Comments: Man and Four Lines

Yes, distracts from the subject

Posted by Michael Caution at April 23, 2012 01:03 AM

Yes, I would have cropped.. always love your pix no-matter what.

Posted by Rod Cramp at April 23, 2012 01:16 AM

The lines are saying "There's more! The street is somewhat wider than you see". They're right in place. :)

Posted by Max Pantsyrev at April 23, 2012 02:27 AM

No - they are great and add to the balance of the image but I would have decreased the vignette effect at the lower corners to open the lines more.

Posted by Julianna at April 23, 2012 02:57 AM

definitely not!

Posted by henri at April 23, 2012 03:21 AM

Hi Sam,
No, I would not have cropped them, because they correspond to the white line on the other side of the streetcar rails.
Great photo!
I take a look at your blog almost every day.
Best, Joe.

Posted by Joe at April 23, 2012 03:27 AM

Tough call but yes, I think I would. But I would have cropped a lot closer and if you wanted to stay out at this range, then they're fine.

Posted by Rod Lindley at April 23, 2012 03:51 AM

I would not crop the lines so let me tell you why.

The man - wonderfully 'ordinary' - is in the middle of a visual drama in which chaotic and joyous nature (the trees and bushes and grass) challenge the more orderly charm of our society (houses, fence, sidewalk, street and, yes, white lines). It isn't a 'battle'; the man is quietly strolling through the drama. But the wild rhythm of the trees is so obviously different than the evenly repeating rhythms we see in the fence or on the sidewalk and street. (All beautifully captured in your pic!)Let's say that it's a 'draw' and we want both the tangled garden and the calm order of things. The man in the middle underlines this very Canadian compromise.

And underlining the man, we have the four white lines. They are in the typically important foreground but, at the same time, they're easy to overlook, aren't they? So, for me, they have a double function that echoes the nature-society dichotomy.

The lines mark the man's calm rhythm, his place and pace, his easy self-satisfaction, his importance. They are a kind of quotidian code: dash-dash-dash-dash that translates, "I must calmly go on..."

But, as I mentioned, the lines are so easy to overlook! So they are a kind of joke, gently laughing at the hopeless human attempt at order when we know that we, like the man, are moving away from the light and into the darkness.

Like a lot of your work (to my eyes at least), the figure is small within the cityscape; small but important. The environment doesn't crush us; it contains us and there is a gentleness to this that I enjoy. In this photo, the framing is critical to this because it places the lines so close to the edge that it says, to me, the lines are a kind of 'after-thought'. First, we are brave to carry on; only second do we doubt. And, if we sometimes despair, our despair has a slight grin.

Once again, a fascinating photo. Thanks.

Posted by steve bingham at April 23, 2012 04:00 AM

No!

Posted by Hubert at April 23, 2012 04:38 AM

No

Posted by john at April 23, 2012 05:23 AM

NO !
They are "the salt in the soup" or the "point on the i" or "the little cream-bonnet"
(as we would say in Germany; I'm sure you know what I mean :-))).
(a little "spice" becomes this photo ;-))

Posted by barbara at April 23, 2012 05:44 AM

No, overcropping can be the worst enemy. It denies the audience the whole experience as well denying the truth. I remember being told I should keep overhead wires out of the frame -- but it was very urban scene.

Posted by andy Decepida at April 23, 2012 05:49 AM

I would have kept the four lines as you have. maybe to represent 4 seasons, 4 quarters, etc.

Posted by JasOn at April 23, 2012 08:17 AM

I like the white lines, but would have crop the whole image to a 1x1 ratio. Nice picture!

Posted by Christian B at April 23, 2012 08:24 AM

I think I would have cropped out the four lines because they are quite bright (therefore eye catching) and they are also individually roughly the same size as the man, therefore making the man (who in my opinion is the focal point of the photograph) less notiable.

Just my two cents!

Posted by Ed O'Keeffe at April 23, 2012 08:30 AM

I see the lanes as critical to this photo. They show direction, so No I would have not cropped them.

Posted by MCM at April 23, 2012 08:39 AM

What would I have done? who knows but after seeing the photo and being asked the question... no, I don't think you should crop the lines.

Posted by Jean Fennell at April 23, 2012 09:03 AM

Yes, I would have cropped.

Posted by Wendy T. at April 23, 2012 09:04 AM

No. It is a reference point that helps provide depth to the scene.

Posted by Jim Harris at April 23, 2012 09:06 AM

Well, good question. At first they seem to be disturbing. But if you crop you would loose some part of the sky and the antenna would be cut away as well. I think the crop would not "fit". Clone them away :)

Posted by Falk at April 23, 2012 09:11 AM

I wouldn't have cropped the white lines. They ground the sunlight that's hitting the back of the man's coat and make a triangle with it, just as the back of the coat makes a triangle with the parts of the buildings to the right and to the left that are highlighted by the sun. The white lines do several other things as well, but I'll stop here.

Posted by Sue at April 23, 2012 10:53 AM

The four white lines are my favorite part!

Posted by Kimberly Way at April 23, 2012 11:43 AM

I personally like the lines. They go well with the other lines in the street, and they add a little pop of white that matches other portions of the photo. Well done!

Posted by Scooter at April 23, 2012 11:45 AM

Perhaps. It's a very subjective question so in that vein, I would have eliminated the vignetting too :).

Posted by Brian at April 23, 2012 12:39 PM

Sorry to say: I would have just discarded the photo!

Posted by George Dunbar at April 23, 2012 12:53 PM

I would not have thought of it until you asked so I guess my answer is no. I enjoy your photos very much.

Posted by Jill at April 23, 2012 01:12 PM

The strong vignetting and the contrast of the picture actually bring too much attention to the 4 lines. I would have cropped it, however, the title "Man and Four Lines" makes me think that this could have been done for a reason.

Posted by RC at April 23, 2012 02:04 PM

I might have cropped the lines, but, it wouldn't have been as interesting a picture. The lines give a very nice framing effect on the man walking, drawing your focus.

I like.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Mr. Javanrouh.

Posted by Gravdigr at April 23, 2012 03:12 PM

Would not have cropped. Looks good with the guy walking. Jarvis Street?

Posted by Keith at April 23, 2012 03:28 PM

Absolutely not. They provide a natural base of a triangle that draws the eye to the gentleman that's clearly the subject of your photo.

The vignetting helps, but just a bit.

Posted by Bill at April 23, 2012 03:30 PM

No, I think that crop would force a format change that might feel off. Or you'd lose some end which would likely be the curious corner on the right. I like the way the houses are subdued here and the trees stand out. Comfortable looking spot.

Posted by Hugh Petrie at April 23, 2012 04:11 PM

I don't think I would have. I feel that it adds extra character to something that would have just been a standard "person on a street" photo.

Posted by Rachael at April 23, 2012 05:25 PM

before reading the question, i didn't even see the 4 white lines... on opening the image, i assumed the title referred to the 4 track lines...

Posted by s.e. at April 23, 2012 05:28 PM

Cropping?

Posted by cb at April 23, 2012 05:28 PM

i WOULD HAVE MADE IT IN COLOUR/COLOR i THINK YOU USE TOO MUCH b&w, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, MY MEDIA IS MUSIC KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK

Posted by stan at April 23, 2012 07:58 PM

No, I think they add texture, and direction

Posted by stefanie romano at April 23, 2012 10:09 PM

The white lines help to define the street area - leave them in!

Posted by David at April 23, 2012 11:04 PM

Nope. I would not.

Posted by Tambet at April 24, 2012 12:09 AM

no. I like them. It's like your playing hangman and the word has four letters.

Posted by Des at April 24, 2012 01:15 AM

No, they add to the motion in the shot.

Posted by James at April 24, 2012 07:18 AM

No, I personally would not have cropped the lines. If anything I woud have cropped the tree furthest from the man, so that the four white lines become the closest centered subject.

Either way, your pictures always have a strong appeal.

Posted by Kevin at April 24, 2012 11:28 AM

Hi Sam, I've followed you for years & love your work. I really didn't notice the lines till I read the question. In or out is fine by me, but if cropped, I don't believe that the aspect ratio has to be maintained. More importantly, lose the vignetting - draws attention to itself for no reason & therefore distracts.

Posted by Stephen Skok at April 24, 2012 06:06 PM

No. I did not notice the lines until I read the question, also.

Posted by peruby at April 25, 2012 08:34 AM

well... what are the 2 blackish corners next to the 4 lines? they distract me more... seems like something was in front of your lens? (that sometimes happens to me when i dont put a filter on it properly. and only when back home i see the black corners. aaarghhh)

Posted by CaT at April 27, 2012 05:02 PM

The lines give the photo depth.

Posted by Niran at April 28, 2012 08:45 PM

I would not have; they balance the white of the sidewalk he is on. Great decision.

Posted by Woomyse at April 28, 2012 09:16 PM

Nope. Without the lines this would only be an trivial photo.

Posted by Felipe Lube de Bragança at May 18, 2012 09:17 AM
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