You hit on exactly the point that this photo conjures up with me, when I understand that not only is that a Mars creature, center and a little boy in advertising, but the woman, background, really is not in the background but is reflected from my right (and had absolutely no inkling she could ever be part of this photo).

The point of course is that this seems to imply an 'alternate reality' as you correctly suggest.

Step to the head of the class, Svetlana.

My thoughts exactly.

john

John (Crosley)

I like it.

So different.

So unreal.

The right angle, the right BW.

And the right moment.

Exellent photo.

On review on the back of my camera (especially in color) this was a standout.

It got hit by two 3 raters first thing, which make it hard to recover from without a ton of high rates.

I decide what I like, then am loyal to my photo, at least until a bunch of low rates seem to tell me there is a problem I overlooked. 

That's not the case here. 

But not every photo I consider good (or you either) is obvious or evident to all viewers, especially drive-by raters.

This photo is not for everyone -- I like to think 'street' is for thinking people, and not everyone appreciates it -- obviously you do..

Your analysis shows you understood this photo and spent some time analyzing it.  Thank you so much for the time and effort you have invested in letting me know your opinion and analysis.

john

John (Crosley) 

For the record, this also makes very, very good color photo.

It'll probably  be posted 'elsewhere' as color sometime in the future (not soon, but sometime).

john

John (Crosley)

Even the movie was't so great.

I think I noted above that the movie not only 'wasn't so great' but it was a Hollywood bomb' if my information is correct.

john

John (Crosley)

Disney spend an estimated $60 million promoting the movie on the sign.

Its first week it took in less than $6 million at the opening box office.

It had a production budget of $150 million, and tickets had a 3-D and IMAX surcharge.

Total box office by March 30, 2011, less than $21 million.

'Nuff said?

BOMB with capitals.

john

John (Crosley)