J. Lanning Smith
August 2020 - Savannah Reopens
Original 1
Original 2
About the Image(s)
The meaning of this shot changed from when I first took it to when I processed it. The original photograph shows the dog looking up at this young lady who is engrossed in her phone. When I took the shot, that was what fascinated me -- the dog's pleading look at her. But in processing, I realized that by cropping the dog out, the photograph told a much better story.
That story is the three different ways people have behaved with the reopening of businesses following the pandemic shutdown. There are those who continue to socially distance themselves, as this young lady is doing by being outside of the restaurant. Then there are those who wear masks as is the case with the wait staff in this picture. And finally, there are those who are doing neither as represented by the people inside.
I processed this in both color and in black and white. But I consider the color version to be the better image.
Shot with my Fujifilm X100f using a 50 mm conversion lens.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
Very timely subject. I think that the conversion to b&w is a plus but I would also consider cropping it in a bit closer which would move her a bit more of dead center. Posted: 08/02/2020 15:38:24
No way on that crop. Those three people on the other side of the window are a key part of the image's subject. She is not that interesting to be the subject by herself. Sorry, but you and I aren't in agreement on that. Posted: 08/02/2020 17:20:36
Thanks Bev. Actually the color version is supposed to be the final version. Original 1 should be the one with the dog in it. Original should be this black & white one and the final should be the color. I think the color is actually much stronger in my opinion.
Posted: 08/02/2020 17:16:17
Posted: 08/02/2020 17:16:17
(Group 95)
Great juxtaposition of all three groupings. I think the title doesn't explain the story for me, so at first look, I wasn't exactly sure what the image was supposed to be showing. Might I suggest you use the words "social distancing" in the title? Yes, too bad about the dog...she feels more isolated to me before the crop. The extra space creates a feeling of separation and isolation from the group who are touching and interacting. The dog feels right to me. The masked server is only seen with a longer view. Posted: 08/02/2020 23:01:32
This image captures one of those moments of contrasts in behavior of our current times: dining on the sidewalk in fresh air distanced for other diners (which I am still uncomfortable with because you do not know who will be walking by masked or unmasked), the relaxed and conversational group inside apparently unconcerned with social distancing, and the wait staff who are masked as they should be. I think it is a nice capture.
I like that you brightened up the interior of the restaurant a bit so we can more fully appreciate the scene inside.
I do think that a little tighter crop on the right would tighten the image a little, for me the woman facing out of the frame and well as the mans arm lead my eye out of the frame. However, I think it important to keep as much of the mans arm in as it's gesture expresses the relaxed feeling of the group.
I like the dog in the original. Although it alters your story somewhat, for me It adds another layer of information, and it adds a circular visual pathway through the image. It draws the eye up to the woman in the white dress, into the window, over to the waitress, and back down past the chair to the dog. Posted: 08/06/2020 13:54:49
I like that you brightened up the interior of the restaurant a bit so we can more fully appreciate the scene inside.
I do think that a little tighter crop on the right would tighten the image a little, for me the woman facing out of the frame and well as the mans arm lead my eye out of the frame. However, I think it important to keep as much of the mans arm in as it's gesture expresses the relaxed feeling of the group.
I like the dog in the original. Although it alters your story somewhat, for me It adds another layer of information, and it adds a circular visual pathway through the image. It draws the eye up to the woman in the white dress, into the window, over to the waitress, and back down past the chair to the dog. Posted: 08/06/2020 13:54:49
Thanks Victor. I like that composition with the dog back in and lightly cropped. Those suggestions work in my mind. Posted: 08/06/2020 18:12:32
Good story-telling image. I like the composition as Victor has presented it. I think your colors are very good. And, I'm pretty sure there are not one, but two, masks in the image. I see a mask on the man on right. Posted: 08/21/2020 10:48:08
Thanks Bill. Note: If there is a mask on the man on the right, and there could be, then there are actually 3 masked people in the picture. On the left, 2 of the wait staff have masks on. Sometimes, the more we look at a picture the more we see. When I first took this shot, all I saw was the dog and the girl. It was only after looking at it in Lightroom that I realized there was more of a story here. I too like Victor's crop, and I like the idea of putting the dog back in. So, I appreciate those thoughts by both of you. Posted: 08/21/2020 10:57:21
It truly is a story of our times with the different layers of isolation (distancing, masks, no masks)but I didn't really get the significance until you explained it. Another title maybe as Carol suggested. Now that I see it this way it really shows how society is dealing with this pandemic. I do not care for the b&w as well as the color, and I do like leaving the dog in for the reason that Victor said. Posted: 08/23/2020 10:25:28