Lonely Soldier Photo

Photographer’s Note

Some time ago I was asked why dont I shoot street photography.

My first answer was that dont have an eye for it. Whenever I am in nature those beautiful scenes and compositions strikes me immediately, however same magic doesn't happen on the streets. I really have to force myself to look around me to find nice scene, it doesn't come as automatically as it does in nature. The other reason might be that every time I take picture of someone else (that I dont know) I feel that I am invading his or hers privacy. However I became more aware of it and forced myself to look around city with an eye open for photography.

I took this photo in Beijing at one very ordinary highway underpass. I really like the result as it perfectly express the feeling of loneliness and unimportance this solder had to feel, standing alone all day next to rubbish bin on nearly forgotten place. I could not figure out the reason for putting soldier on such a remote place, but I come from different place and culture and might not fully understand all reasons for all things I see in other country.

As for technical part - I had to use high ISO as the light in that tunnel was very low. I have to say that I like the softness of the photo that 1600 ISO gives the picture because it somehow increases the melancholic mood of the shot.

Lucie

Mondaychild, newtintin, fadingstar78, zips, fijiphil, pasternak, Andrzej_HHH, Floydian, luisafonso, euryan, Serendipity, MLINES, pilpel-adom ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

bigboroboy (1009) 2006-11-06 8:42

Great image, perfect composition! Just a same the subjest is out of focus. Over-reliance on auto focus pehaps? Anyway, a great image that I like a lot.

Mondaychild (1513) 2006-11-06 8:44

Hi Lucie,

this is a very emotional photo ... it makes me feel with this poor guy ... but I also think he is perhaps proud of his job, about the uniform, and about the fact that he is a guardian (even at a highway underpass)...

Anyway, well done!

newtintin (1872) 2006-11-06 8:58

Hello,

Sympathetic this photograph, framing is very well and the elements are well laid out.

And with the fact it is written what on the panel; -)

Greeting,
R.A.F

[workshop] [compare]

maki (0) 2006-11-06 9:41

Hi Lucie,
Minimalistic and with full flavour of this militaristic atmosphere of the country. Nice pattern with the straight tiles. Utopia in the full meaning of this word.
regards,
maki

sam224 (5851) 2006-11-06 10:15

Good shot with interesting composition: a simple image which gives a sense of austerity.
Good job. Thanks for sharing.

zips (1941) 2006-11-06 10:36

I don't know exactly what the shot conditions were (I read your note). It seems to me that at 1 40th at 140mm (212mm @35mm equivalent)...you had no chance to get a sharp photograph.

In a similar situation you may want to move lots closer to the subject, allowing you to go with an aperature and shutter speed that will at least give you a shot at sharpeness

That being said, it is a wonderful composition, a great mood captured, and a nice glimpse into China.

Great Job.
Aloha, JB

fadingstar78 (404) 2006-11-06 10:58

great picture, very well composed. yes the soldier is slightly out of focus but, but you address this fact in your note and I kind of agree. Didn't you have any troubles with taking a deliberate picture of a soldier?

fijiphil (1345) 2006-11-06 13:44

Wonderful graphic composition with the soldier to the left, the rubbish bin to the right and the sign just off centre. The grid of tiles sets it off perfectly. Well done indeed!!

Cormac (26455) 2006-11-06 13:58

As usual, your composition is perfect, with the positioning of the guard, the sign and the garbage can giving the frame a well balanced look. The space around the guard really communicates the emptiness or lonliness that he must experience there. I've also wondered about street photography, but like you I'm not too comfortable with it. I started to work on what I call urban landscape, which is trying to apply landscape methods to an urban environment, with buildings, bridges and fountains taking the place of trees, mountains and lakes. Great shot, and it's great to see that you are stretching and trying new things.

pasternak (13588) 2006-11-06 17:36

Hi Lucie, technically not perfect, but an excellent composition for this sad and symbolic picture, and what a balance with the figure drawn on the garbage box... The inscription on the wall in Chinese adds tons of character to the shot.

Cheers
Alexander

Floydian (30970) 2006-11-07 3:07

Dag Lucie,
Compositie en framing zijn echt top, maar wat het probleem is heb je denk ik zelf ook wel ontdekt en dat is de scherpte, die is er dus niet.
Maar de uitvoering van het idee vind ik erg mooi, daar heb je wel degelijk een goed oog voor.
Groetjes, Henk

luisafonso (858) 2006-11-07 3:19

A still streetscape, that's what this is :) I love it! It's really a strange world. If this was in Portugal I would think that this brave soldier had committed something really forbidden to be put in a situation like this... Your composition is wonderful. Three elements (the magic number) perfectly placed across the frame. I guess the colors and light is a bit on the washed side, but I understand that was your intention to raise this abandoned mood. Great shot!

Andrzej_HHH (2558) 2006-11-07 4:52

Very nice shot, excellent frame and composition. I like the atmosphere of this shot. My congratulations! With best regards! Andrzej

takabanda7 (338) 2006-11-07 7:14

Very nice shot! Looks so unreal ...but I perfectly know it isn't.

Weel seen!

euryan (8351) 2006-11-07 12:37

Great shot Lucie. I think you did a wonderful job capturing the depressing loneliness of this soldier. The composition is very nice with the wastebasket on the right, and the soldier on the left. I wonder if he feels about as useful?
Regards,
Ryan
P.S. I'm the same way when it comes to street photography. I really have to push myself to even think about it.

goodwill (4033) 2006-11-07 12:54

I must say, my daughter of just 5+ is a better street artist than you.
Yes, you are one of the finest artist on TE when it comes to landscapes....rather sand dunes,and thats your biggest asset.
A good attempt.
Hope to see quality street shots from you.
Rajeev

kensimage (8543) 2006-11-07 22:30

Your framing is great, Lucie, pushing the lonely soldier far to one side of the frame to emphasize his irrelevance. I almost feel sorry for him. You're right about the graininess enhancing the melancholy mood.

If you're shy about street photography, start out by using a long lens in a public space where there are a lot of people. That way most "victims" won't even know you've made them your subject. From there you can work toward more intimate POV's, to the extent you get comfortable with. Just a suggestion. I have the same shyness problem. Regards, Ken.

atilgone (4749) 2006-11-08 1:55

nice composition! good colors but the subject is out of focus but I liked it very much. TFS

Serendipity (1045) 2006-11-08 11:53

Excellent cadrage. Il fait vraiment "potiche" ce pauvre soldat au garde-à-vous, et il a l'air bien seul, c'est vrai.

cclaudiu (0) 2006-11-08 19:06

He seems lonely but I think is a matter of culture and job. You see his position like in their regulation; he is focused on his image. What he is warding; the recycle bin? Funny!

PJE (19483) 2006-11-10 21:45

Well hello Lucie. This is a very interesting capture showing the discipline in training and steadfastness in his office. The sad thing is he is standing all alone in the frame where the contrasting offset is a sign and a garbage can. Nice white gloves too.
Cheers and thanks for sharing Lucie!

e30mike (302) 2006-11-20 2:10

Such a perfect balance, love the symbolism. Very well done.

banyanman (7737) 2006-12-01 19:02

Great composition, Lucie, and I do wonder what he was 'guarding' in this lonely underpass. The image doesn't look out of focus to me - just soft from the high ISO that you used. I wouldn't call myself a 'shy' street photographer, but I am always a bit nervous about shooting these soldiers in Beijing as I am never sure how they will react. Furtunately this one doesn't look too fierce :)
Cheers . . . David

mfonda (889) 2007-01-07 19:16

Hi Lucie,

Wondeful composition... you capture the mood very well. Nice note too, thanks for sharing.

- Matt

pilpel-adom (3016) 2007-05-27 11:09

Hey Lucie!
This is yet another great one in your gallery!
Composition is just excellent, creating such a wide space between the guard the trash bin, the criss cross lines connects them together in their poised situation. I would have said it was humourous if not for this situation is indeed saddening, somewhat...
You got here some pretty low light situation with a slow lens, and with an equiv. of 230mm focal length I am surprised you got such a relative shake-free shot (you did get some fuzziness due to the slow shutter speed, but still quite far from the expected result).
This is one of those photos I don't care if the picture is not at the highest quality (newtintin did a good job here to lift up luminosity), as this shot delivers your message so well!
Well done!
Chen

blaberus (0) 2007-05-29 10:49

Very nice composition. I think that the high ISO made it a little bit blurry; and that gave the photo having soft transitions between the background and the soldier, making us think how a person melts unnotified into the dullness of the station walls. Like the waste bin or the plate on the wall, the soldier stands like an object that has been standing there for ages. Thanks for the photo.

yanseiler (20) 2007-07-04 4:07

Hi Lucie, a ncie minimalistic composition, superbly simple, it may be a little sharper but I like it, I also like the small stripe on the floor...
Cheers
Yan

Ulishna (2246) 2007-07-07 10:50

Great photo, Lucie!
Perfect illustration for Chinese lifestyle.
Julia

ViktorVaughn (1517) 2007-10-24 12:36

Randomly came across this image, but it is very strong. Your message is indeed clear, and having been to Beijing and seeing soldiers everywhere, it is a good question as to why he is needed here.

Whatever is going on through his mind? While you like the softness, I think a sharper image would have been preferable, but conditions weren't ideal, so you've done well.

Regards