black and white: then to now 'The Long Walk Home'

'The Long Walk Home' is a photo that speaks for itself. If this were in

the US or much of Western Europe this woman would be in an 'old

folks' home or another geriatric facility instead of doing a workout in

public, which may well prolong her life. Your ratings, critiques and

observations are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly,

critically, or if you just 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

Although this old woman clearly is somewhat transient, she clearly also is going very slowly.

Question:  Is she as firmly or more firmly rooted where she is than the somewhat young trees that are around her, in a manner of speaking?

In other words, which is older - she or the trees, and which is more immutable or permanent? 

john

John (Crosley)

In this photo, which appears very simple, I see a play of two triangles.

Do you?

If you do, I think you have understood this photo.

john

John (Crosley)

An immediate connection was made by this viewer. Woman on street in Rome.

Ok, (greatly) different surroundings, but a somewhat familiar subject matter nonetheless...

The vacant foothpath ahead of the 'old woman' and the converging lines are most definitely important compositional elements in this image.

With regards to any triangles that are in play here, I can only identify the actual foothpath and the triangular space between the subject's front leg and walking stick as contenders.

From an aesthetic pov, I wish that there was a greater distance between the senior pedestrian and the trees in the background, whilst I also might have cropped out the two vehicles on the left of this image.

I'm very pleased to have been moved to post an observation, after a prolonged absence...

The two triangles referred to are:

1. The path with its vanishing point defines a triangle.

2.  The old woman with her two feet and her stick (cane) roughly is triangular shaped (neither side is comletely straight, but you get the idea - things are not always perfect in this world).

If she were perfectly triangular, perhaps the photo would be 'too obvious'.

As it is, this photo has an 'appeal' that may be there in terms of composition that may not be entirely obvious; the number of views is unusual for the ratings so far.

I am aware of Michael Ging's fabulous photo of the week and no attempt was being made to replicate it; i felt this was different enough to justify posting, and as you noted, it is. 

The theme is universal, however.

I'm glad to see you moved to posting again!

john

John (Crosley)

A very nicely composed beautiful shot, John!

With best regards,

Ruud.

This is one of those 15 or 30 second shots, probably even much less.  Just lift the camera and shoot with previsualizing and camera function setting done while walking forward behind the woman

I agree -- composition is everything in this shot.

If she were a little bit advanced down the path or a little bit retarded the synchronicity would be gone -0- there would be no shot worthy of showing.

Same with the suggestion of Peter Daalder above, that maybe he'd crop out the car(s), upper left.

To do so would completely destroy the composition.  To get rid of the cars the only way would be to clone them out, other than cropping which would change the aspect ratio here which would destroy the composition and I don't do such things as large cloning (usually even small cloning).  The cars place this photo in chronological context, and therefore are important to my artistic vision.

In many Western societies we don't see 'older people' out and about unless surrounded by relatives on 'special occasions' such as birthdays, etc. when they're feted at restaurants, and may be surrounded by several generations of descendants and well wishers.S

Here, the woman just lives her life -- she's old (starry).  She's expected to lead her life by herself and get along by herself, unassisted.  She will have neighbors, and friends among the neighbors, unlike many more transient Western societies where neighbors often don't know each other.

The East is different that way, and for that it's somewhat attractive, if still retarded economically.  Friendships do count for something, especially when there's little social safety net (no real welfare -- a pension that keeps getting eaten by inflation, was recently increased a very small amount but amounts to barely enough to pay for barest necessities and makes many grow their own food in summer and still go cold in winter.

But there are often friends and neighbors to lend a helping hand - something missing in America where people can live next to each other for five or ten years and not know their neighbors (in fact extending a hand to next door neighbors can be seen in some neighborhoods as a sign of rudeness or 'breach of privacy' in America in many neighborhoods where 'privacy' is highly valued.

There, I've turned this into a sociological essay, but then I do that frequently, and I'm in a good position to do that, having spent as much as a generation or more in each culture, and so such comparisons come naturally to me.

Ruud, yes, composition is everything in this photo.  Thanks so much for recognizing it and commenting on it.

john

John (Crosley)

Compimenti per la foto veramente di grande impatto!

Gianni, thank you so much.

I understood your comment better after I ironed out a misspelling in Italian changing the word 'accomplishment' to 'compliment'.

In some ways it's a very simple photo, but it's composition is deceptively simple, with complementary triangles or semi-triangular figures in juxtaposition as noted in the comment to Ruud Albers, above.

I often can see in an instant what it sometimes take hours later to discovery and explain, but I put the effort into that so that I might explain what it is I do so others who might have a different approach and less skill in 'seeing easily' what I see so instinctively can understand.

For me what is built into my sight, may be a gift, but for others, I think it can be taught, and these explanations are part of the effort to translate the part I instinctively see into something more word friendly, so it can be explained to those who do not natively 'see' so well, or who may just e beginning, and wondering.

In fact, I struggled at the start of taking photographs with with mentally composing, and found it hard, rigorous, and sweaty work that tasked my brain almost to the breaking point.  Taking street I found at first one of the hardest endeavours, but after years of thought and practice it no longer is; I've trained myself, partly by writing about it and analyses preceded the ability to write.
I think others can benefit from what I've learned, and I endeavour to teach them to avoid going through the pain of what I suffered -- the headaches, and the seat and suffering of looking through a viewfinder and being so challenged nearly every time to find some worthy view, not knowing precisely WHY something was good or not and relying on a combination of intuition, talent and dumb luck.

Best to you Gianni.  I hope I can save you some work as you develop your talents; that's the purpose of this all.

john

John (Crosley)

Congratulations on the photo; really big impact!

Gianni Spini

(Google Translate after fixing misspelling in original)

It's back, but it's a telling story back!

Thank you for stopping by.

john

John (Crosley)

This is a deceptively simple image isn't it, but very appealing?  I'm glad for your comment.

john

John (Crosley)

very moving, John. i believe these images of old world women provide modern women with a deeply valuable perspective on essentials of womanhood. i never tire of them ;-} dp

I have thousands of photos of 'old women' not worth posting, but this one had a composition that was compelling enough to post.

You make a good point about being reminded by such photos of the status of modern vs. less Westernized women (if I get your point).

I'm glad this photo touched you.

john

John (Crosley)

It is an optical illusion.

We know that Asher Lev does not exist and the comment made under that name is unhelpful, puzzling and harassing.

John Crosley

Member

Photo.net

In noting that this is a 'play of two triangles -- e.g., the triangle defined by the walkway as it meanders toward the horizon, and the triangular figure of the woman -- it is interesting to note that the triangular pathway is more white than not and the woman is more black than not.

john

John (Crosley)

My children sometimes think I do not exist. You are someone's child but you are not one of mine. My comment harassing? Not at all. Unhelpful? That is your problem. Puzzling? Maybe. But if you look will see it. By now you probably already have.