City Grim Reaper -

Kal Khogali | all galleries >> Old Work 2004-2007 >> Series & Projects >> Tungsten > City Grim Reaper - "Shanghai Style"


18-OCT-2005

Shanghai Cigarette Street Seller

For Adal - Ping Pong Ala Asia ;-)

Canon EOS 20D
1/60s f/4.0 at 39.0mm iso3200 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

Guest		19-Nov-2005 16:55
Amazing shot. Even with the bright background, the eye (at least mine) goes right to the burrning cigarette, then right to the subject's eye. I feel sorry for himself. The cigarette is in control.

Ana Carloto O'Shea		21-Oct-2005 11:24
Grim Reaper :)) Well, to tell you the truth I think he has a bit of strange look in his eye... This is a very different photo, so I don't think we can even compare with your previous capture and say which one is the best... This one is a portrait!! And a terrific one!! I love the way the man is "slidding" of the photo, leaving just what really matters to be seen... This one has a Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland kind of thing to it... Almost like the man was about to vanish and all we would see then would be his cigarette, like the cat's grin!! “Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!” :)))

Kal Khogali		21-Oct-2005 02:33
After I took this picture it struck me that the way his hand was over his mouth almost said "speak no evil", but the cigarette, the look in his eye (I went for one, becasue it focused us on his stare, and the partially hidden face suggested something underhand), they all spoke of danger as you say. The image was inspired by Adal, who linked me to an image of the City Grim Reaper, the merchant of death in the form of the cigarette sales man. So this is about danger, and it is unspoken....DON'T trust that man.

Phil Douglis		20-Oct-2005 21:56
This is more expressive than your other cigarette picture, Kal, beause of the degree of abstraction. You are much less descriptive here, showing only the dangerous red tip of the cigarette clearly and in sharp focus. It works as metaphor. We dare not touch that tip or suffer the consequences. And what, then, of the consequences of smoking itself? This is an image that asks a question and demands an answer from your viewers. Your incongruously abstract vantage point underscores a very real human value here: danger.

Kal Khogali		20-Oct-2005 14:23
Thanks Lucie, too bad I couldn't find Adals Italian Grim Reaper to link to, that would have been perfect ping pong. Promise not to post cigarette pictures again for a while ;-)

Guest		20-Oct-2005 14:19
Great portrait, love the framing here, Kal.

Guest		20-Oct-2005 12:54
BRAVI guys... I am dying... congrat ! alem

Adalberto Tiburzi		20-Oct-2005 12:11
DON'T trust that man! LOL

Kal Khogali		20-Oct-2005 12:06
LOL Just because you are paranoid does not mean I am not after you!

Adalberto Tiburzi		20-Oct-2005 12:03
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh too quick to put my comment !!!

Adalberto Tiburzi		20-Oct-2005 12:02
Grim... Reaped? ;-))

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