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cat170 — Blind Spot
Published: 2012-03-04 04:37:22 +0000 UTC; Views: 2627; Favourites: 165; Downloads: 0
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Two guys in an alley....only one came back out.Related content
Comments: 16
Hope you don't mind me featuring your work on my site.
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My first observation about this photograph is "It's definitely a photograph, not a still from a film" but I wasn't immediately sure why the thought entered my mind, or why I thought that to be the case in the first place. And then I figured out that it was because of the colour.
I like your use of colour here - a blue tint rather than a straight up gray scale photo. It adds more character to the setting (which to me is the focal point of the photo rather than your two subjects, more later) which makes it a good and interesting photograph, rather than some video still from an 80's drama filmed in black and white that I'm not really interested in. It also creates a less menacing atmosphere - a great juxtaposition with your description "Two guys in an alley.... only one came back out." Had it been in black and white, it would have been blindingly obvious and you wouldn't have this sense of mystery and intrigue that has been created by a softer tonality.
After noticing the colour, my eye is then drawn to the graffiti on the furthest wall in the photograph - it is the lightest/brightest part of the whole photograph. It then wanders up the wall following the fire escape into the various doors and windows of that brick building. Then the rest of the graffiti on the other walls, and then the rubbish. Oddly enough the last thing I notice are the 2 men. It's incredible how the essence of this being a city-life photograph is not taken away by having the 2 men there - in some cases they would have been distracting. I think this is partly ("partly", because I'm convinced there are other things at work here that I can't quite put my finger on) due to the inconspicuous body language of the human subject. The guy on the left has his hands in his jacket pockets, pulling the jacket more closely around his body. His back is hunched and he appears to be looking down. The other guy has his hood up and is also keeping a low profile with his hunched back. They're just passers by, they're not interesting. The rest of the photograph is, and somehow these people's presence is so... expendable. Now, I don't know if this is a good thing. I like it that they're not the focus. But if they're not the focus, then why are they there at all?
I almost think that the photograph would be all in all better if they're not there at all. However, I do say "almost." Because the photograph might well be "better" and clearer if these two weren't there... but it would be boring. I wonder what the effect would be if you used a tripod and set your camera to a long exposure - the background will stay intact but as these two walk on, the camera will pick up on their "ghosts" and you will be left with an implication of some people having BEEN there. It will also better suit your "Two guys in an alley... only one came back out" concept. I also think it would have work well with the blue tint - certainly the image would be more so mysterious and intriguing and over all the photo will be more.. interesting.
After writing the above I read through the comments. Things that stood out were "City-life at its best" and "intriguing" - funny because I used identical words!
I hope this is the kind of comment you were after when you asked for a critique, and I hope it's useful 
Raphy x
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Oh yes i forgot to mention...this photo was taken as i was seatted in my car waiting to pick someone up....i barely had enough time to snap 3 shots off. If could stage this photo, the long shutter speed is a must! Thank you
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Thank you , happy you like it
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Brilliant photo! It shows 'City Life' in its best manner! Great work!
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