Underpass

Thanks for your consideration

Jack,

This scene to me is reminiscent of a wormhole looking into the past. There are layers of history, the man in the tunnel is like an apparition from 'Hamlet', while there is another human figure even further back in time. Excellent execution and timing of your shot.

I have to go through a lot of chaff to find a little bit of wheat. That's the problem with being a serial photographer - it takes all your time and sometimes you end up wondering why in hell you took this shot or that one. Of the recent batch of photos I'm working on, this one kind of stood out. The man in the underpass was shadowed just right. I enjoyed your interpretation and I appreciate your support. Regards, Jack

Fascinating for me because I know how much differently I would have seen this scene and yet I appreciate more how you saw it because it's your photo. I think even as is it's got touches of a film noir feel, more potential than realized. In your hands, it's almost that but fits better into your own portfolio handled a little less dramatically, and especially including the top sign and the bottom band. Don't get me wrong, there is drama here, but it's not stylized so it has a very real feel where noir often has more of a hyper-real feel. This also, for me, has a cinematic quality.

I don't know if you realize it but this image imposes fear. It feels like everything you have captured in it is happening now. No sense of past time, the guy on the background is about to act viciously and there is nothing we can do to let the insouciant victim known about the incoming thread. 

Ps. My God, Japs are short but how tall is he to fit under a 1,4 m tunnel ? :-)

I agree with Michael about the foreboding, but intangible fear factor. But what I like most about this is a very dark film noir look. Great image Jack.

BR, Holger

Hi Jack,

  Excellent powerful image that you have produced.  Thanks for sharing.  Take care, Patsy

I think the big sign on the top changes the feel of this image. If I hide the sign with my finger, I become part of the darkness, there is no reference separating me from the tunnel. It does create a sense of fear and also the feeling that everything is happening in the present. With the sign, I sense a separation between me and the dark shadowy figure. Yes, he still seems to be approaching me, but I have time to escape either at a distance, or in the future away from the past. With the sign, it also takes on a dark science fiction motif, ... a wormhole with a sign at the entrance?

I think I missed a lot. This is inspiring!

Thanks for the comments.

 

Fred - Yeah, that's the thing about the photos we take, they are unquestionably are own point of view and that's the way it should be. I think all you can do is strive to be more so, more fully expressing our own unique view of the world. I find I tend to value understatement over drama even in pictures as naturally provocative as this one.

 

Michael - The picture inspires not so much fear for me but a certain sense of alienation. I think that's a feeling that's increasing here and in many parts of the world. By the way, the Japanese people are not that short anymore. I'm 180 cm and that's not far from average here. I think the sign refers to the height limit for vehicles. (and as usual in Japan, with a lot of room to spare).

 

Holger - Agree with you about the sense of disquiet. Film noir comes naturally in deeply shadowed spaces like this. Having said that, I'll take some credit for catching the guy in the right spot.

 

Patsy - Thanks a lot, glad you like it.

 

Marie - Glad you like it, always nice to be inspiring. You inspire me, I inspire you. That's the way it should work.

 

Supriyo - The sign was very important to me and adds a kind of futuristic, recognizable but rather enigmatic Blade Runner touch. Good of you to revisit this picture and share your further thoughts. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

Ominous and beautiful at once.

 

--Lannie