Photograph of an elderly man stepping up into a bus in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Usually I don’t comment on my own pictures, but in this case the message is so strong it was shouting to be be told. The well-known photographer Ansel Adams once said, “A photograph is usually looked at—seldom looked into.”
When I saw the picture in my office, the word juxtaposition immediately came to my mind. Any dictionary worth its salt will define juxtaposition as the act of positioning close together (or side by side). “It’s the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.” A side by side position.
Let me expand. The elderly man is in motion, moving to get inside the bus and reach his destination wherever that is. His next bus stop is not far away, since he only carries a small bag hanging from his shoulder. You can see the heel of his right shoe touching the step of the bus, while the front of his shoe is suspended in midair. He’s in the middle of an action. On the other hand, the driver of the bus and the bus itself are motion-less. They are static—no motion at all. There is a contrast here—a juxtaposition if you will.
Another hidden message of the picture is age. The man has white hair, which means he could be in his sixties or maybe seventies. In contrast, the bus looks brand new. The old and the new side by side—another juxtaposition.
As I mature in the field of photography, I’m trying to look less and see more. There are messages out there wanting to be told. Good Day.
Cool picture, Omar…and a very interesting blog post.
Hi Michael:
Thank you. I’ve been viewing your pictures of the flowers and vegetation of Bajo Boquete and the place looks like a giant garden.
Wonderful shots. You are a true photographer.
Regards,
Omar.-