I've just completed the nightmare of computer conversion, and haven't been on much. Anyway, it's good to see this list alive and I sure hope it doesn't disappear.

So here's my first photogaph of 2002, another effort to make women look glamorous.

MacDonald's, Copyright 2002 Jeff Spirer

Taken in downtown Vancouver, BC on New Year's Eve.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), January 08, 2002

Answers

I've been frequenting this gallery since its inception, and I have to say, I think this is one of your best. The slight camera tilt works here to emphasize the feeling of isolation and adds a dynamic component to the composition. The use of heavy negative space above her heightens this sterile atmosphere even further, plus the grid as a compostional device is very effective. Finally, the harsh overhead lighting fits perfectly with her mood and demeanor. Add this all into the fact that it is candid photo( I assume).I hope you won't be insulted if I compared this to a Helmut Newton. Nice shot.

-- Paul Swenson (paulphoto@humboldt1.com), January 08, 2002.

Jeff,

This just doesn't do anything for me. I have problems with slanted, tilted angles anyway, there's too much ekpty space above your subject, I can't determine what she's doing (what's the "message?", the raccoon eyes bother me, and I really don't have a sense of "place"...the double arches are barely visible. It doesn't say anything. What's the point?

I really like some of your other photos much better.

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), January 08, 2002.

OK, I'm not much into Jeff's usual subject matter, as photo subjects, but he's got a great eye. The trick to looking at his stuff is to just lay back and squint, and don't think too hard. If you do that, you'll find that usually EVERYTHING is in exactly the right place, and the balance, no matter how off kilter it is, intellectually (as in the above photo) is just right. Remember, photography is a visual exercise, and the intellectual stuff that you tell yourself verbally, like crooked framing above, isn't relevent if the totality works.

I used to teach a photo class, and the most futile thing to try to communicate to people was that they should shut off their minds and use their eyes--do something that works for the eye, and if someone is tuned in, the mind will follow.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), January 09, 2002.

Don't expect Maxim or Playboy to come calling anytime soon, but it's an excellent photo. I would suggest she's reaching for the mace in order to get rid of that pesky photographer, but it looks like a hipshot. She does have a certain "Garbo-esque" drama . . .

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 10, 2002.

As opposed to Todd, I find a lot of interesting questions raised by this photo. This woman looks amazingly young and somehow vulnerable (reinforced by her placement in the frame). Why then is she dressed so fancy and striking that sophisticated pose, and what is she doing at McDonalds? Why is she wearing those big ear phones with that fancy outfit, and what kind of music is she be listening to? Pretty good for what must have been a split second decision for Jeff!

-- Chris Marolf (70214.2664@compuserve.com), January 10, 2002.

It has the usual Spirer feel, but the elements don't gel for me.

If you could photoshop in a pair of hunted-looking eyes, you might have an untitled film still on your hands.

-- Struan Gray (struan.gray@sljus.lu.se), January 10, 2002.

interesting...is that a real woman? My first thought when I saw her was that she was a mannequin.

-- edward kang (ekang@cse.nd.edu), January 10, 2002.

"...just completed the nightmare of computer conversion..."...sounds like you just converted to Windows XP...I'm still working off the list of things that I have to upgrade so I don't blow my computer up when I install XP....geez...whatever happen to "upward compatibility?

the pic....I have to agree with whoever said that things look off kilter in this pic, but when you put it all together and just look....it works

I think she's VERY serious about her music listening (ie the large headphones...first thing I noticed), so she's probably reaching in her bag to crank up the volume on her auxilary headphone amplifier, or to select "concert hall" on her graphic equalizer :)

-- T.S. Sullivan (thomas.sullivan@baesystems.com), January 10, 2002.

OK...I'm looking at it in a traditional, compositional, sort-of obvious up-front no-brainer: what's happening street photography format.

I think that some others here are seeing it in a "story-telling" sense, which I can gladly accept...like, what's she doing? who's she waiting for? What's in the bag (gun, drugs, lipstick,...)?, who's she gunna meet, and so on....and that's cool!

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), January 10, 2002.