POOR MAN'S HOOPS

I was trying to get irritated about the overhead wires in this image, but then noticed how the tops of the telephone poles on the right describe an almost perfect parabola, which is roughly echoed by the fence. The curb seems to be adding its own curved comment. Everything on the right is tight (rhyme time); the left is looser (ah, alliteration), what with the relaxed, more down-home wires. Truly, a poetic pic.

Jesus, Barry, you're a hell of an art critic. I'm thinking I'm telling a socio-economic story here, and going with the ugly is beautiful school of fine arts, and you're waxing poetic about parabolas and alliteration. A true intellectual.

Praise and adulation will be validated. Criticism will break my

heart. Just kidding---ho ho ho.

Well, Dave, I was going to write a poem about the perfect logarithmic alignment function of all the wires going across the frame, when my inspiration got frozen by your Jesus comment. I'm still trying to figure out your photo. Not intellectually, just what story you're trying to tell. I see nicely aligned hydro poles, a clean (litter-free) driveway, a house that doesn't need new sidings, nor new roof. The only thing that I can see as "poor man's" is the challenged sign on the first pole...OK, and maybe the crooked peice of fence on the RH side (you could've fixed that yourself before taking the photo). Huh? Cheers, Micheal

Thanks for your comment. I think the meaning of the photo is perhaps not as clear as it should be. This is a very poor area, with high crime and all of the collateral disadvantages in life. Considering the nature of this area, the house does appear neat and well kept, which is most commendable. The center of attention and the origin of the title is the front telephone pole with the board which is serving as a backboard for a basketball hoop. The hoop is a remnant from a plastic bucket. That is the reason for the allusion to "poor man's hoops." Hoops is slang for basketball.

Hello Dave. Believe it or not, but I didn't know that "hoops" is a slang for basketball. I don't follow organized sports, I don't have a TV (because I choose not to), and I don't read papers and magazines. I like watching folks play sports when I go to the local park, or if I go to a live game (which is very rarely). So I'm not in the loop. This photo could be as well taken in the city of Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba (Canada), where I lived for 6 years. It's not a rich place, but it's not poor either. Anyway, considering the subject, the framing is well done. Cheers, now-better-slang-educated Micheal

So this is the third time I've looked at this shot over the last month and I thought I better just say I like it. I like it a lot David. I can't offer much of a rational dissection other than it?s your classic documentary capture of an unadulterated scene in your surroundings. I would suggest this might be one of your best-composed images. I want to run lines through it like an art teacher and circle things and basically be a boar. The color and white balance are perfect and true. It?s an image that begs me to paint it. Sorry it took me so long to try and put some words down on this beautiful work. This will find a home in my favs.

Good to see you back. I failed to capture this the way I had intended. It looks pretty neat and clean, and this little spot was relatively so. But, what I could not capture is the neighborhood, which was poor and dangerous. To the right is a freeway, so this is a cul de sac. Behind me were homeless wandering aroung. The poingnancy is the pitiful but spirited attempt to have this piece of game-playing equipment in such dire surroundings. Part of the problem, of course, is the fact that it is so easy to overlook the makeshift backboard and plastic bucket rim. But a mere closeup of those items would have left out all atmosphere. Thus, it is what it is. Obviously you looked closely and I'm very appreciative of that.

 

Best to you for the new year. I look forward to seeing what delights you bring us in it.

Funny thing... I'm browsing your photos and for some reason this thumbnail just jumps out at me. Can't really say why other than that it is somehow just exactly spot on right for my senses. And then I read Kent had sort of the same experience with this picture. Funny thing! Anyway, great picture David, and wonderful portfolio, thank you for sharing it!

It's nice to see a new "face" visiting my portfolio. Thanks for taking the time and for commenting. Cheers