MAXU9530

Excellent casual shot... Mike

Help me...?

- I am late...

-Get me out of here...

Our choise.

Keep on shooting.

Best regards

PDE

I like the shot because, not only is it technically well-executed (in my eyes), but it also lends itself to a variety of interpretations. Is the bride late for the wedding? Is she escaping the wedding? Is the groom late? Is he supposed to be in this taxi? Is someone important just arriving? etc. Perhaps the ambiguity of the story would detract from the photo for some, but I like a shot being open for interpretation without being overly abstract. I have not personally settled on a story for it, but I'm leaning toward the bride looking for the groom.

Echo Bill on both the technical excellence and story/ambiguity aspects. My only question was: does it go 'over the top' in the story ambiguity respect? Can a photo become lessened by overage of these elements in the same vein as; say, over saturation in a landscape shot? I get the feeling this is close. But I'm not condemning; rather choosing to take it as a way to lighten the photo by it not taking itself too seriously, with a bit of self-spoof which makes it even better.
Pleading indulgence now for my rambling, but forcing textual/analytical process is sometimes therapeutic to my visual response. Cheers.

Wayne, I tend to agree that an image that yields too many conclusions about the nature of its story may be problematic. I'm not sure that this one has such a problem. Even if it does, the purely visual elements are quite strong, in my opinion.

Wayne, interesting question. I don't think the photo goes over the top in terms of its storytelling elements. It's also worth considering whether viewers can go over the top in their quest for literal interpretations of a photo's story. Ambiguity doesn't have to lead to guessing games. It can remain simply ambiguous and suggestive. Photographic/visual storytelling is not the same as literary/verbal storytelling and doesn't play by the same rules, which I take it is what Michael is getting at.

I think it can. I also think a photo can be (not always!) lessened by being viewed too literally and by projecting facts onto it that simply aren't seen.

I think this is a good wedding shot. It gives the appearance of being staged, but is probably not. My suggestion for improvement would be to get closer, but it is a good solid picture as it is. I might prefer it in color.