People Rapt in thought

Pande · 06-02-2014, 01:52 PM - **1 Like**

@Spooky
This is an excellent documentation of the real world and show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. You can read a lot from his face. The story behind it just make this photo more Powerful in my opinion.

@Manntax
Thanks for showing us this powerful photo, and in my opinion, one of the best photos in the contest

RyanW · 06-02-2014, 03:40 PM - **3 Likes**

I've struggled with this photo. For some of the reasons that Spooky gives. In general I don't care for street photography of the homeless because usually it's done claiming it's documentary and drawing attention to their plight. Capital B. Capital S. Everyone knows homeless exist and I'll bet no one has done thing one about it because of a photograph and one more black and white hip shot of the homeless processed with structure at 100 is not going to make anyone take action either. Probably the perpetrators of these types of photos have seen the work of real pros, think Magnum level, and think if I just shoot the same subject, I'll be the real deal too.

This photo is not what I describe above - at all. This is an excellent portrait that happens to be of a homeless person. This photograph stands on it's own merit. We don't need to know the man is homeless for it to be good. The tonality and presence is very good and makes it stand out in the gallery of submissions. While I'm not enamored with the backstory, I'm judging this photo on it's merit as a photo and I think it's quite good.

Nominated.

ThomasHemming · 06-02-2014, 03:51 PM - **1 Like**

Fantastic candid portrait! I nominate!

acbc · 06-02-2014, 09:57 PM - **1 Like**

I nominate the photo for the mood and the story behind it.

-Spooky- · 06-02-2014, 10:56 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by manntax

... mushy-mashy shots of a wall we all have done enough while testing the lenses….

...My photo is controversial; is provocative; is making the viewer react : stop and think…

First- There is no wall in the image. I am not surprised at all that you didn't pick up on that.

Second- You wanted to make the viewer react? I gave you my reaction to the combination of your image and the backstory. The only aspect of my comment that was a little off topic was about second account thing, which although not directly related to your photograph, shows an interesting parallel in how you operate. Maybe you should make a third account and fix the loophole where people are allowed to post negative comments on your work?

Originally posted by Pande

@Spooky
... show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. ...

I have no problem with showing that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. What I do have a problem with is setting off a tired old man and running away, regardless of how bad someone wants the shot.

manntax · 06-02-2014, 11:04 PM

Originally posted by -Spooky-

You wanted to make the viewer react? I gave you my reaction to the combination of your image and the backstory.

We all know your hysteric reaction already - now go and dramatize somewhere else , will you ?

CeciProAm · 06-02-2014, 11:18 PM - **1 Like**

This photograph & the backstory have disturbed me from day one.
I do not believe that the poor and disenfranchised live to satisfy our voyeurism or to win camera contests.
If I knew nothing about how or why the photograph was taken, I might feel differently but knowing what I do
know about how & why this photograph was taken, it continues to disturb me.
I have worked with the homeless for over a decade, especially homeless veterans and finding a safe place
to nap is a wonderful and rare occurrence.
Diane Arbus took the photos she took because she saw the beauty in the subterranean lives that surround
us, she did not exploit them. Mostly, I simply wish there was some catchlight in his eyes. The swirling black
drags me in and down.
This photograph should come with a soundtrack of The Jam's "That's Entertainment."

manntax · 06-02-2014, 11:38 PM

Originally posted by Pande

@Spooky This is an excellent documentation of the real world and show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. You can read a lot from his face. The story behind it just make this photo more Powerful in my opinion. @Manntax Thanks for showing us this powerful photo, and in my opinion, one of the best photos in the contest

Thank you Pande for your support and encouraging words.. I actually didn't want to stunt with his homelessness, but rather the humanity and the power of his expression that drew me in..

Originally posted by RyanW

I've struggled with this photo. For some of the reasons that Spooky gives. In general I don't care for street photography of the homeless because usually it's done claiming it's documentary and drawing attention to their plight. Capital B. Capital S. Everyone knows homeless exist and I'll bet no one has done thing one about it because of a photograph and one more black and white hip shot of the homeless processed with structure at 100 is not going to make anyone take action either. Probably the perpetrators of these types of photos have seen the work of real pros, think Magnum level, and think if I just shoot the same subject, I'll be the real deal too.
This photo is not what I describe above - at all.

Originally posted by CeciProAm

This photograph & the backstory have disturbed me from day one. I do not believe that the poor and disenfranchised live to satisfy our voyeurism or to win camera contests. If I knew nothing about how or why the photograph was taken, I might feel differently but knowing what I do know about how & why this photograph was taken, it continues to disturb me. I have worked with the homeless for over a decade, especially homeless veterans and finding a safe place to nap is a wonderful and rare occurrence. Diane Arbus took the photos she took because she saw the beauty in the subterranean lives that surround us, she did not exploit them. Mostly, I simply wish there was some catchlight in his eyes. The swirling black drags me in and down. This photograph should come with a soundtrack of The Jam's "That's Entertainment."

I really appreciate the thoughtful comments of your both !!
Yes, precisely my feelings - as I have already hinted in the description, I wasn't totally comfortable the way the shot was taken - which is one of the reasons I kept it unpublished and buried on my hard drive for the last 6 years !! However I was repeatedly encouraged by the comments from friends and family to not keep the photo hidden - so finally I started to believing that the photo could be of some value to the others and simply stand on it's own merits , without bringing to the table an unnecessary pity to the man in the photo.
And this is precisely what I did - and the backstory came in later as I was asked about the man in the photo and so I decided to uncover these details. I didn't lie - which was very easy to do in this case, and I didn't stretch the story, nor did I created it to 'colourize' the otherwise bland shot in order to get someone's attention. There is nothing artificial or planned about this shot - I happened to be prepared to take it - the story is real as the man in that photo as the feelings one can read from his eyes...

@CeciProAm the photo is not of a homeless person - I am not sure if that was the case - but even if it did - what drew me to taking it was an extraordinary emotion on the face of this sleeping man and the powerful explression that he had - one can read both of these from this photo and this is what I think makes people stop and look and pay attention in this case - not the fact that it is (most probably ) a photo of a homeless. Also note the person wasn't napping in the safe place - it was right in the middle of crowded Portobello Street - and most certainly he was there to seek some attention , not to find 'a safe place to nap'
Thank you.

Originally posted by mosfet32

I nominate this photo. Great story. You can clearly see the beginnings of being surprised in his eyes (and thinking he is going to kick your butt!). Well done. Nice that you did not post-process the heck out of it.

Originally posted by Des

Nominated. Excellent portrait. Shows again what a skilful photographer can do with a kit lens.

Originally posted by ThomasHemming

Fantastic candid portrait! I nominate!

Originally posted by acbc

I nominate the photo for the mood and the story behind it.

Originally posted by RyanW

This is an excellent portrait that happens to be of a homeless person. This photograph stands on it's own merit. We don't need to know the man is homeless for it to be good. The tonality and presence is very good and makes it stand out in the gallery of submissions. While I'm not enamored with the backstory, I'm judging this photo on it's merit as a photo and I think it's quite good. Nominated.

Thank you guys for all the support and your nominations !!

**Tamia** · 06-03-2014, 04:29 AM - **1 Like**

I nominate this picture for its merits. It's a powerful portrait, skillfully shot and processed. I'd have nominated this picture without knowing anything about the backstory. When I first saw the picture, I thought the man might have been a relative or friend of yours, Manntax. There seems a kind of connection with the photographer.

For my feelings about the backstory? I can't say it better than RyanW. I could never have approached the man to photograph him, but I'm not a portrait nor a street photographer. Manntax, not only have you created (with the unwitting help of your subject) an evocative photo, but I would hazard to say you had courage to even try.

newzer · 06-03-2014, 10:36 AM - **1 Like**

Very cool black and white!

mike2034 · 06-03-2014, 01:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by manntax

This is one of the very few photos of a street photography that I ever took.. after some battling I decided to enter this photo into the contest...

I wanted to show an emotion of this old long suffering man who was resting with his crutch on a bench on the side of a busy street. People were passing by and seemed not noticing him at all.
I took 1 photo on which you can see all his appearance but I didn't like it - it was too obvious and ostentatious. I decided to go for a closer shot where I wanted to focus on his face while he was sleeping there. What struck me was the fact that although he was napping - his forehead and eyebrows were lifted like he was going through some excitement or amazement. It got me absolutely hypnotized with all the deep emotions written all over his face so I got really really close...

When I was about to shot I realised that he was slowly waking up !! Imagine how devastated I was while composing as his eyes began to slowly open and they looked like someone's who has blinked in the shot !

I resisted the urge to click and run ( I knew he wouldn't be happy seeing me there !) and waited for his eyes to open wider. As the cobwebs began to clear from his eyes I took the shot above - and literally a split of a second he went ballistic realising that there was a fellow with the camera right in his face ( ok it was maybe 1,5 meters away ) .. so we immediately had to run... When I see this photo I am fully aware that I sort of not only composed the frame but also the look in his eyes. The reality was : had I pressed the shutter a 1s earlier - and his eyes would've been closed while sleeping; would I click 1/4th of a second earlier - and his eyes were half open.. .This was either to NOT have the shot at all ( with him napping with deep emotions all over his face ) - or to wait and get a different look

I know I was a bit naughty back there :P - but I really wanted to talk to the person! Sadly it was not possible immediately after I snapped the shot, so I took a nice sized print of this photo and went in the same place next week - hoping that I would meet him and talk to and hand the print over and somehow clear the air so to speak :P - but sadly I never met him again .

The title is reflecting what I saw in his face while he was sleeping and I am very happy that this photo I eventually took is actually showing all these emotions also through the look of his eyes.

>>-manntax-->

I nominate this photo. It's a terrific B&W street photography !

manntax · 06-03-2014, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by Tamia

I nominate this picture for its merits. It's a powerful portrait, skillfully shot and processed. I'd have nominated this picture without knowing anything about the backstory. When I first saw the picture, I thought the man might have been a relative or friend of yours, Manntax. There seems a kind of connection with the photographer. For my feelings about the backstory? I can't say it better than RyanW. I could never have approached the man to photograph him, but I'm not a portrait nor a street photographer. Manntax, not only have you created (with the unwitting help of your subject) an evocative photo, but I would hazard to say you had courage to even try.

Originally posted by newzer

Very cool black and white!

Originally posted by mike2034

I nominate this photo. It's a terrific B&W street photography !

I am unspeakably pleased to know that so many viewers have seen in this photo something of a certain value.
Thank you so much for all these nominations and your kind comments !
,,,
' >' manntax

milmo · 06-03-2014, 11:47 PM - **1 Like**

I nominate this photo. Great candid. It is... human, let me say.

manntax · 06-04-2014, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by milmo

I nominate this photo. Great candid. It is... human, let me say.

I would like to thank all the voters that have nominated my photo to the round 2. I wouldn't make it without all your support and encouragement !

THANK YOU!
,,,
'>' manntax

-Spooky- · 06-04-2014, 01:48 PM

Although you know my reaction to this image, I would like to congratulate you on the many nominations and moving on to the next round!! Best of luck!

06-02-2014, 11:38 PM	#98
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pande @Spooky This is an excellent documentation of the real world and show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. You can read a lot from his face. The story behind it just make this photo more Powerful in my opinion. @Manntax Thanks for showing us this powerful photo, and in my opinion, one of the best photos in the contest Thank you Pande for your support and encouraging words.. I actually didn't want to stunt with his homelessness, but rather the humanity and the power of his expression that drew me in.. Originally posted by RyanW I've struggled with this photo. For some of the reasons that Spooky gives. In general I don't care for street photography of the homeless because usually it's done claiming it's documentary and drawing attention to their plight. Capital B. Capital S. Everyone knows homeless exist and I'll bet no one has done thing one about it because of a photograph and one more black and white hip shot of the homeless processed with structure at 100 is not going to make anyone take action either. Probably the perpetrators of these types of photos have seen the work of real pros, think Magnum level, and think if I just shoot the same subject, I'll be the real deal too. This photo is not what I describe above - at all. Originally posted by CeciProAm This photograph & the backstory have disturbed me from day one. I do not believe that the poor and disenfranchised live to satisfy our voyeurism or to win camera contests. If I knew nothing about how or why the photograph was taken, I might feel differently but knowing what I do know about how & why this photograph was taken, it continues to disturb me. I have worked with the homeless for over a decade, especially homeless veterans and finding a safe place to nap is a wonderful and rare occurrence. Diane Arbus took the photos she took because she saw the beauty in the subterranean lives that surround us, she did not exploit them. Mostly, I simply wish there was some catchlight in his eyes. The swirling black drags me in and down. This photograph should come with a soundtrack of The Jam's "That's Entertainment." I really appreciate the thoughtful comments of your both !! Yes, precisely my feelings - as I have already hinted in the description, I wasn't totally comfortable the way the shot was taken - which is one of the reasons I kept it unpublished and buried on my hard drive for the last 6 years !! However I was repeatedly encouraged by the comments from friends and family to not keep the photo hidden - so finally I started to believing that the photo could be of some value to the others and simply stand on it's own merits , without bringing to the table an unnecessary pity to the man in the photo. And this is precisely what I did - and the backstory came in later as I was asked about the man in the photo and so I decided to uncover these details. I didn't lie - which was very easy to do in this case, and I didn't stretch the story, nor did I created it to 'colourize' the otherwise bland shot in order to get someone's attention. There is nothing artificial or planned about this shot - I happened to be prepared to take it - the story is real as the man in that photo as the feelings one can read from his eyes... @CeciProAm the photo is not of a homeless person - I am not sure if that was the case - but even if it did - what drew me to taking it was an extraordinary emotion on the face of this sleeping man and the powerful explression that he had - one can read both of these from this photo and this is what I think makes people stop and look and pay attention in this case - not the fact that it is (most probably ) a photo of a homeless. Also note the person wasn't napping in the safe place - it was right in the middle of crowded Portobello Street - and most certainly he was there to seek some attention , not to find 'a safe place to nap' Thank you. Originally posted by mosfet32 I nominate this photo. Great story. You can clearly see the beginnings of being surprised in his eyes (and thinking he is going to kick your butt!). Well done. Nice that you did not post-process the heck out of it. Originally posted by Des Nominated. Excellent portrait. Shows again what a skilful photographer can do with a kit lens. Originally posted by ThomasHemming Fantastic candid portrait! I nominate! Originally posted by acbc I nominate the photo for the mood and the story behind it. Originally posted by RyanW This is an excellent portrait that happens to be of a homeless person. This photograph stands on it's own merit. We don't need to know the man is homeless for it to be good. The tonality and presence is very good and makes it stand out in the gallery of submissions. While I'm not enamored with the backstory, I'm judging this photo on it's merit as a photo and I think it's quite good. Nominated. Thank you guys for all the support and your nominations !! Last edited by manntax; 06-03-2014 at 01:04 AM.

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06-02-2014, 01:52 PM - 1 Like	#91
Pande Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Kristiansand S Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	@Spooky This is an excellent documentation of the real world and show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. You can read a lot from his face. The story behind it just make this photo more Powerful in my opinion. @Manntax Thanks for showing us this powerful photo, and in my opinion, one of the best photos in the contest

06-02-2014, 03:40 PM - 3 Likes	#92
RyanW Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 583	I've struggled with this photo. For some of the reasons that Spooky gives. In general I don't care for street photography of the homeless because usually it's done claiming it's documentary and drawing attention to their plight. Capital B. Capital S. Everyone knows homeless exist and I'll bet no one has done thing one about it because of a photograph and one more black and white hip shot of the homeless processed with structure at 100 is not going to make anyone take action either. Probably the perpetrators of these types of photos have seen the work of real pros, think Magnum level, and think if I just shoot the same subject, I'll be the real deal too. This photo is not what I describe above - at all. This is an excellent portrait that happens to be of a homeless person. This photograph stands on it's own merit. We don't need to know the man is homeless for it to be good. The tonality and presence is very good and makes it stand out in the gallery of submissions. While I'm not enamored with the backstory, I'm judging this photo on it's merit as a photo and I think it's quite good. Nominated.

06-02-2014, 03:51 PM - 1 Like	#93
ThomasHemming New Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 21	Fantastic candid portrait! I nominate!

06-02-2014, 09:57 PM - 1 Like	#94
acbc Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: California Posts: 45	I nominate the photo for the mood and the story behind it.

06-02-2014, 10:56 PM - 1 Like	#95
-Spooky- Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 140	Originally posted by manntax ... mushy-mashy shots of a wall we all have done enough while testing the lenses…. ...My photo is controversial; is provocative; is making the viewer react : stop and think… First- There is no wall in the image. I am not surprised at all that you didn't pick up on that. Second- You wanted to make the viewer react? I gave you my reaction to the combination of your image and the backstory. The only aspect of my comment that was a little off topic was about second account thing, which although not directly related to your photograph, shows an interesting parallel in how you operate. Maybe you should make a third account and fix the loophole where people are allowed to post negative comments on your work? Originally posted by Pande @Spooky ... show us that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. ... I have no problem with showing that there are people out there who don't have an ordinary life. What I do have a problem with is setting off a tired old man and running away, regardless of how bad someone wants the shot.

06-02-2014, 11:04 PM	#96
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by -Spooky- You wanted to make the viewer react? I gave you my reaction to the combination of your image and the backstory. We all know your hysteric reaction already - now go and dramatize somewhere else , will you ?

06-02-2014, 11:18 PM - 1 Like	#97
CeciProAm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 698	This photograph & the backstory have disturbed me from day one. I do not believe that the poor and disenfranchised live to satisfy our voyeurism or to win camera contests. If I knew nothing about how or why the photograph was taken, I might feel differently but knowing what I do know about how & why this photograph was taken, it continues to disturb me. I have worked with the homeless for over a decade, especially homeless veterans and finding a safe place to nap is a wonderful and rare occurrence. Diane Arbus took the photos she took because she saw the beauty in the subterranean lives that surround us, she did not exploit them. Mostly, I simply wish there was some catchlight in his eyes. The swirling black drags me in and down. This photograph should come with a soundtrack of The Jam's "That's Entertainment."

06-03-2014, 04:29 AM - 1 Like	#99
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	I nominate this picture for its merits. It's a powerful portrait, skillfully shot and processed. I'd have nominated this picture without knowing anything about the backstory. When I first saw the picture, I thought the man might have been a relative or friend of yours, Manntax. There seems a kind of connection with the photographer. For my feelings about the backstory? I can't say it better than RyanW. I could never have approached the man to photograph him, but I'm not a portrait nor a street photographer. Manntax, not only have you created (with the unwitting help of your subject) an evocative photo, but I would hazard to say you had courage to even try.

06-03-2014, 10:36 AM - 1 Like	#100
newzer Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 42	Very cool black and white!

06-03-2014, 01:28 PM - 1 Like	#101
mike2034 New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bordeaux Posts: 8	Originally posted by manntax This is one of the very few photos of a street photography that I ever took.. after some battling I decided to enter this photo into the contest... I wanted to show an emotion of this old long suffering man who was resting with his crutch on a bench on the side of a busy street. People were passing by and seemed not noticing him at all. I took 1 photo on which you can see all his appearance but I didn't like it - it was too obvious and ostentatious. I decided to go for a closer shot where I wanted to focus on his face while he was sleeping there. What struck me was the fact that although he was napping - his forehead and eyebrows were lifted like he was going through some excitement or amazement. It got me absolutely hypnotized with all the deep emotions written all over his face so I got really really close... When I was about to shot I realised that he was slowly waking up !! Imagine how devastated I was while composing as his eyes began to slowly open and they looked like someone's who has blinked in the shot ! I resisted the urge to click and run ( I knew he wouldn't be happy seeing me there !) and waited for his eyes to open wider. As the cobwebs began to clear from his eyes I took the shot above - and literally a split of a second he went ballistic realising that there was a fellow with the camera right in his face ( ok it was maybe 1,5 meters away ) .. so we immediately had to run... When I see this photo I am fully aware that I sort of not only composed the frame but also the look in his eyes. The reality was : had I pressed the shutter a 1s earlier - and his eyes would've been closed while sleeping; would I click 1/4th of a second earlier - and his eyes were half open.. .This was either to NOT have the shot at all ( with him napping with deep emotions all over his face ) - or to wait and get a different look I know I was a bit naughty back there :P - but I really wanted to talk to the person! Sadly it was not possible immediately after I snapped the shot, so I took a nice sized print of this photo and went in the same place next week - hoping that I would meet him and talk to and hand the print over and somehow clear the air so to speak :P - but sadly I never met him again . The title is reflecting what I saw in his face while he was sleeping and I am very happy that this photo I eventually took is actually showing all these emotions also through the look of his eyes. >>-manntax--> I nominate this photo. It's a terrific B&W street photography !

06-03-2014, 03:09 PM	#102
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by Tamia I nominate this picture for its merits. It's a powerful portrait, skillfully shot and processed. I'd have nominated this picture without knowing anything about the backstory. When I first saw the picture, I thought the man might have been a relative or friend of yours, Manntax. There seems a kind of connection with the photographer. For my feelings about the backstory? I can't say it better than RyanW. I could never have approached the man to photograph him, but I'm not a portrait nor a street photographer. Manntax, not only have you created (with the unwitting help of your subject) an evocative photo, but I would hazard to say you had courage to even try. Originally posted by newzer Very cool black and white! Originally posted by mike2034 I nominate this photo. It's a terrific B&W street photography ! I am unspeakably pleased to know that so many viewers have seen in this photo something of a certain value. Thank you so much for all these nominations and your kind comments ! ,,, ' >' manntax

06-03-2014, 11:47 PM - 1 Like	#103
milmo Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 39	I nominate this photo. Great candid. It is... human, let me say.

06-04-2014, 03:38 AM	#104
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by milmo I nominate this photo. Great candid. It is... human, let me say. I would like to thank all the voters that have nominated my photo to the round 2. I wouldn't make it without all your support and encouragement ! THANK YOU! ,,, '>' manntax

06-04-2014, 01:48 PM	#105
-Spooky- Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 140	Although you know my reaction to this image, I would like to congratulate you on the many nominations and moving on to the next round!! Best of luck!