Some Cairo Perspectives

[Sailorstu]

Frame #1 and Frame #3 have resulted in some comment and subsequent response:

Frame #1 “Donkey Cart in the streets”

Is neither strong as controlled narrative nor as an item of street journalism.

If the Purpose and Vision of the shot was controlled narrative of “Donkey Cart in the Street” then it is substantially weakened by the blur of the truck which has the dominant image area, causing a major distraction on the canvas: the shying away of the character at the centre of the image weakens the narrative further.

If the purpose of the image is a street shot and the intent was to use the blur of the van at juxtaposition to the (slow) speed of the cart, then those two elements would be better placed occupying opposing portions of the image real-estate and the cart would be better being driven and moving and not staged and posed.


Frame #3 - “Resilience”

Apart from a very long bow interpretation of expression in the Woman camera right, there is not any indicative of “resilience” in this shot; and her expression, without substantiating evidence from the scene could be: ‘reliance’ ‘dependence’ ‘worry’ ‘mourning’ ‘need’ . . . or many other emotions.

If the intent of the story were to capture ‘resilience’ (to overbearing heat) then the heat or the effects of heat must also be shown or implied in the shot, either overtly or covertly. There is no perspiration; there are no other people in less confined garb, there is no evidence of heat at all; there is no evidence that the shot is made in an area where it is always hot.

In all these regards the image is weak and does not support the title: yes it does in some minor manner support the commentary that these women just stepped off the river boat, but the argument that the expression is ‘resilience (to heat)’ seems a very thin argument when there could be so many other interpretations.

Also, the camera’s high Elevation weakens the image and the vision of the image – if ‘resilience’ is the story then the Subject Camera Right would be shown to be more resilient if she were not so far be below the camera’s elevation and the Subject Camera Left would be much more ‘resilient’ and also a much stronger supporter of ‘resilience’ if she were at Camera Level AND her HEAD was not cut by the dominate line of WHITE Bricks, which weakens both her and the theme of 'resilience' considerably.

WW

Bill - thanks so much for taking the time to offer this comprehensive and helpful feedback. I think it is bang on and hopefully I can apply it all in future efforts in order to progress in my photography. While in seeing the scene of the ladies disembarking from the ferry boat I was immediately struck by their resilience in the heat, I wasn't able to quickly decide on the elements necessary in the photo to carry that meaning through to a viewer of the photo. Obviously this is at the crux of photography so I'll have to continue working to achieve this. Thanks again.

[Sailorstu]

Great captures Stu

Thanks David!

[Sailorstu]

Stu...I do not go into politics at all...especially of other cultures. I was just saying that I didn't like that shot. I should have said too that the expression of the lady on the right seems to be very hard on her part. She looks like she in pain, but I did not mention that because of the emotion it conveys. I understand what you mean...even Indian women are the same. It is the same in many cultures wherein the women are very resilient. I just do not like the pain. I have witnessed many pains in my life, I just want happy images. No one in this house smokes...Our one that we have plus the spittoons are of copper materials hence I find it really nice...I didn't know what a spittoon is until hubby told me what it is used for...yukkkkk!!! The spittoon is now in the basement but I kept the smoker by the fireplace...because it is shiny from the top to the bottom. Really looks good...

Izzie - I fully understand and appreciate your candor. I also understand the placement of the spittons in the basement!

[William W]

. . . I didn't want to take any chances so if people weren't comfortable having their photo taken, I didn't shoot.

Understood. Thank you.

WW

[William W]

. . . I was immediately struck by their resilience in the heat, I wasn't able to quickly decide on the elements necessary in the photo to carry that meaning through to a viewer of the photo. Obviously this is at the crux of photography so I'll have to continue working to achieve this.

Yes.

That nails it.

WW