Discuss this Photo

While it's interesting to talk about the picture, the feelings, a bit of back story, I can't understand the lack of critique along with that. But that's me not Skopar Steve or others.

I've seen some critiques that were less than helpful, but many have illuminated different perspectives and approaches. We have a wonderful mix of different styles here, it's wonderful.

B2 (;->
 
Nice! Some pictures tell a story, or at least invite the viewer to imagine a story;this is one of those.
 
For me it's all about the emotion, the story behind it is secondary (we do not know it).

Not sure about what the meaning of "no critique" requirement when it is asked to discuss the photo, but maybe is my english missing something...

robert
 
Tim Murphy said:
Dear David,

I took this as a young girl saying goodbye to her cow in an auction barn. Maybe I'm seeing too much but I've seen a similar scene played out before.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA :)
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True, but equally she could have trodden in something and slipped only to fall onto the beasts back. That's an aside and one of the alternatives I thought of.

The Wellerism was the one that goes "Each to his/her own as the old lady said when she kissed her cow". Only I don't think Sam Weller ever said that but he might have...

"Each to their own ... " is basically my take on the other thread, btw.

Regards, David.

PS I think we lost a lot when we started giving them numbers on ear tags; once upon a time nearly everyone in the village knew who Sybil was and would say hallo to her and so on... but in those days we had cow men and pig men and they were important people in the community. 60 years later I can still remember their names and where their seat was in the local pub.
 
Peter Wijninga said:
I can derive the meaning or context of the picture from the comments...but not from the picture itself.
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I agree. Winogrand said of photographs: “They do not tell stories—they show you what something looks like. To a camera.”

We take "what something looks like" and make up our own stories; maybe we're right and maybe we're not. That's the wonderful subjectivity of artistic expression.

To me this particular photograph doesn't need a story. Whatever is actually happening, it's poignant and beautiful. In a way, learning the facts would make it less so.

John
 
Thanks to everyone for talking the time to view and comment on the photo. This was an experiment to see how discussion threads might work. The rules used were derived from the posting about starting such a topic as Discussing a Photograph.

I thought it was important for me to not comment or give a back story. Does the image convey any emotion? Did the technique support my vision? Is the image communicating? In other words does it need a title or story to be understood? I learned a lot by the responses given.

Looking back I agree eliminating critique was a mistake. Critiquing can turn into technical and hardware related discussions, but it is difficult to discuss a photo without conveying what worked and what does not to the viewer.

I hope we can have more of these types of threads. Next one I do will allow critiquing.
Or fell free to add critique to this one if it helps your discussion of this one.

Steve
 
Well, as you opened the flood gates.........

I like the picture, a bit more centered than I'd prefer. I would crop a bit off the right and a sliver off the top and bottom. Again, that's me. I like centered in a square or vertical, not so much in a horizontal print.

B2 (;->
 
It made me think of that bit in the film "Tora, Tora, Tora" when on board a Japanese carrier, someone says "Moo cow, Moo cow!"
 
To me this is a very successful photo. Some can read a story from their past, top others it conveys emotion and attachment.

Part of me sees myself as a 4H contestant but other parts of me sees a young girl saying goodbye and preparing to move on which is something that all of us have had to do at some point in our lives.

Regardless, it is simple, direct and technically well done. It is a wonderful environmental portrait and it conveys a story. Your story may be different than mine but it is still there. I can only wish my own photos are this well done.

Thanks
 
I quite like it. Clearly the girl has affection for the cow and I like how the soft glowy lighting adds to the gentle nature of the content, at least for me.
 
cool experiment! i'm excited that people are trying to figure out HOW to do photo talk on the forum.

i'd agree that allowing critique and writing an introduction are key to an interesting thread that people get something out of. otherwise, it becomes a guessing game as to what's going on, and people have a hard time saying anything. it's funny that almost everyone resorted to evaluating/critiquing the photo, but just in the way that people thought was allowed (complimentary). retinax's "critique this photo!" thread ended up being a much livelier and practical discussion that led to a stronger photo and some points for future photography (though this photo is great and doesn't need improvement).
 
I like how that thread evolved too. What I would have preferred to do was post a photograph by another photographer that I found compelling and start a discussion on what it means to me. I think posting others photos is forbidden without their permission.

A folder where people can upload images anonymously for discussion would be good. Then anyone can start a discussion on a photo in the folder they like.

As you said it is an experiment. We can keep tweaking the idea and see where it goes.
 
I found the thread much more interesting when people were describing what the image meant to them or what feelings it evoked. I don't think the critique that has been offered added much to the discussion of the photo. Maybe I have misinterpreted the purpose behind Steve's original concept.
 
I have no idea who Sam Weller is or was.

Anyway, I like this shot as a beautifully timed shot -- and the light shining in the girl's eye makes the photo.
 
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