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Ed
Ed
Dennisheckman


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Obscured (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Leica M240
Lens: Leica 50mm f/0.95 M Noctilux ASPH
Location: 15th and Larimer St. Denver CO USA
Date: Oct 8, 2014
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 640
Shutter: 1/350
Date Uploaded: Oct 8, 2014

 As I was walking the streets of Denver one evening, I came along Ed who was sitting on the sidewalk with a "please help" cardboard sign. Where he was sitting was not a very conspicuous location. Only close pedestrians would be the only ones to possibly stop and give him some money. The primary purpose of my afternoon/evening walk to to find potential street portraits. So, I stopped to talk with Ed for a few minutes. He was already the 4th or 5th person I had stopped to talk with that evening. He was not drunk, he was not on drugs. He simply wanted money to buy art supplies so he could continue creating his paintings. He is a native Denverite. I did not ask how he came to be on the street. I gave him some money and he gave me permission to take a couple photos, but he did not change his posture at all. He left his arm on his leg and did not move. I immediately felt that he was surely in a depressed place. It made me feel helpless and depressed myself.

So for this challenge, I came away with two meanings for "Obscured"
One is the physical meaning of something in front of something else blocking the view. In this case, his arm is doing the obscuring of part of his face. But, the other meaning is also his arm, but this time is obscuring himself, his soul. I believe Ed has a lot of pride and was not so happy to be on the street. I don't know if the word "ashamed" is the appropriate word, but I think he was. I have never had to beg for money to survive. It must be an extraordinary thing for a prideful person to be forced to ask for money.

I don't know if Ed was telling me the truth about the art supplies. Nevertheless, I would have no basis to not believe him.

Oh, 800 pixels is dark ages compared to full details in this image. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can this site come into the 21st century and go to 1200?


Statistics
Place: 8 out of 63
Avg (all users): 6.2973
Avg (commenters): 8.2500
Avg (participants): 5.7576
Avg (non-participants): 6.7317
Views since voting: 1165
Views during voting: 181
Votes: 74
Comments: 15
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 10/23/2014 08:31:51 AM
Great shot. Very nicely put together.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2014 09:32:21 PM
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
"Oh, 800 pixels is dark ages compared to full details in this image. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can this site come into the 21st century and go to 1200? "

Your wish is granted, sir! Wonderful portrait, also :-)


I was flabbergasted to see the reality of the thread from Langdon! I just couldn't believe it. What a huge improvement from my POV.
Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
 10/22/2014 11:03:20 AM
"Oh, 800 pixels is dark ages compared to full details in this image. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can this site come into the 21st century and go to 1200? "

Your wish is granted, sir! Wonderful portrait, also :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D300
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 10/21/2014 09:36:17 AM
Great story and image. I really like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED
 10/20/2014 12:17:55 AM
Aww I really hoped to see this ribbon, such a nice picture! Congrats on the top 10 tho!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Sony Alpha a6400
Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
 10/19/2014 10:39:45 PM
A fascinating character. Well exposed, excellent composition and just the right blend of sharpness and softness.
I might have suggested a little dodging of the whites of his eyes, very subtly, and maybe some burning on the right side of the frame to match the excellent contrast between his shoulder and the wall behind him on the left.
But it doesn't really need it to be a very strong photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS
 10/19/2014 09:30:53 PM
Nicely executed challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 10/19/2014 08:39:33 PM
Terrifically human portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-70D
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
 10/18/2014 07:07:04 PM
Fantastic subject. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus PEN-F
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko
10/16/2014 11:44:09 AM
Quite beautiful. You demonstrate great respect and affection for the photograph as well as for the subject. 10. Thank you. You're also stuck with an Order of the Thumb, and no returns allowed I'm afraid.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
 10/13/2014 02:44:21 PM
Wonderful capture. Love the detail on the mans face. And he has "obscured" his entire face quite nicely.
Beautiful black and white image.

(Commenting only, not voting)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Ricoh GR III
Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR
 10/13/2014 01:44:29 PM
Your DOF really pulls us in. Nice street portrait. Maybe a little more blur in the top left corner?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 10/13/2014 11:05:41 AM
Honorable mention
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6G
 10/13/2014 10:07:49 AM
eyes are the window to the soul, and seems you captured it just fine
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/13/2014 12:40:35 AM
Excellent image, just the right amount of obscured. 9.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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