faces in time Two Faces With Cracks: One Timeless and One With Time Running Out

This is a true 'street portrait' taken on the streets of Santa Cruz,

California during a 'street flea market' one recent day. This older

woman was full of smiles until one moment her sudden frown seemed to

mirror the downturned lips of the mannequin, right, she was selling.

Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. (If you

rate harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment/Please share your superior knowledge to help

improve my photography.) Thanks! Enjoy! John

very nice shot. with more DOP it could have been a perfect shot.

If you mean DOF (depth of field), that was not a possibility given the constraints of the distance between the woman, left, and the mannequin, right, and the giant 70~200 mm telephoto lens I was using, because to get depth of field that would have meant stopping down the aperture to about f22, and that would have meant an exposure time of several seconds on this overcast day.

 

A 'street shooter' takes what he can get.

 

My view is that I like it this way, with the timeless mannequin frozen into her 'slightly cracked' existence in perfect focus and the aging woman, 'fading away' with a 'mirrored' frown in the background somewhat out of focus.

 

Kind of like something from 'The Wizard of Oz' 'I'm fading away . . . .' is how I view this version of things (or self-justify it, if you get my drift).

 

The idea of a 'perfect picture', however, coming from any camera of mine, is a tempting thought, and even coming close in your mind is an achievement for me.

 

Thanks for the helpful comment.

 

John (Crosley)

John, you are always able to conjure a great muse. Love this shot.

I wonder if you had a chance to shoot the frame with the old woman's eyes open as well.

just curious.

Hope you are snug and cozy where ever you are and with whomever.

cheers

yer bud

Lee

You hit the nail on the head on four counts.

 

The woman, left, had her eyes open and her smile crinkling in all three or four other frames, and this frame entirely misrepresents her chipper self, but it fits the photo.

 

I'm far away, but have been 'snug' so to speak, at least for a little bit, but recovering from the grippe and headed for a land where the avian grippe has a firm hold, so pray for me.

 

I love to see that you've stopped by -- your commentary means very much to me, ratings or not, as you are a true artist with enormous talent that I respect. As such, a comment from you is a true accolade. (I note the raters didn't think much of this photo; I did -- it's top of my form in my view).

 

;~))

 

John (from wherever, and you probably know where, somewhere north of where you're going and a little West, I think, but I haven't looked at a map) I hope we can make arrangements to meet.

 

A great, great shot. One of those that makes you think. I like that. I usually don't rate much, but the two 3/3's couldn't stand unanswered. Good job, John. Arnulf

Some photographers withdraw a photo in the face of low ratings, but this is one of my very best; I'm very, very proud of it. I took about seven shots of this woman -- three with the mannequin and in all the other shots she was crinkling with smiles, but this one captures the idea I had (and conveys my idea as wrongly as it conveys her personality).

 

Thanks for stepping in, as this originally was rated an average of about 4.0, and those who are believers have stepped in.

 

It just goes to show you, if you believe in something, stick to your guns.

 

Thanks Arnulf.

 

And thanks for the nice comment, it counts far more than the rating, which I haven't even viewed yet.

 

John

Very thought-provoking, John. Makes us remember that time is running out for all of us. The rose color on the neck of the mannequin (did I spell that right?) is very effective, as well. It's actually better, in my view, that the older face is a little out of focus - provides a reflective atmosphere. Not sure you'd want any more DOF anyway - might be too graphic.

 

And the cap adds a nice touch. As you say, a street shooter has to take what he can get. In this case, though, I think you got quite a bit.

 

Best Regards

I think you got it exactly. I was astonished at a pair of 3/3s, but then anyone can rate, but it keeps the 'views' down and few have seen this photo, which is as high as my art can get, I think, but that's the way the system works, and I ain't gonna fight it.

 

I'm too busy taking photos with about 140 more awaiting upload, but taking my time between each upload to give each its exposure, and for my reflection on the apparent worth of each one -- I can 'see things' that on reflection are 'just not there' on reflection. Thought maybe that was the case with this one, but the commentators such as you are proving me right. (and if her face were 'sharp' so would the balloons and other stuff in the background be more in focus and distracting, don't you think, destroying the isolating effects of narrow depth of field.

 

And of course, a grey day and great separation between the two figure required pulling one or the other into focus, or such a long exposure time that a tripod would have been necessary, and for the most part I take 'fleeting' expressions, not expressions etched in granite.

 

I like how those who follow my work have jumped in on this one; it's very heartening.

 

It gives me a smile in the cold and snowy country where I'm holed up, awaiting a trip through the land of avian flu.

 

John

 

;~))