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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty Four: The Workplace -- essence of a culture > Food Packer, Huay Xai, Laos, 2005
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18-JAN-2005

Food Packer, Huay Xai, Laos, 2005

As soon as I entered the large market hall at Huay Xia, I saw the potential for a striking workplace image. A huge canvas awning was stretched from floor to ceiling across one side of the hall, open on all four sides, to cool the heat of the afternoon sun. It was made up entirely of cool blue and gray striping, and with the sunlight passing through it, it was beautifully translucent. All I needed to do was to look for people working directly in front of it. They would become silhouetted, backlit abstract figures, symbolizing the physical work that goes into maintaining such a market as this. I found my subject in this woman, who was busily packing food into a container. I photographed her just as she was completing her task and sealing the container in a plastic bag. Her body language was perfect. She seems to be saying “There! Almost done!”.

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Donald Verger06-Jun-2005 09:10
great image! voted!
Phil Douglis14-Apr-2005 19:10
You have a good eye and a sharp memory, Dandan. I made these images, which appear in two different galleries, in the same market, and only a few moments apart. There was such strong translucent backlight coming through this blue tarp, and through the umbrella's colorful fabric in the other image you link us to, that I wanted to make the most of it as an abstracting force. Your knowledge of photographic expression has increased to the point where you are also able to clearly define the reasons I used silhouettes to abstract both images. You even answered your own question beautifully, by telling me exactly why I chose to include the vertical pole in this picture. It does indeed rhythmically repeat the vertical thrust of the woman, and provides counterpoint to the flow of all of those horizontal lines in the background.
Guest 14-Apr-2005 17:07
Phil, this one remands the other one of yours:http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/40167589. In both images, you used silhouette and environmental backdrop to bring out the action, instead of the actor itself… The blue color in this one adds the shady feeling to it, as this little girl’s life goes on without being noticed…
What is the reason that you included the vertical pole in the image? To break the dominated horizontal lines, to balance the composition?
Phil Douglis18-Mar-2005 22:13
I thought the color added a lot of atmosphere to this image. It also looked great in black and white since it is so abstract, but the blue kept calling to me, so it is in color and in this workplace gallery. And you also right about its sense of "pace" (pun intended!). She did not seem to be rushing anything.
Guest 18-Mar-2005 20:38
Wonderful. The blueness gives a pleasantly cool and relaxed feeling... I can sense that she is careful, methodical, working at a measured pace.
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