Hoi! You! Take a picture of ME!, a photo from Oxfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

Yet another picture from our "mini" Oxfordshire TE meeting courtesy of the kindness of Richard.

This was taken from the quadrangle just outside the main gate (or Proscholium) to the tower of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University. You can read about this library and its history in the very comprehensive notes here.

This statue here is that of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, Chancellor of the University 1617-30, cast by Le Seur to the design of Peter Paul Rubens.

I thought that the old bronze statue had a very proud demeanour, and he appeared to me to be very disappointed that everyone was ignoring him, especially the Japanese tourist with his camera who wasn't taking a picture of him!

saxo042, macjake, bayno, delpeoples, CLODO, timecapturer, annjackman trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

saxo042 (38078) 2012-11-14 7:52

Hi John,
A vdry funny picture! There should be more pictures like this one on TE to make us laugh rather than be disappointed when so many good photographer choose to leave the site. This is not only a funny picture, it is a very well balanced composition where the dark statue at one corner is perfectly balanced by the lighter person at the other corner. The vertical background lines provide a fine pattern and the pillar(?) in the middle kind of separates the two parts.
Kind regards
Gunnar

hidibyendu (929) 2012-11-14 8:16

Hi John, very funny pics indeed.
Like his concentration.
Good colors and sharpness. Nice POV.
tfs
Dibyendu

holmertz (103596) 2012-11-14 8:39

Hello John,
As has happened before, my brother has already said most of what there is to say. I can only agree that this is an amusing and well balanced composition. Regarding that unwanted arm to the left, well that is what happens often when you take photos in a crowd. It can't be helped and anyway the main characters are strong enough to distract us from such petty details.
Kind regards,
Gert

bayno (18348) 2012-11-14 9:34

Caro John,
As we already know the Japanese are known for their habit of shooting in all directions and towards the most strange, is truly an enigmatic people are polite to the exasperation, high quality snap and with a great framing...good evening...
Valter

carlo62 (81265) 2012-11-14 10:14

Ciao John
una foto di ottima qualità e molto simpatica, lo sguardo austero della statua sembra rimproverare il fotografo.
Saluti
Carlo

delpeoples (60342) 2012-11-14 13:49

Ciao caro Giovanni

Bronze statues are fascinating, especially the ones of important men who stand so proudly in the old costumes. Since becoming more interested in photography, I now play a game where I have to guess whether the important guy dresses to the left or the right. modt of them seem to dress to the left. But we can't really tell with this guy...or the Japanese photographer ;) Yes, I know, there's a problem here!

It was a good idea not to just shoot the statue but to shoot the people around him ignoring him. It makes it so much more interesting and illustrates the point in your note. The poor old Earl was probably an important guy - to be sculpted by Rubens! It makes us wonder what else there was to see and where everyone else is looking. And also makes me think about the photographic technique of the Japanese tourist. Your colours are delightful, nice and warm and I like how there's no sky at all. THe stonework behind is classic, so typical of this beautiful city. Thanks for sharing. I could talk about this photo for ages as there's so much going on. Even longer with a bottle of pluge in hand ;)

Un abbraccio
Lisa

emka (158784) 2012-11-14 14:00

Hi, Another example of how important the title is. It makes this photo funny observation. Indeed, all are ignoring the bronze guy. But not me. See WS. It is something strange. Why are these black parts? I uploaded, saw them, then cropped the photo and uploaded for the second time, but they are still there :(
Well seen and nicely presented.
Warm regrads

MAlgo

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macjake (98544) 2012-11-14 15:13

Hi John
I remember a while back you and I had a discussion about the importance of writing a good note that accompanies the photo - subject A right here!

the note made me laugh, thinking about how the sculpture is ticked off for being Ignored, when in HIS time he was the IT man! lol

and like Lisa said, the technique of that japanese photographer is very amusing :)

Maybe thats what the Earl is viewing! haha

funny shot, i've enjoyed every moment of it!
cheers
craig

ACL1978 (7511) 2012-11-14 17:48

Hi John,

A funny story you've created here - the proud but slighted statue posing for his uninterested audience; time has passed him by. Well framed, and the backdrop of the yellow wall is ideal.

Andrew

CLODO (45118) 2012-11-15 1:24

hello john

Your wittty eye has detected a funny street scene where the statue interacts with the japanese tourists.
I like this kind of humour!
Regards
CLODO

timecapturer (49288) 2012-11-15 4:38

Hi John
like this! Agree with the other comments here, great to see some humour to take the edge off the serious elements that have crept into the psyche of this wonderful site recently. Well Done! I assume the Japanese man was not part of the TE meeting!

Brian.

williewhistler (16606) 2012-11-15 14:29

Hello John,
I do enjoy your title,very suitable.
The commanding statue and the Japanese tourist make an unlikely pair and yet they dominate a very well spotted street scene,your keen eye has turned up trumps again.
Kind regards Les.

annjackman (23019) 2012-11-15 22:35

Hello John,
A very amusing picture of the Earl of Pembroke being ignored. I particularly like the photographer in the FG who is completely facing the other direction. I might have cloned that stray arm out because once I saw it I kept seeing it. There is very fine detail on the statue set against the warm coloured stone.
Very well done for giving us all a smile. Another gem from your Oxford collection!
Kind Regards, Ann

MJR (3360) 2012-11-16 4:47

John

Take a picture of ME !! Well I did, and its in WS !!

Lovely image of the photographer at work, exhibiting a very unusual style, I have to say. Glasses and viewfinders don't really work, so maybe he's come to an accommodation that suits..

Fine, amusing composition, and magnificent title ! Quite what the good Earl is holding in his right hand leaves much to the imagination ?

kind regards

Martin

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Glint (6171) 2012-11-17 11:39

hello John,
sorry to come to this late.It has put a smile on my face.Well observed and seems you were quick on the draw. You mention to Gunnar that you aren't too happy with the compo. I can see what you mean, but street photography doesn't lend itself to carefully considered compositions. Its more snap and grab and see what you got. You got a whole lot of fun here, so you should be pleased.Good technical values as usual.
Bev

No_One (4) 2012-12-27 9:51

Hi John,
I agree, the demeanour is impressive, very proud and full of life. From your title, I thought this was one of those street performers who paint themselves :)
Love the expression on the photographers face too.
All the best
Noel