Woman and Non-referential Signs Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another picture from the "empty signs" series.

PS. There has been a discussion about the purpose of these signs in the course of which their mystery was finally demystify. Enia has found out that they are used for measuring the rowing speed.

At the web page Floating Down The River it is explained as follows:

In applying the speed limit the authorities have chosen to measure the speed ‘over the bed of the river’ rather than ‘through the water’. This gives rise to two problems. It doesn’t take into account the current, which can be considerable, and it doesn’t recognise that logs (speed indicators) fitted to boats measure speed through the water. There is no mechanism on a boat for measuring its speed over the ground unless it has GPS fitted.

This to a certain extent has been recognised by the EA who have installed, in the following locations, red triangles on black and white poles set on the side of the riverbank at distances such that it should take one minute to travel between them at the speed limit.

If it takes less than a minute you are speeding! This helps to correlate your log, but beware, River Inspectors on the EA launches have Radar guns.

I think, however, that the knowledge about the practical purpose of these signs doesn't abolish their obscure symbolic meaning and aesthetic impact.

Enia, gmg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SophieL (6030) 2004-11-10 7:35

Wow, I like that a lot! A very dramatic B&W atmosphere (nice blue tones), the composition, non conventionnal but perfectly managed, the expression of the woman, half amused and half scared by those signs. The mystery of the meaning of the signs is very well shown here, through the expression of the woman and the shallow DOF leaving the signs in the blurry background.
Besides, it's a very interesting portrait, and I would be very happy with it if I was the woman! Was she?

clodreno (0) 2004-11-10 7:36

Great shot Eugene.
I love your point of vue in this one.
The B&W is well adapted to this image.
It looks like an image from an old american movie.
Well done.

Zepi (22848) 2004-11-10 7:44

J'adore votre traitement noir et blanc!Le cadrage est osé,le résultat est là!
Bravo Eugene!

agelaste (533) 2004-11-10 7:50

humm,i am attracted by this kind of amazing perspective,Eugene!it brought me the mind of another work by one photogragher, here , but actually i prefer yours for the woman close,as she gave a perfect expression here,and it seemed that the light was reflected on her face ....
cheers,
xu

ps,why were the signs empty ? what they mean for the people?

Luko (13902) 2004-11-10 8:38

I really like very much your photo for your POV and bold compo, woman silhouette being the third but solid triangle... however (yes there's a but...) :
1- I don't understand what these signs are for and believe they are purposely put for the photo or as an artistic set
2- I also guess from the lighting on her face and the way she poses, this is "studio" conditions.

From these, I'm afraid it doesn't meet TE's aims and suppose TrekLens website would have been better suited.

But once again, congrats Eugene for this fantastic photo...

RGatward (19751) 2004-11-10 9:25

Interesting shot Eugene. Great PoV and compo, not sure what to make of the subject, maybe also a good TL candidate. Funny, I've not spotted your pictures previously.

Enia (365) 2004-11-10 9:55

A really great photo Eugene! I love it!!
and the funny thing is that it is shooted in my neighborhood!..but I haven't noticed the signs before...thank you for noticing them...
Great light and shadows...and the pp gives a perfect mysterious atmosphere...very well done!
Eugenia

ninadev (5225) 2004-11-10 12:24

Out of this world atmosphere with a great POV. I don't understand how the clouds at the bottom seem to go through the sign ?

maciekda (19599) 2004-11-10 15:07

excellent picture, very special mood and original composition with the face in the corner.. there is something magical in this picture, difficult to explain... bravo.

ishai (4093) 2004-11-10 15:44

Very good Eugene
Looks like a billboard you only need the slogan
Very good color choice camera angle
Well done

vapours (7957) 2004-11-10 16:50

Fantastic, I love the atmosphere in this, very minimal as well. Good work.

KevRyan (22426) 2005-02-06 17:34

Another great image Eugene - love the composition and the mystery - explained - of the signs.

zeus (1462) 2005-06-14 16:51

Eugene
you have such an interesting image here, despiste the mean of the signs. The composition is very beatifull and the point of view is great. I love the contrast in this BW picture. Congratulations.