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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Two: Travel Incongruities > Freeloader, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2005
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19-JUN-2005

Freeloader, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2005

One of the many herons that feed on the fish in the canals and rivers of Amsterdam awaits a free meal, courtesy of a fisherman on the Amstel River. The fisherman incongruously appears to be conversing with the bird, perhaps even gesturing to it. Actually, he is just reaching for his fishing line. This image is a study in a spatial relationship – the water in the foreground and background isolate the narrow pier, and put bird and man on the same plane – quite alone with each other. The bird keeps its distance – it extends its beak toward the man just as the man extends his arm towards the bird, but will come no closer. The man appears to be talking to it, but I doubt if the bird is listening. All it wants is a free breakfast, which it never got. The man did not catch any fish while I was watching this little encounter, and the bird flew off in a huff. Yet they did offer us what appears to be an incongruous conversation. For a few moments, I even thought they were old friends.

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Phil Douglis22-Jul-2006 05:26
Your story works well with this image, Emi. I had hoped that it would encourage my viewers to use their imaginations and get inside the mind of both man and bird. And you have. Thanks.
Guest 22-Jul-2006 03:31
This picture reminds me of a very interesting story and a saying of an anicent philosopher of China " Zhong zi"( not sure if the name is right when its translated into english).
Zhong zi was watching a man who was looking at some fishes in a pond. The man thought the fishes were very happy swimming. Then Zhone zi said to the man that how could he tell the fishes were happy when he was not a fish himself.

Everyone of us, see what we want to see, think what we want to think, do what we want to do. Just like this picture - it seems like the man thought by doing what he was doing( the gesture)that he could get the heron to do what he wanted it to do. Did we ever ask the heron what it really wants? Maybe it doesnt even want a fish for lunch.

Very interesting philosophy.

Emi
Phil Douglis06-Dec-2005 19:26
Glad you now see the incongruity, AJ.
Guest 06-Dec-2005 17:09
thanks phil for you patience --- I am beginning to understand --- the bird is like a fisherman sitting on the pier ... yes!
Phil Douglis05-Dec-2005 17:04
I see incongruity as elements that seem to be at odds with their context. The subject here is the bird. Birds that live on fish are not normally seen sitting on a pier alongside of a fisherman. So the bird is at odds with its context here.
Hope this will clear up any confusion.
Guest 05-Dec-2005 15:04
Phil, I am still having problems with some of these images ... I think incongruent is here the wrong word. I can't see an incongruence (sorry), just an ostensible or apparent conversation, and there is a sense of congruence between the two subjects, albeit an illusory one.
Phil Douglis03-Dec-2005 03:46
Well put, Alister. Which all goes to show you that it's not the subject of the picture itself that really matters, but what the photographer has to say about that subject! We are both photographing large birds, but in completely different ways. Yet as you say, we both achieve a similar result by prodding our viewers to use their imaginations to interact with these amazing creatures.
alibenn03-Dec-2005 03:40
Ha, thanks Phil for the comment on my Egret image:http://www.pbase.com/image/53042018

yes, we're very much trying to do different things, but interestingly the end result is the same. Your image gives an insight into the Herons personality, while mine allows a view rarely seen even by observers of birds. The fishrman interacts with the Heron, the viewer interacts with the beauty and elegance of my Egret. And the birds, well, they just do their thing and are sometimes graceous enough to let us in for a short while.

Alister
Phil Douglis11-Nov-2005 05:18
Please come again, A.M.P. and tell me more about what you see in my images. Thank you.
AMP09-Nov-2005 21:39
Person and nature.The conflict opposition .
Mankind for the sake of oneself.HAVE already deprived the existence space of other living creatures.
Delicate tool of the high intelligence.Not necessarily win the instinct of low etc. living creature.
This is the second standpoint that I see this image.
Certainly.One eye.The humor of the pantomime sort .
I came again.Continue to learn the second curriculum .
Phil Douglis13-Jul-2005 22:40
Glad you are the first to comment on this shot, Rod. Two Fisherman -- a great title. But so, too, is Freeloader. It all depends upon the context you bring to this image. And once again, it is what left unsaid that draws the imagination of the viewer into play.
Guest 13-Jul-2005 16:24
Hahaha. It's great. My first thought, before reading the title was "Two Fishermen" and he was asking the bird "so what do you use for bait?" :)
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