photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty Four: The Workplace -- essence of a culture > Street performer, Union Square Park, New York City, New York, 2010
previous | next
13-JUL-2010

Street performer, Union Square Park, New York City, New York, 2010

A street performer, spattered in gold paint, takes a break beneath a sequined fabric. He wears an “I love New York” shirt, but at the moment, his loyalties are rooted in sleep. The fabric abstracts him, yet its embellishments complement the golden arm that is left exposed to the crowds that surge past him. His performance – and that’s what this image is all about – is temporarily and incongruously on hold.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
1/320s f/5.6 at 200.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis11-Aug-2010 23:11
Thanks, Tim, for seeing this as "standing normal on its head." That is the essence of incongruity. I am not interested in his performance, or even what he might look like. I was interested that he can simply pull a cloak over his body and go to sleep in the middle of one of the world's busiest parks in the middle of the morning.
Tim May11-Aug-2010 19:03
Street performer are there to entertain for the money - and often resent photographs being taking without money going into the hat. Yet, again, here you stand the normal on its head - we see the human - the actor off stage. I like it.
Phil Douglis09-Aug-2010 18:49
Thanks, Carol, and Rose, for these thoughts. You both bring up incongruous ideas here. He abstracts himself by crawling beneath a showy cloak to catch a nap at mid-day in one of the busiest parks in the city, which echoes your thought, Rose. And he reveals only his gilded elbow to us, which does resemble sculpture as you note, Carol.
sunlightpix08-Aug-2010 22:27
The street performer sleeps in the city that never sleeps.
Carol E Sandgren08-Aug-2010 20:47
The temporary restfulness of his repose creates a sculpture in itself, I doubt would happen when his perfomance is in motion.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment