What Could Have Been and the Lessons Learned

Posted by Laurie (New Jersey, United States) on 2 April 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

Ahh...where do I begin with this photo?

Saturday I decided to go and crawl around some rail yards that I know of that have vintage rail cars, engines etc. While there, I photographed lots of rusted out hulks of rail cars and engines in varying states of repair, or disrepair.

This is the shot that should have been, could have been, my favorite of the day. I had my tripod set up and was shooting in the opposite direction. After I got a couple of shots from that direction I turned around to see what interesting things there might be and saw this guy walking swiftly toward the parking area which was quite nearby.

I had my 80-200 mm on the camera and he was quite a distance away from me. I knew that if only I had turned a few seconds earlier it would have been a wonderful shot. It was not to be the shot I hoped for. It was the moment just missed. You see had I turned a few seconds earlier he would have been further to the left of the frame and walking into it.

Why didn't I just re-compose the shot and take it so that he was on the left of the frame you may ask? Well the answer is simple. Unfortunately, there were some vehicles, not vintage vehicles, but late model cars, and a late model pick-up truck or two, parked just out of the frame to the right of him. I didn't think the modern scene fit his look and surroundings. I also didn't want him smack dab in the middle of the frame. I decided to take this shot and see what would happen anyway.

It was quitting time, and he looked gritty, grimy, and tired. It looked like he was on his way out of the yard after what must have been a long, hard day of work. Perhaps he was looking forward to a nice hot shower, some supper, and maybe a cold beer.

While I knew the shot wasn't going to be exactly the one I wished for I still held out hope that it might still be one I really liked. It actually was pretty fair and even though it wasn't exactly what I would have liked in terms of composition I did still like it quite a lot, at least on the LCD.

Cut to opening it up in the computer with much anticipation. I quickly downloaded all the photos onto the computer and proceeded to go through them. I finally came to this one, the one I wanted most of all the ones I did that day only to see...

I clicked the shutter at the exact moment he blinked!!! *Sigh*

Well, what have I learned from this experience? Photographers should have been born with eyes in back of their heads, and always have the camera set to burst mode so that when a shot like this presents itself and you only have a small window of opportunity to get it, perhaps you won't catch them with their eyes closed.

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Comments (26)

photowannabe from pacifica, United States

Well you know Laurie, I like this anyway, even with his eyes closed. We'l just say he's daydreaming. i do like the gritty quality and composition .

2 Apr 2007 6:43am

@photowannabe: I kind of felt the same way about it. Even with his eyes closed I do actually like it. I just had hoped for a little different result.

Thanks. I so enjoy your visits.

Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece

excellent framing , nice and crisp photo

2 Apr 2007 8:23am

@Dimitrios: Thanks.

Sujit from India

I like it, especially the closed eyes.

2 Apr 2007 8:35am

@Sujit: Thanks!

Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany

Somehow, this take is captivating!

2 Apr 2007 9:29am

@Manuela Photography: Thanks. I think that's why I kept going back to it even after I had initially dismissed it as a mistake.

Dan Meyers from Macomb, United States

Still a good image Laurie. You said the man was possibly tired. Perhaps that just shows a sign of his tiredness from a long day.

2 Apr 2007 1:00pm

@Dan Meyers: Thanks. I thought the same thing perhaps and that he was envisioning a hot shower, a meal, and some relaxation.

kmf from Kerala,Kalpakanchery, India

i like it

2 Apr 2007 1:02pm

@kmf: Thanks!

Sandra from Philippines

Thought this wasn't the photo you really hoped for, it still turned out well, for me. oh well, i simply like the whole photo. ^__^

2 Apr 2007 1:37pm

@Sandra: Thanks, I've come to appreciate it much more than I did at first.

mahdi from Iran

Coldness ... road ... cold man ... cold feeling .... beautiful :)

2 Apr 2007 2:00pm

@mahdi: Thanks.

Russ D from Gilbertsville, PA, United States

It's still a great photo, Laurie. It has a certain timelessness to it. It looks like it could have occurred at any time, past or present. Keeping the cars out of the image was a good decision. It would have eventually dated the image.

2 Apr 2007 2:24pm

@Russ D: Thanks.

John from United States

Very interesting shot. I'd like to see a b&w version; might have a timeless quality to it.

2 Apr 2007 5:28pm

@John: Thanks John you are right. I do have it in black and white also, but since I post so many black and white photos between here and my other photoblog I decided to post this one.

Reza from Montreal, Canada

The closed eyes and hands in pockets the picture make the picture a different expression. Nice shot

2 Apr 2007 5:45pm

@Reza: Thanks.

Dornbrau from Colorado Springs, United States

Laurie, I viewed the photo before I read your narrative, and to be honest I really loved the picture. The fact that the man is to the right of the frame gives the illusion that he is leaving, rather than entering. His downcast eyes gives him a wearied expression. This is a fantastic 'day's end' photo essay. I'm almost glad you turned around a second too late and snapped the picture just as the man blinked.

2 Apr 2007 10:09pm

@Dornbrau: Good point...It would have a very different feel to it if it was the way I felt it should have been. So I guess it's really the shot it was meant to be after all. Thanks.

Suby from Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Shot works for me with his eyes closed :) Different from the norm which for me is good :D

Suby

2 Apr 2007 11:19pm

@Suby: Thanks. It's grown on me.

david from Chesham, United Kingdom

it's still an interesting photo - in fact his shut eyes hint at the tiredness behind them. looking at him i'd change his list of priorities to: beer, another beer, another beer, bed!!

3 Apr 2007 7:25am

@david: Perhaps you could be right. I guess it's just the woman in me that thinks hot shower first then the cold beer(s).

Yvon from Meerkerk, Netherlands

I first looked at the photo before reading your story and I liked it al lot (otherwise I could be bothered to read your story). I totally agree with Dornbrau it is a great 'days end' photo. Well done!

3 Apr 2007 1:05pm

@Yvon: Thanks. I see a lot more in the photo now as opposed to seeing the "flaws".

Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States

Nonetheless this is still a great story telling photo.. The fact that he is still a bit worn out from work gives this photo a great gritty feeling.

3 Apr 2007 4:00pm

@Nick Passantino: Thanks. Gritty was definitely the feeling I was going for.

Brittney from Utah, United States

I like photos that you have to contemplate, and that tell stories. Nice job with this one.

3 Apr 2007 4:52pm

@Brittney: Thanks.

David Santos from São João da Madeira, Portugal

very nice fhoto! thank you. have a good day

3 Apr 2007 5:39pm

@David Santos: Thanks.

Still from Valence, France

A vry determined person.. Nice capture!

3 Apr 2007 9:24pm

@Still: Yes he was ready to head home and was on his way. Thanks.

Art Monkey from Salt Spring Island, Canada

great candid capture Laurie - I like it!

3 Apr 2007 10:15pm

@Art Monkey: Thanks.

Dawn Sutherland from Phoenix, United States

Laurie I have been in your shoes many times and I agree we should have been born with eyes in the back of our heads!!! I still think it is a nice photo so don't beat yourself up. :)

4 Apr 2007 1:18am

@Dawn Sutherland: Thanks.

Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Its a well captured shot and your write-up is amazing. Love the way you get into the detail of the shot and your experience. A burst mode would have saved you though.... I will remember that lesson ;-)

4 Apr 2007 4:11am

@Rahul: Thanks...I like to include narratives.

Do Caminhar from Sintra, Portugal

Your text just gives even more value to the photo which is a great one.

4 Apr 2007 2:42pm

@Do Caminhar: Thanks.

Jen from Jessup, United States

It truly could not have been any better...your timing was perfect! I love your commentary...it brings the whole image together. Wonderful moment in time you captured Laurie!! : )
It's not the composition as more the emotional capture. A moment before and you would have missed the "sigh"...think of it that way.

5 Apr 2007 12:50am

@Jen: Thanks. The image definitely grew on me once I allowed myself to see what was there as opposed to what I had in mind.

Anne from White Rock, Canada

Laurie, I've always believed that people should be looking into a photo not out - but this guy is not looking at anything! He looks totally fed-up and tired and he is "leaving". So this framing just works so well at the end of his day. You gave an excellent lesson on normal composition - if he'd had his eyes open and staring out - the viewer might wonder what the heck he is looking at out there. But not in this case! Wonderful, shot and exposure too.

5 Apr 2007 8:38am

@Anne: I was definitely of the same mind about where he was looking as well as giving him a place to go in the composition but went for the shot anyway. It was this or nothing and the guy just looked so perfectly gritty and resolute about getting out of there. The way he was walking and his body language said "I'm done!" I knew that I had to at least try to get the shot. So in the end, you are right the closed eyes worked out for the best I suppose.

Thanks.

Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan

I like this photo, I think you captured him at the right moment, and this is a photo full of emotion, this is a great photo Laurie!

5 Apr 2007 1:12pm

@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: Thanks.

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F/8.0
ISO 200
200 mm