"Alan Browne" wrote:

Ken Nadvornick - http://www.pbase.com/image/32611104

Another documentary shot from Ken that is little different in
style from his last shot for Entrances and Exists. This one is
more interesting and less cluttered than the prev. example. The
reason is that this shot is nearly 2D in depth (prev. one had a
lot of BG clutter). Here there is some shadow that lifts some
elements off of the image in a pleasing way. Shot is contrasty
and sharp. I wish that Ken would begin a more 3D and detailed
look at the world ... this style shot is getting ... old.

Hi Alan,

Old? After only two images? Hmm. Interesting implications, that...

But thank you for the comment (seriously) as I hadn't noticed that aspect.
I honestly don't let my previous subjects enter into my choices for
subsequent subjects. If I see something I find interesting that I think
fits the current theme, I simply concentrate on that subject. That a pair
of more-or-less single-plane compositions snuck their way in back-to-back
implies no conspiracy, I can assure you...

Regarding "2D" versus "3D," I assume you are likely grappling with the lack
of an immediately obvious vanishing point in the picture. This was
intentional, although the converging lines between the sections of sidewalk
do subtly hint at its location.

The objects that originally attracted my interest were the wonderful old
signs. Especially that sheet steel "Coca Cola" sign with all of those cool
bullet holes in it, presumably courtesy of its original rural roadside
location somewhere. The signs are, by their very nature, visually 2D
objects and were most effectively presented, I felt, in a 2D-style
composition.

The presence of a few additional 3D objects, the wood-burning cooking stove,
hand-crank clothes washer and rust-frozen tractor/plow, was simply a
fortuitous coincidence. I felt the inclusion of the tractor's circular
wheels served to provide a nice counterpoint to the otherwise heavily
right-angled layout of the various signs, door and windows.

In fact, one of the aspects I like best about this photograph is that -
other than possibly the Delco Batteries sign on the far right-hand edge -
every single point in the picture meets the mandate of depicting Old Stuff
of some sort. Even the sidewalk itself.

And as far as "begin a more... detailed look at the world" is concerned, I
wish you could see this as the original print. (The *only* way to validly
experience a true photograph. They are not virtual things, but rather
something real which must be holdable in one's hands, IMHO.) Kodak Plus-X
film is capable of rendering almost magical prints, if properly handled. I
can't imagine packing much more detail - both the literal "detail" and
figurative "looking" - into this photo without risking it becoming, well...
cluttered. Something we both appear to agree on. ;-)

As always, Alan, thank you for your usably detailed review. Yours are the
comments I most look forward to reading, as I can almost always find within
the kernel of your observations something which I can apply to a future
effort. No TD here...

Ken