52924986 photo - Jennifer Zhou photos at pbase.com

photo sharing and upload

picture albums

photo forums

search pictures

popular photos

photography help

login

Jennifer Zhou | all galleries >> Galleries >> Shanghai Subway >

previous | next


26-NOV-2005

Canon EOS 10D
1/30s f/3.5 at 18.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

previous | next

Jennifer Zhou, 2004 Copyrighted, all rights reserved.

Guest		05-Feb-2007 23:48
Stark contrast and full of irony - the picture speaks for itself. See my ping here:http://www.pbase.com/gravitino/image/72701076

Guest		06-Mar-2006 06:48
this pictuer remand me think of my old time, i very like it.

Jennifer Zhou		06-Dec-2005 06:52
Thanks Kal for coming back! And thanks for speaking to my heart when you say "the man who can see, who is truly blind..." Many of us take things in everyday life for granted, and forgot to appreciate, but when we stop and think a bit, we start to realize everything in life is actually priceless because as we all know life is short; many things, good or bad, we probably only experense once in life, and some people who are walking by or taking the same bus with us, we probably will never meet again. And when we get lucky, we have chance to meet some great people and make friends with them, we should really appreciate more. They come to our lives to make us better, do we want to miss any bit of that by being senseless? I use this picture to remind myself: feel things with all my heart, live my life with all my heart..I don't want to miss a thing in life...

Kal Khogali		06-Dec-2005 01:06
I came back, because tis image says so much on so many levels, and I actually see and appreiciate his interpretation of it very much. My comment which was short probably did not express clearly my feelings on it Jen. You see, I feel a great contradiction here. The man who can see, who is truly blind...do you understand what I mean? But, the man who can not see, who sees beauty through the sound of his music. If that man walking by stopped for a second, he might see the beauty (and I like the advert!) both visual and audible before him, and then maybe, just for a moment, he might notice that bowl, and put something in it...and then he would truly be no longer the blind one....I hope I have expressed myself better and done this picture justice. K

Guest		03-Dec-2005 03:32
Wonderful shot Jennifer, love the story that's given of the obliviousness and the street performer-

Guest		30-Nov-2005 22:43
shelter from the storm regard me not I am not here shelter from the storm my colours cry you hear me laugh shelter from the storm

Phil Douglis		29-Nov-2005 23:38
**** This image uses layers and range of colors to express its powerful message. It begins in the foreground with the dark blurred man, who represents an uncaring world, without feeling or compassion. The next layer is the subject layer -- the blind musician. He can't see this uncaring world, but he knows it is there. He feels it, and his empty little bowl tells him that it does not care. That bowl is the only spot of color in the middleground layer. And then there is the Chevrolet advertisement -- a screaming world of color in the background layer. The musicians back is to it -- he could not see it even if he could see. He can't, and we can. This final color layer shouts its fantasy at us -- it is a fool's world of commercialism, advertising cars to people who can't drive in a city that has little space to drive. His empty yellow bowl is a metaphor for the raw and hard truth of life. The ultimate incongruity is that ad -- the only other color in the picture. It is a metaphor for greed. I would not crop it -- the Chevrolet logo gives a corporate context to that world of color, and that is part of the metaphor here. Don't worry about using it for "stock" -- it is a work of art, and you should not alter your art for the sake of commerce. At least at this stage of your career. This image goes well beyond this blind man and his meager bowl and unheard music and unseen life. It goes beyond the blurred man who roars past, his wheeled luggage in tow. He never sees any of it. He is too wrapped up in his own little world to look beyond his own nose. And it goes beyond the wildly colored corporate poster, which pleads for attention while delivering its hollow message. The ultimate player in this scene is you, Jen. You see it all, the uncaring world, the tragic victim, the crass and strident shout of commerce. You bring it all together in this frame because you care enough to make us all stop and think about what it really means to be human.

Kal Khogali		29-Nov-2005 15:30
Sometimes people forget the beauty in life. Colour and music, what more could help us survive in such a dreary underworld.

Guest		29-Nov-2005 13:06
I was just thinking about Peter's cropping idea. Personally I like this crop. But, if you plan to use the photo as a "stock" photo then he has a point, as corporate logos can't be displayed in stock, without written permission (I think).

Guest		29-Nov-2005 13:02
The color makes the photo. I love its vibrant nature and wonderfully contrasting greens and reds, which attracts attention. I also think the photo's placement helps the photo-essay, overall (giving me a sense one is entering the station). It's VERY ironic a car advertisment is placed inside a subway station. hahaha. I bet a number of people walking by that colorful display thinks "man, with all these crowds, I wish I can get a car." Glad to see you shooting again! :)

Piotr Siejka		29-Nov-2005 13:01
Hi, Jen, lovely shot... though I think if you cropped just underneath the Chevrolet logo the pic would be much stronger... Cheers

Ray :)		29-Nov-2005 09:18
Marvellous!