"Never be married?! You stupid man..!" Photo

Photographer’s Note

Temple Street in Mongkok. This is the place all the palm readers and fortune tellers set up shop and lure cutomers... personally I don't really believe in this, but it could be fun to listen to someone predict your future, just for kick.

This was a difficult picture to take - a plastic canopy covered all sides of the stall, and I really wanted to have the girl's face in it. Her boyfriend was next to her which explains the bit of hair in the top right corner. Plus, the thing I hated most, a really excessively bright lightbulb right in the center of the picture.

So I cropped really low this time - I think the feeling is still there though...

I wonder how many people would like this picture...? Maybe I should have asked the old man...!

omritoppol, willow_of_god, elroyie, jeanclaude, elena has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luko (13896) 2004-06-05 11:09

To me this is an excellent shot, SK, one of your best! Great "actor like" expressions and dense overall atmosphere, it really looks like taken out of a 50's movie.

omritoppol (826) 2004-06-05 11:11

It could be a good idea to ask him :-). It seems as if taken in a movie set, with some documentary look as well - and that why i like it. The man's cropped head is a little bothering - but the circumstances where not easy. Well done

sengir (4946) 2004-06-05 11:26

very interesting, Luko's right - it looks more like a scene from some movie

torben (3084) 2004-06-05 11:39

In my opinion the feeling is helped by cropping the light bulb away because it makes the image concentrate on the faces and expressions that are the really important thing here. I don't mind the cropping of the fortunetellers head either. The photo tilts a little to the left, I would suggest rotating it a bit and perhaps cropping a little from the bottom.
Still, a very good photo.

flydragon (0) 2004-06-05 11:43

Hello SK
really nice pic yes i am also right about movie
maybe in the mood for love
maybe it sould be more intimate if u made it a bit darker
and also in the border
and a tone a little bit hot

nice shot

Simon

code2707 (95) 2004-06-05 12:16

excellent BW. i particulary like the girl expression. Well done. in my favorite.

elroyie (2750) 2004-06-05 12:39

It seemed like you caught a crucial moment!

Very good composition I like the stand in the middle of the frame, it divided the frame to two parts.

weiphoto (335) 2004-06-06 0:39

Fleshtones are good. The bright bulb you didn't like seems to have provided a nice wrap-around light. Overall pix is sharp, given the circumstances. I like it.

maciekda (19599) 2004-06-06 5:52

very nice picture SK, i really like the expression of the girl. nice compo, i like this B&W. two small falws - the face of the man is a bit too soft, and we can see a bit of someone's haircut in the top right corner. anyway, good stuff. i am happy that you crop less and less each time ;)

jeanclaude (15) 2004-06-07 11:31

really good! excellent shot!

Darren (6819) 2004-06-07 11:45

This is really good SK. The b&w looks great and the composition is really good in that the subjects are all in interesting spots in the photo and there is no wasted space in this shot. The low angle kind of gives a voyeuristic look to the shot as well, kind of like a hidden camera expose on TV. Good shot.

stella (68) 2004-06-08 11:40

A like it a lot !! The titel does it for me :-))

bartek (50) 2004-06-10 0:54

I'm loving it! Such a great picture! I just love the expression on her face... Such great concern... or boredom?
Another great picture SK!!!

elena (1054) 2004-06-28 19:14

sometimes i wonder how you people do to become invisible to your target victims... :) were you under the Invisibility Cloak?
Great photo, first rate quality here, i can´t see any of those bad conditions you ennumerate, i even like the lightbulb effect, and the tight crop.

ciggiebarbie (238) 2004-09-27 12:16

an excellent shot! I love the face of the girl and the intensity she has in her eyes. Well done.

I love his tools, the magnifiying glass and all.. love the title too..

Cigdem

colinbrenchley (6133) 2005-09-09 18:49

I am surprised that so many people have viewed this image and so few have given points. Its subject is very good and the adverse lighting conditions have been well handled. There is lots to look at in this picture if you take the time.
Regards Colin

yanseiler (20) 2006-05-11 7:20

Hello SK,

Very nice atmosphere here, I really like it. The man's face might be a bit sharper.

Kindly
Yan