Another morning running through some streets of Zurich for just attending yet another useless conference. The whole atmosphere while waiting for the bus was of that depressive kind when all works fine but nobody knows what sense it makes. There were more noises from cars and machines than human voices on the street and so I tried to capture that atmosphere that should be full of people. But they were either travelling or in some offices doing who knows what for whatever reason.
You sublimed the whole character of the photo in a few meaningful words, Luis, for which I can only be glad.
The rational mood, of which you talk about, is necessary for departing from the scene, studying it thoroughly before the shot, in order to not fall into the kitschy. Neing too strongly connected with the own work leads to exaggeration which is then a nightmare since one is no more able to judge in a more objective way about what should be in the scene, how it should be depicted, and the like. In othe words, I don't shoot simply out of some "feeling". Many empty words have been said about "feeling" and the like, but if we ask for example some professional musician on stage, he/she always mentions that it is not simply "feeling" but hard(est) work.
Quite the contrary I would say about wide angle. Wide angle is one of the most difficult, but also strongest kinds of photography. One has to put all things into the right perspective, since it is the *scene* that makes sense and not the detail. Much like the scientific search for a general understanding instead of remaining to details for ever that wouldn't help to produce a "picture of the world" in mind. Robert Capa didn't said that as a general warning against wide angle, but rather as an additional thing to think about when judgung about the lookings of the scenen. He himslef and many others delivered stunning images by using wide angles.
Actually the mania for always isolating details in recent times is for me a sickness of current photography. It almost turned photography to microscopy without any reference to the frame in which anything can exist and evolve. Anybody can go near and make a macro - that's work for the kids. But to manage to make a two dimensional image with a visible 3rd dimension, the depth, to put everything in scene, to be aware of the perpective and the depth - this demands thoughts and detaching from the own work. Much like any good director of theater plays does.
Seing things from a distant point wouldn't give us any tremendous details but something even more important. The interdependence of all things that participate in a scene and the way that they influence each other in the process of creating a coherent view.
Always an author photography speaks alone in this case I see two questions first the atmosphere of the Zurich street without humans is perfect,and also the depressive clime, the colour gives the feels, but also the perspective of the capture was a rational mood..why?
Well the letters in the left and the bus in the background gives that expressive question.- Altough there is more...you had use negative film BETTER...more merit in the digital age, and other big question for is the use of the WIDE ANGLE, one of my prefer lens.- Robert Cappa,one of the biggest in the world said: If the image not looks well is because you was not near..." And that is the wide angle use.- Really a good image, maybe not fine art...but I think that wasn't the intention, for me is an AUTHOR PHOTO, we call author photo to an image without hard rules...MY WARMEST REGARDS AND A BIG HUG.luis:)
Thank you very much for the nice and detailed comment, Jimmy, that makes me take a seond look on the image because of your thoughst about the sign and the rails. I can see what you mean! It does influence the geometry very strongly!
thanks a lot for your nice, detailed comment, Dave! I also find that such scenes under clouds and with wet streets/pavements have a special kind of atmosphere.
Hi Nick, wow what a great street photography, & reading your about. I can really see the whole idea of this shot. I like the way you see things! well done E.
hai nick....how r u?...it was a good composition here,.i see a corelation between the sign and the curve of the train rail... love the tone..i feel the morning here...fresh..!!
I like your composition here with the curve of the tracks, Nick, and the reflections on the wet pavement and overcast sky give it lots of atmosphere.' Dave.
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