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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Forty-Eight: Telling stories with pictures > Fruit stand, Shanghai, China, 2007
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08-SEP-2007

Fruit stand, Shanghai, China, 2007

On a quiet, tree-lined street in Shanghai's 19th Century French Concession, fruit vendors wait for customers on a long summer evening. In this image, mood and atmosphere carry the story forward. Light and color draw the eye to the stand, an oasis of nature incongruously sailing upon a sea of concrete. The man at left displays the perks of ownership – he sits in a comfortable chair, while the other vendor forgoes a stool, and uses a tree for support. The story line is set, framing the question “where are the customers?” Yet one gets the feeling that they may be just around the corner. The stand has a permanent storefront, indicating longevity and prosperity.

Leica D-Lux 3
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Phil Douglis15-Oct-2007 05:24
Good point, Tim. The warmth of the light and the beauty of the colors in that shop illuminate an otherwise barren cityscape. It could very well be all about nourishment, not just for the body, but for the eye as well.
Tim May14-Oct-2007 23:33
A metaphor for nourishment - amid the drabness of life food offers warmth and sustenance.
Phil Douglis07-Oct-2007 23:37
Thanks, Rusty, for this thoughtful comment. For you, the interplay of light and shadow create the mood that tells the story here. And yes, it can and does change as you look at the image, depending upon the nature of your monitor, ambient light, size of screen, and angle of view. The store itself stands out like a beacon, aglow in its coloration. Yet the subtle colors lurking in the murky blue shadows offer a perfect backdrop for the figures that watch us as we watch them. And yes, their gazes do bring tension to an otherwise idyllic scene, and that, too, is part of the story here. It is as if they belong here, and we do not.
russellt07-Oct-2007 20:25
I find this photo quite lovable on a number of fronts. it looks a little different each time I look at it, and also depending upon the ambient light around my monitor. there is the interplay of light, shadow and mood. the framing and geometry are interesting and wonderful. the way the blue light falls on things in the shadows is by itself beautiful and rare, and the imbalance between that and the yellow lights is balanced or timed just right. what I like best is the tension as the men watch you out of the murky mixed light.
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