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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Insights #2: Why was this photo made?
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 12/17/2004 09:58:36 PM · #26
Intentional or not this comes off as street photography. Even as an interior, such as it is. The aspect of the large public space and apparently temporary gallery, puts it in that genre' for me, and may be a basic reason to record this. The overall environment is not intimate, even though various elements of the picture - primarily the panel portrait and the gallery viewers might be presented and viewed as such. Motivation has to be the invitation to explore this space - presented by the rich, complex juxtaposition of planes, arcs, lines and people. I share the OZ association, as previously mentioned. An anti-technicolor scene at the end of the yellow brick road.... is the wizard floating, about to be exposed.
 12/18/2004 12:27:50 AM · #27
When I first saw this photo, I expected that an art exhibit was the subject, but it almost looked like a transit station of some sort as well. The image sort of reminded me of some of the advertising signs that I have seen in various metropplitan areas...

I believe that this particular image (I had no idea who this person was until it was mentioned in this thread) captivated the photographer. I also believe that the photographer may have felt that this single image, in some way, represented the entire collection.

It's a bit difficult for me to say much more, because in the beginning, this is all that I thought. Maybe sometime on Saturday evening, the photographer will enlighten us :)
 12/18/2004 12:56:20 AM · #28
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Maybe sometime on Saturday evening, the photographer will enlighten us :)


Deal.
 12/18/2004 01:55:37 AM · #29
It doesn't seem like many people wanna take a stab at this one... anyone?
 12/18/2004 02:30:58 AM · #30
My best guess and what I get outa this shot...

'Do YOU see what I see?' I don't know who the gentleman in the poster is, but the overall feeling of the shot is this. [imaginary quote]I created these photos for you to look at. Look at them. Take them in. Do YOU see what I see in them? Do YOU understand what I am trying to say with these images? It's simple, if you can see...[/imaginary quote] (I'm assuming that the person in the poster created the rest of the works that the people in the background are taking in.)

It's what many photographers deal with in their work. Here is my vision. Here is my statement to the world. Do YOU understand it? It's kinda like a challenge. Get it or not. If you get it, welcome. If you don't get it, I'm gonna stare at you till you do get it or give up and go away...
 12/18/2004 04:47:09 AM · #31
Microcosm vs. Macrocosm
The viewpoint of seeing at the same time, in the picture, both the individual and the universe. The one and the many. This picture almost transports you out of the photograph and up to the sky. Your eye is first attracted to the large head in the lower right and follows the lines of the structure and the heads gaze up to the large skylight and then your mind takes you out to the universe beyond. Our eyes go back and forth between the two.

Supporting this is the balance in this photo between dark shadow on bottom and bright light on top, as well as, the one big head and the many people in lower left and many windows in upper right.

Searching for an Audience at the same time gives us the perspective of our place in the universe without diminishing our significance.

I know, I"ve done too much acid in my time...lol
 12/18/2004 12:51:22 PM · #32
There may be several reasons why the photographer chose to make this particular photo. There is no way for us to tell, just by looking at the image, why he decided to take this shot. He may not even know what his exact motivations were. Since it was used in a challenge, my guess is he thought it fit the âformulaâ for ribbon winning images here on dpchallenge. Of course thatâs just a guess.

What I find most interesting is that the people posting in this thread are finding all kinds of significance and meaning in the photo, yet it only placed 235th in the challenge. Nice trick John. :)

12/18/2004 01:06:02 PM · #33
Could that be the point of the exercise, though? Most shots are considered for about 2 seconds when they're voted on. This is a chance to actually look at something, speculate, and then have the photographer weigh in afterwards. I think it's an awesome exercise not only for others carefully considering a shot, but for the photographer to see additional things that they might have missed themselves, or for a true intent to be conveyed after studying a photo. I don't know about you but I really get interested in what others were thinking about a piece after having experienced it for some length of time.

Originally posted by micknewton:
What I find most interesting is that the people posting in this thread are finding all kinds of significance and meaning in the photo, yet it only placed 235th in the challenge. Nice trick John. :)

12/18/2004 01:56:16 PM · #34
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
GeneralE or any other SC member:

I posted this to the wrong forum. Could someone move it to "Individual Photograph Discussion"?

Thanks :)

Eventually : )

Message edited by author 2004-12-18 13:56:27.
 12/18/2004 02:24:00 PM · #35
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
It doesn't seem like many people wanna take a stab at this one... anyone?


Motivation?...I think the contrast between this huge face and the even huger space. It was interesting. Deeper analysis seems like after-the-fact indulgence. Ok...beyond the huge face, it is a portrait of someone begging to have one peer into his depths...waiting while the world passes by.

We're all dwarfed in this life.
 12/18/2004 02:59:09 PM · #36
the photo in this photo probably draws a viewer in from a good distance by the looks of the building, and is a striking image in and of itself.
this photo created an audience out of the photographer.

the search is complete - he has an audience now. both the photographer, and the others are admiring the gallery.


12/18/2004 03:20:17 PM · #37
I begin to see some of the points that Graphic made in the previous thread.

At the time of shooting, was Brendan truly aware of the points we are exploring or was it the subliminal muse that suddenly saw the whole that forced him to snap the picture? Was Brendan consciously constructing the ideas we are seeing in this photograph, or was it a combination of his technical expertise, knowledge of composition and the unconscious realization that so many symbols present could become what we are 'hypothesizing' are included in the image?

J.R.R. Tolkien was quoted as stating that 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy were nothing more than an excercise in language. That the 'meaning' of these stories was no more than an excercise in writing. We the readers however are prodded by Literary teachers to read into the books, to see the triumph of a 'little person' over the big bad world. To somehow reach a moral enlightenment that indicates even the smallest and most unwilling of people can have such a forceful impact on the whole. Is this wrong of us? I think not, but perhaps the muse of Tolkien simply could not communicate clearly to him what was really being created. To do so, to have him aware at the time of creation may have detracted from the end result.

I don't subscribe to the thought that our awareness of the muse will box it in. In fact, I think that as we become more aware of what aspects are effective in the end result of others works, we may be more likely to realize our presence in one of those situations and allow the muse a more receptive channel to create.

Perhaps Brendan saw a image that suited a challenge. Perhaps he pondered for a few moments, letting it sink in and then began to shoot. Perhaps he did not consciously know what about this scene really spoke to him as something worth imortalizing in print, but he knew there was an image to be created that impacted him in a way different than that of what he saw ordinarily.

For us to say he was completely aware of all the factors may be overstepping the lesson. It may be that awareness - seeing - those symbols and recognizing them for what they are now in print will prepare us for the same kind of experience as we come upon it, or as we prepare to create it in a studio or outing that is diliberate, we will be conscious of those factors that may take the ordinary and present to another as extraordinary.
 12/18/2004 03:51:14 PM · #38
What we are after is 'why' he made the photo. We aren't trying to figure out if he accomplished his goal or met anyone's expectations.
 12/18/2004 03:52:54 PM · #39
The two photos I have posted for this topic so far have been outside the normal 'challenge' criteria. The first photo was not a challenge photo and the second was a free study photo. Neither are tied to any 'requirement'.
 12/18/2004 03:55:30 PM · #40
I see the face saying " I'm tired of this caos, beam me abort Scottie". Just my thoughts. Van
 12/18/2004 04:58:48 PM · #41
With all due respect the "Why" is rather a rhetorical question. It is more an exercise in sophistry. The motivating forces that drives us are not always at our disposal. If we can see what truly drives us we would be considered enlightened. This is the search of the wise man.

For us mortals the "why" we do things resemble more an onion. That is our most conscious thoughts are standing on other less visible thoughts. The same applies with motives.

I have lived my life asking "why" only to alter the opinion upon a once hidden factor that is now visible. Yet, as I hold the new assessment I am not sure this is an absolute. That is there may be another skin of the onion coming off.

Even if you say I want to create an image that will have the viewer question his existence. Once created, was the motive to have the viewer pose the question or was it really a question to the self? Could the "why" be really answered. Could the "why" have been born out of ennui or of the desire to better the last attempt, or a desire to show that a new technique or new angle. Could the why simply be because I can create, I will create. Sometimes our "why's' are merely the excuse to bring about this ulterior motive that is hid from us?

Your thoughts?
 12/18/2004 05:05:54 PM · #42
Originally posted by graphicfunk:


Your thoughts?


I don't think I want to get into all the philosophical discussions about whether or not 'why' is a worthwhile pursuit. I'm fairly confident that you don't believe the pursuit is useful. If that's the case, these exercises probably aren't going to benefit you in any way. Whether or not they benefit anyone else, including myself, is yet to be seen.

I enjoy thinking about 'why' when I look at a photograph that inspires me in some way. I have said over and over again that the 'truth' is not the actual pursuit here. I agree with a lot of previous posts, including some of yours. What I do believe is that the pursuit of 'why' is a worthwhile one. Whether or not we find it is irrelevant.
12/18/2004 05:16:26 PM · #43
Jon: If I undersdtand you correctly you pursue an inquiry simply because the process itself has value. This value must have something to do with self discovery. Yet you consider the result not so important. Again, I refer you to the wise man. He seeks enlightenment. He knows, hard as he tries that the goal is simply within his grasp. Yes, he tries and in many ways he understands himself better, but even so he falls short of the goal.

So again, the "WHY" is rhetorical. In this case you are using it to open other avenues of self discovery. At the end, the "why" eludes us all.

I never said that any search is fruitless. I said the "why" is fruitless, but if it leads you or others to a better vantage point all well and good. Go with it,

Message edited by author 2004-12-18 17:21:06.
 12/18/2004 06:00:06 PM · #44
There was a series on tv a long time ago. "The Prisoner". I loved that show. One program he was offered his freedom if he could ask the super computer a question that couldn't be answered. He did come up with one question. It was, "Why?". The computer locked up but, alas, the prisoner didn't get his freedom.
Dan, I like your onion explanation.
 12/18/2004 06:04:45 PM · #45
I remember this photo only too well. Even though my rating of it was only in the average range, I liked it enough to go back and revisit it when it was listed by rank. I remember being struck by the photographer's analysis of his own work.
My impressions, then and now, are the same: With the large photo I was immediately reminded of an opening scene from one of the Superman movies where the villains are sentenced to spend the remainder of their lives in a one dimensional plane. The same was true of this figure that is forever frozen in this image. The structure with all its glass and metal webbing reminded me of a cage. The people, although walking about, are also trapped. As to why the photographer snapped it? It was a trap of his own making. He snapped it and was caught in his own devices - Mind and machine.
But in truth my very first reaction after the image opened was being impressed with the architecture and I thought, at the time, that was also the reason the photographer initially snapped the photo!
 12/18/2004 07:16:51 PM · #46
Well I re-added my original explanation to the picture.
It was indeed my favourite image at the expo, I felt like the man in the photo was judging me as I looked through the exhibit. I liked the way he watched back, like he was waiting for a response from the intense imagery in the rest of the show. I tried to show the other students on the left viewing the pictures, while he watched back.
Thanks for all the great response to this thread, it's been really interesting to read!
 12/18/2004 08:18:15 PM · #47
Originally posted by drydoc:
... the villains are sentenced to spend the remainder of their lives in a one dimensional plane.

By definition, a plane has two dimensions. Check out Flatland by Edwin Abbott.
 12/18/2004 08:37:58 PM · #48
I think the photographer here just wanted to photograph the Picture on the wall.
12/18/2004 09:34:30 PM · #49
Guess I was a bit too philosophical on this and out in left field.
Moving image though - stirs the soul!
(edited to correct the defective keyboard I have - LOL)

Message edited by author 2004-12-18 21:35:24.
 12/18/2004 09:47:51 PM · #50
Originally posted by BradP:
Guess I was a bit too philosophical on this...


Did we get too philosophical? I don't think so. Next time we decide to create a photograph, perhaps we will have these things we made up in our own minds and put them to use in whatever it is we are creating.

This I think is Dan's point. The 'why' is rhetorical. It really doesn't matter. In fact, it is an excuse that we are searching for that John has given us to trick us into thinking more artistically (and maybe even more politically/symbolically) about the 'what' that came about after the shot was presented.

Right now, does it matter why the picture was taken? I don't think so. What matters now is the current effect that it has on us and what we take away from it. What will matter later is if we become cognizant of the 'why' when we create our own images and if we consider the things we have 'seen' in this photo that will help to invoke those same thoughts in others.

Edit: dang keyboard functions must be contagious.

Message edited by author 2004-12-18 21:48:53.
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