Elliott's Barber Shop

[Tuna]

[Didache]

This is a photographer's photograph imo - there are a lot of clever little compositional touches: the wire filling the space top right, the straight buildings with the slightly diagonal road and the opposite diagonal walkway to the barber's door, the JCT sign bottom right, etc. As with all your shots, there is a lot to savour. I can't help but feel, however, that it needs a person (maybe walking past the barber's?)

Cheers
Mike

[gahspidy]

Mike said it well. This is a photogs photo. I always feel that a blown out sky is not always a bad thing, and this is a good case in point. Especially the way you have the wire going up through the dead space letting us see that Elliots little shop is connected to the rest of the world.
The ramp is telling of Elliots concern for the handicapped, or maybe for the law or both.
Your compositions are always very refined and well thought out, that even a seemingly lifeless, dull scene comes to life with the obvious intents of your captures.
I too felt that perhaps a person or something would bring more to the picture, but I also get the sense that having this a lifeless scene is what makes this intriguing.

[KyRain]

I like this common scene that you make uncommon by calling attention to it; the
strong horizontal lines that cut into the flow of the curve and hill and also that brave
lone wire that dares to sway amidst all those straight rigid lines...
(I imagine Elliot has a good business on that corner). It does seem a little dark to me but the white of the sky seems to balance it out.

[Greg McCary]

I agree with the others, not only are you the best on the compositional side you are the best at making a dull sky work. On a day I probably would have left my camera in the bag you seem to be able to get out and find an interesting subject and make it work. The power line makes the shot for me. Blue skys and white puffy clouds wouldn't have worked as well here. Also I have a thing about barber shops they are such a big part of American culture. Nice work Tuna hats off to you again.
Greg

[readingr]

Tuna,

Mike said it a lot better than I ever could.

A master at work.

Hats off to you

Roger

[Tuna]

I am very glad to see that some of you liked this image. Atget and Evans showed us that a straight-on documentation can be an attractive thing. Later, Abbot took documentary style photography to a more complicated level without making it appear so. I am an admirer of all those photographers' work and am always drawn to scenes like this. However, I've found it very difficult to be successful in that pursuit. Here, I felt that I had gotten pretty close. Along with the power line and differing/opposing angles that you've already mentioned, I think the addition of depth through the existence of the corner and second road made me think that the straight-on aesthtic worked here.

Well, all that having been said, I suppose the comment that this is a photographer's photograph was pretty insightful...

Tuna

[Greg McCary]

Thanks for the insight to your work. It helps me when you share your thoughts. I have studied your work and you have inspired my work, even though I am light years away from you. Thanks for sharing.....
Greg

[readingr]

Well, all that having been said, I suppose the comment that this is a photographer's photograph was pretty insightful...

Tuna

Tuna,

I agree with the comment - but honestly I think what is really good about your work is that it appeals at all levels and not matter what the photographic experience people can take something away with them from your photos.

One day I hope to catch up with where you are now - but by then you'll still be way ahead and an inspiration.

Roger

[Overbeyond]

Tuna the one thing that always comes to me from your shots is atmosphere ( not necessarily a happy one either). This one is no exception. It's as if there is a curfew in the town. The absence of people and anything happening. The whole town could be at the funeral of the occupant of the house with the wreath on the door. I think I mentioned this before but many of your shots have that "David Lynch" feel to them.
Tom