The Electroblog
Racing Against Time
Posted by Damon Schreiber (Toronto, Canada) on 20 January 2007 in Abstract & Conceptual and Portfolio.
The cyclist tries to move forward without hitting the wall...
High-Res version here.
[Outside Dupont Subway Station, Toronto]
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
It took a little while to make sense of this, until I looked a bit harder and got the hint from the title!
20 Jan 2007 5:13am
@Bronnie: Hee! It is a bit mind-boggling, isn't it? Thanks, Bronnie!
@komp1iced: Thanks, komp1iced! I don't think I can really take credit for the originality, though, only the capture.
Lyndsey Le from Houston, TX, United States
One of the most interesting photos I've ever seen! The title speaks for itself. Fabulous job here, Damon! BTW, it's been a while I haven't seen your comments ... what happened? :)
20 Jan 2007 7:15am
@Lyndsey Le: Wow, I'm happy you liked it so much, Lyndsey! I didn't have to work too hard at this one. I've been a) slacking off b) busy c) overtired (take your pick). I had a good go-around this weekend though :-) Loved your ice shot!
@Maoya: Merci, Maoya!
Untitled from Kyoto, Japan
Totally agree with with Lyndsey...one of the most interesting and intriguing photos I have ever seen. A very very clever composition.
20 Jan 2007 10:02am
@Untitled: Thanks, Lucid! It was happenstance really, though if I was more shameless, I'd say it was an example of my genius at work. That would be a lie, though.
@bm: Thanks, BM! Your comment has come the closest so far to the way I feel about this.
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
This is an interesting shot (in a really good way). Am totally baffled which means....great job!
20 Jan 2007 1:02pm
@Stu: Thanks, Stu! It's a bit baffling even in person.
JS from Brookline, United States
Or as we amateurs say, How the dickens did you do that? It's terrific.
20 Jan 2007 2:54pm
@JS: Thanks, Jan! Not exactly what I did (I pushed the button on my camera). But a bit more context may help the baffled: This is a poster of a bicyclist that was pasted to the wall near the enterance to Dupont Station. It appears to have been made with this particular wall in mind. No idea who made it. Earlier this month, I happened to have occasion to use this station during the evening and I saw this sight which was impressed me (as you can see here, much of the poster has worn away leaving the top and the bottom). I didn't have my camera at the time, but I was sufficiently impressed that I made it a point to return there the next day to document what I saw. The photo is in black and white, and so is the poster. If there had been better light when I took the photo, a colour version might have looked nice.
Ella Cooper from Toronto, Canada
What a coincidence, I just saw that ripped poster the other day and was thinking what an excellent shot it would make. I'm surprised I've never bumped into you on the streets of Toronto ;)
20 Jan 2007 6:22pm
@Ella Cooper: See Ella: I was racing against time to photograph it ahead of you! Perhaps we have bumped into each other; it can be a surprisingly small world. See ya!
Nicola from Québec, Canada
so strange and unique. beautiful textures and tones I love it.
20 Jan 2007 6:53pm
@Nicola: Thank you, Nicola! I've really enjoyed browsing through your photos. Keep them coming!
zach siebert from Italy
totally and utterly perplexed and delighted! your best photo ever. i keep saying that, but, dude, it's true.
20 Jan 2007 9:01pm
@zach siebert: Thanks, Zach! I think the problem is perhaps that you have short term memory loss. Maybe get that looked into.
Still from Valence, France
Splendid image! I like it a lot . My new favorite on your blog!
20 Jan 2007 9:42pm
@Still: Merci bien, Still! I wonder what you could create from this subject.
Kelvin Chan from New York City, United States
Very interesting and innovative. I almost didn't catch the head and the hump of the body. A pity the bricks inside the wheels don't match with the wall. This is very expertly created. It is not something that I would do, but I'm learning to appreciate it.
21 Jan 2007 12:16am
@Kelvin Chan: Thanks, Kelvin! As I explained above, this is a found shot, so I can't take too much credit apart from the finding, and I can't take blame for the mismatched bricks. I agree that the poster was expertly created and it is indeed startling to walk past.
@Pero: Thanks, Pero!
Mammoth in Chief from Naperville, United States
Very nice image. Immensely creative and innovative.
21 Jan 2007 12:49am
@Mammoth in Chief: Thanks, Mammoth! Someone innovated here - not me though.
@Angry Buddha: Thanks, Sean!
Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia
Very clever indeed. Love the tones, nice work.
21 Jan 2007 7:12am
@Chris Sullivan: Thanks, Chris!
@H.O: ArigatouございますHiro-さん!
Duncan Galbraith from kyoto, Japan
This is beautifully seen. I almost said created until I read your reply to JS. Thought you'd attended a photoshop masterclass in my abscence from AM3! It's a wonderful image and hat doffed for seeing, shooting, and sharing. One of the most intriguing images Ive seen for a while.
22 Jan 2007 9:02am
@Craig Persel: Many thanks, Craig! I've been looking through your PBase account and have been blown away by your portfolio all over again.
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Now that is just insane! In a good way. The illusion is awesome!
23 Jan 2007 4:23am
@Laurie: Thanks, Laurie!
@Daniel: Thank you, Daniel! I though so too (that it was strange-looking).
elaine from France
that is just great and thought provoking! i love puzzling pictures!
27 Jan 2007 9:20am
@elaine: Merci, Elaine! Glad you were puzzled.
Nick Chase from Santa Rosa, California, United States
You don't need me to tell you that this is a great image, but it is. I'd like to comment on your choice to make it a black and white. So many photographers just turn there digital captures to b&w for the nastalgia (spelling) of it. I'm glad the you actually thought about it and made a justifiable decision based on the given light situation. Good stuff. By the way, my computer crashed so I havent posted anything in a couple weeks. Don't give up on me, Im not dead.
6 Feb 2007 6:14pm
@Nick Chase: Thanks, Nick! To tell the truth, I'm not really sure this is such a great photo. I love the actual scene, but I think I could probably have done better in capturing it. Glad you're alive!
Canon PowerShot G3
3/10 second
F/2.8
ISO 100
8 mm