Does this count as a people photograph? I'm sure it would be rejected over on the nature forum due to the foot-of-man, but does it belong here?

I consider most of my work to be "people" oriented, and do mainly "found" images. In this case, we had just walked a mile out to the beach, taken off our boots, were soaking up the rays and enjoying the Chilkats. I sat up and discovered an scene that represented the thoughts and mood at the time. Sun, sand, wind, snow covered mountains, advancing tide, and my old tired boots that have carried me so far.
Am I the only one who will see the people here?

John Thurston
Juneau, Alaksa

Same image, more bits.

-- John Thurston (john_thurston@my-deja.com), October 02, 2000

Answers

well, john, i think the picture is perfectly acceptable for critique in this forum; but i must say that the careless horizon and the cluttered center don't do much for me in terms of admiration for the image. hope i haven't "been too rough", as tony says. :) please keep posting.

-- wayne harrison (wayno@netmcr.com), October 02, 2000.

This photo speaks to me. To me it conveys a sense of having been there, of having experienced the great beyond, of a long-awaited rest after the journey, yet coupled with a longing to return. Some things that come to mind - skewed horizon (fatigue), natural interlacing of bootlaces and plant (connection to nature), ground-level perspective (you're crashed), boots pointed toward near-far gradation of water and distant mountains (longing to return). The boots look like they're ready to go back. Just one perspective, but I like it.

-- Joe Verdesca (verdesca@go.com), October 02, 2000.

Wayne, FWIW, I have to disagree about the horizon...To me, the horizon lets us know just how far those boots may still have to go, or how far they have gone. I like it :-)

-- shawn (seeinsideforever@yahoo.com), October 03, 2000.

shawn: oh, i really like the concept, and i have seen similar images that were very moving. but, for the life of me, i can't imagine why the shot wouldn't be more effective with a straight horizon, and more eloquent with the boots located on the shore, alone. but, diff strokes, etc.

-- wayne harrison (wayno@netmcr.com), October 03, 2000.

Wayne,
I guess I hadn't considered the center to be cluttered as it was the grass blowing in the wind and beating on my boots that first brought the scene to my attention. As for the horizon, I took several shots and I liked this one best despite the tilt.

Joe,
The low perspective is a result of my aiming the camera from just where I had "crashed". Maybe that's why the skewed horizon appeals to me. It's what it looked like when I was propped up on one elbow trying to catch a lul in the wind to take the picture.

-- John Thurston (john_thurston@my-deja.com), October 03, 2000.

I think we've all seen the straight-horizon, shoes on the shore shot just a few too many times. At least this is an attempt at a new approach.

Like all minimalist shots, the success of this one depends on the quality of its presentation. Some intensifying of the foreground contrast and color saturation would increase the impact a lot.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), October 04, 2000.