In a Panic, Flee to Your Left or Right Photo

Photographer’s Note

No respiratory syndrome causing germs were gonna get past her multiple defences. And if they did she was calmly positioned near the emergency exits!

On my way home from SEAsia I had a 2 hour stop over in Japan. This was in the days of SARS. To tell you the truth I was excited for the photo opportunities! Unfortunately, people weren't as panicked as I had hoped and there were not too many on with masks. Though I did find this lady seated in the departure lounge waiting for her flight to leave.

This pic was taken in secret. I sat down in front of her and to her left and put my camera on my lap and snapped up the shot.

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Post-pro: Selective use of levels, curves, burn tool, and sharpening.

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Ooops!!! Just noticed that the head I removed near her bag (lower left) and filled with black is noticable!!! Because of the glare of daylight on my monitor as I was putting this together I didn't notice until now (it's later in the day). Please ignore and imagine that I had blended it in properly!!! hahahahaha!!!

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I have another pic from this location and of the same theme: I'm Watching Your Back

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Critiques | Translate

torben (3084) 2004-01-23 16:51

Her hands on the throat are the detail that makes this shot really good, and sort of sums up the total paranoia. Very good.

Edwin (2039) 2004-01-23 17:21

Balanced composition (the sign vs. the lady) and good choice of B/W. Somehow the sign and the lady complete eachother, it might be the hands near her neck that from another angle somehow resembles the arrows that point away from the middle.

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Guzman (577) 2004-01-23 18:12

Good composition Alex but very good use of contrast the black are extremely prominent, hands to the throat add to the concern she is obviously having about this outbreak unsure if either by adding blur or sharpness to the arrow sign this part of your capture might improve as I feel it seems to be neither, just idea does not detract from a well caught shot. " your update "bag black" does not effect story line here, well done

joso (1786) 2004-01-23 18:16

Neither the sign, nore the lady would "exist" just alone, they simple belong together, in this well balanced position.
The B/W gives dramatic to your SARS-report.
Very well seen and done, Alex.

JAF (0) 2004-01-24 2:40

Bonne photo ou les sentiments du sujet sont si visiblement contradictoires :
crainte de la contamination et
calme apparent de qui se croyant bien protegé toise la réalité d'un oeil torve , sans prendre la fuite a laquelle l'invite pourtant le pictogramme !

merpb (1970) 2004-01-24 3:33

Excellent shot Alex, so simple yet full of drama.
The placing of her hands is poweful in the vein of Dorothea Lange's famous shot of the "migrant mother" and great tones as well.

eelliott305 (776) 2004-01-24 13:42

One to make you think. Before reading your note I guessed this was taken in a hospital. B&W very effective. Well spotted and well titled.

joseelias (367) 2004-01-26 8:53

Good clear image and choice of BW.

In the previous the noise was correct as it was in the spirit of the paintings ("noisy"), but this one is "clear" as a "medical" photo should be. Also like the composition and the pont of view.

I still don't understand where the head was cut... So it's not that important.

erthmuffin (1537) 2004-07-28 13:08

good composition and tones. great capture with the sign!

bfly (5737) 2004-08-15 15:39

very good picture...her hands and her eyes and the sign you framed her can make out many stories if I did not read the notes..thanks..

vapours (7913) 2004-09-14 15:32

Once again youve captured the emotion of the situation just perfect and emphasised how serious the situation is/was.

Homerhomer (4005) 2004-11-03 17:42

Chocking because of the panic and not the desease. Good choice for black and white, I like how she stands out agains the black space, which itself ads alot of mistery to the image.
Good one.
Peter