Response to City (Response #6)

Uploaded 1021 Days Ago by TracyMartin - - 34 comments

Photo © TracyMartin (Tracy Martin) - www.tracymartinphotography.com/
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User Comments

Ana said 1021 days ago:

This is a VERY strong photo, and very wonderfully done. I'm trying very hard to see its relationship to the theme. City of God, maybe?

RichardFord said 1021 days ago:

Nice shot. Don't see it fitting the theme in anything other than some existensial meta analysis of what is a city... theme aside. The back/edge lighting is good and makes the subject pop from the background more. The bokeh is kinda shitty though which is the only thing that I can find technically wrong with this shot.

Kettelarij said 1021 days ago:

Great picture but the subject doesn't really comes to my mind looking at this.

RichardFord said 1021 days ago:

I did say that I liked it! No head biting off please Tracy. :-s

TracyMartin said 1021 days ago:

Hey Ana, he is a street preacher, they are everywhere here in SF. I realize that it is missing a bit more context but it was one of those instantaneous shots. :)

TracyMartin said 1021 days ago:

No head biting... it is somewhat vague but some people may get the connection.

RichardFord said 1021 days ago:

Is it a comment about the decline in bigger cities of religion versus the small country towns?

The arches in the background look like a church. That is what I think is spoiled a bit - the bokeh isn't blurry enough to disguise it more - if that is indeed what they are?

The light of the lord shining down?

RockasKane said 1021 days ago:

Perfect!

King said 1020 days ago:

Oh, yes, this is a common scene with some beautiful tones in this striking b/w image. High marks.

Shop talk: For me, the preacher's right arm, including the Bible, seems to have been processed differently from the rest of his face and body. The light and shading on the Bible is beautiful but stands out almost too much to be natural, while the jacket sleeve of his right arm seems to dark compared to the adjacent jacket area--too burned in?

lbimaging said 1020 days ago:

Composition, Technique, and Image Quality are top notch and Impact is high. It doesn't scream "city" to me because this could really be just about anywhere. Still, excellent image and high marks.

Karmen said 1020 days ago:

I have watched this for a while and I dunno if it's me but this shot is a really great street one but I do not see the link with the theme.

ArneG said 1020 days ago:

Yeah - we have a version of this guy just down the street from my office - standing on the corner of this and that - preaching to anyone that comes near

fcarmo said 1020 days ago:

The image is quite good...
I personally like it a lot...

But... I don't see it as a city scene, or at least exclusively.

Anyway, it's a great work!

panhandlin said 1020 days ago:

I really like this image. Great tones. Beautiful comp. My only problem is it doesn't say city to me. Could be a small town or a Manhattan street corner. Still like it though.

wings said 1020 days ago:

And the Lord told me this city will turn into a pillar of salt should you photograph this city. I love the person. He might not be a city but he like the man reading the map on the bench also says city. NIce play on the idea of a city.

wings said 1020 days ago:

And the Lord told me this city will turn into a pillar of salt should you photograph this city. I love the person. He might not be a city but he has the marking of being a product of a city. NIie play on the idea of a city.

mooch said 1020 days ago:

Compelling image, truly, just a shame that it doesn't quite hit the theme, in my humble opinion.

mooch said 1020 days ago:

So, what is everyone's opinion on this then; if you give 1 for relevance but 5's for the rest, you'd invariably see a featured image. Should the relevance be the deciding factor? After all, were it not the deciding factor you'd have any number of well shot 'irrelevant' images featured for any given theme.

Rico said 1020 days ago:

This photo is nice, i like it even if I don't directly see the link with the theme. Great expression.

chromasia said 1020 days ago:

Fantastic shot - there isn't anything I don't like about this one.

TracyMartin said 1020 days ago:

OK, I concede, only a couple people saw this as 'city'. Then again I will never adhere strictly to the theme in a literal sense as I prefer to delve a bit deeper into what the theme encompasses. It is the people that make a city not the other way around.

I did get other shots of this street preacher with more environment but then I lost the essence of the image once he realized I was photographing him.

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.

Beamer said 1020 days ago:

So, this week I'm going to take a break on commenting on Relevance. I'm going to take everybody's word for it and concentrate on the other four categories...

I like this, great b&w tones and wonderful subject! My only complaint is the compo, the left half that you gave so much room to is just cluttered and adds nothing, imo. I would have gone to square format or perhaps the opposite of what you have here, the man and Bible closer to the left and more breathing room on right.

varner said 1020 days ago:

I'm wondering why this isn't already featured??! I have always loved this image. I suppose it's cheating if one knows the photographer? Regardless, I would have given this high marks anyway.

kiffaniestahle said 1020 days ago:

The black and white conversion on this photo works well. I also love the earnest expression that you captured on his face.

kiffaniestahle said 1020 days ago:

@TracyMartin: I thought this looked like a Market Street street preacher I had seen before. Is that where you took this image?

TracyMartin said 1020 days ago:

@kiffaniestahle - good eye, this was taken prior to the start of the Chinese NY Parade this year. :)

RichardFord said 1020 days ago:

@ Tracy

I too decided that PEOPLE are what make a city and will be doing that. Though all the features thus far have been more architectural for lack of a better word.

I am going to resist temptation and stick with my convictions about it being people when I upload again...

Though as I initially said - to focus on people for city - I would see that as being more than one - or some context that shows how people behave or operate due to the city - as opposed to in spite of.

Beamer said 1017 days ago:

Congrats!! How cute, Tracy and Mark together again right next to each other!!

King said 1016 days ago:

Congrats, Tracy.

kadenajack said 1016 days ago:

@mooch - You don't have to give it a 1 for relevance if "it doesn't quite hit the theme." A 1 would imply it totally missed the theme. For something that "doesn't quite hit the theme" a 2, 3 or 4 would be appropriate scores and could help an image feature.

I don't think this necessarily screams City either. However, its reasonable to assume it was taken in a city and that this man contributes to the city environment. Had I rated it, I would have given a 3 or 4 in relevance.

All that aside, I'm glad it featured because its a great shot. Congratulations Tracy.

TracyMartin said 1016 days ago:

Thanks Everyone... Mark and Tracy, up in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G... ;)

Hihosilver said 1016 days ago:

Tracy, I've been staring at your photo for a while. I'm struck by the passion and plaintive grit of this street preacher's energy and expression. Dressed in mismatched clothes clutching his bible...despite his age, his whole energy reminds me of a small child on the verge of an emotional meltdown. I'm surprised people thought this photo was not relevant to the theme of "city"...as I doubt such a man would be found on the street corner of the nearby country farm yard. Tremendous impact...!

lbimaging said 1016 days ago:

I gotta say, I'm really happy this made it to the front page. :-)

Lange said 1015 days ago:

Wow! All I can say, Tracy is that you are amazing at capturing images of people. I am in awe!

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