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Curiosity killed the cat


Curiosity killed the cat
Photo Information
Copyright: Dennis Bours (Dpbours) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2026 W: 540 N: 1866] (7564)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-10-15
Categories: Daily Life, Decisive Moment
Camera: Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom, Olympus 27-110 mm, 1:2.8 – 4.8, SanDisk Extreme III
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Northern Uganda
Theme(s): Portraits by Dennis (abroad) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-12 2:58
Viewed: 1772
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT – Anyone who has cats knows they tend to poke their feline noses everywhere. That could be dangerous...

The "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Titelman states: "An overly inquisitive person is likely to get hurt. Children are usually warned against curiosity."
In 1921, an alternative was used by (playwright) Eugene O’Neill: "Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back.."


The picture was taken in Northern Uganda, outside of the city of Gulu in the Pabo refugee camp. We were setting up play days in the camps to give those kids something else to do. In Dutch we use the word 'verstrooiing'. It differs from 'Distraction'. If you'd know the right word, let me know!

In Uganda back then curiosity could surely be deadly, though it didn't make these three kids any less curious when peeking into the car. Then again, thinking of Eugene O’Neill, we were there that day to ensure their satisfaction. ;-)

Hope you like it!


Technical note:
Original was colour. Only desaturated, resized and a frame around it. The colour version is posted as a workshop.


This photograph is part of my theme "Portraits by Dennis".

prezntime, Flavia, AmiBe, flory, dareco has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mondele: AfriqueDpbours 1 11-23 01:34
To KevRyan: You're right!Dpbours 1 07-23 07:08
To AmiBe: Smaller depth-of-focusDpbours 1 05-07 09:28
To flory: Feline nosesDpbours 1 05-05 03:47
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Dennis

Great Te photo and note. These three boys really are curious. Good expressions. Very sharp with good detial. Nice work.
Ben

L'Africa ci guarda!

Bravo bella foto.

Hello Dennis. An unusually expression-strong picture. One has really a bad feeling, if one sees these boys. The faces say everything. But: how you said already once, one should see the things optimistic and hope for improvements. Thank you for your journalistic photo. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Hello Dennis.
A great classic photo here. The alignment of the faces, with just the noses up evident, makes the composition. Also, the different expressions on each of the faces give a wonderful visual story to this sharp photograph.
Very well done,
Chris.

  • Great 
  • yso Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 254 W: 22 N: 100] (2270)
  • [2007-04-18 6:58]

Hi Dennis,
Very nice composition with so natural expression !
Regards,
Yves

  • Great 
  • Flavia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1762 W: 99 N: 1911] (8002)
  • [2007-04-23 15:40]

Hi Dennis,

B&W was definettly the right choice here. Nice timing to catch those beautifull curious eyes looking at the car window.

Cheers,

Flavia

  • Great 
  • ninaL Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1801 W: 244 N: 1906] (15939)
  • [2007-05-01 4:07]

Hi, Denis.
Very good composition.
Taken in a perfect moment.
Interesting scene and expressions of those boys. I like it.
Best regards. Grazyna.

  • Great 
  • AmiBe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2066 W: 370 N: 1681] (19512)
  • [2007-05-04 19:25]
  • [+]

Hi Dennis,
it's a real pleasure to look at these 3 curious faces.
The faces contrast well with the white car behind.
I wish to see a smaller depth of field but maybe not possible with this camera.
rgs

  • Great 
  • flory Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 850 W: 23 N: 985] (4561)
  • [2007-05-05 1:08]
  • [+]

ciao Dennis,
hm..interesting connection between the note and this pic..:)Balzac-"the curiosity is the mother of observation"..so much to said about their curiosity,especially in this country..hm..definetely,is a well choise for b&w,like their feline noses..:)when peeking into your car,makes a good composition!
nice day,
flory

  • Great 
  • ifanik Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1690 W: 53 N: 2686] (15278)
  • [2007-05-14 4:58]

Çé dennis
Thanks for the critique and i aggree for the distance
Very beautiful and strong photo
Bravo
WELL DONE
Nick

  • Great 
  • Glint Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 673 W: 6 N: 390] (1959)
  • [2007-05-23 18:16]

hello Dennis,
this is charming and engaging. Perhaps that is also the word you are looking for? you were not so much engaged in distracting the boys but engaged in engaging them (if you see what I mean).
regards
Bev

Hello Dennis: I totally missed this one and it's rather wonderful, not only to you control light and focus so well from inside your mini van but each one of those boys has a distinctly different expression. BW absolutely the right choice.
Goos stuff!
Francis

Hi Dennis, an interesting contrasts, secure in a nice car and outside the kids who obviously where not secure where they use to live, nice catch, too bad that you have this ugly minibus behind...
Yan

We would say diversionary activity......they were certainly diverted in this moment ;-)) ....a perfect title - there is so much to read in these three faces - a simple magic comes from this image Dennis.

There is a stronger crop to the top of the minibus I think - as the additional dark band at the top draws the eye to the overall pattern of the horizontal banding and away from the boys - do a screen scroll crop to see what i mean.

best wishes kev

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1762 W: 42 N: 790] (11231)
  • [2007-07-23 15:03]

Isn't this so typical! Great shot!

Bonsoir Dennis,
Très belle image. Bien cadrée et bien nette. Le choix du noir et blanc est parfait. Quelle performance d'avoir réuni ces trois expressions: la méfiance, l'espoir et l'interrogation. L'Afrique quoi! Bravo!
Philippe

I think they are great. Each has a different look in his eyes.......
gloria

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