I'm a fan of this photo. Unlike what I normally prefer, this frame is filled completely but that's what makes it so interesting. A few things attract the eye like the person (of course), the signpole and all the lines. They all fight for my attention, but that does not bother me. I keep wandering through this image and keep seeing new things. Also like the contrast in this photo. Well done, Alvaro.
Thank you so much Marcel. The shot was taken on a very busy street in Tokyo over the summer of 2023. This day had over 42 degrees Celsius, so waiting bit longer under the scorching sun was not an option. Hence, the photo was just a quick snapshot. I took two pictures of this corner and then walked away, later I discovered they turned quite okay, but this one stayed with me. I did have it printed on my office :)
I love this image. It's complex and confusing at first, but the main thing is, I can't stop looking at it. It's not common to react that way to anything these days, where many of us scroll past a bazillion things each day.
I find this photo riveting. It’s organized chaos. There is something to look at in every inch of the frame and yet the person is still the main attraction. I also love that you don’t notice that everything is upside down at first. You’re sucked in, looking, admiring the composition and lighting and then, boom, you come to the realization that the world has literally flipped. - Beautiful work of art!
Thank you Alicia! It's funny that with my friend we always comment that the original photo (unfliped), is rather mundane and boring, but for some reason it changes drastically when you turn it upside down :o
very well done, and captivating: what indeed is going on with that guy? — for my part however, it would work better as a square format: i find the top third to be somewhat distracting.
It's a remarkable photo - when I need to look twice or three times at an image then you've got me - was the guy walking off the edge of a building? Why were his legs looking weird and how come he was under some kind of mesh?
I didn't even clock it was upside down when I started to look - fantastic!
A great capture. The reverse of the image makes you mind think something isn't right but that's just because you aren't used to the perspective. The reflection makes the man seem right side up while everything else is inverted. It's the most brilliant part of the image for me.
Really liked this photo - I enjoy the black and white, I think it helps sustain the central illusion of the flipped photo. Worthy of inclusion in *All the Photo-tricks* by Edwin Smith.
every single time a photo is published in this section, i say few words about what i don't like in that photo. now for the above i have just 5 words: give me more of this!
Thank you for that!! You can maybe take a look at my website? www.filmfiasco.com there are some old work there. Haven't been actively updating it since last year tho. Too much work haha
First, I dislike the presentation. I have to scroll up and down just to see the image whole thing. Had to change my screen resolution to see it in its entirety.
Second, while my brain initially was interested as I focused on the person walking and tried to figure out why they were walking amongst the wires to the edge of the building, as soon as I figured that out, I felt duped. Oh, it's upside down. That's how it engaged me. With a cheap trick. Once I figured that out, I grabbed the image and dropped it into photoshop., turned it right side up, and meh. Nothing special here.
We have so much fake imagery these day that we have to wade through, like separating wheat from the the chaff, I'm not sure what the point is to purposely trick us like this. I guess I just didn't appreciate it because of that. Overall it left a negative impression on me.
First of all, thank you for you comment. I mean, you took the time to write all that.
Second, I agree that when the photo is not upside down it's dull, boring and quite unremarkable. However, when flipped it seems to change drastically. Even you were, at least momentarily, attracted to it. I'm sorry for using "cheap tricks", I'll try a non-upside-down picture for next time hehe!
Third, I also agree we're exposed to fake imagery on a daily basis, but I don't think flipping a photo makes it fake, does it? Anyways thank you for your comment, it kept me thinking on a good way ! Until the next one :)!
Ha, I see I cannot change my vote. Well, I can tell you that upon more serious reflection, I would change all my negatives to positives. Your image has won me over.
Thank you for being so generous with accepting my criticism. Re-reading my comment I see that I did not tell you what I think of the photo. I told you how it made me feel. I was being honest for the most part, but not very critical. This was my unfiltered gut reaction. I found it disturbing. Now let me tell you what I think. I think the image was very effective at eliciting a strong emotional response from me. That is obvious from my comment. one might say I even sound a little unhinged. I live in the country. We used to have cows for neighbours, but dairy farming isn't what it used to be and they too have gone. Now we are mostly left alone. I can't even see another house from our own except in winter when I can see a barn on a far off hillside. We have neighbours but we are all surrounded by woods. And I'm okay with that. I thrive on the natural beauty that surrounds me. In the city, I was suffocated by the built landscape, the small spaces which I had to carve out for myself just to survive. The noise, the people, the traffic, the visual overload. It was always too much for me and I escaped it after 10 years of city living. That was some 35 years ago. Your image brings all of this up in me. The disorientation, the difficulty in navigating spaces. The foreign (for me) language signs also serve to hold the illusion and complete the disorientation. Looking at the image more critically, I would say that it is very well done as witness the many positive reactions you have received. I will go back and redo the survey now that I have thought more critically about the piece.
By the way, my suggestion that turning the photo upside down is a cheap trick is perhaps the least honest thing I said. Particularly with reflections, this is common practice and has nothing to do with fake photos which are an entirely different topic. My referring to the image this way was my defenses lashing out at you for which I apologize. That particular criticism was unfair and uncalled for.
Hi John, first of all (again) thank you for writing extensively about your thoughts about the photo and explaining why your felt like that way. Now I can understand the place from which the original comment came from, and although a tinny bit harsh, I wasn't offended or anything by it, if anything I was somewhat happy the image arose some sort of emotional connection with the viewer.
Second of all, I find quite remarkable the way you changed your opinion, even apologizing, something is rarely seen during (more or less) anonymous internet interactions. Quite inspiring to encounter someone like that being the keyboard.
Third of all, apologies accepted. I hope you have a great day!
Love this idea and the photo but personally, I think it can have a lot more impact as a colour picture. I think It's a bit too busy for a monochrome subject. But hey, that's just what my eye likes to see.
I'm a fan of this photo. Unlike what I normally prefer, this frame is filled completely but that's what makes it so interesting. A few things attract the eye like the person (of course), the signpole and all the lines. They all fight for my attention, but that does not bother me. I keep wandering through this image and keep seeing new things. Also like the contrast in this photo. Well done, Alvaro.
Thank you so much Marcel. The shot was taken on a very busy street in Tokyo over the summer of 2023. This day had over 42 degrees Celsius, so waiting bit longer under the scorching sun was not an option. Hence, the photo was just a quick snapshot. I took two pictures of this corner and then walked away, later I discovered they turned quite okay, but this one stayed with me. I did have it printed on my office :)
I love this image. It's complex and confusing at first, but the main thing is, I can't stop looking at it. It's not common to react that way to anything these days, where many of us scroll past a bazillion things each day.
I find this photo riveting. It’s organized chaos. There is something to look at in every inch of the frame and yet the person is still the main attraction. I also love that you don’t notice that everything is upside down at first. You’re sucked in, looking, admiring the composition and lighting and then, boom, you come to the realization that the world has literally flipped. - Beautiful work of art!
Thank you Alicia! It's funny that with my friend we always comment that the original photo (unfliped), is rather mundane and boring, but for some reason it changes drastically when you turn it upside down :o
very well done, and captivating: what indeed is going on with that guy? — for my part however, it would work better as a square format: i find the top third to be somewhat distracting.
Hi Pierre. Thank you for the suggestion! I might consider the square format if someday I sequence it for a printed work :)!
Flipping the photo upside-down was genius!
Thank you, Les !
Boldly striding into the upside-down metropolis - I love it, Álvaro! So cleverly seen and well composed too.
Thank Diana!! Really appreciated :)
I looove this. First drawn to the person walking in the center, then pulling out and being like whaaat?!
Exactly my point. Love it too.
I'm really happy it confused you (on a good way) haha :)!
It's a remarkable photo - when I need to look twice or three times at an image then you've got me - was the guy walking off the edge of a building? Why were his legs looking weird and how come he was under some kind of mesh?
I didn't even clock it was upside down when I started to look - fantastic!
Thank you Richard! I'm happy I "got" you with this one :)!!
A great capture. The reverse of the image makes you mind think something isn't right but that's just because you aren't used to the perspective. The reflection makes the man seem right side up while everything else is inverted. It's the most brilliant part of the image for me.
Really appreciated Richard ! Thanks
Really liked this photo - I enjoy the black and white, I think it helps sustain the central illusion of the flipped photo. Worthy of inclusion in *All the Photo-tricks* by Edwin Smith.
Hello Paul ! Thank you for this, what a compliment. I've never heard of this book, maybe I should look into it :)!
This is such a clever photo. I have to keep looking at it, and scanning the whole frame again and again. Congrats!
Thanks, Peter. I agree
every single time a photo is published in this section, i say few words about what i don't like in that photo. now for the above i have just 5 words: give me more of this!
Hear hear, like to see more too...
Thank you for that!! You can maybe take a look at my website? www.filmfiasco.com there are some old work there. Haven't been actively updating it since last year tho. Too much work haha
First, I dislike the presentation. I have to scroll up and down just to see the image whole thing. Had to change my screen resolution to see it in its entirety.
Second, while my brain initially was interested as I focused on the person walking and tried to figure out why they were walking amongst the wires to the edge of the building, as soon as I figured that out, I felt duped. Oh, it's upside down. That's how it engaged me. With a cheap trick. Once I figured that out, I grabbed the image and dropped it into photoshop., turned it right side up, and meh. Nothing special here.
We have so much fake imagery these day that we have to wade through, like separating wheat from the the chaff, I'm not sure what the point is to purposely trick us like this. I guess I just didn't appreciate it because of that. Overall it left a negative impression on me.
First of all, thank you for you comment. I mean, you took the time to write all that.
Second, I agree that when the photo is not upside down it's dull, boring and quite unremarkable. However, when flipped it seems to change drastically. Even you were, at least momentarily, attracted to it. I'm sorry for using "cheap tricks", I'll try a non-upside-down picture for next time hehe!
Third, I also agree we're exposed to fake imagery on a daily basis, but I don't think flipping a photo makes it fake, does it? Anyways thank you for your comment, it kept me thinking on a good way ! Until the next one :)!
Ha, I see I cannot change my vote. Well, I can tell you that upon more serious reflection, I would change all my negatives to positives. Your image has won me over.
Thank you for being so generous with accepting my criticism. Re-reading my comment I see that I did not tell you what I think of the photo. I told you how it made me feel. I was being honest for the most part, but not very critical. This was my unfiltered gut reaction. I found it disturbing. Now let me tell you what I think. I think the image was very effective at eliciting a strong emotional response from me. That is obvious from my comment. one might say I even sound a little unhinged. I live in the country. We used to have cows for neighbours, but dairy farming isn't what it used to be and they too have gone. Now we are mostly left alone. I can't even see another house from our own except in winter when I can see a barn on a far off hillside. We have neighbours but we are all surrounded by woods. And I'm okay with that. I thrive on the natural beauty that surrounds me. In the city, I was suffocated by the built landscape, the small spaces which I had to carve out for myself just to survive. The noise, the people, the traffic, the visual overload. It was always too much for me and I escaped it after 10 years of city living. That was some 35 years ago. Your image brings all of this up in me. The disorientation, the difficulty in navigating spaces. The foreign (for me) language signs also serve to hold the illusion and complete the disorientation. Looking at the image more critically, I would say that it is very well done as witness the many positive reactions you have received. I will go back and redo the survey now that I have thought more critically about the piece.
By the way, my suggestion that turning the photo upside down is a cheap trick is perhaps the least honest thing I said. Particularly with reflections, this is common practice and has nothing to do with fake photos which are an entirely different topic. My referring to the image this way was my defenses lashing out at you for which I apologize. That particular criticism was unfair and uncalled for.
Hi John, first of all (again) thank you for writing extensively about your thoughts about the photo and explaining why your felt like that way. Now I can understand the place from which the original comment came from, and although a tinny bit harsh, I wasn't offended or anything by it, if anything I was somewhat happy the image arose some sort of emotional connection with the viewer.
Second of all, I find quite remarkable the way you changed your opinion, even apologizing, something is rarely seen during (more or less) anonymous internet interactions. Quite inspiring to encounter someone like that being the keyboard.
Third of all, apologies accepted. I hope you have a great day!
The type of photograph that makes you stop and try to figure out what is happening. I love it.
Thank you Fernando :)!!
Alvaro, I *love* this photo. it's disorienting and perplexing in the best way.
Love this idea and the photo but personally, I think it can have a lot more impact as a colour picture. I think It's a bit too busy for a monochrome subject. But hey, that's just what my eye likes to see.
Thank you for your comment Xavi, maybe I'll search for the raw file on my folders and to try and see how it renders. Thank you for the suggestion!