Breakdown, a photo from Centre-Ouest, West

Photographer's Note

A change from my usual sailboats...

In the 90's I made several trip to Burkina Faso, with a non-profit organisation aiming at building schools in various towns (it's a long story...).

We would travel by bus, or, if lucky, in a car found by our local partner (an association for local development). As everywhere in West Africa, cars had seen better days and would often breakdown. This scene was thus a part of the (almost) daily routine.

This picture is for your enjoyment (I hope) but also I actually need some advice. I'd like to enter it in a (very amateur) challenge on another forum, for a theme "Breakdown" (in French: "en panne", so it's breakdown for a car or a machine, not a nervous breakdown). Do you think it's efficient, do you have any suggestion for possible cropping, B&W conversion, I'm open to anything.

I'll tell more about these trips someday (I have many many pictures)!

AandK, Rinie_Hoff, Janice, cessy, jmdaoudal, Porteplume, Valentia, rozy975, perryhooter, sarju, bip-bip, abhishek, xuaxo oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Niara78 (0) 2005-10-26 15:34

Actually, I'd leave this shot the way it is - obvious and funny :) I like the depth in this photo. You did a good framing job, too. Daily routine: man fixing the car while lady relaxes ;-)

dolin (7369) 2005-10-26 15:39

Bonsoir Sophie.
Trčs chouette cette compo.
Moi elle me plait bien et je pense que tu peux la poster sans problčme dans le thčme "en panne" dont tu parles dans ta note.
Je trouve le cadrage trčs bien pensé et j'adore ces jambes avec d'un côé le boulot et de l'autre le repos et l'attente.
C'est chouette car on ne voit aucun visage, mais juste le mec au boulot et la femme qui prend un bain de soleil :)
Le pdv est tip-top.
Pour ma part, je trouve trčs bon !
Fred

AandK (1832) 2005-10-26 15:41

This picture is seperated in left and right. On the left we got work, the street which stands for movement(well, normally) and the human-made car. On the right we got this relaxed person, we got grass and a peaceful atmosphere. I love it...
Andreas

michel_r (1118) 2005-10-26 16:32

super sophie. Tati like. La vignette se remarque aussitot
as you say, different from your usual shots. Un peu plus de saturation peut-etre car la lumičre est dure avec ce soleil haut dans le ciel. Le cadrage me semble trčs bon.
amicalement, michel.

zapady (282) 2005-10-26 16:35

Hi sophie
Thanks for making me smile, The photo has wonderful colors and composition.
For the challenge, it is suitable for the theme but ... :)

Porteplume (4036) 2005-10-26 17:49

Well Sophie, when you decide to change your style, you ARE CHANGING IT! - Having chosen the "No Photographers'Names Displayed" option, I'm rather keen at discovering who is hidding behind the thumbnails... But this one is completely different, I thought of Rosalie/Rosiegirl first, it looked like a scene taken in the "middle of nowhere" on one of those deserted roads of the States.
I just love it! :o)

* About any advices you are asking for... I think it's perfectly cropped. It could be brighter or stronger contrasted, but the rather pale colours gives exactly the idea of Africa. Just great though!

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2005-10-26 18:39

Haha, Sophie, indeed a diiferent subject, and I was surprised to see yourname underneath the thumbnail. It's a funny capture, and I think its very good, as you really do not have to explain what is happening, an endless road, someone trying to mend the car, and someone taking a rest, because it's probably goign to take a while. Good crop!

danielswalsh (13597) 2005-10-26 19:48

"Breakdown" or "Accident Scene"?

An interesting shot & I think it would be well suited for your challenge/ competition. I'd be interested to see what the photo looks like in B&W with a bit more contrast, but other then that I don't really have any more suggestions.

Nice work Sophie!
- Dan

alainh (33209) 2005-10-27 1:28

Bonjour Sophie
tu peux poster sans probleme ta photo !!
deja la vignette m'a alpagué et elle cadre parfaitement avec le theme !!!
elle est drole et tres graphique.
excellent. je vote pour toi !!!
amicalement
alain

Janice (4403) 2005-10-27 2:49

Excellent capture. The lady is doing what she does best - letting the man get on with the fixing of the car.
Very amusing Sophie, well found!!

bebel (7588) 2005-10-27 4:02

comme au cinéma, c'est le 5čme champ... l'action est invisible ou hors champ.
MAis que fait la femme... les méchants ont dit qu'elle prenait un bain de soleil.. mais non, elle est aussi en train :
de réparer un robot ménager
de le ventilateur
de lire la notice technique
de mourir assassinée

le cadrage est bien vertical, les fuyantes donnent de l'action, les tonalités sont parfaites (un peu de saturation comme suggéré ailleurs) et cette pellicule est plus intéressante que la diapo.
je pense que tu peux présenter cette photo l'autre forum avec un bonne touche d'humour
ŕ+
Pierrot

cessy (13647) 2005-10-27 4:03

very very nice, very humourous and wonderful
I think you will have great chance on the contest, no need to do any cropping or BW conversion. if you want maybe slight color enhancement
good luck, Sophie

PixelTerror (0) 2005-10-27 6:06

Bonjour Sophie,
Elle est amusante celle la, avec aussi un bon point de vue et de la perspective, on comprend bien ce qu'essaie de faire le gars de droite, mais je suis pas sur qu'il a choisi le bon cote pour assurer pendant la panne ;-)
Bonne journee,
Jean-Yves

hugolef (4913) 2005-10-27 8:54

Hello Sophie
tres drole ... les mocassins du gars avec ces belles chaussettes blanches ... d'un autres âge !!
Plus serieusement, j'aime bcp cette scene avec le parallele des jambes allongées.
Pour repondre ŕ tes questions, non seulement c'est evocateur, mais en plus c'est drole ... comme ce genre de situations qui sur le coup sont penibles mais dont on arrive toujours ŕ rire par la suite. La couleur est top ... n'y touche pas, alliée au cadrage (superbe perspective) elle donne du dynamisme ŕ l'image et montre que la reparation est necessaire car la route est longue ...
Bonne chance pour ce concours ...
Amities, hugues

devimeuxbe (58557) 2005-10-27 12:11

Alors lŕ Sophie, c'est renversant. Tu nous prend complčtement ŕ contre pied. Je n'aurais jamais pensé cette image de toi !
C'est trčs créatif, humoristique.
Trčs bonne idée.
Amicalement
Bertrand

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-10-27 12:53

J'aime bien l'histoire et l'opposition entre l'homme qui répare et la femme qui se repose :-)) célavie !
Pas trop d'idée d'améliorations pour cette image normale, faite pour accompagner une histoire et sans défaut technique.
Jean Michel

ballyna (1689) 2005-10-27 13:48

hi sophie,
I liked the pic and laughed for some moments;really funny compo.her legs make the pic actually in my opinion,they are in a relaxing position.next to her,there is his legs and working hard,we see it from the position of the legs:-)
for a challenge,yes but I do prefer a more dramatic sky in that position or at least a more colorful one.this sky is very dull for a challenge and u can do some PP work for the sky.
regards

afderrick (348) 2005-10-27 15:53

Nice composition. I really like the capture of the colors and the symmetry of the legs sticking out and that is all you see. Great shot, thanks for sharing.

Sterne (2975) 2005-10-28 11:37

Bonjour Sophie,
Le côté graphique et coté un peu surréaliste (les corps coupés) c'est trčs bien vu. On attendant la suite bon week end.
Stéphane

jkneze (506) 2005-10-28 15:21

He, he! I've been where he is more times then I'd like to remember with my first car. I like the picture as it has a certain "snapshot" thing to it and yet again it doesn't. I like the long red trail bounded by the gay asphalt and the green grass - I guess it what makes the picture. The other thing are the legs of course - they dolook like a nice pair :) - which bring the humor in the whole thing. It's a nice moment and a very nice memory.

bernardg (313) 2005-10-28 15:34

L'important dans cette photo, ŕ l'humour directement perceptible, est bien l'histoire qu'elle nous raconte, et on la comprend trčs bien comme cela (du moins ce que l'on peut/veut comprendre).
Donc, ŕ mon avis, rien ŕ changer. Ce qui peut apporter un plus pourra éventuellement venir du commentaire, mais on l'imagine aussi trčs bien présentée sans.

Gromit (442) 2005-10-28 16:14

Toujours les męmes qui travaillent tandis que les autres se la coulent douce.

rigolo comme prise de vue

Louise

Polka (588) 2005-10-29 5:55

Euh... aviez-vous penser ŕ "mettre" les warning ?

Elle est trčs bien ta photo : la composition, les couleurs, le pdv, tout me plait avec en plus la touche d'humour et de mystčre avec ces 2 paires de jambes. J'aime bien aussi le contraste entre le land rover qui a déjŕ bien roulé sa bosse (ou ses bosses plutôt) et la tenue pas trčs "baroudeur" des 2 personnages.

Bien vu Sophie

Valentia (1522) 2005-10-29 11:39

This reminds me of the Belgian painter René Magritte. It's so surreal. I like your new style Sophie. I spent some time in Zimbabwe in 1990 where my brother was teaching and I know exactly what you mean about cars breaking down. Unfortunately Zimbabwe has "broken down" too since then.

Looking forward to more from your Dali phase ;-)

Danny

GilbertB (12258) 2005-11-03 6:49

Bonjour Sophie, c'est bien vu et marrant, ne change rien. Je la laisserais en couleur, les trois lignes , grise , ocre et verte, qui convergent vers l'infini ne seraient pas belle en NB.
Gilbert

oochappan (4880) 2005-11-06 17:40

All the elements are there to tell it's own story on a sunny view, with this perpspective converging point to depict the long road slightly OOF at the horizont, I would maintain these sunny colors better showing where it has been shot.
Excellent suggestive shot, he repairs, she takes a rest.

meyavuz (741) 2005-11-20 15:59

It is a very well composed photo. The legs and the road make a nice combination. I like the idea a lot. Thanks for sharing. REgards...

frozenjazz (303) 2005-11-21 3:22

Bonjour,
je suis tombé sur toi en lisant les commentaires sur la derničre photo de Didi. J'ai cliqué sur le nom et la paf, cette photo !
J'adore, c'est excellent, c'est parfait, ca raconte une histoire, c'est graphique. Génial !
C'est dommage, je n'arrive pas ŕ me souvenir des détails, mais j'ai lu un article qui parlait de photos N/B d'un photographe connu, et une notamment, c'était une terrasse avec une table, et allongée par terre, une dame dont on ne voyait que les jambes.

Un grand bravo !!

toni_al (15875) 2005-11-23 13:32

Salut Sophie
Bravo pour le p'tit concors, mais ce n'est pas etonnant, elle est excellente.
@+ Toni

faubry (35447) 2005-11-24 4:46

hello Sophie, cela change en effet des bateaux, je vois que les missions humanitaires sont remplies de surprises!!! la męme choses souvent pour moi, amusante ta photo, j 'aime beaucoup mais par contre je ne suis pas d 'un grand secours pour t 'aider, bonne idée de la poster pour notre plaisir, moins plaisant pour les deux protagonistes...apparemment c est aussi une femme sous la voiture? d aprčs les chaussures..
bises
francine

mortijo (12828) 2005-11-27 8:40

I would not touch it! It is perfect as it is, leaving open the question of 'one breakdown' or 'two'. One being repaired and the other auto-repairing.
I am a bit late in finding it, but better late than never.
John

jp80 (8443) 2005-11-30 5:11

Salut Sophie,
je vois que, comme moi, tu ne publies plus souvent sur TE... De retour aujourd'hui, je suis tombé sur cette photo, que je connaissais déjŕ (sur ton site sűrement). Si tu as toujours besoin d'un avis, POSTE lŕ pour ton challenge, elle est trčs réussie ! Je l'ai encore en tęte depuis la premičre fois que je l'ai vue (il y a plus d'un an sűrement), et j'avais justement apprécié la scčne.

Mince, je finis seulement ŕ l'instant de lire la note (incorrigible...) et je vois que tu as déjŕ présenté la photo... Bah, je laisse mes remarques, tant pis ! Félicitations ;o)

Pascal

jasmis (58653) 2005-12-10 6:12

Genial! This is the main difference between man and woman. :)) Great idea, as usual and good work. Almost symbolic. Regards!

sarju (5324) 2005-12-14 15:30

Allo Sophie
I just got here from the forums in TE ... I was surprised that I have missed your gallery for so long especially when you have so many very interesting photos over here.
anywyas I do loke the composition of this photo very much ... If you want my honest opinion .. I would rate at at around 7 for the category of breakdown ... as your composition is very good but still it does not shows the troubles of the "en penne"
I would have liked to see the girl under the vhehicle and the guy snoozing off for the more humurous composition showing reverse of roles
merci pour le partage ... sarju
PS: Conversion to BW .. and more melancholic shades would be effictive in this composition I would say

bip-bip (1837) 2006-01-29 17:56

Hello Sophie,
Je te confirme que je ne l'avais pas vue, car une telle composition ingénieuse ça ne s'oublie pas !
Pour le thčme "en panne" ça me parait tout ŕ fait dans la note, la touche d'humour faisant la différence.
Ravie d'avoir fait ta connaissance, j'attends avec impatience ton regard sur cette belle journée.
Amicalement,
Véro

Dakota55 (392) 2006-03-07 20:01

Great shot. I like perspective of the road dissaperaing. I dont think this one will work so well as a B&W because the strong contrasting colors look very good. I also like the contrast between the man on the hot road under the car and the girl laying in the cool grass.
Thanks
Rob

vapours (8264) 2006-04-11 20:49

I think its the first time I have looked at your gallery (recently anyway) and I am quite impressed at the quality of your images.

Love the unique scene here with the legs, and although we can't see any human faces, it seems to portray that feeling of breaking down quite well.

RGatward (20108) 2006-04-13 8:23

Funny, I thought I'd critiques this when you posted it. Absolutely brilliant amusing observation. Just the kind of thing I'd dread happening in Burkina Faso. The road looks much better than I'd have guessed.

abhishek (288) 2006-04-13 19:05

It's certainly not just d break down of machine but also dat of human being by fatigue I guess....
The woman lying on the right side of the frame is certainly tired and dat adds another dimension to the title of the pix!!
Amazing take and brilliant framing! The angle, the POV, the cropping... all of it jas seem so perfeccct!!
I personally think it shouldn't be touched any further!!
However having said that my curiosity got the better of me and I jas posted a w/s although the original remains a favourite with me.
Cheers and TFS!!

[workshop] [compare] +

deud (1920) 2006-06-05 4:19

intresting moment! great composition, perspective. very nice visual impact. tfs

jangliss (129) 2006-06-11 20:50

I really like this photo, especiall the humour of it (which is what first attracted me).

As I looked closer, I really enjoyed the converging lines of the road and verge and the conrast between the red of the gravel and the green grass.

I'm not so sure about the heavy black frame. It seems to negate the sense of space inplicit in the road diappearing in the distance by locking the entire image within a tightly confined boundary.

PS thanks for the forum post on 'critiques'.

branley (3681) 2006-08-08 12:38

Salut Sophie,

this one is indeed a break from the normal, A very funny scene. It's lovely and sharp with great colours and taken from a very good POV with the road disappearing in the distance. Well done.

Cordialement

Stephen

adam_k (600) 2006-08-14 17:46

Hi Sophie,
This one has put a big smile on my mouth... don't know exactly why but there is something unusual in this picture and I really like it...
Adam

xuaxo (6854) 2006-09-02 12:36

Bonjour Sophie
Belle image d'une panne!
I clicked "Burkina Faso" in your country's list and I was expecting some landscape, wildlife or local people. So, this photo was a complete surprise to me. A nice and funny surprise.
(Other surprise: the road seems in quite good condition; we have some worse roads in some parts of Portugal.)
Salut,
F