The Undercover Man, 2013
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To see some great abstracts head over to my ace collaborator Richard’s blog, CK Ponderings. Richard’s posting our next collaboration there on Sunday.
Portraits! Paint! Digital constructs and Art criticism!
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I really like the fragmentation here. Man’s divided self? Cool cool image.
Thanks so much, Terry. That’s a very interesting interpretation, which I hadn’t thought of – I get caught up with the composition, lighting etc, and the rush to post, and I miss things.
I am liking these abstract images. They don’t tell a story, but you mind just wants to make one and they get the imagination going. I think you do this really well Richard. I love them.
Thanks so much, Leanne. That’s a great compliment. I’m really interested in our drive to make a narrative out of anything – do we do it more when there’s less in the image?
I don’t know, maybe because if there is little there perhaps we have to try harder to make sense of the image. It is more abstract. Whereas an image that has everything, tells you everything. I am probably not making sense.
You’re making perfect sense – that sounds like a perfectly reasonable argument to me. If that’s the case, I wonder if the drive comes from an anxiety.
Or from our we are raised, a picture should always tell a story, or something like that. Making sense out of our world. Maybe a innate need to understand what is around us or what we see.
Yes, that’s a very good point. I hadn’t thought of that, but now you mention it, I remember that from primary school. And the way we are taught to read is, of course, with picture books. Yes, I think the need to understand our surroundings is part of the survival instinct. It’s a fascinating area 🙂 Thanks for your comments, Leanne – great to chat like this.
It is Richard, sorry, I haven’t been commenting much lately on your blog, I look, but time is tight at the moment. I have these Manchester Unity building shots to finish, not many more to do now and then I will have more time. Have a good Easter.
No need to apologise! There shouldn’t be any pressure with these things. I love what you do with your photography and can totally understand why time is tight. Have a great Easter!
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Very cool composition. I love the tones in this image. It’s all so wonderfully balanced. Great lines and weights. Excellent!
Thanks so much, Melanie! When I looked back at it at home it made me laugh, so I thought it would be OK to post.
It made me have a little laugh too, Richard. There’s quite a contrast between the body language of the two fellows, lovely little we can see of them.
I’m wondering who you see as the undercover man. If we’re talking undercover police it must certainly be the standing man, I see the beginnings of that cocky stance most police have.
Re your converation with Leanne. I think our minds want to make a story/understand what they are seeing due to our survival instincts. That’s my hypothesis anyway.
As for ‘seeing’ faces in things, that’s been researched but I remember nothing of it.
That’s a great argument for the standing man – I’ve seen that stance in so many crime dramas. There is, of course, a third man here 🙂 But really I didn’t think about who it was – the title just fit neatly with the image for me.
Yes, I think that’s a reasonable hypothesis – I see all sorts of scenarios in abstracts. The faces thing I’m going to have a little research about – sounds very interesting. Thanks, Ashley!
Nice photo, good title!
Thanks very much! Love your work!
Love the framing!
Thanks very much! Really glad you like it.
I’ll call it “Take 5” while the two contemplate “Hm, How about tap dance on this floor?”
Ha, ha, brilliant!
Strange socks!
I think they’re specifically designed for use with trainers – think they look strange here, because they’re being worn with a formal shoe.
Great abstract composition, Richard! The anonymity works really well, and there is a story to be told without seeing the people involved! 🙂
Thanks very much, Richard! 🙂 That’s great to hear! I’m glad it does something.
Nice image!
Thanks very much, Jennifer!
Superbe composition ! J’aime beaucoup !
Merci beaucoup!
Thought I’d jump in here too. You do have an interesting approach to abstraction, the human forms take on a secondary role to the geometric wholes. A kind of variation of analytic cubism? Always interesting work, Richard.
Thanks so much. That’s a great compliment. When I’m in luck I see the pattern and have to take the shot. If my luck’s really good, I also see emotion. Thanks!
Nice angle. Speaks a lot.
Thanks very much. I’m really glad it does something.
I think our brains are attracted to making sense out of our visual stimuli. It’s satisfying. And when the shapes are beautiful and the puzzle intriguing, it’s doubly so. Needless to say, I love this .
Thanks very much, Elena! What a lovely comment – beautifully put and another aspect – really interesting – I hadn’t thought about how satisfying it is to solve a puzzle. And often the “chase” rather than the solution is the best fun. Thanks!
cooollll!
Thanks so much!
Great shot!
Thanks so much, Emily!
I think there is going to be some kind of hand-off here. An anticipation. Well spotted!
Thanks very much, Karen!
Nice abstract. There’s a disjointedness to the image that, as someone above also pointed out, makes you want to create your own story.
Thanks very much, Stevie. I’m really glad it does something.