Anonymous Addict, a photo from Seoul, North

Photographer's Note

Let this be my little protest against fast food. I believe fast food to be one of the major plagues of western civilization. It is responsible, more than anything really, for the huge problem of obesity in the western world. Burgers, fries, sodas..a calorie/fat bomb with little nutritional value. And unortunately, it is also spreading to Asia. In Korea KFC, Burger King, McD's, Pizza Hut are establishing their own armies of junkies addicted to the stuff they sell. This is bad.

An anonymous addict (?) ready to buy a meal from Burger King. What will she have?

Edit:

I just found an article in a major Korean newspaper regarding fast food restauurants. Here is a small part:

"But fast food chains, whose public images have been tarred by an association with obesity, are closing down in Korea.
Lotteria, which had 900 locations in July 2003, now has 810. And McDonald's, which had 350 stores in Korea in October 2002, now has just 328. The U.S.-based burger chain said it has no plans to open any new Korean stores this year. "

Interesting.

Paolo, sylvie, supereira, huynt, jhm, weswang, Porteplume, drymd29, peter1892, efimoore, Mansi, Jason_teale, ksoloduc, bach37 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

gaudi-spirit (187) 2005-07-06 3:46

I think your composition is very nice and original. Almost colors are great. I like the perspective you choose with lines and squares and only a part of the character. Well done.

Paolo (41212) 2005-07-06 3:48

Excellent image Rafal. the quality is extraordinay, with that strong light and colors and a perfect focus.

about Fast/Trash Food i'm completely agree with you.
it's a pity for me, that was born in Italy see every given day children that prefere to eat fast food than a slice of real pizza (and not the one of Pizza Hut!) in one of the Pizzerie al Trancio!

ciao.

Cos (1562) 2005-07-06 3:54

Hi Rafal
Great shot! I like the graphic feel, full of contrasts and sharp, bold lines. Well spotted and composed!
Regards, Sarah

Zepi (22848) 2005-07-06 4:04

Hello Rafal,
Ohhhhhh,j'aime ça!
Magnfique rendu,superbes jeux de couleurs pétantes et de noir et blanc!
C'est très graphique,très original!
Je suis preneur!
C'est bien...
Amicalement
Sébastien

amirkah (309) 2005-07-06 4:17

great quality and good light.
I like the perspective .
well done!

sylvie (1183) 2005-07-06 4:40

Another great shoot, I told you last time but really with nothing you do a lot, you certainly have the "eye".
I just find this person doesn't doing well with your note she's to thin!!! Don't be upset I'm laughing ;-)
Sylvie

maciekda (19861) 2005-07-06 4:57

super, co tu duzo gadac. zatkalo mnie na chwile. swietna kompozycja, kiczowate nasycone kolory. super. bardzo oryginalne zdjecie, tak trzymac Rafal!
going to my favorites

PixelTerror (0) 2005-07-06 5:33

Hi Rafal,
A nice shot with vivid colors and good graphism, also an interesting contrast between a B&W lower part and a colored upper part. I agree with Sylvie about the not so fitting thin legs (I guess she's a beginner...) and since I do not like these places so much I'll happily join Paolo for a good pizza !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

supereira (9576) 2005-07-06 5:34

Interesting shot.I like the composition and point of view.Very good colors,light,textures and sharpness.Good job!

Luko (13978) 2005-07-06 5:36

Wow, it's a fantastic shot...so contrasty and graphical I have to put my sunglasses to look at it.. although difficult to look at it for a long time, it's like a medical viewing test and I'm starting to see her legs moving towards the right side and beyond the frame...

Too thin legs to be a real addict, the nice feet position brings the sexy touch in your image...

AmiBe (6042) 2005-07-06 5:54

Hi Rafal,
mmm anonymous and enigmatic shot (and legs...).
I like very much the graphism and the vivid colors.
Very well done

jekir79 (50) 2005-07-06 6:41

Hello Jinju,

Beautiful legs and again very nice composition. Straight out of the 50's (even her pants seem to be from that time) with today's graphics!! Excellent!!!

Porteplume (3323) 2005-07-06 7:45

Weird! I just commented a traditionnal "Hand & food" and now I have to duplicate that comment for a modern looking "Legs & food":

I'm very fond of pictures with that "Less is More" style. You must have a very good eye to "frame" just that little part of daily life which is telling us enough... Woman's legs waiting for food! :o)

Seriously now... I really like the great framing and the diagonal combination of colours with B&W. The idea and realisation are just great!

jhm (122334) 2005-07-06 7:47

Dear Rafal,
The black/white floor on the foreground together with the feet of the girl, and not forget the sharpness and clarity, make you picture lovely.
Greetings,
John.

Furachan (0) 2005-07-06 7:51

Rafal, This is the third time (honest) I have tried to comment on this fantastically crip, cool, urban shot, and tell you how you are developing a unique, mature style and all that, then I click on the smiley, and...nothing!!! I am trying to congratualte you on a BRILLIANT picture. Third time lucky!
Cheers,
Francis

dolin (15647) 2005-07-06 7:55

Hi Rafal.
Really nice composition.
Perfect sharpness on this graphic shot.
The framing is very interesting and the colros are beautiful.
EXCELLENT idea.
Fred

Graal (88808) 2005-07-06 9:40

Witaj,
te obtarte nó¿ki to dodatek do hamburgera? Fajny pomys³ na zdjêcie, podoba mi siê kompozycja i ostro¶æ.
Pozdr. Al.

joseelias (369) 2005-07-06 9:45

Funny title! :-)

And I also feel identified with this image as I also struggle against this addiction. “Fortunately” the hard economical times Portugal is passing by “helps” me because I cannot afford to eat fast food often so it makes “easier” to resist… :-)

Regarding the news of closing down restaurants I think it won’t last. People have a short memory and soon a new advertising campaign and some free gifts will make them get back…

The clarity of this image is outstanding. One of the best I’ve ever seen. Great colors and sharpness. Well at least the place looks clean. BTW, what were you doing inside there? Just to take a photo I guess… ;-)

weswang (18223) 2005-07-06 11:08

Hi Rafal, very fresh concept and excellent composition. I like the repetition on one side and perspective on the other side. Good daily life scene. We see similar scene all the time. You have made it an art. The title makes us to think and to imaging. Great details and sharpness. Well done.

eco (112) 2005-07-06 12:32

witam

mam nadzieję, że moderator mi to puści - świetne i tyle,
reszta dotycząca kadru, koloru itd
jest wg mnie zbytecna
super to wyszło

pozdrawiam
rafal

oochappan (22043) 2005-07-06 13:20

Indeed this is fun too, what a clear fine composed shot but most of all the funny way that you use to spot fast food out is more then unique it is a beauty on it's own at the same in your protest, excellent Rafal, add it to TE photobook.
TE Book 2005 - Own Photos
TE Book 2005 - Other Members Photos

RandomCameraGuy (3069) 2005-07-06 13:57

Great graphic composition of the still elements, and the girls legs do a great job of breaking that pattern and adding a human element. This is a very cool shot!

Too bad shes eating fast food though, cuz damn, it'll ba shame to lose them legs ;)

bantonbuju (51733) 2005-07-06 14:01

rafał, famtastyczne zdjęcie, kadr, kompozycja, kolory, jedno z najlepszych od ciebie, brawo!
gratuluję i pozdrawiam, j.

Fis2 (73032) 2005-07-06 15:07

Witaj Rafa³!
W stylu pop-art (czê¶ciowo).Ciekawie zauwa¿one.Dobry kontrast i kolory.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

Burberry1 (6041) 2005-07-06 16:51

Witaj Rafał po kilku dniach przerwy:)))
Ależ dużo nowych, pięknych fotografii się pojawiło...
Pozwól wiec, że wrócę tu, by pooglądać Twoje urzekające fotografie, a tymczasem powiem, iż pomysł na to zdjęcie jest fantastyczny-świetna reklama mogłaby to byc, bo niestety chyba nie anty-reklama...fast-foodu, którego także nie uznaję...jest zbyt estetyczne i raczej mogłaby to być reklama młodości...zdrowych, pięknych nóg, czy wygodnych butów...:-)
Być może za bardzo fantazjuję, ale moje zmęczenie daje o sobie znac po kilku dniach świętowania nadmorskiego.
Powiem więc, że fotka jest fantastyczna i trzeba mieć naprawdę świetny zmysł fotograficzny, żeby w tak mistrzowski sposób przedstawić tak codzienną scenę:)))
Piękne, żywe kolory, świetne światło i 100%QUALITY...100% satisfaction:o)

Serdecznie pozdrawiam i dobrej nocy życzę,
A

davido (1982) 2005-07-06 17:09

Hi Rafal :^)
You definitly are improving and improving...
This shot is just beautiful, very graphical.
Brings a strong message with small details.
Congratulations...
This is for sure a fav' :^D
David

joaoferreira (0) 2005-07-06 20:20

Your compositions are getting each day better. hehehe I liked this one very much too. Someday I'll learn how to do something like that. hehehe See you! Regards!

Luan (12971) 2005-07-07 4:05

I like it, very good composition, original and creative, beautiful colors and graphical touch. I don't know how you get this idea...it's really great.
Well done Rafal
Luan

summersun (4978) 2005-07-07 13:55

she's still skinny , but if she keeps eating this junk...
I agree with you on the protest against fast food. So many kids are going there regularly and you can see them growing fatter and fatter.
great graphism here, I like the legs separating the 2 part of the image. very sharp shot. very nice.
Vanessa

t0mmm1 (5440) 2005-07-07 15:58

Hi, this composition is very original (well my comment isn't;)) I like this chess board diagonal with it's storng colours and the legs of this anonimous girl, I think. I agree with Luko that this legs are to thin to be the real addict, but for sure they make to this photo a final touch.

huynt (5079) 2005-07-08 8:57

Hi Rafal
Bravo! The them of World Heart Day 2005 is Anti obesity "Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape" You captured this wonderful and meaningful shot. Good note. Thanks for this probelm display on TE. Best Regards. Huy V Tran MD PhD

Prisley (1483) 2005-07-08 9:38

Hi Jinju,
You're picture is amazingly perfect. You had the eye and the idea. Excellent composition. I guess this women isn't really an addict of Burger King...I can tell her to her slim legs ;o)
Cheers,
Prisley

drymd29 (448) 2005-07-09 4:16

I like the graphic of the picture.
It's your merit to see these patterns in daily life.
Very good / ... and I like the message of your note.
Huub

jrj (34841) 2005-07-09 5:59

Excellent shot, great photo detail in this tight, well cut compo. Very graphical, stylish and well made this one. Very good R.

mrbialy (2568) 2005-07-09 13:04

Bardzo dobre zdjecie moim (i nie tylko jak widac) zdaniem. Kompozycja jest perfekcyjna w swojej prostocie. Zauwazony i sfotografowany moment jest po prostu super. Struktura podlogi i spodni pasuje jak ulal do calosci. Ujecie tez wprost bardzo dobre. Podoba mi sie tez tytul- oryginalny i trafiony w dziesiatke. Jakosc i ostrosc imponujaca. Kolory dopasowane jak w salonie fotograficznym. Wszystko gra w tym zdjeciu jak w orkiestrze symfonicznej. Pozostaje mi tylko pogratulowac oka i pomyslu.

gringofil (0) 2005-07-11 10:12

This is so COOL. I mean, such an imagination you have to frame the shot as you did. The tiles are a real nice repeating pattern and the placement of the Burger King logo is right on the money (a few days Burger King opened its first restaurant in China...here in Shanghai...wonder if the Chinese will fall in love with the Whopper). But what makes the shot great is the fact that we cannot see what the girl looks like...and from the feet I could easily conclude that she could be quite beautiful indeed. Interesting game you're playing with this shot...excellent work. One of your best.

clodreno (0) 2005-07-14 2:52

a great image.. love the idea and the result..
very well done. compo is perfect

mlopes (494) 2005-07-15 13:40

Hey Rafal, a little contractitorius... she's really thin :)

Nice graphism, nice colours and sharpness!

Mário

sohrab (7439) 2005-07-24 2:27

crazy photograph!!!!
you're very good at seeing patterns you know??

as far as the protest goes.. hmmmmmm
the legs seem to be in pretty good shape to show us the harmful sides of fast food.. don't you think???? :)

or if there was a queue of legs, the atory could be about 'the addicts' themselves.. you know.. how people are going ga ga over fastfood/burger king in this case..

i love this photograph in terms of visual aesthetics.. but i think you needed to do something a little different in order to get a 'story' out of it..

there is something that you should keep in mind.. when getting a story, the priority should be to get the story in the photograph and 'how beautiful' the photograph is , should follow later..

take care :)

peter1892 (1681) 2005-07-26 17:47

Great shot - the colours are very bold, great lines & the picture is sharp. I would have to agree with you on the fats food issue as well!

Jaku (6812) 2005-07-27 7:55

Świetnie rozplanowane zdjęcie.
A tak nawiasem mówiąc - niemożliwe, żeby takie nogi "wyhodować" na hamburgerach :)

errorist (666) 2005-08-08 6:54

fantastic, abstract photo - you must really have an eye for this. Congratulations

ballyna (1689) 2005-08-12 8:32

hi rafal,
this has a special quality,well composed and nice colors.it has its' own geometric feeling inside;squares,lines,triangles,circles,lines etc.and her pant is perfect for this shot ,better than a skirt or another thing.
regards

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-10-14 8:15

Hi Rafal,
I don't know how I missed this one I must have been in Peru, but I find it excellent very suggestive, very colourful, simply perfection.
Regards
Daniel

maurazos (0) 2005-10-15 17:22

Good protest! Korean food is one of the best of the world in my opinion (I love bibimpa, kimchi and bulgogi), and quite cheap, so I don't understand why the fast food restaurants are so successful there.

About the picture? An excellent diagonal composition, with all the elements in the right place, so well contrasted and sharpen. Simply great. Regards.

alon (1285) 2005-10-21 5:38

Rafal, the reference from the other photo of you took me here. That's a real superb composition. All is good here.... I'm going to add it to my favorites.
Cheers,
Alon

efimoore (2126) 2005-10-23 18:43

Cool. Simple and graphic. Great colors.
Good note too. Obesity is indeed exists in terrifying levels.
See you in the gym…

Jason_teale (717) 2005-11-12 7:42

Another interesting shot. I love both the angle and the meaning. You are taking your photography to a level that many haven't reached yet by putting meaning into your photos instead of just looking for pretty scenes to shoot. I am glad that you added this pic. Nice border too.

Meloe (99) 2005-11-13 8:57

Like everybody here I like your pic a lot! Nice compo, nice subject...nice contrast between the place and the person... Very well done! Bravo!

partha (13775) 2005-11-19 13:03

This is another excuisite pic. U have really a good eye.
Thanks.

schobi (187) 2005-12-12 11:38

Hi Rafal!
Very interesting contrast - fast foot + slim legs - how strange :-)
Super idea, perfect done!
Best regards, Schobi

sebautourdumond (3108) 2005-12-29 3:11

Hi Rafal,
Very nice picture with original perspective and composition.
Great job
Seb

vapours (8258) 2006-01-01 19:31

Well I saw you post this picture in your favourite image for 2005, and I have to agree with you, this probably is your best shot. The clarity and sharpness of this image is truly amazing and really makes the shot.

alexwolf (0) 2006-03-03 7:21

Excellent shot, Rafal.

Nice and clean. Perfect.

yanseiler (20) 2006-04-20 7:38

Hi Rafal,

Just a wonderful composition and very nice colors...

Regards
Yan

marknunnerley (2780) 2006-10-27 4:50

Hi Rafal,
simply brilliant. Martin Parr couldn't have done better. Make the ordinary look extraordinary, easier said than done but it seems to come natural to you.
Regards,
Mark

Tyrone (39) 2007-08-16 15:22 [Comment]

Show Comment

kloppenborg (975) 2008-06-05 7:21

Hi Rafal,

I will just join the choir, unfortunately with nothing new:

This picture is GREAT!! Ik really love the composition, sharpness, colours and symmetry.

Most of all, I like the idea. You are really making the viewer (at least me) wonder (with you): What is she gonna eat, how does she look, how do the expedients look, how does the place look, etc.

In other words, you are making me curious, which is an essential characteristic of a good image.

Congratulations.

Henrik

Blairfraser (849) 2008-06-05 7:40

Hi Rafal.

I have only just seen this picture now! Its really good! I love your composition with the sign here. Also I like the black and white floor as well. This is something I noticed when I was in China. When we were walking down a busy street in Shanghai we passed about 4 McD's in about 10 mins!

Very good post though!

Blair

Photo Information

Copyright: Rafal Prus (jinju) (14265)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-05
Categories: Daily Life, Food
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/25 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Your own most Favorite photo !, User's Favorites, Parce que 100 ne suffisent pas [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-07-06 3:25
Favorites: 13 [view]