dhawks

Nice warm lighting, excellent tone and an alluring pose. What's not to like? Good work.

The graphic qualities here are really tremendous. The contrast of the sand waves against the verticals of the fence and the dark background really make this sing. Well done.

John, a while back you mentioned the possibility that we might have both been in the Berkeley area at the same time. Well indeed this photograph proves you were there and I have a hazy recollection of the People's Park episode (if you clearly remember the 60s you were probably not there). Actually, the events are pretty clear even today because of what happened to me personally and the fact that I was not stoned on anything. It was finals week in May, 1969 (I attended UCB that spring to pick up few classes that weren't available at UC Davis). I was studying for a biochemistry final when my roommate came crashing through the door screaming something about a cyclone fence, Power to the People Park and a noon-time rally at Sproul Plaza. Looking for any excuse to take a break I said we ought to go check out the rally since it was only a few blocks away.

 

The crowd at Sproul was pretty agitated and several of the speakers seemed intent on really stirring things up. As it turned out, it was the "perfect storm" for conjuring up a riot. One of the speakers suggested moving over to the park to continue the protest at the site of the blasphemy. Apparently, our current Chancellor had gone back on the "no intervention" promise he had made to the organizers of the park refurbishing effort and had the Highway Patrol (how the hell did they get involved?) throw the interlopers out and erect a fence around the park. That act had obviously pissed off more than a few people. That day ended with me going back to the old biochemistry books and my roommate and about 2000 other people getting their butts kicked by "law enforcement" personnel. Thank God for my commitment to biochemistry.

 

The story ends on Memorial Day that same year. After, Bloody Thursday, the National Guard was posted around the park (in a similar fashion to the guardsmen pictured in your classic photograph) and the People Park Liberation Committee (a communist front, no doubt about it) was planning a protest at the park for Memorial Day. My roommate, who was pretty put out about his treatment on May 15th talked me into going to the protest. I agreed, but only if we kept a safe distance away on the hill near, I think, Haste street. Besides, maybe Ronald (Reagan) would show up and make some sort of patriotic, nostalgic speech (fat chance). Anyway, when we got to our observation spot, what did we see? Daisies. Millions of Daisies. Everybody had daisies, the protestors, the police, the onlookers, everybody. And then a small plane flying a banner passed overhead and about 30,000 eyes looked upward and read: Let a Thousand Parks Bloom.

 

And, I said to nobody in particular, "maybe I am stoned."

 

 

I'm saving up for Paris as we speak, although the "inflation" of the Euro is making headway a bit slow. Your absolutely right on when you say the dark background and its contrasting elements "pop" your fisherman into another dimension. Let me know when your classes start, I'd make the trip to pick your brain.

This is about as good a use of DOF and telephoto perspective as I've seen in quite some time. Yes, I agree that the "not" old salt has a very open countenance and an attractive face, but the 3 dimensional affect is what makes this photograph something special.

Wonderful composition and lighting. You use of perspective is also very fine and the choice of B&W is perfect. Well done.

Superb capture. The effect you've achieved with this is really excellent and puts the viewer somewhere between a photograph and a painting. I like it very much.

Very creative and original composition. The light and dark contrast is also very effective. Well done. Regards, Doug.

Great composition and luminous effect. The sense of the moment here is very powerful...all-in-all a tour de force. 7s all around.

I too, John, have visualized many a scene in front of this restaurant/club. But, this photograph is emblematic of the dilema Bruno, you and I discussed in another thread. That is, a visitor does not have the luxury of "scouting" for locations, envisioning the perfect shot and then returning at the perfect time to execute the photograph with his or her Leica or Contax. Hence, the lack of an "all encompassing body" of work as a result of my first photographic expedition to Paris. I traveled to Paris with 3 non photographers who were bent on seeing all of the sights, which resulted in me photographing on the run (if I lingered they would have left me) and getting only one day on my own where I could wander and take the time for something to happen if it needed to. This particular photograph was taken on my last day in Paris (and only day of wandering) at about 4PM. Therefore, if you know the Parisians, the lunch crowd was long gone and the dinner crowd would not arrive until 7:30. So, I took the purely architectural approach, after all when left adrift one tends to fall back on what they know best. The result was a photograph that used the murals as the subjects. Next time I return, which will be in the spring (isn't it always), I will park myself near this place and come away with one of the scenes you so vividly described in your narrative above. Until then, I've got to get by with Duke Ellington and John Coltrane.

 

Thanks again for your input, it is truly appreciated. By the way, I posted a photograph, Metropolitian, that I dedicated to your "Rule of Three." Check it out. Also, I am very proud of the photo, The Absinthe Drinkers, Homage to Dega, because as I was sitting at the table next to them I thought to myself "they could be characters right out of a Dega or Manet painting." Turns out it was true. So, all that reading and studing of the impressionist movement finally paid off. I've gotta go.

I'll go for either crop, although the advantage of the square is you can say you shot it with a Hassleblad. Seriously, though, I think that the square format has a lot of advantages in terms of containing the eye, isolating the image, etc. It's not used often enough. I know the first time I used a square format camera, Rollei I think, I thought to myself, "I can't do anything with this!" Now, I often shoot 35mm with a square format in mind. And so it goes. Anyway, sorry for the rave (it only shows I care), well done. Regards, Doug.

A fine street photograph. You have captured the shyness and curiosity inherent in children quite nicely with your creative use of angle and perspective. Well done.

Very moody and, again, Barbazon School in terms of tone and composition. Are you sure you haven't been reincarnated? Good stuff. Regards, Doug.

I agree with Peter, great composition and detail. Well done.

Now this is original. The best damned abandon car shot I've seen in a long time. 7s all around.

Nice tones and composition. I think I could do without the guy sitting in the back seat. Without him the car would look even more abandon and forlorn. Either way, great work.

Great use of lighting and composition. My favorite B&W portrait this year (and it's December already). Well done.

Like everyone else, I like this shot a whole bunch but can't really put my finger on why. The word "enigmatic" comes to mind. Good stuff.

Nice action capture. I love the composition and intensity. Well done.

Gerry, you are quickly becoming one of the top portrait photographers on the site. My jealousy knows no bounds (here I am still trying to get better at the "street" stuff). Great work. Keep outdoing yourself.

They reminded me of the characters in Dega's painting, The Absinthe Drinkers. The modern day versions had just finished drinking expresso.

I saw a show by a contemporary artist a while back that was a whole series of acrylic paintings of boat and building reflections in water. They were very similar in look and color rendition to this photograph. Which I guess means you have managed to transcend beyond the photograph into "fine art." Well done.

Another excellent effort...sturdy and pristine composition and lovely tones. Well done.

This is the closest I've ever knowingly gotten to John's hallowed "Rule of Three."

In spite of the apparent lighting on this subject, the conditions inside the Pantheon were horrible (1/2 second at F4, as I recall). Therefore, I had only one angle to shoot from due to a conveniently placed post that I could use to brace myself. What attracted me to the subject was the incredible sense of movement I felt as I approached the sculpture...almost to the point where it seemed alive. I hope I have captured that feeling, although probably not. Unfortunately, this is the full frame, but I did take your suggestion and do a little editing and relocation on the "Life and Liberty" slogan. It's a good thing the artist is long gone, but I still beg his forgiveness. Thanks again for you support. P.S. You will probably need to refresh your browser to see the replacement version.