'The Baggage Attendants'

These men and their giant carts are 'the baggage attendants' in front

of Kyiv, Ukraine's giant central train station during a very busy time

for passengers but a slow time for getting work. 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

Very appealing contrast and postures of your subjects.  Maybe too crowded scene, imho.

Thank you for the compliment.

As to crowding, I was looking at Cartier-Bresson's 'Impassioned Eye', a film in which he shows much of his work along with other commentators, and it is surprising how much his photos are crammed with detail and how much 'small' things seem to take on major import.

I think 'crowding' is a function of being shown in thumbnail -- in other word, a function of the format, rather than the photos themselves.

If blown up to 16 x 20 in a gallery, they'd probably look pretty 'empty' and you'd be looking for more detail, and hoping for it.

I've seriously considered in this last 24 hours to also carry a camera with a 50 or 35  mm 'standard' lens on full frame format just for capturing what it was he was so good at -- 'crowding' and all.

It did not seem to hurt his work, as the eye is very good at picking out the detail from a mass of other stuff and so was the viewer's eye.  Perhaps I've been providing too much 'direction' by cropping so tightly?

I've been concerned a long time about my tendency to frame very closely and am beginning to consider lightening up a little - even recropping some of my photos to include what before I thought was extraneous to make 'richer' photos.

Some have been met well recropped, so watch for a few more, though most of my cropping is done 'in camera' so opportunities for reframing are few of those I've shot.

Interesting critique that coincides with contrary thoughts of mine but the proof is in the results.

I've been looking a lot at Cartier-Bresson's photos along with those of Virginia Maier (thanks to John Maloof who 'found' them and Jeffery Goldstein who has been collecting them and kind enough to write me about her work which he has shown - the Goldstein collection.)

Your comment is very much appreciated.

john

John (Crosley)

John, I agree it's mostly photographer perception re: populating your image. Just imagine same scene shot by Bresson and, say, Bruce Gilden - the result would be quite different!

Very graphically shadows!

At one time I only knew of Cartier-Bresson and a few other old-time photographers, say David Duncan Douglas, and say Eisenstadt and Bourke-White.

Nowadays I'm much better acquainted with the major players.

I am continually comparing my work to MYSELF then others as well.

I look back at my work and find wonderful stuff I did not understand its significance or importance when I shot it,and if I had confined myself to not shooting such work then instead of my scattershot shooting across genres as I continually do I would be much poorer, and so would my portfolio.

I have so many influences, and 'see' so many ways, as a result of 'seeing' well over half a Century with eyes wide open to good photography almost from the start that it may show in my downloads; I wish you could see them and how much they vary from one shot to the next.

I'm very much a 'man for all shots'.

And all 'genres'.

Thanks for the feedback.

You'll even see a Gilden style shot or two recently.

I like his style and from time to time I see an appropriate subject and understand what and how he shoots.  (no flash though).

john

John (Crosley)

Excellent work! 6

Photography is Greek for 'writing with light' (or absence of light, e.g., shadows).

I always try to watch for uncluttered shadows and keep them in mind to complete an image, same with reflections.

Thank you for your comment and apologies for my late response.

john

John (Crosley)

This is a little noticed photo, but it took some effort to construct it, having noticed that these men were not doing work despite a huge event in Kyiv (European football championship known as UEFA, as I suppose you are familiar with).

Good times for tourists, but bad times for men who carry heavy luggage; these days people travel light.

Look at those huge, antiquated luggage trolleys; Stalin himself may have had his luggage hauled by those carts or Khrushchev or Breshnev.

Think of the history (without the bad stuff, if you can).

Thanks for letting me know your strong positive feelings for this mostly graphic photo.

john

John (Crosley)

Great shot with contrasts.

Contrasts not only in what we se here but also in how we see the photo. Your cropping, which I find very effective here, in cutting off the upper halves of the crowd in the background renders a new meaning to the photo. They are the faceless masses who use the services of the porters whom you have emphasised (hence, with face). However, far flung from the more affluent people who hire their services, they sit and ponder on the stark realities of life that they face. So you see, to me, the contrast in this photo works at several levels.

A very 'human(e)' document.

On technical merits of this photo, you are the one to write and I to learn.

Regards.

Samrat, for the nine or so years I've been here, I've struggled with the (then not seen but now fully recognized) attempt to capture humanity through my photos.

Your narratives have been most valuable adjuncts to my captures, and in helping me stay a photo.net member, today you have shown your own special humanity, of which you have much, as your personal history with me shows splendidly.

Thank you for the excellent interpretation of this photo; it is in accordance with mine, and goes somewhat beyond my thoughts, but not at all beyond reason. 

My very best to you and thanks.

john

John (Crosley)