weighing scale Photo

Photographer’s Note

a physically disadvantaged homeless man sitting on his wheelchair rickshaw waiting for someone to stop and check his/her weight. in return this man will get 1 rupee (2.5 cents)
the weighing scale is his livelihood.
he is one of millions of such people in india.

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concerned action now
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AnimeshRay, mitternacht, olopez, kajspice has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Darren (6819) 2005-04-01 10:42

Strange processing here Sohrab, there is a halo completely around the guy in front and the guy in back as well. Quite honestly, this one doesn't work for me. Maybe I like that you are giving the homeless guy some anonymity, but it doesn't work photographically for me on this one. Had you shot this a fraction of a second earlier, as the walking guy was at the right of the frame, it would be a totally different story for me. For me, this does not meet your normal standards Sohrab.

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AnimeshRay (8886) 2005-04-01 10:44

Sohrab, excellent photo (as usual)! A really intelligent composition to make the fellow annonymous by blocking him with the passersby in full stride. The comparison that this striding man's image brings to mind with the disabled man is just wonderfully insightful. The problem is the design of the wheel-chair is somewhat non-standard to Wesern eyes (I think), so the photo should always be accompanied by a commentary. The photo succeeds as a superb example of documentary photography.

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mitternacht (1836) 2005-04-01 10:58

Hi Sohrab, I think I agree with Darren (but Animesh has some points too). The processing doesn't bother me, but I don't know, the main subject is totally invisible. This concept of hiding works sometimes when it's done in a way that you notice the main subject anyway, but this way it's just lost, imho. I agree with darren that a different timing could have made a big difference. About the content - sad story - your picture feels relevant as your pictures usually do.

Simon

Zepi (22848) 2005-04-01 11:00

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime,J'aime!
Magnifique noir et blanc,superbe composition!
Quels mouvements!
Grandiose!
Bien joué Sohrab,elle file tout droit dans mes favoris!
Merci pour cette petite merveille!
Amicalement
Sébastien

Homerhomer (4005) 2005-04-01 11:02

Sohrab, I am with Darren on this one, halos are too strong, and it wasn't for your note I wouldn't even know the image is about homeless person. Had I taken it, it would have been a decent photo for me, but I judge you by higher standards, therefore you won't get much praises from me for this one.
Peter

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jcandeli (40) 2005-04-01 11:08

I saw kids in Cambodia doing the same thing. An unusual idea but I give them credit for doing something besides just begging. I was always more then happy to pay for weighing myself or getting my shoes shined (even though in Cambodia it is pointless!)

This photo is interesting because the main subject is hidden and in the background. Interesting idea. I only wish I could see a face or something recognizable on the homeless man. Thanks for the powerful reminder of how good I have it! JP

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clodreno (0) 2005-04-01 11:44

There is something I like in this shot.. , I agree with Animesh's point of vue.. i'll mail you one I took a bit like this in a way..
I especailly like the balancing arms...

jeanfrancois (1259) 2005-04-01 13:37

What a pity this guy just walked at this moment !

No, honestly : a very audacious shot.

I read your answer to Animesh and I have to say I am impressed by your explanation of your own image. I like this sentence especially : "it's not a portrait of the person, but the portrait of the issue". the photo was strong, you make it brilliant.

olopez (4870) 2005-04-01 14:55

Excellent compo and motion blur Sohrab.
Unusual and interesting POV.
Strong contrast between fg and bg.
Very good work, i like a lot

tongapup (1574) 2005-04-01 16:17

hi sohrab,
it's always interesting to me to see people tackling uncomfotable issues in their art and i'm really glad you're trying in your own way and trying something challenging to the viewer.

now the bad news: the photo didn't do much for me either... because the wheelchair-rickshaw looks like a bicycle to me, it doesn't have the same visual impact.

i agree abt the halo too... distracting?

i did get what you were saying here with the photo, so it works in that sense, but overall, hmmmm....

MKING (3050) 2005-04-02 8:55

Good to see you're sheading light on this issue but your portrayal doesn't work for me. If the arm or the moment picked was deliberate than I don't think it works as well as potential image processing might. Say the arm wasn't blocking his face and that the picture was balanced roughly with the bike occupying one half and the walking man the other. By using some sort of severe burning in or vignetting you could shadow the homeless man whilst retaining his form but not his face. Paul Fusco has done this with some of his backgrounds. Check out some of his Chernobyl Legacy works.

What I am amazed at is the precision you got-- the camera delivered exactly what you wanted it to do with the arm covering the face. You've got excellent reflexes and a sense of timing.

Does the health foundation you have in mind consider mental health issues to be part of its objective in addition to physical disability and disadvantage?

analupi (227) 2005-04-04 18:12

Hi Sohrab
This one is spectacular. Very original. Really it seems a charcoal drawing. great composition, and i specially like how the movement and the static in this picture.
Very very good.
Congratulations
Ana

alimo3 (6826) 2005-04-05 16:31

Hi Sohrab,
a very nice one,always movements,great and beautiful movements !
a smart composition (i didn't expect less from you )
i like this kind of picture who speaks by itself.
take care.

Tom

PSYOPS (0) 2005-05-04 5:53

My favorite, both on B&W and compo.

The picture speaks by itself. Maybe it says "thanks" to your strong cropping, too.

Regards,

GJ

chtn_n (11) 2005-07-31 8:50

hey great sense of photography and humanity