Sunday morning, Shanghai, China, 2004 by Phil Douglis

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Fourteen: Expressing the meaning of buildings and structures > Sunday morning, Shanghai, China, 2004

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13-JUN-2004

Sunday morning, Shanghai, China, 2004

Shanghai may be the most dynamic city in China, yet not a creature was moving when I made this photo over Nanjing Road very early on a Sunday morning. The shot contains really nothing more than a mass of buildings, but I have made sure that morning haze and backlighting have abstracted them into ever diminishing shapes as they recede into the mist. The spires and towers of several early 20th Century buildings tell us that Shanghai’s businesses go back a long way, which is why the city is such a fascinating place to visit. A long history of entrepreneurship is reflected in this view of one of China’s most famous shopping streets. It’s not what we actually see that’s important here – it’s what I’ve implied by this massing of structures representing a great span of time.

Canon PowerShot S400
1/1600s f/11.0 at 22.2mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		07-Jan-2005 18:23
Thanks, Jen. You make another important point here. It is always easy to interest people in what for them may be "far away" and exotic subjects. In other words, somebody who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, might find this image of interest just because they have never been to Shanghai, and it gives them a sense or feeling for the place itself. On the other hand, to say something about Shanghai to someone like yourself who actually lives there, and has come to this very spot many times herself, is much harder. For you, I must make the familiar unfamiliar. I do that here by shooting in the early morning, while the city is just waking up. The veil, as you call it, still drapes its face. This is Shanghai as you have never seen it before. Thanks, Jen, for allowing this picture to enter your mind and imagination, and thank you also for telling me how much it means to you. I won't forget it either.

Jennifer Zhou		07-Jan-2005 07:41
After our conversations, the picture became another one resides in my mind! I came here many times but never in the morning, now you took me there and I will never forget. Jen

Phil Douglis		06-Jan-2005 20:58
Thanks, Jen, for the quick response. You make a good point about the clash in mood and that rather ugly barrier. But I made it dark enough to be somewhat abstract, and am glad you accept its purpose here. I agree that if I was shooting this scene again, I would have added more depth to the base of the image to make it seem more substantial. I knew the vertical pole would drive you nuts, because your own compositions are so pure and clean. But now that you are smiling about it, I know you must now really feel the sense of depth and perspective that this pole brings to all the other poles in the picture. I am thrilled that you have an open enough mind to change your views, and come to see my picture with fresh eyes. I want you to be as critical as you possibly can be of my images, Jen, because that will help you learn much more quickly and deeply. I also know that you will bring to your criticisms, a truly open mind, which allows you to see the reasons behind whatever I do and evaluate their worth with new eyes.

Jennifer Zhou		06-Jan-2005 06:39
Dear Phil, Thank you for the long responding comment, I am sure that me and other viewers can learn a lot from it. Sorry I didn't tell you why I don't like the thing in the foreground earlier, I just feel it doesn't go very well with the overall mood here, the solid dark takes me back to reality when my eyes are lead to far away enjoying the mysterious moment. Since you told me the construction barrier is there to block the distractions and serves as a base for the buildings, I think I agree with you on this. Also do you think it would be better if we have more space at the bottom because the base doesn't seem very solid. And for the vertical pole, I have to say this is a really tricky one. I didn't think I can ever compromise on it because this sigle pole is really abrupt and abstracted to me. But after reading your explaination, and then look at this picture again, a big smile on my face.:) I see your your points and I am so fantasized! I really love this picture now and you taught me here some really good lessons too! Thank, Jen

Phil Douglis		05-Jan-2005 23:27
Good to have you back in my galleries again, Jen, for your first comment in 2005. I love the way you sum up Shanghai, your own town, as a "beautiful lady lingering between past and present." This image is about a feeling, more than describing the appearance of the structures themselves. I abstract them through that veil of haze you mention, as well as the backlighting. I would also hope that this image will prod the imagination of its viewers to think about that "story we can not see here" you mentioned. And yes, beginning in 2005, Jen does "have" to find at least something to criticize in my pictures, or it won't be a well rounded Jen comment. I particularly welcome your criticism, Jen, because it is a gift to me from one of the most brilliant photographers I know. Your critical comments are always thought provoking and usually lead to learning for both you and me. So let's get to it. You say the "dark thing at the bottom and the vertical steel tube "kind of distracted" you. First, let me say that there is no such thing as "kind of distracted." It's like being half-pregnant. Either these things distracted you from the mood and meaning of this picture, or they did not. My guess is that they did. You were just going a bit easy on me here, right? Another thing I'd ask. If you find something distracts you, can you tell us why? That would help me respond even more effectively to your criticisms. Maybe after I get through explaining why I made the picture incorporating these elements, you won't be as distracted, because you will see that they do serve a valid purpose. I never would put such elements as this into a picture if I did not feel they helped me get my ideas across. That dark thing at the bottom is a construction barrier, which did two things for this image. First, it blocks out all the cars and people who were on the street behind it. I wanted a sense of quiet here, a mass of buildings only. No crowds, no cars. Secondly, it provides an abstract anchor for the bottom of the image, giving those vertical buildings a horizontal base to grow out of. As for that vertical steel tube, I wanted it to help give structure to this picture by rhythmically repeating the vertical thrusts of the street lights in the center of the picture and the flag poles that rise from at least three of the buildings on either side of the street. Its presence adds a sense of depth to the picture that it otherwise would not have. Neither the construction barrier or the pole add any meaning in themselves, but they both proved to be helpful to me in structuring the picture itself. I define a distraction as something that has no function whatsoever in a picture, yet it competes with its meaning. I don't think these two things meet that definition. I would be interested in your response to my reasoning, Jen, and I thank you for this excellent comment, and particularly for your criticism. The purpose of this picture is to teach, and I hope your criticism may have taught you something here. Let me know if it did. And thanks again for coming.

Jennifer Zhou		05-Jan-2005 15:12
Phil, I love the feeling here too, shenghai is a charming city both in modern history and now in this new century for it combines mixed cultures. As we can see old buildings, new buildings, western buildings and tranditional chinese buildings alone this famous shopping street. The moring haze really helps to define the character of the city, I always feel the city is like a beautiful lady lingering between past and present, and she is at her most beauty when we can't see through her veil just like the haze does here. There always more story than what we see, what we know, and that keeps the city so fascinating! If I have to criticize, I would say there is the dark thing at the bottom and the vertical steel tube kind of distracted. Do you have special reason for them to be there? Jen

Phil Douglis		26-Sep-2004 00:15
i felt that softness, too, Bruce. It was Sunday morning, and for once, Nanjing Road was blessedly quiet. You can almost hear the sounds of silence here, can't you? Phil

Guest		25-Sep-2004 17:50
I love the "feel" of this photo. You have given the city a softness that is inviting - for exploration, or even just rest.

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