The Electroblog
4 Photos 3 Minutes 4 Dollars
Posted by Damon Schreiber (Toronto, Canada) on 28 January 2007 in Abstract & Conceptual and Portfolio.
Mirror images and such... I couldn't decide for the longest time between colour or black and white for this. In the end, that luminous bit of blue in the curtain decided it for me.
Hi-Res version here.
[Sheppard Subway Station, Toronto]
Wayne from Melbourne, Australia
nicely done...good job on capturing the lady in the mirror...gives it a more dynamic 'urban' feel to it =D.
28 Jan 2007 7:55am
@Wayne: Thanks, Wayne! I wouldn't have taken the shot without someone in the mirror. I was standing there waiting...
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
I like the right half of the picture, but the picture of the woman advertising the booth distracts a little for me. Love the woman in the mirror, love the blue curtain!
28 Jan 2007 8:15am
@Bronnie: Thanks, Bronnie! For me, the woman on the left balances the woman on the right in pose and in a yin-yang lightness-darkenss fashion. I would never have considered not including her.
Still from Valence, France
I like your choice, and how you have captured the reflection. A daily moment...
28 Jan 2007 8:28am
@Still: Thanks, Still! This machine is I believe a relic from the past. I doubt that it's used much these days. Perhaps I should...
Makoto from Sapporo, Japan
Good timing Damonさん！ It interest the mirror of right-side.
28 Jan 2007 8:30am
@Makoto: Thanks, Makotoさん!
@Jerry: Thank you, Jerry! It was hit-or miss; I snapped a few other figures in the mirror, but this one worked for me.
Sylvia from Milano, Italy
Like this a lot---the urban-blond-clean feel too it too! (note how I am controlling the urge to 'double entendre'. Thank you.) The mirror makes it way more interesting---reflections of reality.
28 Jan 2007 1:37pm
@Sylvia: Thanks, Sylvia! I totally agree. The cheesecake woman beckons, and the real woman walks away. As to your checked double entendre, sorry my imagination is too limited this morning. Perhaps you could come back and stop give in to the urge.
Duncan Galbraith from kyoto, Japan
without the woman on the left, nah. with her. yup.
28 Jan 2007 3:17pm
@Duncan Galbraith: Thanks for the executive summary, Duncan! Might I add regarding your porcine shot today: 2 legs bad; 4 legs good.
@Angry Buddha: Looks like they're still around here and there. Check out Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) for these machines put to use as a plot device.
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
Isn't it amazing how each person views the world in a different way?!! I wonder whether there could be a cultural difference in my interpretation of the photo, as I don't think we had many of these around, certainly not in Gisborne, NZ, when I grew up!!
28 Jan 2007 9:34pm
@Bronnie: Aye! Perhaps it's due to the way the water swirls 'backwards' down the drain in the southern hemisphere (kidding). Cheers, Bronnie!
@Untitled: Thanks, U!
M.E. from Encino, United States
Did you intend to have the 2 women in opposite sides of the photo booth or was that a lucky coincidence? Whatever it is, this picture is so well composed. :)
I went through your work - you are such an excellent photographer. I like your Voyeur Series. It was fun and funny and creative
30 Jan 2007 4:36am
@M.E.: Well, the one woman was there anyway... The answer is yes. I followed Sam Abell's method of "composing the setting as though it were the subject, then waiting for the actual subject to appear and finish the photograph." You can read his whole description here. It's well worth looking through all the images and accompanying text - he's an excellent photographer with National Geographic magazine.
Thanks so much for your kind words, M.E.; I really appreciate them.
Evelyn from New Milford, United States
I love how the woman in the ad looks really cheesy, but the mirror image has a cerain grit.
One thing that slightly bothers me is that I feel like you needed a lower angle...maybe? The lines on the wall to the right suggest a vertical bend.
31 Jan 2007 2:41am
@Evelyn: Thanks, Evelyn! There's certainly some perspective distortion going on here. Stooping might have worked now you mention it... I may have to go back and give it a try.
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
I've only just stumbled upon your blog today but wanted to say how much I admired your photos. This bitter-sweet image is very imaginative and thoughtful (I love the whole thing but the empty chair is somehow very moving).
I read your reply to another post referring to the Sam Bell technique you used here - I'll look him up!
I've tried this technique once or twice myself (image "deja-vu" on my archive page) without realising it was already so well documented.
28 Aug 2007 7:42am
@Ian Bramham: Thanks so much, Ian. I thought I'd take a moment to reply. I don't know if it's properly called the "Sam Abell technique" as it's been done by legions of photographers, but I did like his description. Incidentally, I must also thank you for referring me back to that post and realising that for some reason, I didn't include the link to the article to which I was referring. Here it is. His description is on the fire image.
Canon PowerShot G3
1/25 second
F/2.0
ISO 200
8 mm