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The Feeling You Get in Dubai


The Feeling You Get in Dubai
Information sur la photo
Copyright: Daniel Kohanski (Wandering_Dan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 785 W: 102 N: 900] (3237)
Genre: Gens
Média: Couleur
Date de prise de vue: 2006-12-29
Catégories: Vie quotidienne
Appareil photographique: Nikon D70
Exposition: f/16, 1/200 secondes
More Photo Info: [view]
Versions: version originale
Date de soumission: 2007-08-26 10:03
Vue: 1538
Points: 18
[Ligne directrice - Note] Note du photographe
Dubai used to be a sleepy port on the [Arabian / Persian] Gulf; then they discovered oil. The ruling family realized that even though oil was making them rich, it wouldn't last forever, so they determined to make Dubai into an international banking, business, and shopping center. When we were there (passing through on our way from Kenya to India), they were in the middle of a six-week festival. Of shopping.

In our 13-hour layover, I got many pictures of Dubai, including lots of Dubai Creek (which runs through the middle of the main city) with its combinations of old and new. But this grab shot that I got as a reflection seems to me to sum the place up. The main figure is dressed in a traditional jellabah and headdress, but he's also wearing a suit jacket. He's getting off an old-style ferry boat with new-style advertising onto a modern pier, and while he's walking swiftly he's also talking to (or being harangued by) another man in fully modern dress. Behind them both is a third guy with an orthodox Muslim beard but whose headdress is over his shoulder, as though he has one foot in both worlds. Finally, the mirror distorts on the right, which is the direction they are walking toward, as well as the direction of the future. They are walking into something that no one as yet understands, but which will change them so much as to make them unrecognizable.

OK, I am making the best of a grab shot, and I love shooting at window and mirror distortions. But a big part of travel photography is taking what you happen to see and making the best of it later. And to me, this does sum up Dubai's opportunities and dilemmas.

Technical: I cropped the photo down a lot to remove some extraneous material and enlarge the people. I used shadow and highlight to bring out the faces without losing the colors. (I had tried levels, but that washes out the pattern on the man's headdress.)
Vasylis, jean11-3, adores, faganrodney, amino trouve(nt) cette note utile
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Discussions
Enchaînement de réflexionsInitiateur de la discussion Messages Modifié
A clio: Technical ExplanationWandering_Dan 1 08-29 16:33
A euryan: Warped viewWandering_Dan 1 08-27 10:02
A hammodie: Back to DubaiWandering_Dan 1 08-26 18:43
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • crckt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1402 W: 68 N: 1315] (6815)
  • [2007-08-26 10:10]

Hi Daniel,
AWESOME! This is a kind of picture, thats just out of a dream!What a mood to capture. Really well done.
Regards,
Shaeri

Hi Dan ,
Extremely different view ,and your originality deserve lots of points.
Interesting photo.
TFS
Vasy

An interesting view both in your shot and in your notes.
The title alone makes the viewer inquisitive.
Good sharp details despite the distortion.
Well done Daniel.
TFS, regards Jean.

Hi D:

my brother pointed me to your shot. I like it, but your title and discription are what connected with me!!

I was born and lived in Dubai until 1997 when i moved to the US. I'll be going back in a month after 8 years to see my family. I can say that, i alreay feel the way you discribed your picture, not sure what to expect, where to go, or what remaines of my memories? it will be very surreal to me!

thank you for a great entry!
m

I think this is a very cool shot. You wrote in a critique of one of my photos "Much of photography is taking advantage of unexpected opportunities." Well you certainly took advantage of the opportunity here. The warped reflections give us an unusual view. I like the rush of motion you have captured and the hand gestures of the man in the tan shirt illustrate how these men are deep conversation. Great capture.
Regards,
Ryan

hello Daniel,

Very original and interresting shot.
You knew to wait until the men are well frame in the mirror. The deformation adds a surrealist side seen very well.
Good shot.

Regards,
Damien.

  • Great 
  • adores Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2804 W: 53 N: 3979] (12691)
  • [2007-08-28 10:34]

Hi Daniel!
Good shot of a place so familiar to me. I understood your idea here and I like it. This photo is perfetc to illustrate your idea.Good composition!

  • Great 
  • clio Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1437 W: 148 N: 2327] (10943)
  • [2007-08-29 9:52]
  • [+]

Hello Daniel
Bravo for this photo-story (men's story, people story,story of country). I like this idea to work again a photo later to give her more sense and not only more beauty. It moves closer to the photo of the cinema. Regrettably, my bad English do not allow me to understand the technical part!
Regards
Diane

Having worked in the UAE for about 1.5 years, I think you have done a great job to capture the country as a hold. I like the dream like element that the reflection produced, as the changes occur at such a rapid rate that one could feel that it must be a dream. Well seen and presented, Regards Rodney

  • Great 
  • amino Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 13 N: 77] (374)
  • [2007-11-06 3:18]

Hello Daniel,
Your photo ryhmes with your note and with my own impression of Dubai. I still cannot figure the identity of that city completely nor do I understand the full rationale for how it plans for the future. I found it overwhelming and interesting to observe. I had a mix of admiration to quick achievements but uncertainty towards its long term vision.

About the photo, I think the distortion communicates the experience of observing or possibly living in Dubai.
TFS

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