Who said street photography must be processed in black and white? Made it b/w as well, but... Saw this mid aged man yesterday in town - in colour. It's real, no posing. After the shot i have had a really interessting dialog with him...
Which one you prefer? And why?
Or do you look away like most of the other peoples?
Nikon D810, Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4 G ED, 1/50 f/1.4, ISO 400, hand held.
Good gosh. What a fiercely riveting image - and powerfully captured.
Of course I believe you but without your description I wouldn't have assumed this was candid. Taken alone, it's too perfect. As you share it, you might want to continue to include the artist's statement that it wasn't staged and perhaps even offer a bit of the conversation you had. The backstory on this situation almost has to be of interest to the viewer.
As for your question, my immediate thoughts ---
-- Color generally complicates street images immeasurably and can make it difficult for the casual viewer to easily see what the artist saw;
-- That's not so in this capture as there is comparatively little distraction, the viewer easily sets aside the powerful red and finds the "what else" -- so this totally works for me in color and may be my favorite;
-- I don't "prefer" the BW but it is of course visually simpler and I do find the "message" more quickly;
-- There's nothing (other than the subject matter) not to love about this image so the desaturated version is nice, but it does feel indecisive and more vague to me.
having been the bystander in an overwhelming number of situations where friends and family have lost their lives or their way with drugs and alcohol, there's nothing about this image that makes me want to EVER look at it again. There's nothing about it that tells a story I don't already know intimately. The only thing it makes me want to do is offer comfort and condolences to this user's friends and family. And maybe cathartically beat the ever loving hell out of this guy for what he's doing to people such as myself.
But, great art is supposed to invoke emotion, right? And that's what this has done.
All that said, I can see the appeal of the image and think it's well-executed. Had the option been available, a lower perspective and dramatically closer crop just on the arm and needle would have been powerful as well.
Very well done. It's powerful. And that's why I hate it (meant as a compliment).
Jonathan Brady wrote:
having been the bystander in an overwhelming number of situations where friends and family have lost their lives or their way with drugs and alcohol, there's nothing about this image that makes me want to EVER look at it again. There's nothing about it that tells a story I don't already know intimately. The only thing it makes me want to do is offer comfort and condolences to this user's friends and family. And maybe cathartically beat the ever loving hell out of this guy for what he's doing to people such as myself.
But, great art is supposed to invoke emotion, right? And that's what this has done.
All that said, I can see the appeal of the image and think it's well-executed. Had the option been available, a lower perspective and dramatically closer crop just on the arm and needle would have been powerful as well.
Very well done. It's powerful. And that's why I hate it (meant as a compliment)....Show more →
Jonathan,
I really like your post. I can feel you both reeling in horror at the image and all it personally means to you... and yet you present a compassionate, objective analysis. I'm sure that wasn't easy. I'm sorry for the pain you've been through.
Less on topic... life is complicated for many if not most. The burden and freedom of later years is all the accumulated experiences/perspective, the gentle awareness of how temporal life is, and understanding of how seldom does everything go more right than wrong.
I suppose what may perhaps ease the confusion and heartache is kindness, compassion, and patience with our very human nature... and occasionally ---
"...beat the ever loving hell out of this guy for what he's doing to people such as myself."
Yes, a very powerful image. I've never been able to wrap my head around what makes a person turn to drugs, but my life has generally had more positives than negatives, so I've probably never felt the level of desperation that takes some folks there.
I agree the color version is the best. I keep wishing the piece to the right of the backpack was less bright, but I know you didn't have a choice in a candid scene. I'm amazed you were able to capture something like this without first being noticed and losing the moment. Great work, even if it is disturbing.
Nov 20, 2016 at 08:38 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
In full living color..watching a human being destroy himself. Even in my small town of a few hundred persons, there are overdoses and deaths..what was once a wonderful young man died a few weeks ago. By all accounts he was a happy good looking and very nice person, according to my daughter who went to school with him. She also knows how rampant drugs are, as she works at the local area hospital. Perhaps it is all too easy
to capture a photo like this.
Hello together!
Thank you for your absolutely interesting explantation and assessement!
Thanks also for your compliment.
I would answer as good as i can with my poor english.
So, Chuck first:
Yes, this situation followed me through the whole night. I dreamed of it. I dreamed that after the conversation he gave me his hand for saying good bye.
It was simple. Came around the corner with my girlfirend and down that stair. He turned away and told me: "I will clean it all after... Leave no rubbish, 'cause of the children"
I told him, "man, no stress but it's good you clean up your place after it. Wish you all good." Yes, it was cold this night. Maybe +1°C
I passed him, had my cam in my hands and went down the stairs with my girl.
At the bottom i stopped for a moment. Looket at my girl and told her that i have to go back. Need to do this. She agreed without any words.
Then i asked him to take a shot without his face. I didn't see his face before. But then he lifted his hood and i saw his face. It was gaunt. His eyes where tired and without any joy of life.
He agreed a shot from behind. No posing, continued, took his second needle and began to sting without be disturbet of my presence. This was my moment. Had not much time to compose, so i put him in the left corner. The infinity of the corridor goes down and to the right part.
After this shot i went down a few steps to get his eye level.
And then he began to tell me his life...
As a child he got beaten.
Death of his father, shortly after this same with his grandfather. Then his friend at the working place. His mum has similar problems with drugs etc.
Minute after minute he told me what his heart was going over.
After a while i noticed that he had problems to concentrate.
@DougVaughn: Yes, i tought same. My situation is quite well and so i have to understand men like this deliberately. Research after the reason.
And i think in my Post #9 you can read it out a bit.
Yes, the bright things are part of the image. And part of the situation. With his white rag he cleaned the blood from his hands. Never would give this man my hands - so i dreamed of it as you can read in Post #9 as well.
I'm glad some of you enjoyed the perspective I shared. I'm also happy that my distaste for the situation and appreciation for the image weren't confused for each other.
Thank y'all
I prefer the 3rd strongly but feel like an idiot because I can't explain why, other than the obvious that it helps emphasis emotion. In color it's just like real life in SF while in BW it's a timeless tragedy.
I like the second (desaturated) image. First is too colorful, and the latter just doesn't work for me. Thanks for your story behind the image, I can only hope his story doesn't end this way. Good that you took time to talk with him and understand.
Thank you for your kind words.
I see, there is realy differend fondness and almost everyone can tell me why. That's great and interesting for me.
After a few day and nights i have to decide even more on the first as my favourite. It's simple: 'cause i saw it right like that when i came around the corner.
In my memory it stood still like this (maybe due to the PP after).
