Evolution II

This is the second in a sometimes series on man (woman) and

progenitors. Let me know what you think. 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 photographic knowledge to help improve my

photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John (This is a candid photo, not

Photoshopped in any meaningful way, but a single exposure.)

The woman, depicted, was moving on a moving 'sidewalk' or beltway, when photographed. She had no idea she was being photographed or probably even her juxtaposition to the radiograph of the fish on the wall to her right front.

 

Thus, although captured indoors, this is a true 'street' or 'candid' photograph, and is not posed. This possibility was foreseen moments before the capture, as she moved while standing along the walkway/beltway and the shutter (a single frame) was released at just the right moment.

 

There was some 'contrast' adjustment in Photoshop to separate grays into pure whites and blacks, but frankly because of the 'theatre' lighting on the fish radiograph which outlined the fish and also outlined her, the original capture is almost all monochrome.

 

John (Crosley)

An amazing pic,who is the evolutioned one here?

I think the composition is perfect, beeing a candid mekes it even more interesting.

 

At first I though is was some kind of manipulation here, but no.

 

Amazing pic John!

You won't find manipulation in my photos, except maybe some Gaussian blur in a window where this photographer's grin is looking back from a store window . . . or something similar.

 

I think the world is interesting enough, and I'm a poor enough artist, to have to try to make my way in a world of Photoshopping artistry.

 

I try to make it up by being 'original' (and quick). I also take lots of 'chances' -- poking my lens at things in different ways every time I can, always looking for something 'new' and 'different'.

 

Naturally, I did spy the woman coming down the moving walkway and did time my shutter release for best composition. I did it a number of times with various people, and almost all of them turned out well, but it'd be a drag to have essentially the same photo in a folder (and there were only a few 'fish' radiographs with adequate light, so the fish would repeat).

 

Thanks again.

 

John (Crosley)

the first thing i noticed by browsing your portfolio is the synthesis many images convey - this should be considered a minimum requirement for any professional, but it is also something that every serious amateur should consider to learn immediately, preferably using b/w.

 

b/w - and this image is a clear example - has the ability to force the photographer to focus on the message: there are no colors to bring up to life an image without meaning. No that an image must always have an immediately recognizable meaning, but if you want to concentrate in conveying messages this could be an intresting exercise.

 

i note also how the girl looks like "lara croft" seen in silhouette, it is an immediately recognizable figure for all youngs and this can wake up some lazy mind, but i note also that there is a clear relationship between both silhouettes, becouse even this way it is clear the woman is rotating the head on her right, looking the fish.

As you glance about my folders and portfolio (which it appears you already have done) you will/have already notice(ed) that I seldom pass up an opportunity for a juxtaposition.

 

Here the opportunity was to make 'something' from 'nothing' and from my fertile mind on the wall, I found a radiograph of a fossil and a woman her hair in a pony tail on a 'people mover' or moving sidealk came by so I waited until she got in the proper place, then snapped the shutter, and the tails (and the fish skeleton showon on radiograph mounted there on the wall) seemed to suggest the title 'Evolution' for it seems (if you are not a strict fundamentalist Christian) that in a Darwinian sense we are all 'evolved' if not from fish, then from some common ancestor, and this this 'little photo' took on greater meaning, and there were several such shots that were worthy of posting -- about two have not been posted and probably never will be, though they are equally good, I think. I just don't like to repeat myself and this already is breaking a rule -- it's the second post on the same theme.

 

In a way, it is the tale of two tails. If you get my mneaning, showing how much we have 'evolved' but we still have 'tails' -- at least the female of the species. (By the say, she's looking forward, but has a flatened visage, I think, and is not looking rightward, if I don't miss my guess, though I haven't revisited the original capture, so I can't say for sure.

 

Thanks for undertaking to do so many and such nice critiques -- what a treat.

 

I always tend to respond well when someone approaches me or my work with intelligence.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

I had to just sit here and keep looking back and forth wondering WOW. The transparent nature of the fish and how you were able to see right through it like an x-ray and how the woman is just sitting there like she is at an art museum looking at something "not" very exciting. Like this is no big deal. The moment is captured so well from the standpoint of we are so superior than THAT thing in the water swimming above her (which by the way makes NO SENSE at all to the eye. It is just totally mind wrecking and such a GREAT GREAT picture!! I absolutely love that it is in black and white and love that you did NOT frame it!! It would have messed it all up! Well done ~ micki

And of course, this is a mind-blowing capture in itself - no aquarium necessary at all.

 

This is a radiograph of an ancient fish fossil skeleton, preserved then posted on the wall of the San Francisco Airport after being enlarged -- part of an exhibition of skeletal fish fossils, as radiographed (x-rayed, sort of), and this woman was just riding by on a 'people mover' -- a moving sidewalk which works just like an escalator, but doesn't have 'stairs'.

 

I just stood there before various fish and waited for likely juxtapositions, and got several, some of which were quite good and are unposted -- I chose this one and another, also very good, both of which got high marks and high viewership (the other got much higher views than this one). Can you find it; hint: it's in my Black and White from Then to Now folder (if this one isn't that one, and I think it isn't).

 

In fact, this is the lesser of the two views, but quite worthy, and does not at all (because of similarity between the two) in any way reflect on or derogate your wonderful commentary -- it would apply equally, I think, to both.

 

It's just such an unusual photo -- I did use a little judicious 'healing tool' to hide a few extra spots and use a heavy contrast, but basically this is what the image looked like. I also rotated a little just to straighten the image to horizontal.

 

The 'mysterious' black line, bottom, is actually the handrail of the people mover -- a sort of natural frame, which is a basic reason why this never should be framed -- at least in my present thinking. (framed meaning with Photoshop frames -- not physically framed).

 

Thanks Micki for stopping by, here and elsewhere -- you have added immeasurably to my day and my understanding of some of my own photos, for which I am most grateful.

 

I always appreciate well-written critiques and yours are most worthy -- an example for the Photo.net community.

 

John (Crosley)

 

did you pay the fish ?

best regards dear

balthazar

Nope!  (American colloquialism for 'no'.)

Found it on a wall next to a moving walkway, as she went by.

Fish was completely dead, and moreover since fossilized, it's skeleton was partly made of stone which replaced other minerals in the skeleton, as is the wont with fossils.

I applied some high contrast, desaturated, and voilà.

Of course I had to 'previsualize'.

I had only a few from the group that were any good, and it took a bit of trouble to desaturate and do contrast adjustments, but it was worth it.

There's another around someplace, also, on the very same theme, but the woman has her front teeth sticking out (big ones, too).

Thanks and enjoy your peregrinations through my huge portfolio.

I'd forgotten about this.  Found this in an airport as I returned from someplace or other, and stood there and just took photos as I was going toward retrieving my my baggage.

I probably will never see or take anything like these (the two photos referred to) again.

It helps that I'm an opportunist who constantly has a camera or two with a good lens for each at the ready, preset and ready to fire at a moment's notice. 

Little gets by me.

john

John (Crosley)

Fantastic juxtaposition.

This master work don't needs so many explanations, speaks by itself. Extraordinary, the concept and the execution.

Explanations should NOT be needed for any photo that, or almost any photo.

 

But this is a site where questions are freely answered, and why not answer a question or two if it's asked, or even anticipating frequently occurring questions.

 

I've experience enough on this site to anticipate almost all questions, so sometimes I answer the questions in advance.

 

If that is a problem, of course, just look at the photo and don't read the comments.

 

;~))

 

john

 

John (Crosley)