08-07-2018 / Personal Visions #6: The Contemplating Man
The Contemplating Man - V1
I hereby present the sixth entry of the Personal Visions series: The Contemplating Man.
Technical commentary:
This photograph is the kind that I call a "Make or Fail" shot.
By "Make or Fail" I mean you either make the shot or you fail in the attempt to do so because you only get exactly one chance to get it.
In this regard, Personal Visions #4: New Horizons falls within that category as well.
Originally, there was another person next to the man, and when I visualized this shot, I was contemplating both of them in the picture, but she walked away as soon as I raised my camera.
The man in the picture stood there for 3 seconds more and then he left. I'm still not sure if he did because it was time to do so or because he saw me and didn't want to get his picture taken.
In all fairness, the idea was never to capture anything that could identify him or compromise his privacy. In my head, he was always a silhouette.
Interestingly enough, this is one of the few pictures I've ever shot at 1/8000. If you don't know what that is, that means the shooting speed of the camera. The 1 in the number represents 1 second and the 8000 means 8 thousands of a second.
In other words, it's incredibly fast for a photograph. A normal speed to shoot a hummingbird is 1/1000 or a thousandth of a second. The more parts you split a second in, the quicker the shot.
Usually there aren't many chances to shoot at such a high speed, but this was one of them for two reasons: 1) the immense amount of light in the environment at the time of shooting and 2) as soon as the picture was taken, the man was gone, there was no chance for more.
Another factor to consider is that I was crossing a street while taking the picture and I couldn't stop for too long. Summing up all these circumstances, it was either make or fail.
Of course, there had to be different versions of this picture. There is even one in B&W but it didn't work for me and I reject the idea of using B&W to make things look more "artistic" just for the sake of it. It works or it doesn't. This time it didn't.
Version 2 definitely has more contrast and looks like I shot it in Venus whereas Version 1 looks more natural for some reason even though they share a lot of adjustments but the difference being that V1 has a smoother transition of tones compared to V2.
One fun fact: V1 is actually a B&W image... Bonus points shall be awarded to you if you can figure out why it doesn't look that way.
The black stripe on the far right could have been eliminated in post-production but I decided to keep it. It works as a visual stop for the picture and at the same time, it works in conjunction with the rail and the floor of the picture to create a frame within a frame to lock the eye on the photo's subjects: the man and the sun.
One thing I did add in post-production was the light streak on the right. I needed a visual indicator of movement but due to the high speed used, it had to be added after the original capture. It had to be on the right side in order to enhance the message of the overall picture. Visually it would have been lost if I had placed it on the left.
This shot is an example of how things can be done properly even with the shortest amount of time and with only one chance if you're prepared properly for it.
Personal comment:
This photograph came to be like a thunder in various ways: the shot itself was taken in a split second, the idea for it came to me in an instant, and the moment only lasted for an eye blink.
I had to use the contents of the picture to my advantage, otherwise it would have been a waste and you don't waste inspiration and a good opportunity; you seize the day and win.
For me, this picture shows a man who is deliberating about something and he has finally come to a conclusion; he has solved something in his mind and now doubts are dissipating.
The sun is that idea that provides a gateway to solve the issue and now the clouds are being pushed away along with the darkness of ignorance, represented by the black stripe on the right edge.
The light streak I added seems to be pushing that ignorance away, and that's why it was important to add it in the photograph; it's a representation of movement from the sun. Like a solar flare being ejected into space.
The idea has been so clear and precise that it pushes away all barriers for a solution. If it doesn't solve, it's dissolved.
The black stripe is part of a wall from a government building. I had to compose it within the picture because of the immediacy required and the angle I shot from. If I had taken the time to compose the photo without it, I would have lost the photograph completely.
I could have removed it in post-production and leave the man floating in the sky, but that would have been a completely different picture and quite frankly one that I have seen too many times before. Taking in account the name of this series, it's clear that I'm not here to repeat other people's vision, but to express mine.
So I decided to keep it and use it to enhance the message in the picture. If it had been removed, the light streak would have been rendered useless and would look odd.
I've always found interesting how that kind of small details can completely alter the message, look or intention of a photograph and it also stresses the point of having a clear concept to start from. One time I read a definition of the word "composition" that really made a lot of sense to me and has been my mantra ever since.
It went along the lines: "Composition is the process of removing all that's not needed in a photograph". If I recall correctly, it was Ken Rockwell who said that.
That concept applies to anything in my opinion which also circles back to the point I made above: "if it doesn't solve, it's dissolved".
I'll close with another quote; this one is from Jonas Blaine. He once said "Inspiration is a momentary cessation of stupidity". It is during those moments that the bright bulb goes off above our heads and washes that stupidity away.
The Contemplating Man - V2
I wonder about what you wonder
What are you solving?
Is it death?
Is it life?
Is it silence?
Is it clamor?
Will you share your thoughts with me?
Will I ever hear the answers you can provide?
I don't want to be annoying
I'm just in need of knowledge
Take me over
Beyond the obscurity of my ignorance
Far away from the clouds of doubt and uncertainty
Take me over
To the bridge of wisdom
Where knowledge shines perennial
And ideas explode into the sky constantly
I wonder about what you wonder
You contemplate so deeply I can't read into your eyes
Am I not worthy?
Or should I ask the same questions you ponder?
Perhaps your lesson for me is not to depend on your knowledge
But to develop mine
To find the replies to my own questions
To resolve issues on my own
I understand now
Let me contemplate that for a while
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