Window and occupant

[gahspidy]

From my series of windows. I think this is a first that i have captured someone behind the glass.
What are your thoughts?

[engineer]

This is great, I love it. Nice wall details and interesting things to see in front and behind the window. Good exposure and use of available light.
Having said that I would still try to reshoot it - if possible - with the person standing closer at the window so that one can see his head as well.
But anyway, it's great as it is!

[Greg McCary]

I like this one as well. I like the angle and crop. The lighting and Orton effect really works. The bricks showing through the charcoal stuko also is nice. The only suggestion I would have here is to fix the slight lean. Well done and a nice addition to the series. Neat shot Gary....

[Overbeyond]

My wife and I are really enjoying this. That cleaver (I guess it might not be a cleaver but I am happy to assume it is) sitting there adds so much to this image for me Gary; there is something terribly spooky about it. The faceless persons stance in relation to the cleaver really talks to me. What's going on down there in that basement? This is the message and mood I want to take from this but others may read it differently. You have exposure, especially in the most difficult conditions such as this, down to a fine art. Each and everyone of these window shots is outstanding and original.

[Frog]

I like it but if I were you, I'd be very careful that you aren't accused of being a peeping-tom.

[bindows]

I love how the outside is bleak and grey, showing it is lifeless, but the interior is colorful and full of life.

[gahspidy]

Thanks for all your comments.
Engineer . . .I had been positioned for this shot for quite a while waiting for the right moment. That moment for me was when the occupant was just out o the way enough so that he/she was unidentifiable but still enough to make out that someone is there. This person kept coming to the window and I did not want the face in the shot. Part of what makes me interested in this series is the curiosity that these windows and dressings bring as to who is inside and what is going on. If I show the person I think I reveal too much ( not to mention possibly getting into legal troubles) Thanks for your time.

Greg . . .I love that charcoal stucco, or is it just peeling black paint? Alot of these building in the city have it and I assume it was to protect the bricks from the elements. I'm glad you feel it fits and is a good addition to the series. I think it is unique from the rest in that the angle is extreme and the occupant in view.
thanks

Tom . . .I'm glad you and the Mrs. are getting a kick out of these. Yes, that is a meat cleaver. I think this person uses the area by the window to prepare food . . .or so I would hope thats whats going on. I felt like James Stewart in the movie "Rear Window" when he witnesses a murder in the apartment of another building as he is peeping with binoculars. As a matter of fact I'm going to re title this one "Rear window" as it is from the back of the building. Thanks Tom

Frog . . .thanks for the caution. Yes, I'm aware that these shots can cause some problems if i'm not careful. Thanks for the response.

bindows . . .thanks for your description and feeling on this. Appreciated

[GB1]

Gary -

A few observations:

Good stuff

- Excellent blackness around the window
- Good brightness level of the area inside the window
- Good texture on the wall, interesting artifacts on ledge, counter, etc.
- Good find !!

So-So stuff

- It's so horizontally centered... Bothers me a little like that
- I think it would be better with the top window framing cropped out. It is interesting but somehow it is more of a distraction than additive
- The scene inside the window isn't all that interesting. As bad as this may sound, if it were a woman in lingerie or something like that, i think it would be more interesting (a guy's perspective..). What you have is somewhat of a letdown compared to the rest of the image

Just my thoughts. Now I'll read everyone else's comments.....

G

[SmartWombat]

Well, I disagree with all your so-so comments.

The lighting around the window is as important as the lighting in the window.
The window sill at the top hints at another scene up above, but teases by not showing it.
There's lots of detail to be seen here.
The cracked glass.
Tape over the crack.
The plant pot outside.
The window open at the top, a hint of sharpness there.
The face hidden behind the fan.
The cleaver - is it for food preparation, or something else?
What's in the white square bowl?
The orange highlights each side of the person, what are they?
The blur from the (dirty?) window glass makes this.
- if it was all sharp it wouldn't have the same impact.

Lots of mystery, lots of detail.
Breaking the rules is great, you don't need to have everything off-centre in both axes, you don't need to have only the apparent subject in the frame.
And sex isn't necessary

[GB1]

Paul - You're certainly entitled to your own observations. Centering is OK in some situations, but not being able to articulate the exact steps needed for it to 'work' or not, I would just say that to me it just seems too centered to me. "Sex" is not necessary, nor did I say that it was - I was saying that it needed something more interesting happening inside the window. The lingerie suggestion was a 'for example', something to spice it up. The person in there just doesn't seem as interesting as the things leading up to what's inside. But that's in the eye of the beholder... GB

[gahspidy]

Thanks Paul and GB1, an interesting discussion on different viewpoints of the same image.
I knew this was a very unorthodox composition, but for me it just felt right. I appreciate that this won't work for everyone and will for some. This is a perfect example of the beauty and benefit of this forum. I have benefited greatly over the years from just this type of healthy dicussions of varying and often different points of view.
thanks for your time.