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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty Four: The Workplace -- essence of a culture > Haircut, Shanghai, China, 2007
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06-SEP-2007

Haircut, Shanghai, China, 2007

I made this image in the French Concession, an area of Shanghai that was once governed by France. The barber works on the city sidewalk, using the day's last light to ply his craft. It is the interplay of that light with the shadows that make this image an expressive one. The light abstracts the figures, showing less and leaving more of them to the imagination of the viewer. The light has a calming effect on the image as well – emotions are subdued, the steel scissors is invisible, the tension between the two men is drained away. What is left is the end of a perfect day.

Leica V-Lux 1
1/200s f/5.6 at 88.8mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis30-Sep-2007 00:34
Thanks for calling attention to the hat as a nostalgic symbol here. You are right -- time seems to stand still in
Shanghai and in China in general. The younger generation wears the costumes of young people everywhere, but many in the middle-aged and elderly population have not changed their look since the end of Mao jacket.
Kal Khogali29-Sep-2007 21:05
Actually for me the hat sparks most the element of nostalgia. Antiquated and witin it's own timeframe, it sets the scene for some people simply standing still in time in that City...I adore them for it. K
Guest 29-Sep-2007 03:09
I love the light here - it transforms an ordinary everyday street scene in to something more - adding just that bit of tension to the situation - the barber has to be very careful especially in the fading light of the evening and that shows on his face!
Phil Douglis28-Sep-2007 04:17
And thank you, Carol, for coming to this image. I was drawn to the image not because it was about a hair cut, but because of the light. I always look for the light first, and then the content. The light makes the content speak.
Phil Douglis28-Sep-2007 04:16
I knew you would relate to this picture, Alina. It is all a matter of light -- light to dream by.
Carol E Sandgren28-Sep-2007 03:24
I love that the main sunlight remaining is on the customer's face, which puts emphasis on him. He does look relaxed, as most people probably are having their barber work on them.
Alina28-Sep-2007 03:01
I like the photo. The light as you said gives us the feeling of the day which is almost over. The barber looks a little bit tired after long day and the customer seems to be in a different place with his mind. He looks happy, maybe he dreams about some tropical island.
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