If gorillas are people...

greenspun.com : LUSENET : People Photography : One Thread

If gorillas are people, then this picture is appropriate to this forum. I'd like some good ol' critiquing on this one. I posted it to photo.net, but no one noticed. Thank you.

Gorilla, Bronx Zoo, NY



-- Alex Galt (agalt@hotmail.com), March 22, 2001

Answers

Well, I think it's just as interesting as the other work we see here.

Gorillas are extremely smart - and can, in fact, recognize themselves in photographs. I wonder if anyone's ever given a gorilla a camera.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), March 22, 2001.


I like the gorilla's face, particulary how it is lit so minimally by the sun. My general feeling: The blurry, noisy reflections of the people at right portray chaos while the gaze of the gorilla is contemplative and looks away toward peace and quiet. Or: The reflections of the people at right portray people playing Hide-and-go-seek with the gorilla. The ever-patient gorilla is loosing its patience and is almost ready to say "OK, ready or not, here I come..."

I think it's time to go home now. We now return you to reality.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), March 22, 2001.


the first one

that's pretty much how I saw it: contemplative gorilla/hurly burly people keeping eachother aggravated and claustrophobic. I was also going for a bit of 'visual rhyme' between the gorilla and the most clearly defined man's face (guy looking over his shoulder) that you can see reflected in the glass. Now that I've tipped my hat like this, here's my question: is this photograph successful? If not, why not? (and don't worry about my feelings, nothing better than brutal but right-on criticism). Thanks for the responses so far.

-- alex galt (agalt@hotmail.com), March 23, 2001.

I think the gorilla half of the picture is perfect- as you can see by the attached picture I've had some experience in this genre- I liked this back shot because it captured the "gorilla-ness" of the animal-person, huge strength but a contemplative nature.... yours really does the same, the lighting couldn't be better.... as for the blurs in the glass, (I guess it's glass) I think as you look at enough photography you loose interest in double-exposure, "tricky" stuff, accidental or not, it's just a distraction..... I wouldn't crop it, just know that the gorilla is carrying the weight..

By the way I took this with a borrowed Hassleblad during a one day Hassy workshop with a Boston Zoo assignment for the group. All I can say is that is one awesome camera....



-- Chris Yeager (cyeager@ix.netcom.com), March 23, 2001.

I guess it's: Gorilla Time! This is an image of a typical American Family!



-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), March 23, 2001.



OK! two's a coincidence, 3's a genre.... do we need a separate forum?

-- Chris Yeager (cyeager@ix.netcom.com), March 24, 2001.

gorillas

No need for a separate forum, we just need to retitle this one "primate photography."

-- alex galt (agalt@hotmail.com), March 24, 2001.

Shawn...Are you listening?

This is now "Primate Photography"

We may even include a few little snot nosed brats from time to time. They are one rung lower than the gorillas, but, what the hell!

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), March 25, 2001.


i love snot nosed primates...gorillas, bonobos, bougeois children...ugh...

-- shawn (seeinsideforever@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ