NON-PLACES act 2: On the Waterfront Photo

Photographer’s Note

In the early 90's, a book by Marc Augé entitled Non-places drew attention to the development of a wide range of liminal public spaces which he called non-places -- e.g., airport lounges, superhighways, megastores -- all spaces through which people pass. Augé gave a new order of spaces a name -- non-places.

An ever-increasing proportion of our lives is spent in supermarkets, airports and hotels, on motorways or in fronts of TVs, computers and cash machines. This invasion of the world by what Marc Auge calls "non-space" results in a profound alteration of awareness: something we perceive, but only in a partial and incoherent manner.'

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Image took on the Tunis waterfront close to the ferries harbour.
A group of guys were killing time.

blakitan, delnaja, riclopes, tcht, Cretense, john_c, papagolf21, plimrn, Ramy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

blakitan (1311) 2006-07-14 4:27

Hi Paolo,
Nice composition, but I guess it is too blurry. Monochromatic picture gives an effect like in shadow puppet show. Is this your intention?

Ben Lakitan

delnaja (7937) 2006-07-14 5:11

Hi Paolo,
nice scene and good monochromatic treatment. I like the blur and the work on the contrast.
Fred

bantonbuju (48844) 2006-07-14 5:41

a bit too much? a bit too abstract? i like the idea but then - i think there was a little bit too much,
ciao, my friend, j.

jinju (14265) 2006-07-14 6:25

I wont say too abstract, you know me Poalo:) I love abstract photos. I love when people push the envelope and you did that. Not sure about Sepia, I thinki it softens it too much, the mood I mean. I would like a straight, hard b/w especially with the pushed contrasts here.

riclopes (33137) 2006-07-14 10:00

Olá Paolo,
I sure enjoy to see the way the photos of your gallery are beeing tranformed to more alternative options. You have imagination and original ideas. May be I will get there, when I'll get to almost 400 photos...if I'll get there...
Anyway, I like the idea and I don't know if it's too much soften, or if the sepia would work better, but I sure like the abstract result. Here I would problably do several experiences and would ask for opinions with two alternatives in ws. Either way, I love this image!
Ciao,
Have a nice weekend,
Ricardo

siolaw (25882) 2006-07-14 10:12

Ciao Paolo!
The idea of non-places is well rendered here with that blur compo, B&W adding a mysterious touch to it
interesting
Laurent

tcht (7298) 2006-07-14 12:49

Hi Paolo,
Beautiful abstract pic! I like the blurr very much, it adds extra surrealism and atmosphere. A dramatic shot with beautiful lighting. Really good work. Bravo!
Regards,
Cheuk Hin

Cretense (57478) 2006-07-15 8:24

Hi Paolo!
This one (and all your last b&w work) is not just a photo, is pure art. A free ticket for a journey to hte limitless world of imagination. Non Places for sure (excellent title). Congratulations!
Ciao, Hercules

john_c (24635) 2006-07-15 12:07

Hi Paolo,
My first impression was the same as Jerzy's, especially as to the blur. Yet the shot grows on me, and now I am addicted. There is real power in the scene and a sense of desolation, timelessness, and indeed incoherence. The motif works so well and the figures could be from any age or time. So perhaps there have always been those non-places; its just that their forms have changed. Very fine work, Paolo.
John

s10001in (1487) 2006-07-15 20:00

Paolo.

Just beautiful.
Sepia is just working fine here.
Great shot buddy..
Well done.
TFS,
Shailendra

Izobretenik (1264) 2006-07-16 1:25

This series is just great Paolo. Thanks to you I ordered a few books by Marc Augé, and I can't wait to read them. The tones and the shadows give your picture a very weird atmosphere. Very funny to see how an image convey what you wanna express through it.

Izo

rosaline (0) 2006-07-16 4:46

Hi Paolo
Your series of sepias are really original in nature. This is a great context too. I like the dreamy aspect to this picture as it reminds me of a sixties film where such techniques were used. This is a good thing, as I like this effect, especially the blurring of the water in the foreground. Good thought provoking note too.
Cheers
Aubrey

dsidwell (9745) 2006-07-16 12:53

Hi Paolo. This look deliberately blurry, and so I ask myself why--and I think it works. The blurriness creates a specific mood that I find enjoyable and engaging. Nice composition, too.

papagolf21 (57003) 2006-07-17 3:46

Bonsoir Paolo,
Savoir sortir des sentiers battus, aller à la recherche de l'abstrait, faire travailler l'imaginaire et la réflexion, tels sont les éléments que je vois dans cette composition.
Il faut oser, et j'aime cela !
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

plimrn (19856) 2006-07-17 14:16

Hi Paolo,
The blurring and the sepia definity gives the feel of a non-place. Your note is very interesting although I have trouble defining any waterfront as a non-place.
Regards, Pat

alekpet (4659) 2006-07-17 18:02

Hi Paolo.

I am not sure why I like the blur, but I like it, looks like a dream. Actually the photo, apart from the blur, was carefully composed, the silhouettes work perfectly against the background. It IS a non-place. Now it is a known-place where my mind could wonder and relax.

take care, Aleks

rbcy1974 (20746) 2006-07-19 7:44

Hello Paolo
Very nice composition
I like the sepia tones and the noise it gives thsi image a fimlike aura
Well done
Regards
Daniel

Furachan (0) 2006-07-20 4:25

Fascinating series and concept, Paolo, all given your special deep sepia treatment. This one is near-abstract and emotionally charged to the max!
Lovely work,
Ciao,
Francis

enanonegro (641) 2006-08-13 18:03

Muy buena foto, un tema sencillo que gana fuerza con el uso del monocromo