'Mobile Home: 2009'

The caption (title) says it all, in this depressed time - where the 'find' of

a very large piece of cardboard in a dumpster in the USA for certain

folks may mean the difference between being very cold and freezing,

sopping wet. (assuming that's where that cardboard is bound -- a good

bet in that district of 'Anytown', USA). 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

A beautiful shot, very nicely composed, John!

a fine point of view of 2009,and I think we will see more in the shadow of the financial crisis,my regards.

It is the composition that makes it, Ruud. I had a short opportunity and anticipated this moment.

 

Thanks for recognition.

 

John (Crosley)

Yes, this is my comment on current financial times: Regrettably more is in the offing I fear.

 

Thanks for adding your insight.

 

John (Crosley)

Looks like ice by the dumpster? his clothes would indicate that he is not homeless. what he intends to do with the box? you mighgt have seen where he was headed.

That is paper trash by the dumpster.

 

He is heading toward a homeless encampment area.

 

Nice clothes don't keep people from becoming homeless. The spiral downward has to start someplace.

 

He and I were unable to have a conversation.

 

However, I saw him fish that cardboad out of the dumpster and carry it away.

 

Notice the question mark at the end of the caption?

 

Aren't you Meir Samel using a second name -- a doppelganger?

 

I have been advised by more than one viewer they think so, and so do I.

 

John (Crosley)

I enjoy the somewhat satiricle effect this picture has. Definately out of the usual homeless person picture. Photographically speaking, I like the angles and composition. I also like the perfect timing of the shot relative to his step. Don't know if it was meant to be enjoyable, but I find it so.

That is, it was meant to be:

 

1. Good from a compositional standpoint.

 

2. Good from a tonal standpoint, taken on a very dreary day, but I had to sacrifice some tonality to 'bring out' his trousers and shirt as they appeared dark -- almost black - in the capture, so I had to use shadow/highlight filter for the whole shot, not being skilled at all in burning and dodging, though I know it can be done.

 

If I had been skilled in that, this photo would have greater tonal range and much more 'snap' and still reveal the lightness of his trousers and clothes.

 

I did not 'select' them to work on them, and so this is 'unmanipulated', according to the rules.

 

3. It was meant through the caption to be 'sardonic' which is somewhat similar to satire, but there is a fine distinction, which a trip to the dictionary may reveal. There, but for the grace of God, or even with God's grace, may go I.

 

At any time.

 

Or many of us.

 

Lose a job.

 

Have a car crash.

 

Insurance deliberately refuses to pay -- makes excuses -- all honest lawyers will tell you they do that routinely, as a claim paid three years from now is better than one paid promptly, if it's large enough to keep 'trailing' and avoid payment. In today's climate, with failing and distressed insurance companies, it may never get paid.

 

You just never know when the push will come that sends a person into homelessness, who lives near the edge, even a man with nice shirt, trousers, and shoes.

 

4. It was meant to be visually and intellectually stimulating.

 

By that I mean to please the eye and the mind.

 

To stimulate your eye and your mind it may, in some way, be synergistic, which I think this particular photo achieves - mostly because it is timely and well-captioned (an art I practice sometimes, as I once captioned photos for a living for a worldwide news service, among other things from their NYC world headquarters, but was not allowed to be 'sardonic' as here.)

 

The intellectual stimulation is what we are writing to each other and why -- this colloquy. It says I hit the nail on the head with this one.

 

Sure the tonal quality can be improved, and it will really be improved pictorially, but the thing is to make the capture, show the composition and subject, and get the critiques, then work on it later if it survives the test of being 'good enough for further work and exposition'.

 

As a PN member I try to share with fellow members, and not try to steal the limelight or try to 'bask in glory' but to genuinely share with fellow members what I know and also to learn from what they know and will share with me, and to encourage that sharing.

 

Thank you for the feedback; I am grateful.

 

John (Crosley)