The Happiest Place On Earth Photo

Photographer’s Note

I'm not sure if it's just me on this one, so your unrestrained opinions please!

Taken at Walt Disney World, this is the ticket counter. I really think that the ladie's expression at the cost of tickets is able to overcome the shortcomings in focus. I've also had it said that the back of the guy's head is too prominent in the shot. I think it still works because he is obviously looking up and thinking about the hole soon to open up in his wallet.

What do you think?

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Critiques | Translate

Homerhomer (4005) 2005-09-09 8:49

Since you ask Alex I will be pretty straight forward, it just doesn't do anything for me, I don't find any elements of the photo that would grab my attention, be it decisive moment, light or subject. Since the moment isn't there then the composition or colours may have grabbed my attention, but how much excitement can be created in the ticket line up? Not a fan of this one, but a big fan of you trying to explore all kinds of situations, am looking forward to more attempts.
Peter

[2] +

gringofil (0) 2005-09-09 9:23

I agree with Peter. The shot is very chaotic with all the elements being out there, but none connecting and actually making an image. Even her expression, which I don't associate with the high ticket prices (more like...get your butt over here so we can finally get into the park) does not work for me. The tilt is cool, though, as it gives a feeling of uneasiness and well as queasiness (after getting off that rollercoaster). Anyway, not my cup of tea, Alex.

erdna (5360) 2005-09-09 14:15

This is my comment Alex. The head and back of this guy is dead center of the photo and occupying approximately one fourth of the photo area for nothing. Not one of your best shot. I would have preferred just one guy at the foreground with the line at people showing at the counters.

Andre'

AnimeshRay (8886) 2005-09-09 17:15

Alex,
You are wasting your time going to these glitzy ritzy places...your Toronto and Philippines photos were truly vibrant. Whatever were you doing in Disney World??!!

tongapup (1574) 2005-09-09 21:52

i don't get it! i see why that woman's face is compelling, but the rest of it -- eh. it reminds me of being in line at disneyworld (or somewhere like that), gives me the same claustrophobic and overstimulated feeling (which is due i think to the tilt, the right angles, the bright colours, and that guy's damn head). i've been looking at it for a while now and i find it affecting in a negative way, which i guess is better than totally banal, but still it disappoints me because i know you can do such kickass stuff. also, if i didn't know your, um, pedigree, i would say "so some guy's camera goes off by accident while he's in line and he thinks he can actually post that?" so, you get the benefit of the doubt because i know you've got a good head on your (short) shoulders ;) but the photo doesn't stand alone for me.

p.s. hey, wanna come to LX pub night next friday?

ElSato (824) 2005-09-09 23:02

Alex,

I'm going to get contrary here and disagree with the crowd (what else is new?), but only a little.

First, I like this photo, although the down side is that the things that make me like it also make me unable to love it. Specifically: I like it the same way I like finding a photo someone's dropped in the street by accident, an unremarkable photo except that it's a moment in time of someone's life that happens to have dropped into my lap, sphinx-like, mute, and unreadable, with no obvious message or purpose. (As I write this, of course, I realize that this kind of praise may be a bigger dis than the criticism you've had so far!) Anyway, things like that I can like, but it's true I don't fall in love with them.

Second, on one specific thing I will definitely disagree with the criticism thus far, or at least with Animesh (though it's a friendly kind of disagreement, since he knows he's got my respect): don't listen to him! he's wrong! Go to Disney World! Take pictures there!

There is a plethora of photographs of "serious" and "appropriate" places and subjects all over TrekEarth. We need a little more trash. After all, we're here to "learn about the world through photography," right? And since when was Disney World (or television, or Hollywood, or Vegas, or any other shallow fantasy-land) not part of the world? Hell, for some people these things practically define the world, and that alone makes them something worth aiming your camera at. (Cory Doctorow set an entire novel in Disney World, which is not only a very good book but was nominated for a major literary prize to boot.)

Okay, for what it's worth, there's my little rant. We now take you back to your regularly scheduled program.

Lee

Isabelle (9014) 2005-09-10 6:30

hi Alex :)
lines are very challenging subject to photograph, because nothing is going on but wait.
imho one alternative would be to change the pov. in this case of your photo, the guy´s ears bother me, it would bother me less if he were wearing a hat for exemple.
besides, he is in the center of the image.
if we cover the right side of the image leaving only one of his ears and the colunm,´it´ll be more dinamic than the right side. does it make any sense?

erthmuffin (1537) 2005-09-12 19:04

i think the angle is interesting but this might have worked much better in black and white. as it is it doesn't do much for me.