Reflections Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

A trip by junior high school students to the University of Aizu, as reflected through a university building window.

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Critiques | Translate

sam (897) 2002-12-13 0:13

This is a perfect reflection. It blends almost seamlessly with the hallway. The result is far more interesting than if you had captured a straight shot of kids walking down a school corridor. The haircuts, uniforms and body language really say "Japan" to me. Very well seen. Great travel shot.

Porteplume (3257) 2003-02-20 17:03

Quite different! Very lovely reflection and it looks like "an old print" because of the soft colours...

evilren (1395) 2003-07-20 10:14

wow!! wonderful shot..I absolutely admire it.
tone is great and so is the grain effect.

Skorj (581) 2003-07-23 8:35

This is a great effect, and good social commentary too. Very well presented.

(I might crop to the top of the lockers though to further focus on the students.)

TheUnknown (277) 2003-07-25 22:51

Great shot! The reflection really adds an "eerie" effect to the scene. I agree that cropping a little off the top might help.

ishaq (13) 2003-09-01 8:13

very nice,looks like ghostly reflections...

ornis (1271) 2003-09-01 8:59

These reflected students fading away from the dark to the clear part of the reflected building is a fantastic image. It's a very special shot, quiet and soft, with serious faces looking down, giving an overall impression of respect and humility. Could perhaps have been the title.

Luko (13902) 2003-10-04 15:26

I've always been interested in the relationships between photography and time, as I wrote in a somehow pedantic and boring post in the forum it was for me the essence of photography.

While the others are passing with a humble attitude not daring to look at themselves, one student faces what might be her own future, but at the time you look at photograph this is already her past. Very fascinating question, near to metaphysics...

the overall compo is working great with sharp vertical lines figuring the time being while students are like ghosts of the past... or the future...

This shot questions me, that's the most important effect I expect from an image. That's not about Japan or travel, it's timeless and placeless.

Excellent image.

[4]

maciekda (19599) 2003-10-21 6:47

for me those kids look like ghosts visiting their old school... a bit scary...

Incerdible picture

Kenny10pin (19301) 2003-11-07 7:53

Great picture, well done, they look like they are going to their next class.

battousai (827) 2004-02-13 17:56

Wow! I really like this one! These reflections look like ghosts. It makes me think about Japanese school system and its extremely hard examinations... A great photo indeed!

Proxilva (2157) 2004-04-06 10:54

amazing it is almost like having "the six sense" the browntone work perfectly

Mrg (823) 2004-04-25 14:16

Strange one Adam..looks like a ghost movie. Very well seen,very original.I like this image.

erthmuffin (1537) 2004-05-05 19:39

very surreal picture...awesome!

MiguelP (14338) 2004-08-26 17:02

I like when photos reach to create new dimensions. Nooooo, I´m not talking about ghost. I mean the fact to capture the REAL world from unusual perspectives like the one you achive in this picture. Congratulations from Madrid.

retesh_gondal (173) 2004-11-05 11:14

creativity personified..!! Absolutely amazing shot...perfect reflection, and light colours and shades are giving the image the required classical look and feel...amazing composition...

tongapup (1574) 2005-01-07 18:07

This is just beautiful. The uniformity of the lockers echoes the uniformity of the... well... uniforms! Agree with comment about cropping more from the top -- find the vertical stripes detract a bit. But in any case, amazing.

charlysquare (97) 2005-04-11 5:47

Very nice and strange, they look like ghosts of the past..

Furachan (0) 2005-09-04 3:26

Hello Adam,
I saw this great parade of Fukushima ghosts literally flash by me a while back and made a note to comment. This is quite simply one of the keystone photos in all of TE. No matter what you intended at the time, it is a very deep, very HEAVY image, especially for those of us who live or have lived here and know the militirization of society first hand but also the annual rites at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and how school children are always used or figure in those...
I just wanted to add my 02 cents to the pile and say: well done on an incredible, indelible image. First rate!
All the best,
Francis

Meloe (99) 2005-10-14 12:56

Very touching about the contrast of the japanese society: the fragility on one side and the obligation the fit in on the other... very sensitive! Well done!

bubujuju (1160) 2005-12-01 5:39 [Comment]

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yanseiler (20) 2006-05-18 4:40

Hi Adam, that's interesting, looks like ghosts...might be a bit more contrasted.
Kindly
Yan

iGirl (1223) 2006-06-25 9:05

Hi Adam, nice shot, I like the repetition of shapes, both of the lockers and of the kids in their uniforms. Very well-done! Thanks for sharing!
Erin

lucaq8 (63) 2008-05-27 8:52

I love this picture. It's look as an old school year already in the past.

The uniform of the students is essential in this picture.
Well done!