Cannes

Photographer's Note

SLEEPING MACS — TRIBUTE TO STEVE JOBS

I was not happy with the earlier post of “Sleeping IMacs.” In 24 hours it had already been critiqued by ten friends, who were more gracious in their words than the image warranted. Accordingly, I decided to improve the image somewhat with Photoshop CS-4 and repost it. The text is virtually the same as before, except that I added the Postscript about Bill Phillips.

The Crystal Serenity was anchored in the French Riviera, off the coast of Cannes. Late at night I wandered into the computer lab where a roomful of 27" IMacs (68 cm), their screen savers in action, were fast asleep. The juxtaposition created an eye catching piece of abstract art, streaks of colors dancing to a quiet tune, but manifestly out of synch with each other.

The MacIntosh is my computer of choice, but at home I have a 24" IMac (61 cm), rather than the 27". In working on a manuscript, I can easily work on two pages at the same time, and I love it. In the Workshop, a complementary photograph is seen, with the backs, instead of the screens, thus the reverse sides rather than the obverse.

POSTSCRIPT. THE MAC VS THE PC

Fellow physicist, Leszek, remarked that he too preferred the Mac. Accordingly, I am adding this short story. After I started receiving royalties for a book a few years ago, I purchased a laptop, a 17" Mac Power Book. Then a friend sent me an essay by the great Italian writer Umberto Echo, who claimed, "Macs are the Catholics of the computer world, and the PCs are the Protestants. They can interpret things any way they like." I sent the essay to a friend, the Nobel Laureate Bill Phillips, who I knew also preferred Macs. Bill fired back, "When the girls went away to college, we sat them down and admonished them. "Date within the religion. Stay away from boys using PCs."

A TRIBUTE TO STEVE JOBS

Just a few days after I posted this photo, on October 5, 2011, the visionary Co-Founder of the Apple Corporation, passed away. I just posted a blog in my series at National Geographic in Tribute to Steve Jobs. I would welcome comments there with the international flavor offered by members of Trekearth.

jhm, CLODO, Sonata11, limielski, nobuikehonda, jlbrthnn, Vasa, edge, worldcitizen, RhodieIke, danos, humayun, marcan44, Kielia, paololg, patdeph, bukitgolfb301, bebbetto, Graal, sacavem, jafadabret, nikkitta, delpeoples, s_lush, Schnappilic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

agulberk (3790) 2011-09-30 19:12

Sevgili Bülent Hocam
Çok hoş ve ilginç bir çekim olmuş. Bilgisayarların herbirindeki ekran koruyucuların farklı soyut desenleri de çok ilginç ve hoş bir görüntü. Elinize Sağlık. Güzel bir çalışma.Bütünsel olarak renk harmonisi ve uyumu harika olmuş. Çok beğendim. Tebrikler...
Türkiyeden Selam Ve Sevgiler...

Suppiluliuma (3841) 2011-09-30 21:45

The pleasure is our's Sir.:-)

The reflection being taken care of, this one looks more charming.

Sevgilerimle,

Erdem

danyy (0) 2011-10-01 0:16

Bonjour Bulent,
très graphique comme réalisation, moderne, abstraite, en tous cas bien pensé et originale avec une pointe d'audace, un sujet qui n'échappe pas aux règles de Trek Earth.
Un cadrage qui englobe parfaitement l'essentiel.
Amitiés.
Daniel.

jhm (122314) 2011-10-01 0:42

Dear Bulent,

I've the first picture not seen, or I remember these not.
You know picture are subjective elements, all eyes look at with other ideas, the photographer self is the the artist and he have to are work find excellent, this is very important, other people can give a better idea, and help to more perfection.
I find generally your work artistic excellent brought, I see these picture as a modern painting.
Composition and colors are pleasant.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Bluejeans (64211) 2011-10-01 2:24

Ola Bulente ,
Já vi que deste uma melhorada na tua foto :) , sem duvida que ficou muito melhor ,gostei do efeito visual das lindas nos monitores , bom WS , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

CLODO (24672) 2011-10-01 2:33

Hi Bulent

A real improvement in your picture, now we can focus really on the subject!
this is TE world to exchange informations to try to improve pictures posted.
Greetings
CLODO

Sonata11 (28209) 2011-10-01 10:39

Hello Bulent,
I'm glad that you did, because this is a very interesting shot of the computer room. The patterns of screensaver on monitors looks great, the POV, colors, sharpness, super clarity of colorful lines are fantastic. Wonderful picture. I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing and informative note. Thanks for comment.
All the best and have a nice WE,
Barbara

limielski (1370) 2011-10-01 10:51

Hi Bulent!

First, I would like to thank you for the postscript. It's nice of you :-)
This version of your shot is really better than the previous one, though both versions are very good in my opinion. A framing and a cropping are better, here.

Warm regards,
Leszek

Urs (11722) 2011-10-01 17:40

Hi Bulent

Following your note I checked the sleeping macs out a second time. It certainly was timely to add a postscript about Bill Phillips. Yes I can see the improvements, what certainly is good. For me this shot always was a documentary feature, what is different then a 100% photo feature. What counts is the documentary value what you have boosted by adding the postscript. You did a great job paying homage to one of the IT pioneers.

Warm regards
Urs

nobuikehonda (3846) 2011-10-01 20:36

Hello Professor Atalay,

I find both images, the original and reposted one equally intriguing. I see that in the original image there was a slight glare on one of the Macs. But the perfection only exists in nature. I see that you are perfectionist as you must be as a scientist. The image is very surreal as all the Macs are presented to us like living creatures. In an attempt to improve upon the original image, you have decided to repost the image. To me, what outshines the rest, which includes the quality of the newly presented image itself, is in your intention to correct what has not been up to your standard. I find your intention most admirable. In your postscript, you have also duly noted all the people who have participated in your original image; here again I find your personality most estimable. We often fail to examine what is not presented to us as a part of an image. You present to us a good example of what photography could be. The true value of this posting lies in its process of your thought and your thoughtfulness.

With my very best regards,
Have a pleasant and restful Sunday, professor
Nobu.

jlbrthnn (79773) 2011-10-02 1:59

Hello Bulent,
I greet your very good idea. The image is unusual, spectacular, and very pleasant to look at. The framing and the realization are excellent. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Vasa (15970) 2011-10-02 8:35

Dear Bulent,

you are original with your subject and skill in realization. Clever idea and approach to your life activities. It is you Bulent, big master. All compliments and warm regards,

Branko

edge (6068) 2011-10-02 9:00

Hello Bulent, I would have to confess without the title, I would be in a quandary as to what this shot represented. Splendid creativity here, albeit your notes may have surpassed the photo. I had never heard of the Catholic/Protestant comparison. What a symbolic allegory. Ha ha. I must confess that I have PC desktop and laptop. Significantly, I also have Apple stock purchased several years ago, so I am certainly not anti-Cupertino products. Our daughter-in-law teaches in California public schools and the Mac is the choice of the system there.

But back to your photo, I believe this photo is another side of the fence and the other photo was just as interesting.

I now remember you from previous postings, I have been away on a sabbatical for the past year and am just starting to post again. I spent 14 years at Portland State University from 1976 to 1990 and I think we discussed several faculty that you may have known. Two of my best friends are Nohad Toulan and Chik Erzurumlu. We still see them when we make our sojourns to Portland.

worldcitizen (4848) 2011-10-02 13:26

Hello Bulent,
I do like the reposted version of this photo. Of course I had already seen the photo when you recently e-mailed it to me. Now that I look at it again to critique, the first thing that comes to mind is that we are seeing the "dreams" of these sleeping IMacs! Maybe all of these colorful lines are the evidence of IMac REM; they are definitely "asleep", so why not make them a bit more human. :-) It is a nice idea for an original photo.

RhodieIke (9207) 2011-10-02 21:55

Hi Bulent, An insight in to your life in the classroom, super colours, light and I love the small inclusion of the carpet. Love it, Well done, Trust you are well, Cheers Iain.

anokutan (15097) 2011-10-03 5:20

Bülent bey merhaba,
Ancak bakan değil gören gözlerin fark edebileceği bir durum.Çok güzel bir sunum.Grafik etki nefis.Tebrikler.

danos (73896) 2011-10-03 11:00

Hello Bullent,
i'm laughing loudly about Umberto Echo and Bill Phillips said about Macs.Just send to my son who works in Microsft your note and waiting for his answear.
Excellent the colourful graphics of the screens,as creating a strange and original theme for a photo,with the presentation to be great.

Regards,danos

emka (57992) 2011-10-03 13:47

Hi Bulent,

I like this composition much more, without the ceiling. Funny patterns of these screen savers. Are they their dreams? I do not like Mac, I am used to PC, also Eryk uses PC but not Windows - he prefers Linux. Umberto Eco wrote about the The Holy War: Mac vs. DOS, in 1994. It reminds me another Holy War, here, on TE - Canon vs. Nikon users.

Warm regards

Malgo

Warm regards

Malgo

humayun (2909) 2011-10-04 4:04

Hello dear.......
nice pov and good work.....
nice colors...........
timing is good also...........
weldon..........
Tfs...........

marcan44 (6223) 2011-10-05 5:41

Ciao Bulent,
I had not seen the previous post.
I must say that I really like this shot and even the title.
We understand the iMacs are asleep because all Monitor are running the screen saver.
The abstract composition with these colored lines is well designed and executed.
compliments
Have a nice day
Mario

Kielia (20411) 2011-10-05 5:44

Dear Bulent,
a wonderful presentation of these fascinating “machines”, very well composed and taken from an excellent POV. I also read your interesting note with pleasure. This is a remarkable photo in the best spirit of this site. Thanks for sharing!
Warm regards
Harriet

paololg (31442) 2011-10-05 11:25

Fantastic photo, dear Bulent, your good sense of observation has hit again, getting an interesting picture of "computer art", almost psychedelic and hypnotic. Pleasant also the title, that humanizes these calculating machines, like the man has always tried to humanize the robots. After the industrial revolution the '800, man has always tried to build machines that resemble the human race. We could imagine that these Macs are sleeping, and that their monitors make us see their dreams :-)
Excellent work, dear friend, original and creative.
BRAVO!
Ciao, have a nice Thursday!
Paolo

patdeph (35738) 2011-10-06 12:38

hello Bulent
i am a little bit surprised by seing the picture and the date when you have post it. Today Steve Jobs is dead, and today,I see your picture.And this is an excellent picture.I like the repetition of computers with their graphic colors. This is a graphic shot,very very well done, he would be happy to see it.
Regards
Pascale

fabianoleite (9014) 2011-10-06 19:17

Very creative scene, taken out from an ordinary typical office day. Great perception, my friend, I liked it, congratulations!

bukitgolfb301 (30023) 2011-10-08 5:31

Hi my dear Bulent

Sorry for my late reaction as always, as I have been so busy this week. Yes this is so amazing and fantastic shot, reflecting with your sophisticated sense.
Thanks for sharing with your finest work and have a good Saturday, Best regrads.

Takero from a comfortable weather in Tokyo

ChrisJ (86766) 2011-10-09 3:20

Hi Bulent

A very nice gesture on your part. My sister & brother in law swear by Apple Macs & they are/were in the field of graphic art & printing. Nice repetition & colour. Tfs!

bebbetto (12) 2011-10-09 10:02

Hi Bulent.
Due tribute, to a great man. Bravo.
The picture is very well done and original

Graal (88784) 2011-10-09 10:08

Hi Bulent,
sad information about Steve Jobs. Good note with links. Theme and post in NG are interesting also. Photo very well done and very nice.
Have a nice evening.
Aleksander

sacavem (18566) 2011-10-12 9:01

Olá Bulent,

Excellent tribute to this big man...great visionary.

I do not give points to photos of tribute.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

jafadabret (56497) 2011-10-12 23:43

Bonjour Bulent,
Très bel hommage à cet homme qui a révolutionné la planète. On est tous un peu orphelins même si on utilise un PC puisque c'est l'homme qui a été à l'origine de beaucoup de progrès dans le domaine de l'informatique.
Amicalement
Jacques

nikkitta (5844) 2011-10-15 19:58

Hola Bulent,

I saw for sure the previous capture, remember that the differences "actions" of the screen savers called my attention
If this is different, may it be cropped, I imagine
Anyway a creative capture with also a creative title

Steve Jobs what a genius of imagination and good taste
Deserved tribute
TFS

Maria
Just read for the first time your curriculum, quite impressed

pablominto (53744) 2011-10-16 0:05

Hello Bulent,

An interesting idea, creative and artistic!
And a fine suitable tribute to a great man...
May he rest in peace!

Greetings,
Pablo -

delpeoples (44888) 2011-10-17 4:59

Merhaba dear Bulent

Oh this one's given me a laugh, Protestants and Catholics, PCs and Macs, Canon and Nikon, and here in Australia Ford motor cars and Holdens. it is all really like a religion. A very fine, funny and entertaining tribute in duet to this genius. Thanks for sharing it. Funny though, I never picked you for a Mac Man :)

Warmest regards
Lisa

halikarnas (5625) 2011-10-20 8:27

Bülent Bey,
Son derece değişik bir fotoğraf,harika düşünçe,
Tebrikler,
Ataman

zoomer (3580) 2011-11-12 17:14

Greetings,to shoot these screen savers was a great idea.They produce pleasant abstracts relentlessly some interesting enough to be posted by themselves.This is mathematics for a specific purpose yet beyond that it stimulates the mind to find totally different interpretations.Friendly regards,Wolf.

s_lush (15580) 2011-11-20 14:38

Hello Bulent,
This photo surely is a good example of using modern information technologies for getting an interesting and highly aesthetic result in photography. An excellent idea, which was realized by you perfectly well!
Best regards,
Sergiy

aliabazari (10105) 2012-02-16 23:31

Hi ...
Good composition and beautiful and lovely. Is a good sign.
With respect

Schnappilic (7895) 2012-03-06 8:55

Hello Bulent,

Great tribute to Steve Jobs. His inventions are used by billions of people every day.

All the best,

Ovidiu