The Temptation of Eve

A Doorman and a Lapdancer give a preview of what's inside one of San

Francisco's lap dance palaces. Your comments and critiques are

invited and most welcome, for this entirely available light shot.

If you rate harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment/Please share your superior photographic

knowledge to help improve my photography (my task that night was to

take entirely 'flashless' photos on the street--strictly available

light.) Thanks. Enjoy. John

Of course, for followers of the Old Testament, that's Eve (or Yeva) in the background, the woman who tempted Adam and who was part of the first 'conundrum' on earth.

For Adam and Eve were the first man and woman on earth according to that Bible.

Then they had two children, Cain and Able. Cain killed Able, apparently leaving one child but somehow Cain went out and found a wife. Were'd he get the wife if the two kids were the only kids of the only couple on earth.

Seems a little contradictory if you take your Bible literally, doesn't it?

Just a thought.

John (Crosley)

well, if everything I've heard about where to find a nice girl to make your wife is true, he more than likely didn't find her at "this" club! :-)

Love the ambient lighting here... something about "red" and its color cast that goes very very well with the theme you've captured.

Might've wanted a hair tighter of a composition to leave out all the sf fire dept signs so as to give it an "any place" feel. (Thailand, Vietnam, SF CA, Gary Ind. etc..) Very gutsy shot and very well executed. You are an inspiration.

By the way, were you slightly crouched down, or is this guy/and girl of Yao Ming caliber height?

My knees are still sore from crouching for this shot, but it was worth it; imagine no flash and trying to get a shot like this.

I specifically left in the S.F. Fire Department sign because this is a folder on a day AND night in San Francisco, but if I were posting it somewhere else, I might actually crop it out, but there are difficulties, since the door next to the sign is 'slanted' in respect to the frame, and the sign is right next to it -- it would actually have to be 'cloned out' because a crop wouldn't work -- a clone is something I only do with great trepidation and only under duress. That was the second reason I left it in -- cloning things out is beyond my basic skillset and also is against what I think 'street' shooting is all about.

Now I once met a 'girl' in a place like this only more famous; and she turned out to be a world class ballerina slumming, had an IQ at least 180, maybe more, and later went on to a world famous college on full scholarship -- and ended up with a Fullbright scholarship. You can't tell me they're all rejects, though she was a 'piece of work'.

A hell of a dancer, too -- she'd worked with Joffrey and San Francisco ballet and under famous directors, such as Michael Smuin, etc., which is how ballet people fill out their resumes -- 'I worked under XXX choreographer' instead of 'I worked as director of YYY.' And 'I danced the roles of XXXX and YYYY instead of just being in the corps de ballet'.

I know an awful lot about the small world of ballet, worldwide from that episode in my life -- I was literally saturated with it. She was young, pretty, smart, and (until then) seemingly lazy, but really full of energy but running in circles, scared of succeeding (and her own demons).

(as to the final, she had a right to be, and I think she understood that)

John (Crosley)

Viewers have made this 'little' photo an unexpected hit.

Technically of poor quality because of poor available light -- this photo was taken without flash -- and there was lack of available image info on my media to 'help it along in post-processing', nevertheless the overall 'reddishness' appears to have helped it greatly with its message of seduction, which pervades.

I looked at it yesterday and by today it had gained over 1,500 'views' and it seems to be 'on a tear', rapidly gaining views and may someday be one of my most-viewed photos, much to my surprise. I wrestled with myself about posting this at all because of its technical difficulties, but did so because it was so 'interesting'.

I'm glad again that I decided in favor of 'interest' over 'ratings' . . . a choice I continually make.

I note that the 'ratings' were less than 'swell', but the views continue to mount -- another of those cases where there's a disconnect between 'rating popularity' and 'viewer popularity' as shown by 'clickability' and 'server distribution'.

John (Crosley)

This photo had been hanging around since around from the period around Halloween 2005, and I never had posted it because of its 'technical quality'.

Sometimes 'technical quality' be damned. It had another 1,500 views overnight; a pace which will slow down soon enough, I'm sure, but its popularity far outpaces its rates and the rest of the folder.

John (Crosley)