'The Bus Stop' Limited Edition 3 of 20 Photograph

Every photographer who wishes to take or make a successful image might well look at its components. The more components individually are successful, and the better they work together, the better chance the image will be seen as 'successful.' Most critics suggest most images which hold viewer attention are 'successful', at least that's one view. Holding attention, however, is not necessarily a sign of 'art'. Art is a special category, and the photo that marries viewability with art possibly is destined for a higher plane. We now are bombarded with images, the vast majority of which people pass over, because they seem of no worth. 'Worth' may come in a variety of ways too diverse for this discussion. An image may be 'artistic' because it depicts loved ones, interesting activities, correlation of pleasing or even celebrities. Sometimes it's of a seeming simple subject or depiction that represents a greater story or even a universal truth -- a simple image that may represent something greater and possibly 'universal'. There are myriad reasons a subject may be view worthy, or that quality may be from the special skill of the photographer. Visually appealing subjects that hold viewer attentuion surely are countless; the above are just common examples. To stand alone the 'successful' photo almost always does not need narration; it almost always can stand alone. These are not universal 'truths' about what makes images achieve 'success,' just elements one may look to identify. If one finds even one such element done quite well or many that are pleasing and harmoniously interact, then one may predict or maybe evaluate the image as 'successful'. 'Success' may be achieved in countless - even infinite ways; these have been just examples. Often 'successful images' feature compelling interaction of component elements. In this image the overall 'blue' color sets a somewhat 'cool tone possibly well suited for analysis 'Blue' often is associated with coolness of mood. 'I'm blue' is a common emotion that color evokes. Blue here is well contrasted by the red of the background pawn shop sign and the almost reddish young woman's shoes. One figure, the man with cane, is sightless, and almost everything about him says 'I'm blind.' He has a white cane for visibility by others and to identify him as blind to motorists and others. It simultaneously functions to augment the sight he doesn't have by helping him 'feel and identify' his environment, including such important things as curbs, hydrants, parking meters, buildings, roads, sidewalks pedestrians, autos and vegetation. The cane itself advertises 'the holder is blind'; it is illegal for a non blind person to use a white cane in many jurisdictions. If the white cane is not enough, look to the man's heavy, black, opaque glasses almost exclusively worn by the sightless. Those glasses help protect the eye(s) and also shied passersby from seeing an unsettling wandering or maybe disfigured eye or eye socket and perhaps surrounding unsightly scarring. An image filled with mostly 'nothing' or 'dead space; may emphasise a small, lone figure, and send the message of loneliness or isolation. Much 'dead space' around a lone, possibly small, subject in an image may emphasize that individual's isolation. Emptiness surrounding a long subject may simultaneously isolate the subject and draw in the viewer. In western society one seldom sees the blind on the street, so it is a compelling sight for some. In the West, the blind in public is somewhat an oddity. Sightless persons are not only 'blind' but also humans -- something often overlooked by others faced with their differentness and disability. The blind thus often are subject of interest for their rarity in western society. Thus an image of a blind person has instant appeal to western viewers out of human curiosity. Parts of his depiction show that he is an individual. He leans toward the affectionate young couple. He seems interested in them. perhaps to hear their lovers talk, perhaps to hear something on their 'smartphone' such as a video sound track, music or perhaps someone's voice on speakerphone. Maybe, he also smells the young man's cigarette his hand is holding casually. The man with cane seems more 'interested in' than 'disturbed by' the couple. His curiosity turns the tables on the viewer who is interested from curiosity in the blind man, while he is interested in his neighbors. The setting itself tells us much about the social status of these people. They are not rich. In most of America., bus riding is the domain of the poor or impaired. This scene is from an outlying commercial district of Los Angeles County. The vast majority of Angelinos drive almost everywhere unless they are physically incapable or too poor to buy a car. The area's lack of public transportation is legendary and well known. For such persons, bus ridership is the only way to get around economically. The pawn shop in the background with its neon, also almost shouts 'low rent' No matter whether an image's details are spare or full of information, they should draw in viewer's eyes and hold attention. This is a visually rich image. The blind man may command initial interest. But he seems interested in his neighbors. Their use of a 'smartphone' in this decade old photo foretells a new age of almost universal 'device' use and ubiquity. This device which marries computing, entertainment and communications is essential to creation, maintenance, and domination of a socially networked society. That is part of this image's story; not just a couple regarding a phone. It is the visual depiction of a certain period -- transition to the age of ''devices' and a 'socially networked' society. Photography is writing with light so its light is essential. Post sundown bluish light and busy bus stop in this low rent commercial district say 'evening rush hour.' Color and black and white (monochrome) images both have their proponents. Some depictions work best or better in color; others in black and white. Some few work well in both. Those that work welli in black and white often are graphically rich. If colors are good, images with such graphic richness may soar. This is a color image that one can imagine would also tell its story well in classic black and white. While adding richness and some information, color is not absolutely necessary for this image's success. Its story may be told in either mode because of strength combined with good graphics. In fact, it has a main story and at least one and maybe several subsidiary stories. The extra space between sightless man and the couple, right, and also the woman, left, is almost universal to blind men at bus stops. For whatever reason, fellow passengers waiting at such stops almost always give extra space to the blind. It may be because of fear -- subconsciously some may feel blindness is contagious. Others are simply uncomfortable, because in the west seeing blind on the street is unusual and not familiar. Many are uncomfortable with the unfamiliar. Some may just be expressing politeness. A long cane for 'feeling about' with its tap, tap, tapping, may require extra space to use. Some may instinctively know that and yield the blind some room. Others may be repelled by the blind. For myriad reasons the photographer has seen almost identical behavior in Moscow, Paris, London, Buenos Aires, and Bangkok, as well as this in LA County. A photo taken outside the 'Hospital for Infants' in Paris depicting a blind man with long cane in a bus stop crowd, also shows other prospective passengers yelding him great distance, similar to this. In that respect that distance bespeaks a human truth, not just a seeming minor detail of this image. The same with the affection of the young couple and perhaps their use of a smartphone which may be an 'excuse' to get closer while being emblematic of a new age. Theirs is a universal story as old as humankind -- physical attraction between the sexes and ultimately procreation /marriage. This is not just an image of several people including a sightless man waiting for a bus. It tells a variety of stories about these people and bus riders in general. Additionally it tells the new truth of a new era -- the ubiquity of smartphones marrying computer technology with entertainment and telecommunications so essential to the modern, interdependent 'social generation'. So it seems a simple photo. But it tells multiple stories. And perhaps universal truths. Image and text copyright 2008-2018 John Crosley/Crosley Trust, all rights reserved. No reproduction without express prior written permission of copyright holder.

Photography:Color on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:36 W x 25 H x 0.1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.