The Front Loader Photo

Photographer’s Note

Just an ordinary street scene in the theatre district of Budapest one afternoon. This shot could never have been taken while I lived in Hungary--of course such a washing machine never existed under "communism", and even a low-quality one (never a dryer) was the luxury item of a select few, as many other objects... but then again, there was perhaps, on the other hand, a heightened sense of conviviality with one's neighbours and friends stoically enduring or satirizing the regime that was to finally exhale its final breath in 1989.

This wasn't a hip shot; I was sitting with a friend on the terrace of a cafe when we spotted the workers, thus having the advantage of the low point of view. Fortunately, the waitress was just standing there, so I clicked fast while she was observing the delivery.

Original colour version is in the WS.

broglia, isabela_sor, cherryripe, Brian, Dpbours, eleparc, AnimeshRay, brevbrev14, Mistral, luisafonso has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Moultipasseu (44) 2007-11-10 13:26

Hi

-mais c'est ma machine à laver- ;)

Une composition vraiment tres belle qui fait que notre oeil se balade sur l'ensemble de la photo.
J'adore aussi les contrastes que tu utilise
Jadore tout simplement
TFS

*aurélie*

cherryripe (18869) 2007-11-10 13:26

Hi Sarolta
Could this shot have been taken in many places ? I've never seen a washing machine being transported down a street like this :-)
Your low pov is superb with an excellent balance between the girl who frames the shot nicely and the men and their wahing machine. The timing was just perfect. Good contrasts too.
Regards
Nikki

StandAlone (185) 2007-11-10 13:28

Hi Sasa,
Very nice to have chosen b&w to present us this photo. The composition and sharpness, the tones are superb
Lv
Lynne

Brian (1) 2007-11-10 13:29

Hi Sasa,
Love the her face coming out of that top corner as she watches the delivery of a brand new washer. This would've taken me ten minutes to compose. Awesome work.

Brian

chpp (3960) 2007-11-10 13:52

Hi
great picture, it looks almost like and add for washer machine. great sharpness and exposure and very well composed
cheers
chris

markoci (3917) 2007-11-10 18:24

c'mon sasa, a washing machine a luxury? u can't be that old :)... surely you remember the hajdu energomat?

a nice b&w as usual, i like the waitress framing the shot.

p.s. never liked the front loaders :)

bantonbuju (48514) 2007-11-10 22:36

so the cafe tables must have been very low as you were on the level of her knees...:-))
good tempo - having in the frame both the waitress and the loading-team...
tc, j.

broglia (3341) 2007-11-11 0:47

Ha! And I work for the company that made that washing machine! But the waitress is the real star here, coupled with the low POV. I'm intrigued by the title though - is this also a reference to womens underwear I wonder! B&W the perfect choice. Best regards, Roberto

faubry (32277) 2007-11-11 2:03

helo Sasa, a very nice and natural street shot... i like how you have composed this photo with half woman at the left side... i like a lot, bravo
soon
francine

isabela_sor (42022) 2007-11-11 2:05

How do you get all those images??Wha about the low POV.????You are an incredible artist,dear Sasa
Your gallery is an important contribution on TE
Hugs

Dpbours (218) 2007-11-11 3:33

Hi Sasa,

Well, have to say that this time - and that isn't often with your photographs - I actually prefer the colour version! :-) There is a very pleasant contrast in the combination of colours and shadows.
Wonderful note you written there. Yes, I do fully see what you mean with the positive sides of that time - as I do understand the negative sides of our current time.

Nice one.

Enjoy your Sunday! Dennis

eleparc (24059) 2007-11-11 4:41

not an ordinary street scene Sasa! This is a masterpiece of a theatre set! The addition of the waitress is an absolute plus to this young handsome man pushing his washing machine;-) It is almost like this whole thing had been cleverly set up! A masterpice, no less!

Eric

Although the color version is also a gem, this b&w has more power!

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-11-11 8:41

Western consumerism's edge over Magyar sensibility! :-)
Nicely captured, the waitress' profile is wonderfully complete. I am surprised to see no distortion--perhaps you corrected?
This is one case where I wished to see the color version more than the bw. No value judgment here, just wanted see more.
:-)
Take care.
Animesh

aralda (1240) 2007-11-11 9:14

Great crop of the figure to the left, which goes well with the angle at which the buildings are shot and the dynamism of the carrying-the-washer action.
Great compo!
Raluca

bombilla (3402) 2007-11-11 11:55

All I can say, Sasa, is that this is one of the cleanest shots you've ever taken. Best, -Hugh

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-11-12 2:25

Hi Sasa, your note is really interesting to understand well the moment captured..
the time is perfect and the woman perfectly placed..
very good and original POV too

ciao!
Valeria

vapours (7913) 2007-11-12 4:39

A good documentary image Sarolta, where the meaning behind it is no doubt just as important as the image itself. A good relationship here between the young, care free girl and the two men at work.

Mistral (13690) 2007-11-12 13:07

Ciao Sasa,
your composition stand out! It's a perfect image and I always admire your works with everyday's life that claim much more skill and eye than just travel images.
A smile from starry Italy!
Luca

luisafonso (858) 2007-11-12 19:07

I love the color version. Why? Because the woman on the left looks like a mannequin. Is she made of wax or what? :) Would like to see some movement over the loading squad, but I guess the washing devil was too heavy for those guys. Great timing!

Polonaise (5634) 2007-11-13 14:07

One of the signs of being a good photographer is the capability of creating something very special, very unique out of
NOTHING… !!!
Or, to be more precise…
…of creating rich, baroque, photographic ornaments out of cotton/polypropylene 40/60% sweater, 220 volts washing machine, two movers, and a poster…

Sasa !
Your contribution of showing Budapest as the most charming city on the planet – can’t be denied…
It really is…
I’ve been there… I saw it
It really is…

yanseiler (20) 2008-01-07 12:33

I thought that I already critiqued this one, I love those framings with a giant looking at the action... The BW was the right choice I think, there are too many colors on the shirts...

vts_ch (2624) 2008-02-06 9:50 [Comment]

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