The Real and the Surreal

The 'Real' and the 'Surreal' or perhaps better the 'Surreal' of the 'Art

Deco Revival' blend here on a sidewalk beside a street somewhere in

the USA. Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If

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

constructive comment; pleases share your superior photographic

knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

From foreground figures to background mural, notice anything interesting about the colors here?

 

John (Crosley)

what a nice moment, and also tones works for let us surprises, bravo!

I have driven by this mural maybe 20 to 30 times,with plans eventually to photograph it, but usually a car blocked a good capture. This day a car was nearby but back a little bit, so I stopped my car in an empty street, lowered my right window and leaned rightward across the passenger seat.

 

Just then, for the first time in 20 or 30 drive bys, people walked by -- these three guys.

 

Imagine that. . . . .

 

The photo gods smiled at that moment.

 

I keep an inventory in my mind of 'likely places' where I might encounter a good photo such as this.

 

It pays off, just as a landscape photographer keeps guidebooks, maps, knowledge of park trails and sights, etc. I drive around and 'map the areas' where I am, or sometimes walk (or both). I may drive, then walk a little (I'm disabled).

 

You just never know when those photo gods are gonna smile/

 

As Elliott Erwitt told one matron who asked for instructions on how to take a good photo: 'f8 and be there'.

 

I make it a point to be there, often at places no one ever was before, or to capture things in ways no one else did before (or probably ever will again).

 

I love to see a comment from you; it means I'm succeeding. I think.

 

John (Crosley)

I can't tell you how much I like this because I don't know why I like this so much! I'm transfixed, I can't peel myself away from this image. Incredible! Other possible names: Shielded From the Land of Make Believe, The Long Road, I could go on, and on, but this image really needs no words. Thanks for sharing this. Congratulations on a once in a lifetime shot!

An excellent shot, I like it....., John!

 

Best regards from NL, Ruud.

This photo actually is desaturated a little to show the men's faces just slightly, and so it is not as vibrant as it shows on my computer, and then it's a REAL stunner.

 

I'm glad it has transfixed you so.

 

There are a couple of others in this series ('C' drive) that competed, but I liked the colors of the guy's jacket, front, who quickly moved out of frame.

 

Of course a shot like this is luck and the skill in 'being there' at the right time and the quickness of recognizing to press the shutter when they pass by.

 

Thanks for the high praise.

 

John (Crosley)

I always like to see what you like because you have what I consider almost impeccable taste.

 

Thank you for the kind comment.

 

Oh, now I looked at the ratings, and I guess you REALLY did like it. I'm so glad.

 

John (Crosley)

Great image. Well done. Regards, Jean-Marc

I actually posted this with the saturation 'toned down' for posting.

 

I may post something more like the 'original' jpeg.

 

It actually is better and more 'arresting' - also more in line with what I think member Ruud Albers would like, since he likes lots of color, and the original has more color.

 

The ratings right now are very satisfying.

 

I sometimes know when I have a good one for ratings and sometimes not. I always knew this was a good one, but for ratings - who knew? Sometimes my strongest ratings hopes are dashed. Even in the face of 3's though, I keep 'em posted. I stand by what I post.

 

et Jean-Marc, merci.

 

Jean (Crosley)

This is an example of what I meann on burrger king about better contrast in color than in black/white. Brad Kim is a case but he does not do street subjects with a lot of middle gray and burrger king is almost all middle gray. The other chance is that I have poor eye to brain conversion. I don't think so.

1. For walking by just as I was stopping, reconnoitering and wondering, when after 30 passes by, no one had ever walked there before.

 

2. For the rightmost guy wearing red, grey and blue jacket which harmonized with the background perfectly, and the other two also wearing blue and grey or blue/grey clothes, which also harmonized very nicely (this also makes a very good black and white photo - just desaturate it yourself to see).

 

3. For the middle guy, farther away, for reaching into his right 'cargo pants' pocket to get something, adding interest.

 

4. For the leftmost and nearest man for raising his hand to shield his face or gesture (I don't know which - probably gesturing as the sun was not out and it was a rainy day).

 

5. For the artist, whoever he was, for putting such an interesting mural in a public place and 'down low' where passersby could walk right in front.

 

For all these things I feel very fortunate, and of course, I 'exploit' such things, but not in a negative sense.

 

John (Crosley)