'A Long Day's Ride Home'

The subject is far away and isolated (and framed) by the tram structure

and passengers, but it is clear she has had a long day's work and now

is riding home, trying to rest against the cold steel of the tram side.

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

the subject is far, but it is well focused and catch the attention. Regards. Sergio.

This is not a Photo.net type or typical photo.

 

Photo.net shows photos first in thumbnail and they do not show well those subject which are small or distant, even if well framed, as here.

 

So, this belongs on a wall, blown up very large, where people can approach it and see it clearly.

 

Like in a gallery or museum, but alas, it's probably not of such quality; I'm referring in general about photos of this sort, not this photo in particular, as its quality and subject matter is not so high to be worthy of such treatment I think.

 

Thank you for sharing your opinion with me.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

... the night train with the too-bright lights and the clicking of tracks. People too tired even to read. Perfect framing with the man on left and the bar of the seat in front of you.

Long time no hear.

 

I wondered about this photo for Photo.net, but it was perfect for me; I had no hesitancy in taking it.

 

I figured it would be perfect for an essay but not for a thumbnail-first site, and it got an underwhelming response as expected, but not a horrible response.

 

It's more subtle, as you have noticed, but you have a practiced, film-maker's eye.

 

I have such an eye, at times, also, but do not post such photos and often times do not frame them, keeping in mind my audience and medium. Perhaps I should just forget the medium and the audience? (except you and a few other wonderful critics of course).

 

All that being said, it was a very easy photo to take . . . . just sit in the seat behind, raise camera and shoot what I saw that moment, framing it as I wanted it framed -- studied but natural.

 

Best wishes.

 

John (Crosley)

Sometimes, just when I give up hope of finding an intelligent mind/and/or critique on this site, you step in with something that just blows me away or rewards my natural instincts.

 

Kudos for your kind expressions of taste, seeded along from time to time.

 

They make me strive to be better.

 

(On re-reading, I note that I have many intelligent critics, and each one of whom often helps me also 'get better' in my photography, and I also am thankful to them, so no sleight intended -- it's just that with your extreme experience and high level of attainment, you hold the standard very high, plus you come from a higher place of awareness than almost anyone currently critiquing . . . . from a professional environment where the 'best of the best' is what matters. So, no offense please to almost all of my more regular commenters whose judgments and offerings are very highly valued.)

 

John (Crosley)

.... just now getting to processing the 5,000 shots I took in France and Spain (PJ took exactly 7,000). Fantastic trip, John, with some fine shots (I hope).

 

You are too kind in your words for me, John. I do believe in giving one's best to the work; the passion that is exhibited is related directly to the quality of the output. In your world, a photograph is possible at any second and you have such a skill at "pulling it out" of the moment. This shot, which you probably think of as simple, resonates because of the human content. It is what has been captured that makes it wonderful. That puts it in my universe, where the content is the whole raison d'etre for the photography.

All my life, the furthest I would ever have guessed myself from any occupation or profession is 'artist'. I always thought of 'art' as mostly hokum, except what was in museums, and mostly cared about the work of the Impressionists . . . . and I have been in great museums around the world, but would rather be in front of them in the street with a good camera and lens.

 

'Passion' is something that has touched everything I have ever done that I cared about; it is my hallmark -- something transformative that I bring to whatever I do. I have a profound sense that is what you are all about too and that in your heart you are in your '20s with the wisdom of an '80-year-old professor'. A sort of intellectual Yoda, without all the rigamarole -- and that somehow special people 'feel' you are much younger than your age.

 

So, we have had a 'collision of universes' -- it sounds like a science fiction film from the '50s. We'll have to bring Gort and Klaatu out of retirement maybe?

 

One thing is sure, no one takes photos like i do; no matter what way that is, just as few practiced law like I once did (my waiting room always was full to brimming from almost day one, even though I rented space from lawyers with 20 to 30 years experience, and I was as 'free' with dispensing advice then as I am with sharing knowledge on Photo.net and a different site even today.

 

It's just in my nature, and life has shown me that such generosity is well-rewarded over time -- people turn to the person seen as 'generous', soon seek him out, and sooner or later that style which may even have been revolutionary takes on its own attractiveness and becomes something that others seek to copy.

 

When I came to Photo.net, few answered comments; now it is a standard and recommended modus for those who want more interest shown in their photographs. I didn't think that one out - I just did what came naturally, just as in this photograph,

 

I didn't think about it so much, except to think to myself 'Photo.netters may hate this one and it may dwell forever on my hard drive, but I'm gonna take it, even if I can never post it' then I happily took this photo.

 

I am more than appreciative that it has touched struck a chord with you -- as indeed I am with so much of my work as seen through your eyes.

 

I'm finishing the final part of a draft (galleries only) book, and may ship you a prepublishing electronic copy when the last photo's dragged into place, just to show you the progress I'm making.

 

(It also violates every rules that Michel told me about - it has 283 photos right now instead of limiting myself to 40 top photos has he insisted I do, then he abandoned the choosing task -- overwhelmed I think at the job of trying to summarize my work in 40 photos.

 

I think he made a rule he himself couldn't keep. Anyway, with rudimentary software provided by a photo publisher for self-publishing through their own equipment,, it will be great to see my work in print, even if only a few copies (at $140 a copy) will be extant, and then only to pass to galleries and/or museums).

 

Each one thereafter will be produced 'ad hoc' -- special for each market, which is not so hard to do, once the templates have been located and the photo database loaded.

 

I understand it's possibly not the best or only way to go about what I want to do, but it's one way, considering I travel so much.

 

If you have other suggestions, I'd love to hear them (you may also remember my private e-mail or figure it out from my bio page . . . . )

 

Best to you as always.

 

John (Crosley) (from abroad)

 

(did you pass under and I over, or vice versa?)