alt.street Peace and tranquality, but watch the background . . . . ''

This began started as a study in 'peace and tranquility', but please look

carefully at the background . . . . ;~) 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 very interesting. I'd love to hear the story behind this one. What is that kid doing? Also very curious where is this? I looks like Portland. Nice Work!

The woman (I think it's a woman) foreground, is sleeping. Background, anybody's guess. I was aware of the background when I tripped the shutter, though, and even caught it on purpose (several frames worth).

 

But my lips are sealed.

 

Look at 'info' to reveal it's Portland, as you correctly guessed.

 

More down and outers per square block than anywhere else on the West Coast that aren't psycho or schizo. . . . .

 

Just plain tolerance for those who are not gonna work . . . . and I'm not against a free meal . . . .

 

But I haven't seen the likes of it since the 'Summer of Love' in San Francisco except these folks really have no place to go and aren't celebrating anything in particular (unlike the 'Summer of Love').

 

Interesting city, the City of Roses, and I spent part of ever year as a youth in Portland, swimming at Grant Park pool (unheated and cold as could be even on the hottest of days) with some pretty rambunctious kids, too, and the highest pool sides -- hard to lift one's self out of if tired.

 

Thanks for commenting to an old Oregonian

 

John (Crosley)

Well seen, as usual. And funny.

A pity that the blocks are not aligned, that the sleeper is not too defined and that there is a piece of the rail missing and two feet in excess!

That said, a funny photo, a moment seized.

are the main subject of this work, or, in other words, they contribute in a fundamental way to one possible interpretation of this photo. This said I like how the rail on the right and the bloks contribute to the dynamic layer. Thank you for sharing, Giuseppe

So many exceptions, then you give you approve. You have damned this photo with faint praise, I think.

 

You have made exception after exception (most of them right -- maybe all of them -- as to what you find distracting -- before giving your approval to this photo, but you have literally condemned it, I think in your critique.

 

That's OK. You don't have to like every photo I post. And every photo I post isn't always a winner. and when you 'go for a moment' everything can't be perfect.

 

Best wishes.

 

John (Crosley)

Yes, all those feet do contribute to this photo. I thought of cloning out the feet, top, (quelle horreure!!!) but thought better of it and didn't do it).

 

They seemed to bind the photo together.

 

The feet are too busy around the rail faller/jumper/ guy, but what can you do? You takes 'em as you sees 'em.

 

That's all you can do, especially when making a composition with a guy falling over a rail in the background ;~))

 

John (Crosley)

Don't take me too seriously! It's only a point of view.

You know there are a lot of your photos I like, you remember. It's a very difficult photo, very difficult! I'm aware of it.

Best

Luca

Yes, I'm aware there are many of my photos you do like.

 

I recall when I had a father-in-law with a new boat, a runabout.

 

He pulled up to a dock at Lake Tahoe to refuel.

 

An older man looked the boat over and said

 

'That's sure a good boat, if you overlook that the lapstrakes delaminate (overlapping wood panels on the hull come apart.')

 

'And it's got wonderful lines, considering that the designer never really could design a boat worth a darn and it's a cookie-cutter boat (factory boat).

 

'And it's great if you don't run it too fast because when it starts to shake a little all the screws come out'

 

Yup, it's sure a great boat.

 

I turned to my father-in-law (at the time) and said 'that man was saying he was praising your boat, but he couldn't have damned it more effectively. When I read your critique, above, I thought of that incident, long ago, on Lake Tahoe.

 

But you are a friend, not some sniping guy on a dock without a boat, quick to criticize what he doesn't have and your criticisms have stood the test of time and comparison to others' whose judgment is tried and true and worth their weight in gold or other precious stuff.

 

So, however reluctantly, I must accept it as Gospel, as I have others of yours, with all good humors (and remember that incident on Lake Tahoe long ago).

 

Long afterward my former father-in-law and I would knowingly look at each other and and one of us would say just one part of that man's criticism such as

 

'If it weren't for the fact that the screws come out of the hull when those boats shake too much at high speed, they would be a great boats,' to break out in gales of laughter or at least twinkles of smiles -- no matter what the occasion - no matter how grim.

 

That man on the dock had mastered the art of damning with faint praise, and your criticism had reminded me of that -- but I also recognized that your critique was all innocent and in good faith -- and not sniping.

 

And of course we're still friends without a doubt.

 

You certainly should never feel constrained to 'like' or profess 'liking' a photo of mine or to 'withhold' a criticism for fear of a rejoinder by me.

 

I learn from each and every one of your criticisms and take them to heart -- praising and blaming -- they're all constructive and helpful.

 

Thanks. (and don't be a stranger)

 

John (Crosley)

John, I might title this one "Chaos". After I got used them the "Aim" wrapper and ice cream stick are my focal point and the rest is balagon (chaos).Maybe I am missing something? I am very serious about that stick and wrapper.