Focus Points
Static
Posted by Zahai (Berlin, Germany) on 20 December 2008 in People & Portrait.
Staircases fascinate me. I can't really explain why, it's something about the constant movement, people a- and descending, choosing directions, changing levels, above ground to underground. Especially staircases in e.g. subway stations, as this one, are mostly buzzing with people passing through. Not this guy though. Sitting down on the stairs, he seems to be revolting against the idea of stairways itself, which is, they get you somewhere else. They don't invite to stay.
First steps. Second steps. Only foward. Running in circles.
maxine from New Zealand
He looks a bit down on his luck too. Great shot in B@W the stairs are fabulous.
20 Dec 2008 5:49am
Deanna Rose from federal way, United States
great shot!! i love it in black and white!
20 Dec 2008 6:03am
james from portland, United States
Nicely done. The city is such a lonely place, you capture that well.
20 Dec 2008 7:03am
blackivory from Singapore, Singapore
Nice shot. I like your description of stairs too...couldn't agree more!
20 Dec 2008 8:25am
k@ from Paris, France
Hello Zahai ! Great angle and not that easy to take (you did it quickly not to be too indiscreet ??). I wonder what he is doing (preparing a cigarette ? ). Nice w-e !
20 Dec 2008 8:46am
@k@: He was rolling a cigarette, yes. Also, he was pretty busy with that, so i had some time to get the shot just the way i wanted it to be :)
Peter Knoop from Antwerp, Belgium
Nice shot. The guy sitting there really adds interest to the scene.
20 Dec 2008 10:02am
Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France
I agree ! staircases are very interesting for a photographer! great angle of view and this guy add more to this pic !
20 Dec 2008 10:11am
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
A sad image of human dejection. Very moving image.
20 Dec 2008 11:38am
Line Lamarre from Montréal, Qc., Canada
Capté un autre moment de vie. Nice shot!
20 Dec 2008 12:44pm
EYES WIDE SHUT from United Kingdom
You've really caught the essence of your words here. Stairs lead you up or down, and yet he rests in the middle, rolling that cigarete. He'll go in his own time, and those stairs are becoming inpatient with his non compliance.
An excellent composition, lighting and tones. A gem of a shot and five stars in my opinion
20 Dec 2008 1:46pm
Alan Rolfe from Southampton, United Kingdom
A very strong image. I like to imagine the scene above and wonder why the person has chosen to stop where he has.
20 Dec 2008 1:53pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
I too find stairs and escalators interesting, and this is a superb capture, of it empty except for this one fellow busy rolling a smoke, and looking like he is down on in his and in no rush to go up or down the stairs as is the case for most others who pass this way
20 Dec 2008 2:23pm
Mohammadreza Rezania from Tehran, Iran
you capture sad moment and loneliness, nice lighting and comp framing ...
20 Dec 2008 3:10pm
Claus Petersen from herfølge, Denmark
A cool moment you have captured here! and the black and white work is quite nice!
20 Dec 2008 3:46pm
@Claus Petersen: Thanks everyone :)
Barry from Kingwood, United States
Hi Zahai...All the lonely people-where do they all come from. Wonderful image of the choices one has in life. Love it!!! Take care.
20 Dec 2008 5:27pm
Yellowbear from Droitwich, United Kingdom
This is excellent and i have just had a wander through some of your stuff. You use selective colour with desaturation well. Don't get hooked on it though. Sometimes we end up doing things just for the sake of it.
Keep up the excellent work.
20 Dec 2008 7:07pm
@Yellowbear: Thank you. And yes, I'm still in the state of trying things out, and discovered i like the selective color/desat quite a lot. It doesn't go well with every subject tho, but sometimes it's just a (in my opinion) perfect match.
NarB from Bruxelles, Belgium
Lovely moment of life. Superb processing I like your B&W.
20 Dec 2008 7:12pm
john4jack from Corvallis, United States
Beautiful tonality. Superb composition. A photograph with emotional depth; you can't look at it without feeling the loneliness.
20 Dec 2008 7:35pm
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
Dear Zahia, this is an awesome shot - I love this in Black and White - it immediately makes me feel lonely and kind of sad - nice work!
20 Dec 2008 7:53pm
Gary from Cochise County, United States
I like that the human form breaks up the lines of the stairs. Great image for B&W.
20 Dec 2008 8:21pm
Chris from Jefferson City, United States
I've never given stairs much thought until now. The image and words together form a very interesting study on something few people even notice.
20 Dec 2008 9:47pm
guggenheim from Hawaii, United States
Thanks for your comments Zahia. Enjoyed looking at your photos. I don't have a lot of time though, so when I visit someones blog, I like to go to their portfolio so I can sort of see a "contact sheet" of their photos and enlarge ones that grab me. I noticed you don't have many of your photos in your portfolio. Just wanted to put it out there. I don't know if thats how others look at the photos on the site, but with limited time, I can look at more blogs that way. Just an idea. Again...great photos and keep up the good work!:-)
20 Dec 2008 9:53pm
Pixim from Nice, France
I like much these lines which go up, while having this multitudes of horizontal lines. The light is perfect, your character more enormous, is very well played. A beautiful B&W which makes it possible to emphasize all the details Bravo ;)
20 Dec 2008 10:47pm
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
A deep and powerful human study. You've really established a somber mood with this. Very well done.
20 Dec 2008 11:00pm
One from Açores, Portugal
Truly a magnificent image ! A beautiful front view. Well captured.
21 Dec 2008 3:18am
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
Wow, this is an outstanding capture. Very emotional.
21 Dec 2008 9:16am
PeterFH from Gothenburg, Sweden
Great shot. Hard to see if he is fashionable or poor, they almost dress alike. Very nice B&W.
21 Dec 2008 12:44pm
Polydactyle from Montréal, Canada
Excellent shot. Very graphic with a (static) human element. Great!
21 Dec 2008 2:03pm
Canon EOS 450D
1/13 second
F/7.1
ISO 400
40 mm