'The Lovers' Quarrel'

Life's on 'tilt' during this lover's spat one summer in the the major Ukrainian

city of Dnipropetrovsk (Dni pro pe trovsk),, pop. over one and a half million,

a former closed city in the Soviet Union where missiles and bombers were

assembled during the Cold war, but now a commerce center and major

gathering place for youths and lots of university students from Central and

Eastern Ukraine in Europe's largest (geographical) country.. Your ratings,

critiques and observations 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

This was posted six years ago but the rendition from a jpeg shot simultaneously with a raw (NEF) was bad and Nikon raw files then could not be read or manipulated by me.  This is a recently worked up raw (NEF) version which makes up for faults (overexposure) in the original.

Nikon cameras at the time, the D200 in particular as well as the D2X and D2Xs each had a tendency to overexpose in shallow lighting at dusk, in which this scene was shot, calling for a  manual stop down to compensate if one had time.

Unfortunately, there was not time in this circumstance, which was reflexive - just aim and shoot without regard for convention.  I like this one tilted; one of few I've taken for which that is so.  The overexposure nearly ruined the photo especially in jpeg version but in the NEF now that there is good software, it's improved greatly.  More work can be done if viewers like it.

john

John (Crosley)

With only a hand and a stong finger in the frame,the person(friend) pulling on the purse is maybe the main subject here as the man in the conflict,however close to the girl he is argueing with,one gets the feeling he is looking through her and his stare is right at this other person.Wonder what the arguement is about....maybe the bottle has something to do with it?In any case,good image and I don't mind the tilt.

Meilleures salutations-Laurent

We don't really know if they are lovers -do we?

You can tell they are creating a disturbance. Probable yelling at each other. Notice the girl on the right turned around looking at them. Also the boy in the black tee shirt on the left is looking at them too. I can't tell if the bottle she is holding is open or still sealed. If its open...well...alcohol consumption is the mother of many a lover's spat!! The obvious effort to pull her away by tugging on her purse is just fabulous!! Marvelous shot!

Very good analysis.

However, I do know that is is looking at her (I was there and saw both before and after and he was riveting this striped shirt woman, not the one pulling her away, using some good sense.)

They were indeed having a 'lover's spat'.

Maybe their final one?

But well written critique for a most unusual photo, worth the unusual angle.

Notice that the 'line' of the purse's strap is mostly horizontal and that's the horizon as far as I'm concerned for this photo.

Best wishes to you too.

john

John (Crosley)

We don't KNOW from the photo they are lovers, but we can strongly infer.

I was there, so I KNOW the facts are as I wrote.

There, all is right with the world.

I hope you didn't let your underwear get in a bunch worrying over the correct answer to the question!

john

John (Crosley)

In Dnipropetrovsk, unless they changed the law recently, not only could any kid get alcohol if they could get the money together to pay for it, but it is sold openly, and in summer it is the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and nighty night drink of so many Ukrainians (and probably why so many young women get pregnant and VD at such early ages, though condoms are in more wide use thanks in part to Elton John and his free concerts).

You have read this photo well; I have little to add.

I appreciate so much your telling me your evaluation.  Many people apparently didn't think it such a worthwhile photo judging from the scores, but for me it's pure Crosley, as I post 'em whether high or low scores are expected if I think they have a glimmer of 'something', and sometimes (like the last post) I get very surprised!

In any case, it's rare I take anything down, and not because of scores, high or low!

You're welcome here.  Have fun browsing; there are [LOTS] more.  If you find the original post of this one, you'll see why it got no comments and was passed over, until I reworked it.

Thanks!

john

John (Crosley)

A 'lover' is a sexual partner. I do not see that in the photo. If you "KNOW the facts" because you were "there at the time", thanks for sharing that. Did you take pictures? The photo is interesting; a lot around going on; but unfortunately blown out. I rated it low on that issue.

Meir, there's a lot more to 'lover' than 'sexual partner' though that certainly is an element for some, maybe most.  

Love seems to be the essential element, or it would be called 'sexual partner' which is somewhat different.  Neither, however, is essential to the photography, and there's little reason for you to dwell on words or quibble when you have a the photo in front of you to critique -- after all this is a photo critique service, not a caption and caption writing writing critique service, which I have never realized you were aware of based on many of your comments which are off-point when related to 'photo' criticism as opposed to 'caption' criticism.

That's meant as constructive criticism.

As to the highlights and blowouts which you note, and the reason for your low rating, that may be one reason for a low rating, but only if that's the lone basis for your rating, but I think you would just like a reason to rate low, no matter what, and who am I to stop you?  Ratings here are entirely subjective, so thanks for letting me know why you shun this photo despite its interesting and somewhat strong and unusual content.

john

John (Crosley)

To me, it doesn't matter whether they are lovers in reality or not, or whether they're complete strangers getting into a quarrel. The image itself is strong enough to let me (as viewer) make up the story unfolding. To me, it's the prime strength of this image: it leaves freedom to the viewer (or, if it would be presented as part of a series or a written documentary, it would work equally well).

I like the quite strong B&W contrast look, plus the tilted background, it helps adding tension to the image. The arm 'reaching into the image' on the right is a nice surprise, that (to me anyway) escapes at first, but when it pops into view, it helps shaping the story.

To me, it's a very good photo. The title helps to set the scene, no more. The image tells a story on its own, and it would with or without title.

Your critique and comments stand on their own and need no comment other than to say 'good job' from me.

I enjoyed your comment.

When first posted (all blown out) this photo went nowhere, but worked up from a NEF capture with proper software, it has survived this time.  I took a chance posting it a second time in a new rendition, for a first in my known experience (never posted two black and white's in various renditions before) and am super glad I did.

Thanks for weighing in in such a pleasant manner, so well explained.

john

John (Crosley)

Yes, "blown out" lone basis for the rating.

Seema a little simplistic for me; however there are no standards; you set your own.

And I have no idea what your rating is anyway.  I'm satisfied it's a pretty interesting photo and 'interesting' trumps tones in my book though for a photo like this both have significance.

john

John (Crosley)

The major strenth of this photo as I see it is its dynamic tension, and better, the person supplying a major part of the tension is off screen, right, and exerting only the least effort necessary to make her point -- just a lone finger, but pulling strongly -- a strong reminder of 'Let's Get Outta Here' but not a command, just a friend's strong advice. 

A very good friend who knows her place, I think.

john

John (Crosley)

FYI I rated this "below average". That is not so catastrophic. I also said "interesting" and "lots going on" but "blowout" trumped. Anyway, I seldom rate "street", including yours. Yes, sometimes as you claim there is more to "lovers" than just sexual partner but whips and chains and toe sucking I don't want to hear about. As for the title...A title ought to be objective, not subjective speculation, and "invention" irks me. That is the school I come from. If you want me to see "lovers' quarrel" then take a picture that convinces me! Has "Serious Conversation" now been upgraded to "Lovers' Quarrel"? Which is it?  A quarrel is not a conversation except when the child says: "mommy why are you and daddy fighting" and mommy replies: "mommy and daddy are not fighting; we are just having a conversation dear."

I have read what you wrote.

Perhaps, since it is an aside usually, you should refrain from commenting (and findings bound to quibble as you are unnecessarily wont to do) on my captions (titles as you call them).  

They usually are afterthoughts anyway and designed to call attention to the photo in the queue primarily.

john

John (Crosley)

I shall make effort but no promises :-)