Solitude in Symmetry Photo

Photographer’s Note

She was sitting there, in the sweltering heat, her hair and top fuchia like the banner above her. She looked enwrapped in her thoughts. The heat didn't motivate people to stop and buy the flowers she had carefully organized in buckets of water in an even row. Somehow a sense of secular triptych came into mind... a very secular one--less of the Spirit than of the spirits advertised...

(I've uploaded the duotone version in the Workshop. Perhaps that one is more suited to the mood of the shot. However, I couldn't leave these hot pinks behind. I welcome your thoughts as always--thanks)

happypoppeye, quillo, Manamo, ribeiroantonio, sleon, Angelillo, Dpbours, robiuk, xavis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-08-14 15:29

Great catch Sarolta. Nice street type shot. Your composition, with the wall almost perfectly horizontal, the three signs perfectly placed, the line of buckets of flowers and the woman with the red hair almost perfectly matching the sign behind her looks great. Colors are excellent, as are the sharpness with a lot of detail and different points of interest to look at. Good lighting and nice, subtle use of shadows also. A very "symmetrical" looking photo with a few shadows to mix it up just right.

I also like the duotone version alot. I think the color version works, just a little bit better for me, because of the color of the girls hair and the signs. This is totally lost in the duotone version and I think it really adds another point of interest to the photo. In the duotone version though, the photo is more about symmetry and shadows and less about color so they both work very well.

Nice work.
Good catch.
John

chpp (4007) 2007-08-14 15:39

Hi
This is a very nice composition. You were in the right place at the right time. I think everything work together very well, the banners, the lady and the flowers. You have some beautiful tones and the central banner with a shocking colour that gets the attention.
very nice, sharp picture.
I've also chacked the duotone version, and it looks great as well, but i guess i prefer this one better :)
cheers
Christian

quillo (7328) 2007-08-14 16:28

-

Hello Sarolta, I like very much two versions but if I have to choose I remain with that of color, it has more life ... it is more real.
I think that you have been very opportune and have seen very well the framing of this composition and that although I particularly do not like very much the symmetries in this case this one select well.

Congratulations and a greeting.

-

Manamo (3474) 2007-08-14 16:40

Hello Sarolta,
repetition, geometry and symmetry...that's what they teach in photo classes...flowers post, rectangles on rectangles(ads on bricks) and the 2 white ads separated by a pink one. That's a scientific way of seeing things, that's what I am, a scientific. But then you add a human figure to spice things up a little, to make it harder to analyze...to oblige us to think a bit. But, we're a bit far to go deep into her feelings...hard to tell.
Personally, I prefer way much the color version. The image is already pretty static, the colors are pretty useful here. Plus, you don't want to get rid of that pink? Do you?
A nice evening to you Sasa,
Marc

ribeiroantonio (21975) 2007-08-14 19:36

I do like the B&W version but in this case, colour is a must. If not, we loose the combination hair/banner. The long shadows play an important part in the picture giving it a quite good dynamism. I like it very much.
Antonio

wolf38 (13085) 2007-08-14 23:02

Hello Sasa. Already into the Thumbnails of the gallery one recognizes whether a picture is interesting or not. This picture is interesting. It lives by its absolute symmetry. It is a graphic feat. Very beautifully seen and realizes. Best regards, Wolfgang.

bantonbuju (48796) 2007-08-14 23:49

this is a cool scenery - startying with the huge adverts, going through the lonely cocktail-seeker to the row of flowers waiting in the baskets (where the "cocktails" are loaded to keep them looking fresh)...
this is a great street scene, sasa,
bw, j.
(added after a while: this image cries for COLOUR version)

sleon (9352) 2007-08-15 0:43

hi Sasa
Both the colour and duotone version are packed with punch and I wouldn't try to decide which I prefer. This is a fabulous framing of a city scene, where the symmetry is striking and the boldness of the poster portraits give a wow factor. Nice to see the presence of the long shadows too, which add some form to an almost planar scene.
Regards, Susanna

AmiBe (6042) 2007-08-15 1:00

Hi Sasa,
both version are good but this one is plenty justified in colors. Yes, the pink is a very nice touch here.
Good compo, symmetry works well, I just wonder how it will look without the shadow on the right and the "box" on the left.
A nice street scene, bye

Angelillo (9065) 2007-08-15 2:23

Hi Sasa,

Ever so sensitive to capture these moments full of feelings and touchings! It's really well composed, the colors coincidence is extraordinary, the symmetry very good, and the feeling of loneliness, perhaps boring is incredible! Great urban shot! Thanks.

Greetings,
Angel.

KKar (486) 2007-08-15 4:09

reat composition Sarolta
Nice street shot in color. It is very vibrand and fresh
Loved it
KOstas

Standa (1861) 2007-08-15 5:10

Hi Sarolta,
this is wonderful composition with great symmetry broken with sitting girl (which gives live to this shot). I like this one more then W/S. Perfect sharpness, colours and once again composition
Best regards,
Stanislav

Dpbours (220) 2007-08-15 5:13

Hi Sasa,

This is just great street photography! The symmetry in the shot is just magical. I had a look at the workshop as well and I just don't know which one is the best. The workshop has such a nicely harsh shadows and the buckets are really BLACK. But the original, yes the pink is really PINK.
So these two photos were screaming at me 'Workshop us, workshop us'. And who am I to ignore the scream of two beautiful pictures?! See the workshop for a combination of harsh BLACKS and PINKS. Hope you like the combination I made.

Greetings! Dennis

PS: I'm really a bit of a sad puppy at the moment. Friday is the liberation day here, with all kinds of marches. Great for photography... But I've got an inflammation of the eyes and with -11 in my lenses, that is a bit of a problem... :-/

[workshop] [compare] +

Furachan (0) 2007-08-15 5:21

Bg Brother AND Sister are watching You. A double does of care in a sweltering Ottawa (40.2 degrees in Gumma pefecture, nearby today!)
I like your duotone a whole lot, Sasa, not to take away from the color version whose dominant RED is...tempting of of course, but there is a confident, cool mature confidence about the sepia deal and I would lean towards it a bit if only becuase of the graphic pay-off.
But then, besieged as I am these days with my Japan pics, what do I know...? Eh? ;o)))
Stay cool,
Francis

jwillie44 (1177) 2007-08-15 5:22

I love your perspective that shines through which such style on your street photography; very artistic and beautifully expressionate-
thanks
michael

ninaL (19592) 2007-08-15 6:08

Hello, Sarolta.
Very well seen scene...
It is strange the women choose his place in the center, exactly beetween two photographs ;). Provisional city ornaments, privisional flower's shop...provisional summer ? ;).

Best regards. Grazyna.

kensimage (8543) 2007-08-15 8:14

Hi Sasa--I think the pink helps convey the mood of oppressive heat, so I like this one, with the most color. The girl really does look droopy, despite that bright hair (matching the hanging behind her so nicely!) There's a nice symmetry in the shot overall, which contrasts well with the edgy coolness the advertisers are trying to convey. Well seen, as always! Regards, Ken.

marknunnerley (2768) 2007-08-15 9:22

No, it's the colour by miles. The hot pinks really zing out. Great daily life Sasa. She looks not just bored to death, but as hot as her hair. Like the inclusion of the posters, as if they are keeping an eye out for her ;) FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT!!!! God knows who sang that little ditty.
br
mark

ThomasL (417) 2007-08-15 12:20

Hi Sarolta,

You made a good choice by using a simple symmetrical composition: it works very well. Incredible sharpness, good work!

Greetings,
Thomas

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-08-16 0:34

Hi dear Sasa, i like a lot this composition...a lot of red spot, the 3 faces, the position of the woman...and the texture of the background..REALLY AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION...
i prefer the coloured version this time but also duotone works very well :))

ciao!
Valeria

robiuk (10763) 2007-08-16 3:34

Hi Sasa,
well, both versions have their strengths,
and if I had to decide I would as well go
for this coloured one, but thank god (or
Adam), we have that space provided in WS,
and enjoy both!
Can't but not keep wondering if this flower
lady chose this spot for selling her flowers
on purpose, realising its rich graphic potential
and magnetism, or is it just 'her' spot where
she's all the time, no matter the props filling
the frame (banners)...
What an eye you've got my dear!
Robi

kevinos (6927) 2007-08-16 10:03

Yes, amazing symmetry, Sarolta. It couldn't have been more prefect if you had posed it. Yes, your reference to the triptych is right. Your scarlet 'virgin' sits like a Madonna; the Madonna of the Cocktails, perhaps. with votive flowers laid out before her. It makes me reflect how our perceptions of images is influenced by the historic icons that we grew up with.

michiels (4170) 2007-08-16 12:32

hi Sasa,

After a hardworking day you give me this problem ;DDDDD
but, i choose the duotone. I love the pink but inthe duotone the essence of the photo is more obvious ... imo ... very well seen. I like the idea of the triptych !
ps. Lucky you sweating all over !!! i think they dismissed the summer in belgium :((
greetings, inn

coco (28130) 2007-08-17 11:02

Hi Sasa.

Colour and black and white version are very good. But I don't know wich one I prefer.
As is usual, you saw the photo. You saw a very difficult photo and you did a good work. It is a smart work and very enjoyable with a great composition and also a very creative subject.

Regards.

Darren (6819) 2007-08-19 5:08

Hi Sasa. This is a terrific composition, although I would be tempted to crop a little from both the right and the left because of what might be a newspaper box on the left. Unfortunately though, I think the hard light lets this down a little. Certainly a very nice shot, but not at the level of many of your other photos.

eleparc (24059) 2007-08-19 9:56

just perfect framing! Indeed a hot city cocktail!
Eric

rbcy1974 (20746) 2007-08-25 5:33

HellO Sasa
Very nice urban composition,
there is something very special about the texture of the brick wall. THe simetry given by the posters is excellent as is the coordination between the woman's hair and outfit and the posters.
Very nicely done
Regards
Daniel

vapours (7913) 2007-08-26 8:42

The pinks make the shot for me here, a contrast for me between being stuck in the heat and what she could be doing. Some pink flowers would have been the icing on the cake here, but you can't have it all.

sothy81 (8540) 2007-09-23 8:35

Hello Sasa,

I find this photo interesting and beautiful. I like the most your placement of the lady in the picture between the two guys there on the wall, making it so symitrical. The picture with great sharpness, as always from you,. Very well done.

Sothy

mdetay (4348) 2007-10-09 18:32

Hi Sasa,
Great shot and great composition.
Please have a look at the one I did in Hong Kong

Photo China MD

I've also chacked the duotone version, and it looks great as well, but i guess i prefer this one better.
It is - in a way - the same subject.
Please enjoy.
Cheers from Hong Kong.
Michel