As I mentioned Before... - DPChallenge Forums

02/22/2006 12:13:47 AM · #1

I entered this image not due to the DPC looks but due to the story behind it. Thanks for all the wonderful comments and scores ;)

stare_at_the_sun

Canon EOS-10D

02/22/2006 12:34:15 AM · #2

Way to be Rikki, way to be.

I like submitting shots that have meaning behind them but may not be as pretty as others, sure...it may not score as high as some other photos, but they are close to my heart and mean more to me than just a snapshot of some flower.

To get good comments on one of these photos is infinitly more satisfying than recieving a good score.

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

02/22/2006 01:30:38 AM · #3

Thanks Caleb! I really appreciate your sentiments. This was truly not a DPC entry (at least IMHO). The DOF is sharp and all in focus. I didn't try to isolate the guy. It was a snapshot if you will as my settings were all wrong but I'm glad where it finished and I'm glad that some folks were touched by the image as well.

Now back to submitting DPC friendly images ;)

MQuinn

Olympus OM-D E-M1

02/22/2006 02:03:11 AM · #4

Don't mean to Hijack your thread but mine also was taken for personal reasons...

Many didn't understand the meaning Im sure as a virtue, lemme give ya a background:

This Farm is owned by a local lady who was born and raised in this house, she's 76 years old, this farm has been in her family for 150 years. Some got the impeding lights in the background, where this farm is in one of the fastest growing counties in the USA. I grew up a mile away from this farm, I have known this family for most my life. The husband past away 2 years ago, she has done a good job at managing the land and keeping the farm alive. They have been approached several times to sell the land and farm, they have declined all offers.

In 3 weeks this farm is scheduled for demise, not because it was sold but because of eminent domain. The city felt a strip mall would be better tax base than a 150 year old farm. I still feel Hope of Rural Fortitude.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

02/22/2006 02:14:38 PM · #5

No hijaking here Matt ;) This is just our DPC Underground entries ;) I'm glad you entered what you did ;) It would be interesting shoot that same place once they tear it down :(

Anders

Nikon D300

02/22/2006 02:27:18 PM · #6

Rikki this is so lovely. i think its really great to have photos with a real story behind them, i really enjoy reading the circumstances of the shot and the feelings which they evoke for the photographer. lovely shot Rikki :)

missinseattle

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/22/2006 05:20:16 PM · #7

I think the stories are the best part. Mine didn't really have a story lol. Caught my daughter in her bedroom with the dog playing house and they were saying nightprayers. Dog was hiding under the bed lol.

frisca

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/22/2006 05:42:32 PM · #8

hey rikki -- i left you a comment and I bow to all the underground entries!

edited to add: why do you think it is he never looked you in the eyes? I found that part of your story the most heart-wrenching.

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 17:43:51.

Kivet

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/22/2006 06:07:41 PM · #9

what feeling I get from the picture and then read the story. You know messed up settings or not this is real picture, the people passing him by in the bg only adds to the lonely desperate feel. For some reason it reminds me of the picture of the homeless santa and his dog.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/22/2006 06:37:47 PM · #10

hi guys! thanks for all the comments and i am glad that the imaged touched you as well.

like many who have commented after reading my short narrative, i think the reason why he never looked my way is probably due to the fact that he's been living on the streets for a long time and no one really paid any attention to him - until that Saturday morning when I walked up to him. the more i look at the photo, the more i find the underlying meanings. it is interesting to note that he is behind the barricades while the busy city life continues around him. he seems to be in his own little world filled with his dreams and memories. i often wonder what he thinks of - what folks like him think of as they sit silently in one corner of the street watching the day go by.

as i mentioned in the threads, i think it's apathy. we have grown so "used" to seeing these poor souls that we don't even "notice" they are there. i have to admit that some of them are arrogant and a pain in the neck but this man was one of the gentler souls. never spoke a word. never looked at anyone. just alone with his thoughts and looking forward to a better tomorrow.

thanks everyone.

rikki

missinseattle

Nikon D200

02/22/2006 07:43:04 PM · #11

I see a very deep soul in you Rikki.
I saw a woman the other day walking down the road on the way back from dropping my daughter off at school. It was about 25 degrees out and snowing. SHe was wearing this long shabby skirt and had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. You don't see things like that on our side of the bridge often. Did not have my camera with me but I would not have had the guts to take the picture anyways. I pulled a U turn, drove back to where she was and offered her a ride. She declined but I cried all the way home after that.
I've done a lot of volunteer work at soup kitchens, missions, AIDS network- that's what really got the tears rolling with me in your photo. So sad where people end up, and even sadder how many people shun them or just keep on walking.

Anyhow, I'm in a sappy mood tonight lol. I had a piece of humble pie earlier today and have been thinking ever since:0)

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited

02/22/2006 10:31:19 PM · #12

Thanks Kim :)

Tears definitely happen when you're in a "sappy state of mind" ;)

Qiki

Fujifilm X100T

02/22/2006 10:55:42 PM · #13

So much of the work on this site is aimed at scoring high in challenges (fair enough, that's the 'C' in DPC). But, every now and then I come across a photo that stands out just for what it is. This is one of those Rikki. Thanks for sharing it man.

02/22/2006 11:17:40 PM · #14

No problem Adrian. Glad you liked it as well ;)

02/22/2006 11:24:20 PM · #15

Originally posted by Qiki:

So much of the work on this site is aimed at scoring high in challenges (fair enough, that's the 'C' in DPC)

Havent been entering challenges lately.
Realized I've got too carried away with DPC challenges that I've forgotten why I got myself the camera in the first place! Now I'm back shooting my pet turtle, friends and family again. Not DPC submission materials tho, so they dont appear here, I'm afraid. Good work Rikki, nice "photo journalism" shot there. One of those photos that "tells a story".

If someone would see in my favourites photo, there is one photo that I like a lot, seems to tell a story just by looking at it. It's a photo of a dad with a child on a bicycle. It's not mine, it's taken by Telehubbie. Very good photo.

Message edited by author 2006-02-22 23:26:19.

02/24/2006 12:38:49 AM · #16

Wow! I have received so many PMs from you guys about this thread. I am deeply touched and would like to extend my warmest regards to you all(you know who you are).

Some had refered to it as "photo-journalism". Actually I didn't even pay attention to that ;) As with my other "street life" shots, they're mostly taken on the fly because of what I saw at the time.

Thanks once again ;)

BTW: I didn't want Shin to be the one to kill this thread either LOL!

02/24/2006 12:41:20 AM · #17

Originally posted by Rikki:

BTW: I didn't want Shin to be the one to kill this thread either LOL!

excuse me? ;)

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/24/2006 02:33:47 AM · #18

I just stumbled on this one; been finishing the editing of a huge, boring book that I was behind on, and haven't been paying atention, just cherry-picking threads. Rikki, that's an touching and intriguing story, and a sweet photograph.

Robt.

02/24/2006 03:02:32 AM · #19

Thanks Robert. It is indeed a touching image. One that is rooted deep inside. I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.

02/24/2006 03:11:18 AM · #20

Rikki, I'm killing this :)

margiemu

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/25/2006 10:36:32 PM · #21

rikki, I looked at this again after reading the story behind it, and would score it a 10, now that I know the story, and the emotions behind it. It would have worked well for a challenge about "isolation" as well...

02/26/2006 01:54:11 AM · #22

Thanks :)

BTW: Crayon, feel free to kill this thread again :)