War of the Worlds Photo

Photographer’s Note

Well, it has been a year. A year here on TE...to sum it up, it has been a war between me and technology. See, me and technology don't get along very well. I have my cd player, but I also have a Victrola. I have a TV, but I love books much more. I don't mind when the power goes out...especially in the winter; I love to cook on my wood burning stove.

I bought a digital camera and a computer to store all of my photos...that's the only reason I bought my computer...BUT...here I am, devoting large amounts of my time typing into this glowing screen and conversing with friends that appear to me as 1's and 0's with a soul. Yet, even as I progress with the finest in plastic box arithmatic, I have put down the digital camera and picked up film and wet printing. As I type this note, I notice the stains from chemicals on my fingernails. Yes, yes...i'm supposed to use tongs...but, I kinda like the feel of the chemicals.
Even as I spend hours locked in my bathroom inhaling toxic (?) fumes, I wait for the prints to dry then scan them into the computer so my friends can see my mistakes and wobbles...and the very few accomplishments.
Among the few accomplishments is finding this site and opening my eyes to the world. If not for you, my friends, I would never have opened up to the surrounding lives that I so long have ignored. I spend time meeting people and sometimes I take a photo...well, maybe in quantity it is vice versa...but not in quality.
So I continue to battle against the march of time if only so I can click the shutter fast enough...just in time to show the way it was. I still look at all of the technology and wonder if it will look quaint in the years ahead...I'm sure it will. I'm sure I will look quaint in the years ahead...but I can rely on technolgy to make myself over...much like the Jetsons.
So here's to the love affair between George and Rosie.

A few (many) people have made quite a difference for me on this site. Some have come and some have gone...some are still around since the beginning.
To all of you, my friends, thank you.
Polonaise
Goodwill
Angshu
Designsoul
Clairedelune
Sabyasachi
Arjun Das
Parbo
Dragonheart
Hay Kes
Animeshray
PJE
Manamo
KevRyan
Furachon
Jinju
Inasiajones
Syd1946
Atus
Rosaline
Danielswalsh
Robertosalguero
Vinicio
Click3
Ahmetgedikli

Are you F&%ing insane...I can't list all the people...it got really hard. Please forgive me if I have missed typing your name abouve...you know who you are. Also, please forgive me if I've misspelled your name (screen name).

Thanks.

Chris.

InasiaJones, robertosalguero, ribeiroantonio, AiresSantos, Clairedelune, singuanti, tigra, Angshu, KevRyan, bakes888, faubry has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

InasiaJones (20038) 2007-07-15 21:11

Hi my binary friend,

Because of you, TE will have to change is motto... From now on, it should be "Learning about the world through photography and Chris notes".

Again, you’ve made me laugh, you’ve made me think. As technology always infiltrates among us, a little bit more each days, we do not suspect how much we are already cyborgs. Tomorrow, we will carry on I-Belt, oxygen collectors and communication mouth-piece, but until then, it' s good to know you still have chemical stains on your fingernails.

I won’t elaborate too much on the technical part of your photo, because I think it’s all good up there, I mean the light, the contrasts and the perspective that leads us into the picture. More than that, the quality of your photo is all on the "interaction", between the man and the machine.

Coming out of the 7Eleven, with his USA Today and his cup of coffee, this gentleman wasn’t expecting to meet a robot. Oh! Sure, he have seen plenty on TV and this one remind him the kind of device police forces use to detonate bombs. But as he slowly loose the energy he use to have, he’s wondering how such a machine could help him do his thing. After all, it probably move faster than him and it got an arm, so it would be very practical to send the machine to get his coffee at the 7/11...

Since the Flinstones and long before the Jetsons, humans have always tried to figure out ways to replace our everyday move by robots, to go faster and to avoid repeating the same gestures. Fortunately, they didn’t invent cameras that will create photos for us; we still have to move our ass outside and look at the world around us, in order to observ and reveal the world we are living in.

So this photo is not about paradox between technology and human spirit, about old age man and new technology. It’s about the continuous blend between both, the quest to integrate bolts and laser to our bones and eyes.

Chris, I wish to let you know that I truly enjoy your presence on TE. You and the names you’ve listed all contribute to open my eyes, to make me reconsidering what I take for granted. Congratulations for your first year. Hope you’ll stay in the boat for long.

Cheers!

André

[3] +

robertosalguero (2763) 2007-07-15 21:33

I'll give 10 out of 10 for the note. Well thought and well written. I do think your notes are very interesting to read. Expelling your thoughts for us to know more of the inner Chris. I appreciate seeing my name on your list. It makes me think about the people and things I have learned while spending countless hours in this website. Technology has changed our lives forever, and will continue changings forever, however, sometimes, we long for the good, old times when a simpler life was the norm. Great Note Chris!...About the picture. Very nice black and white image. I like the emphasis in technology and the contrast it creates with the dual colours. Thanks Chris :-)

Roberto

[2]

Atousa (3434) 2007-07-15 21:40

Salam,
By seeing this shot , I would like to wish peace for all "Worlds" and see this killing tools only in exhibitions !and just like the old man of the image , nodding " what a bad world we HAD!".

Regards,
Atousa

ribeiroantonio (21885) 2007-07-15 23:57

Congratulations for your first year which I hope will the first of many more. And, thanks for the good work you have been showing all along. Photos like today’s are rare on TE and it is always a great pleasure to acknowledge their presence. Well done.
Antonio

[2]

wolf38 (12712) 2007-07-16 0:02

Hello Christopher. I am astonished at which you discover everything with your walks. And I am astonished likewise at as you with the medium of the photography and the technology generally argues. However: Your b&w photos deviate again and again from the general trend and are interesting and worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

[2]

Dpbours (218) 2007-07-16 1:56

Chris,

That is just a wonderful note. Even without any picture you would have gotten 10 points for that one. And you are so right.

Looking at your picture, how strange!! To me, that's a bomb-squad robot to disarm bombs. Normally used in airport terminals etc. Haha, and one man standing next to it. The whole emptiness around him makes it so surreal. Like he accidentally did not see all the red/white tape and just walked passed the guys of the bomb-squad... Then again, you are pretty close to that robot as well... Hope you didn't step over too much red/white tape for this one!

Greetings from Indonesia,
Dennis

[2]

AiresSantos (41920) 2007-07-16 3:52

Hi Chris,
Very interesting this black and white shot.
Excellent quality and POV
My best Regards,
Aires

PS - Congratulations for this first year on TE

Polonaise (5634) 2007-07-16 7:39

You have no idea how much of a trauma your posts can cause to an unprepared brain…To an untrained in process of thinking brain, that is…
I was ready to write some of my very own smartzie-partzie about the photo, when for some most idiotic and not fully controlled motions, I started to read your note …
And my vision is starting rapidly getting better…
What the hell I need an optometrist for…?
I see the details I've never seen before in this picture…
I see the shades and bright spots of a human brain I was not quite aware about…
I see the man's silhouette in a completely new light…
I see his cane differently than I saw it the very first time…
His arched back, his head in that very special angle to see 'it' better…
I've learned…!!!
I, the Polonaise…I've learned…
It proves one thing:
Yes…You can teach an old dog the new tricks in life…
You did.. You just did it, Chris…

g.

[2] +

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-07-16 18:14

Chris!
Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you.... Erh... well...
I will ask you the question George asked me when I celebrated my first year in TE:
How is it to be one year on TE, and stay perfectly sane?
Mmmm, I am curious to have YOUR answer. Me, I told him that I was not perfectly sane... :)
Hey! What a surprise to see my name here! And correctly spelled at that! Thanks dear! I'll drink to that!
Now! Your photo! A war? A love affair? Between a man and a machine? A man and a robot? A man and a computer? A man and a camera? I am glad that you are not totally at war with technology. That way, we can still have a bit of you and some of your photos. And your incredibly well-turned notes (you know, these kinds of notes that I am not always sure I understand well but that I always read from the first words til the last with great pleasure?) It is good to have you around Chris!
Cheers!
Claire

[2] +

PJE (19405) 2007-07-16 18:20

Well thank you for getting my screen name correct Chris. Yes it has been a while since we exchanged critiques. I am honored to be included in your select list too. Perhaps because I am insane at times like you in your outlook on life. Just kidding.

To comply with the critique guidlines I will say I like this photo in black and white. The robot should give this man some entertainment by grabbing his coffee cup from him to amuse his attention.
Excellent work you do in writing your thoughts down Chris. I too have felt I needed the time out from trek to enjoy the outdoors and discover new sights and places to see. One only brings something to trek to share when he has spent lots of time in the world seeing things that are fresh for inspiration and new perspective. Nice to have you back.

Cheers Paul

[2]

singuanti (15240) 2007-07-16 19:36

Hey Chris. Happy birthday! I'm glad you're having a blast with your dark room processing. I wonder how much work you would do on a picture like this in Photoshop after doing your scanning. It doesn't look like to me this needed much PP. tfs Chris.

tigra (2966) 2007-07-16 20:52

Hi Chris
Impressive message, really. I can understand your feelings.. Thanks for you (and all the others) I can't leave TE. It's the place where I'm not only showing my pictures, but also have an opportunity to see the world around from different angles and points of view. And it's really important for me...
Thank you
Katia

hay_kes (28562) 2007-07-16 22:38

Hi Chris,
What an amazing black and white picture, excellent POV and perspective.Perfect details, nice shadow and light.TFS.
Warm regards.

hAyAti

goodwill (4029) 2007-07-17 7:00

Yeah Chris.......one fabulous year on TE...starting from 18/07/2006 to 17/07/2007.
To the man with the "eye of precsion" and "authority on the language", this portal is incomplete without your presene. You have taught so many members, including me throught your creativity, both in terms or shots and notes.
Yeah I mean creativity.......and this word is synonymous with Chris.
Down the memory lane, I remeber your shot
Don't ever let go....and the Coronation.....the Fleeting......they show the real character of the man you are....your warmth, your observation and your eye of the precison.
Its an honour to say that we are in that era of photography in which Chris is "Krish".
Hugs Brother for the first anneversary......and I am jumping with joy to see my name too in the notes.
Yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Warm Regards
Rajeev

Angshu (33585) 2007-07-17 20:59

Dear Chris
I'm touched..deeply, in seeing my name in your list. Yes, it's a privilege to have you as a friend in this webworld. Hope we'll meet someday. I'm like you in a lot of ways with the love of books & good ol' music on vinyl. I love films but do not have the technology to go further than just clicking & hope the photo studio does a good job. In that I envy you, because the tones you get in films cannot be replicated in digital, ever. So as Andre said "this photo is not about paradox between technology and human spirit, about old age man and new technology. It’s about the continuous blend between both, the quest to integrate bolts and laser to our bones and eyes." Very very true. Hope you continue to be with us for a long long time, because as I said earlier it's a pleasure to have you here, seeing your pictures & reading your notes. BTW, congratulations on your first birthday here.
Best Regards
Angshu

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-07-18 0:36

What a lovely photo...brings a smile to me...that diagonal and that curiously amused look on this lovable man's face...and love your writing! It is great to have you here. Look forward to more in the future.
Best,
Animesh

KevRyan (22352) 2007-07-19 17:28

Here's to the day that the digitally coded world gives way to a chemically coded gathering Chris - well done for weathering year one and maintaining sanity, urbanity and weathering profanity .....it just rhymed.....and for getting your fingers wet in the bathroom.....the fumes aren't so toxic - just keep the liquid out of your eyes and mouth - I got both eyes full one day when one of a group of kids i was teaching dropped a timer in the developer....not pleasant!

Your printing is looking good - I think there are some difficult choices to make around composing this one - the guy's full shadow would be nice for instance but the repeat shadows of the dock edge are also really nice. I like the seeming random encounter he's having with the robot .......a slightly sinister reminder for the some of us in the UK of bomb disposal robots from London and Northern Ireland.

Despite what I've said there's a really nice line across the image.

Good to know you Chris.

bw Kev

cam (8880) 2007-07-19 18:49

Hi Christopher
You know Chris,if you do not succeed as a photographer,you could always write books and use your photos to illustrate them,as Joni Mitchell does with her paintings on her albums.
My first thought at looking at your photo was that the man was shopping for a new kind of motorised locomotion,no no,not for himself,but for his coffee cup.....
So now make room for war of the words.

Have a good time,i am enoying this.
Charles

bakes888 (18137) 2007-08-29 1:01

Hi Chris . I can always rely on you for an interesting photo and more interesting note. As for wet processing, sooner or later one of your lungs will collapse or your fingers will drop off and you will have to return to digital capture (or not). Anyway you are getting great results from your “old” camera but I feel that it wouldn’t matter what you used the result would be the same. Excellent composition and perfect timing. Thanks for image and thoughts.
Cheers, Paul.

JKaranka (353) 2007-09-11 9:55 [Comment]