Thanks, Bob -- and I understand exactly what you mean. In a sense, I
guess it was that same question that made me reluctant to post the
photos at the time I took them. I suppose one of the reasons we're drawn
to them is the fact that they're harder to shoot on an emotional level.
Also, there's an inherent story in images of that type -- man vs. himself.
Life-affirming images are often dismissed as schlock -- perhaps too
often. I'm not sure if that's just human nature, or if it has something
to do with post-modernism, nihilism, deconstructionism, or
what-have-you. But, for whatever reason, images that depict suffering,
decay, etc. seem more compelling. Maybe it's because of the man vs. man,
man vs. nature, man vs. himself storylines contained within those images.
-- Walt
On 6/13/2012 8:42 AM, Bob Sullivan wrote:
Walt,
A sad comment on the human condition.
I wonder why we are drawn to such images.
I wish I could find as intense interest in more life affriming images,
something more than 'Life sucks and then you die.'
(And this is not a criticism of you Walt or the photo.)
Regards, Bob S.
On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 7:53 AM, Walt Gilbert<[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the input, Peter.
The only real clue in the first photo was the fact that he was lighting a
cigarette that was already lit -- something that wouldn't stand out unless
you'd been there at the time. I actually made that cigarette for him, as he
had tobacco and cigarette tubes and one of those hand-held stuffers, but was
too drunk to do it himself.
I think that's part of the carefree sense you picked up on -- the fact that
he was glad to finally have a cigarette to smoke.
Thanks again for the kind words and input. And you're right -- Tommy was
right where he wanted to be at the moment: At home with a half-gallon of
cheap whiskey, a couple of friends, and a small pile of smokes to get him
through the night.
-- Walt
On 6/13/2012 7:31 AM, Peter Loveday wrote:
Brilliant photo.
I know others have said that it shows how he is drinking himself to death,
but to me.. well, I don't see that. Maybe the second one you posted makes
that point more so (for me).
Anyway, this, aside from the beautiful rendering, shows a character -
larrikin, one of the boys, yob, whatever you want to call it.
I feel a sense of carefree, happy go lucky, freedom to the image. And I
guess that's where drinking takes us.
In any case, beautiful photo, of an interesting subject - for me, not so
much sad, but representative of someone who's where he wants to be.
YMMV.
- Peter
Once again, I captured the last image ever someone I knew -- in this
case, a guy named Tommy Pool. He used to frequent the club where I tend
bar, but a little over a year ago, he applied for a re-enrollment and he
was declined by the membership due to his inability to control his
drinking.
Well, that didn't stop him from drinking himself to death, which he a
couple of weeks ago. I'd dropped by his place with a friend a few weeks
prior and he was in his usual condition. I happened to be carrying my
camera that night and decided to pop off a few shots. This was the last one
of the bunch:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/walt_gilbert/7181169897/
K-x, A50/1.7, f/2.2, ISO 3200, 1/125
Comments are, as always, welcome.
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