****Sitting On Top Of The World**** Photo

Photographer’s Note

Oh, Mother Nature is hilarious. The day when this shot was taken saw a high of 81 degrees F, 24 hours later it was freezing and snow soon followed! Great...I love that. Just a tease. Just a short jab in the ribs...WOMEN!
I was ready, decked out in a t-shirt with only my camera in my hand...no baggage. No big, bulky jacket to bulge and make noise alerting unknowing prey of the impending shutter click. Like a hunter in his loin cloth (probably George's attire when out shooting eh?), I was unburdoned with the unnecessary tangle of personal flesh protection accompanying less than warm weather. Free to roam, free to shoot what ever crosses my path, free to stalk the questionable looking afro bedecked man/woman only to find out him/her disapeared into a fudge shop where there appeared to be no other exit...my patience did not pay off with a picture I could show you lovely folks.
Summer was here...skip right the hell over spring; who needs that crappy waste of days when you have overheated asphalt burned sandal wearing tourists to stalk and document for someones posterity...Fire up the grill, whip out the short skirts, mix up the margaritas, turn my glowing white flesh into a lobster-toned seathing mess of PAIN!!!! "Summertime and the livin' is easy!" NO...No, lets have three inches of wet snow...maybe I can take some bluetoned snow shots and mess with George a little...one must make the most of the situations he finds himself in.

Here...summertime in the USA...just kidding.

Chris

Scanned from a print. Using Ilford HP5 on this one...can't say I'm dissapointed in the outcome...tone wise.

Manamo, Flavia, AnimeshRay, sabyasachi1212, thea0211, wolf38, riclopes, syd1946, Clairedelune, singuanti, robertosalguero, vinicio, turkamerikali, bakes888, AiresSantos, cam, Elaine_Blath has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Manamo (3472) 2007-04-09 21:05

Hey Chris!
this one calls me! Really! I mean, there are stories that can be told. Only a pair of legs on top of a building. Are they really from the same person? Who nows? Just someone enjoying the sun on the roof? Maybe...Like you said, the tones are beautiful, contrasty enough, just enough punch. I like the light in the windows on the left that become more and more dark as it goes to the right. I'm not sure about the flag though...Well, it goes along with you story, maybe it's just that it takes so much space in the middle of the frame. And the small corner of sky...maybe a little more. I don't know, maybe just enough to reach the right upper corner. You know what I mean? Oh, and maybe crop the small dark corner in the lower right sections, just to clean it up a bit.
Have a nice one pal,
Marc

Dpbours (218) 2007-04-09 22:22

I'm not disappointed either! And a nice story going with it. Wonderful shot! That must be a good feeling, dangling your feet over the edge... Isn't that what we all want, being on the edge, dangling over a bit, the feeling of freedom on the edge of safety...

Greetings! Dennis

siolaw (25720) 2007-04-09 23:11

Hi Christopher,
Is the category 'Ceremony'... i thought it would be 'humorous' with these feet hanging on the building roof!! A fun capture(and note) anyway, with nice contrast and different shades of grey .. (B&W working well) The flag tells us in which country we stand.
Laurent

Polonaise (5634) 2007-04-09 23:32

LOOOOOOVE those blue toned snow shots, you know that...Don't you?
Your note...?
You should definitevely move to Canada and join the club of weather-frustrating Canucks...
I saw a guy, at the end of February in shorts and t-shirt, enjoying balmy environment.
The very next morning....-7 C. and heavy snow fall.
---------------------
Your picture Chris...Only one that is attracting our eyes while surfing the Gallery...
Further more...No disapointment whatsoever...
Killer shot, great note...

How much do I own you ? (:-))))

Stay cool, bro (It shouldn't be very difficult in your case !)
g.

Flavia (10202) 2007-04-10 0:04

Hi Chris,

Amazing shot. Funny and suggestive, I guess you didn't make any political assumption here but I could not avoid thinking... I love the title, the flag and them the free funny feet out there. What the heck they were doing there? B&W just perfect. I agree totaly with you, the tones are great. One of my favorites in your gallery!

Cheers,

Flavia
Flavia

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-04-10 1:57

Amazing photograph! Beautifully toned in black and white...a 'real' print!! The detail is stunning.

Wonder whether the two feet belong to two different persons!

Very nice note...loved it!

Angshu (33551) 2007-04-10 3:14

Hello Chris
Loving this one...the more I look at it. This is definitely a print stuff & you scan has done justice to it. The fluttering flag is good, but the legs are definitely the killer. You really captured a moment, my friend. Simply fantastic & what can I say about the note...as always fabulous!
Friendly Regards
Angshuman

anducina (8085) 2007-04-10 3:31

Very interesting low POV, light and grainy look. Impressive.

TFS,

Andreea

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2007-04-10 5:21

Hi Chris,
You and your witty homour and keen eye make an awesome combination. The tonal quality is fantastic.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

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wolf38 (12664) 2007-04-10 8:31

Hello Christopher. Like it seems have you humor and the view for the unusual. In the Thumbnail one cannot recognize yet, what shows the opened picture. A house front with an American flag and over the roof out-hanging feet. Very much astonishing. I must again say it, to something remind me your photos of the pictures of Robert Franck from America. It makes fun to regard this photo and read the text. Best regards, Wolfgang.

riclopes (32957) 2007-04-10 12:32

Great note. Great shot. And also interesting critics, Chris. It's allways enjoyable following the path of George ;-)
So, if you don't have a beach, you use the roof top of the buildings? Very interesting. I'm imagining a bird's eye view over the city in summertime: intead of roofs and terraces we see a sea of naked people :))) From this POV, instead of tiles, we see many, many legs and feet - I'm laughing, so this should be on the Humorous category :D We just have to be hunting in the streets to find special moments to capture, right? No need to be brave, approaching people in the theme "How close can you get?" - these legs are very far away and the picture really works! It's original, it's funny and it tells a story. Good title, excellent compo and really nice monochromatic tones.
Ric

syd1946 (17869) 2007-04-10 12:56

What's this Chris!One of the best I saw at TE.Once more a very nice story to explain somehow the photograph.But this is even an amazing shot without explains.Love the black and white and the superb graphism of the composition.An ideal "home" for the foot...

Best wishes friend,
Thomas

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-04-10 20:21

Isn't that what we all want, being on the edge, dangling over a bit, the feeling of freedom on the edge of safety...
No Dennis! It is not what I want! Just looking at the picture, and I have that disliked feeling of vertigo... Freedom of the summer, without those big parkas? Right! Good! (Though I should say, I love winter!) But, to be on the roof like that with the feet dangling? No way! ;)
Very interesting photo, Mr. Wallish. Very unusual sight. "On top of the World" kind of photo! ;) A good "portrait" of... feet!
There is "chance of flurries" for Friday, in my part of the world. How's that?
Claire

singuanti (15240) 2007-04-10 22:19

Hi Chris. The contrast you got here is awesome and you’re right about the tones being so nice. You're better off leaving in the perspective with a steep shooting angle like that. The scary thing is that I was able to follow your note just fine, lol! tfs Chris.

robertosalguero (2763) 2007-04-10 23:27

Chris I like two main subjects in this picture. The feet sticking out at the top and the flag waving under the wind. Good composition of this near summer time in USA. I like how the grey colour increases saturation from left to right and the angle of the wall. Good work Chris.

Roberto

hay_kes (28562) 2007-04-11 2:57

Hi Chris,
What a great POV and perspective.Very well B&W compo.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti

vinicio (22334) 2007-04-11 8:22

Funny image Christopher, the breaking view of the legs is very nice in this good B&W image, compliments for this idea.
Ciao
Vinicio

Budapestman (41576) 2007-04-11 9:35

Hi Christopher,
Splendid impression. This is a funny and talkative work. Superb observation and realization. Excellent composition and expressive title. Super. Thank you, nice days
George

tabora (13638) 2007-04-11 13:17

Bonsoir Chris,
Très second degré,et plein d'humour,une belle continuation dans ta série noir et blanc qui est superbe.
J'aime bein la perspective prise.
A+ Joseph

turkamerikali (4772) 2007-04-11 16:08

Hi Chris,
Excellent B&W photo my friend.
I like your composition,focus,sharpness,contrast,feet,flag,perspective and framing.TFS
Have a Great Week,
Tolga

jhm (82201) 2007-04-12 6:51

Hi Chris,

Funny and suggestive, I like the light in the windows on the left that become more and more dark as it goes to the right, with nice contrast and different shades of grey, but the feets above together with the flag gives a nice composition, thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

bakes888 (18101) 2007-04-14 5:36

Hi Chris. Yes MN can be a real tease at times, ask anyone that works outside. Excellent shot, full of mystery and drama. Who’s feet, who’s behind those dark windows?? Well composed and excellent handling of light and processing. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

AiresSantos (41866) 2007-04-16 3:47

Hi Chris,
Nice perspective and note here.
Amazing POV and frame. I like the balck and white format and how you managed the light
TFS and have a nice week
Aires

jinju (14265) 2007-04-16 20:53

Ahh thats a great one! Those legs arent really visible in the thumbnail so I was kinda thinking it was an rchitecture shot but the legs won me over. Unusual composition, cool moment.

cam (8880) 2007-04-23 8:37

Hi Chris.
Humorous,this one is.
Now a word of caution my friend.When you walk with priceless piece of junk around your neck,it is always better to keep your eyes on the ground,or else you will smash everything.
But rules are made to be broken,as they say,so for this time,I will close my eyes on this infraction.
The feet are making the photo.
You are creating pieces that are reflecting LIFE in AMERICA,very good ones.

Charles

hackman (151) 2007-05-04 15:09