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Ode to "Labyrinth of Solitude"


Ode to
Photo Information
Copyright: Prantik Mazumder (prantik) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 38 N: 221] (1124)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-26
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS-350D, 17-40 f/4 L USM Canon
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Four days back in Mexico [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-10-09 9:06
Viewed: 807
Points: 11
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
"Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone." - Octavio Paz, from Labyrinth of Solitude

Street-bazaar on Calle de Moneda where hawkers, pedestrians, and mannequins vie for space and attention.


Theme: Four days back in Mexico
----------------------
"Mexico is naturally surreal"
--- Andre Breton

Well, I could not resist the force. So, over the Memorial day long weekend a friend of mine and I took another trip to Mexico. I only had 5 days and wanted to spend time in both Mexico city and Oaxaca. Arrived in Mexico City on Thursday afternoon (May 24th). Walked around the city that afternoon and the whole Friday. Took the midnight bus to Oaxaca. It's a fabulous option as you sleep and commute at the same time without wasting any time. Reached Oaxaca at 7 am Saturday. Spent the whole Saturday and Sunday in Oaxaca and the neighbouring villages, and took the midnight bus back to Mexico City on Sunday.Back in Mexico City on Monday morning 7 am. Took another bus to Puebla for the day and back to Mexico City that night. We were exhausted, but the Pueblano mole is definitely worth the trip. Back in the US on Tuesday (May 30th).
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Polonaise: I was waiting for youprantik 9 10-13 13:58
To bombilla: Profundoprantik 3 10-09 17:45
To bombilla: beautifully imperfect.Polonaise 11 10-09 15:52
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Critiques [Translate]

Love the Copa America bikini on the mannequin, which to me seems to be the subject of the shot. The colors of the other objects (the wall, the lady in red sweater, etc...) in the shot match up well with the yellow, red and blue colors of CA.

Dear Prantik...
Give yourself a big surprise.
Go back to your PP software and place your photo on a black background...Of any size, any shape and style - black background !!!
You'll notice right away how incredibly succulent and juicy and color deep this photo will be...
How beautifully this black corsette of a mannequin will cooperate with the black outside field.
How the depth of the reds will become real red !!! (Hey …What’s the better match for reds and yellows than blacks ???).
(That’s why they present flowers on a black, not the white background, for roses’ sake !!!)
Right now the burnt whites of the mannequin are burning even more our eyes…
And what did you do dear pal, to prevent this?
You added to that over exposed white …MORE WHITE !!!

Think again….and again…and again…
I know you won’t change anything right now out of empty ambition ( or hurt ego – if you will), but in the near future you will start to understand some simple logics of presentation…
That would be the time when you stretched out your hand with the middle finger straight up in the air and shout out this so popular phrase:

EUREKA !!!

For now, just give yourself a present…
Sooth yourself with the warmth of your somehow interesting photo surrounded by that dark, deep feeling of being unique.

How about a red background, Prantik? ;)

Speaking of that, though, have you ever seen "Profundo Carmesí" or any of the films of the Mexican director Arturo Ripstein? This frame reminds me of his work, a kind of exposed and obsessive pain and tawdriness, garish and bordering on horrible, but extremely human, frail and beautifully imperfect. Great photo. One of your best, if we must talk about comparisons. Chau, -Hugh

(How about a polka-dot frame!)

Reading into the comments, I cannot help bursting into laughter; yes, polka-dot! :)))
A daring colour work from Mexico, and one again that arrests me, Prantik, no matter (or precisely because of?)how burnt by the sun the whites are, how saturated these colours are among which the blind woman is walking, tentatively, with her white stick... strong and daring, a great work again. A strong, gutsy, powerful dreamwork.
sasa

hello Prantik,

Yes, i like that one very much ! :)
the "prantik-touch" is there !!
also one with a lot of humor.
greetings, inn

Hi Prantik, all your great style and eye in this image...
the contrast is strong, and the scene reminds me to a film frame...
fantastic the woman captured in BG, the game of red..
the position of the people is perfect to tell a story..

I WANT A POLKA FRAME TOO!!! :)))
ciao!
Valeria

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