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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Seventy Seven: Communication on the go > Trouble, New York City, New York, 2010
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10-JUL-2010

Trouble, New York City, New York, 2010

The flowers that separate a sidewalk café from the sidewalk itself make a tempting target for the curious hands of this youngster. The baby-sitter (probably its father), is momentarily distracted by something on the screen of his smartphone. By shooting the child from behind, and simultaneously shooting the man as he hides behind his hand and phone, I abstract both subjects and invite the viewer’s imagination to join in the fun. We see neither of their faces here. Instead we wonder how long it may take the man to discover what is going on amidst the flowers.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
1/250s f/6.3 at 200.0mm iso400 full exif

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Phil Douglis11-Aug-2010 16:42
What a wonderful way to see this shot, Tim. You have added a new prism of meaning here for me -- both man and child are indeed lost in their own worlds here. You see them as generational seekers of beauty, while I see them each seeking information in their own way, the child through touching and the parent through seeing.
Tim May11-Aug-2010 02:03
Ah the wonders of the mind - my take on this is so different from yours. I see generations of seekers of beauty. Both the child and the father are reaching to take hold of the world around them one through his eye and one through his or her hand.
Phil Douglis08-Aug-2010 20:16
Thank you for mentioning the color here, Rose. It is an important element of the picture. As you note, the shirt is an extension of the color of the flowers, moving from violet to orange. Actually, it is a three way blend of color, adding in the out of focus passerby in the blue shirt. The contrast in the differing scale of the arms and the textures of the skin works as well here.
sunlightpix08-Aug-2010 18:52
The orange shirt transforms the child into a beautiful flower in the man's grasp. I like the strong arms of the man compared to the youngster's, and the man's beard stubble compared to the child's smooth cheek.
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