Time Changes Everything, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

The Marais area of old Paris contains many small squares and gardens. The very neat but tiny square which is the setting for this picture is the square Charles-Victor-Langlois, named after a well known 19th Century French scholar who specialised in medieval history. I approached it from rue des Francs Bourgeois via a small lane beside the back end of the church of Notre-Dame des Blancs-Manteaux (abutting the square a little to the right of this scene), and found the old lady in the photo darting past me into the square and across it one way and then back the other. I hardly had time to notice the poignant contrast between childhood and old age before shooting, and despite a reasonable shutter speed the old woman moved so hurriedly that her foot and plastic bag became blurred. Of course, my crop of the original photo has only exaggerated the blur, but I thought there was too much distracting stuff in it and I wished to concentrate on what I thought was the essential story of the meaning of time.

I have noticed many elderly women in Paris who are bent from the effects of age, poverty, and probably rheumatoid arthritis.

In searching for some information about the square, which is very hard to find, other than that it was created in 1961, I found a website which specialises in informing people (complete with numerous photos, but alas not one of this square which is nonetheless in the list) of squares in Paris where one may play Table Tennis. Here it is, if you would like to play in the open air one day: the 'Tables de ping-pong ŕ Paris'.

phwall, saxo042, jlbrthnn, jhm, dareco, pelin, Isabelle, kschanna, ChrisJ, Royaldevon, Philippe, dorte_s_t, kmarscher, Kielia, feather, zeca, Dyerco, skippy007, ilDottore, UlfE, Buin, delkoo, ChrysK, emjleclercq, KateinDenmark, noborders, Glint oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Disabled_A (0) 2008-08-09 6:07

Hello Andrew,
thank you for the photo! IMHO, it's the subject that matters in this case, not the quality of the cropped photo. Sometimes we really have to be very quick to notice such things. Great idea to capture such a scary but natural contrast between the old and weak and the young and strong.
there are lots of such old people in Moscow, too. And not only in Moscow, in all Russian cities, towns and villages you can find them.
I didn't notice such people only in Sweden. There may be some but definitely they are an exception rather than a rule.
regards,
Elena

GerdVDC (0) 2008-08-09 6:21

I agree with the previous comment that sometimes the message is so strong that it surpasses the importance of other photographic elements. In this case anyone can understand you've had to be very fast in order to capture the scene, and the blur in this case is not disturbing for me. I think you've posted something dramatically different from most TE-posts, and I think we can all use this type of eye-opener every once in a while. This is also part of our world.

have a nice weekend.

All the best,

Gerd

phwall (6787) 2008-08-09 6:47

Hi Andrew,
I'm happy to view this shot blur or no blur. This is the type of daily life shot we can all empathise with. A very nice moment to reflect on where we've been, and what lies ahead.
Lovely image and superb note.
cheers
Peter

saxo042 (38078) 2008-08-09 7:57

Hi Andrew,
An interesting photo with a certain message. Well observed to include young and old persons in the same capture. Interesting note as well!
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

MarcT (20964) 2008-08-09 8:02

Hi Andrew,
Superb interaction between the elderly woman and the young child playing with his mother.
Have a nice WE
Marc

gildasjan (43826) 2008-08-09 9:01

Bonjour Andrew
Une bonne prise de vue qui souligne le contraste entre la jeunesse remuante et le temps qui nous use.
Un trčs bon coup d'oeil.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
Gildas

jlbrthnn (76043) 2008-08-09 9:14

Hello Andrew,
It is true, contrast between this modest old woman used by time and certainly also by work, is very strong with younger people and the adults, in good health and carefree men. A very beautiful image which makes think on the time which passes, but also on the insulation and the destitution of some which age, in particular in the cities.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

dareco (17136) 2008-08-09 20:46

A very interesting observation and I like the relaxed feeling of this picture. I always enjoy daily life scenes. When I look at this old woman I wonder about her life and the many stories she could tell. TFS and have a happy day!

pcp (3396) 2008-08-09 21:47

Hi Andrew,

Yes, I agree with your Title. Time makes us to change (I will say i will be the good example) Past 2 years to till now..How many chages and experiances..still i wonder how i managed all...Our life is like streaming river we have to Journy towads sea(Death)and we will reach our final destination one day. Great shot and made to think too much :) well done.

TFS

Senthil

wolf38 (30) 2008-08-09 22:01

Hello Andrew. A snapshot worth seeing. Very alive and descriptive by the inclusion of the environment. Altogether an impressing photo. Best regards, Wolfgang.

molla (7129) 2008-08-10 1:45

Hej Andrew!
Life goes along, and now one can stops it without leaving it. a bit of a cliché but stll one of the corner questions in our lack of knowledge. your picture has a philosophical issue about if is it good or bad to get old, if it's worth struggling when we all ending up in as someone who has been something.
the woman look upon her child with those eyes of hope and doesn't at all se the old infirm woman on her way out of the picture.
I do like the picture because it tells more about me then about it's motive
Anders

pelin (2789) 2008-08-10 2:21

o well.. changes. what a 'contrastic' shoot. On the left we see
old lady lookin really tired of life.. and on the right side of life we see new life starting to grown. A beautiful effect.
Plus those two pigeons. A really good catch,.
thanks,
~pelin

jhm (211734) 2008-08-10 3:47

Hello Andrew,

Three or four generations on one picture, this is very interesting.
In foreground the old lady with bent back, to the right the young lady with her child, also on the bench different people of different ages.
Very well done,TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Isabelle (9046) 2008-08-10 4:39

Olá, Andrew,
you have already lots of feedback about the image, which i think is poingnant, indeed, and of course, makes me think about my own aging process - and from my experience i can tell you it´s not easy at all to grow old in a country that has the highest amount of plastic surgery. here, not to dye the hair is usually seen as a sign of lack of self care.
anyway, it´s also interesting to notice so many people in the frame and except for the mother/kid there´s no interaction...
have a great sunday, my friend.

kschanna (6) 2008-08-10 5:57

Hello Andrew,

This composition is simple exquisite. Its very difficult to capture time, but you have done it in the most remarkable way. The composition is very touching indeed. The contrast is so heart-wrenching, the young child making his/her way into life and the old woman making her inevitable departure from life and the only thing common between them is 'time' and it certainly changes everything.

Thanks for sharing

Regards
Kamran

kensimage (8563) 2008-08-10 15:19

Hello Andrew--You have rather the same youth-and-age theme here as in this shot of mine, and even a similar location--a Paris park! It's very metaphorically apt that the old woman is departing the scene. I think it might look even better in B/W, since the colors here serve no real purpose and the glare off the sand would be less apparent. But the composition is the main thing, and that's excellent. Regards, Ken.

ChrisJ (171146) 2008-08-11 4:05

Hi Andrew

A superb capture of 3 generations side by side with good sharpness, colour & lighting. Tfs!

Royaldevon (85606) 2008-08-11 4:07

Hello Andrew,

Like some of your other shots, you show that you are a good observer of people. Many would have missed this but it is very poignant.
How unexpected that the old, incapacitated lady is moving at speed whilst all the other much younger, and probably fitter, people are relatively sedantary!
A very well composed and thought provoking shot.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Geo (1245) 2008-08-11 4:57

I think this image captures the soul of the Marais district very well. Not so long ago it was one of the forgotten areas of Paris. Then it became a fashionable low-rent district for artists and bohemians. Now it has become the heart of a vibrant community. Your image seems to superimpose these different community lives of a place I love.

Philippe (11836) 2008-08-11 9:35

Hi, Andrew. A stunning contrast between the old lady wrapped up in her clothes and the innocence of the boy and his mother playing on the swing in summer clothes. Nobody seems to notice her, everyone being absorbed in their game or reading. You did and this gave a very good image.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

dorte_s_t (2287) 2008-08-11 10:17

Hi Andrew .
A superb shot of childhood , teen age, motherhood, adolescens ,ad old age - and all is concentrated in the old lady . Old age doesn't mean we have forgotten og left our past behind . We will carry it within us to the end....
Kindest regards
Dorte.

tomescuc (3291) 2008-08-11 15:13

Hello Andrew,
I concur with all here - the juxtaposition is thought provoking and can lead to philosophical contemplation. The people on the benches are quiet spectators, from various stages of life. An excellent photographic observation.
cheers,
CT

UnTrained (0) 2008-08-12 0:40

Hello Andrew,
a pretty summer composition of age contrasts, partly a bit sad. But a good presentation of what we can see day for day and who knows about our health later.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

toto (0) 2008-08-12 1:31

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cette plaine de jeu ou se cotoyent du monde, des générations męme, des petits enfants, des mamans, des grands mčres et pčres, 3 générations sur la męme photo.
Bien vu, bien pris.

Amitiés Thomas

kmarscher (2887) 2008-08-12 7:39

A fine grab, Andrew. I like the social dynamics of city spaces and enjoy viewing what's going on in the Charles-Victor-Langlois square. This is one of your strengths; seeing a message in the mundane and conveying it well in a photo. Congrads on your quick action and your photojournalism efforts.
Regards,
Kathy

Kielia (24077) 2008-08-12 9:42

Hi Andrew,
thank you for posting this scene - blur or not blur - it is so typical also for the big cities in Germany, it could have been Hamburg or Berlin. It is interesting to see that nobody takes notice of the old woman - except of you! I also like your note very much. TfS!
Warm regards
Harriet

feather (51130) 2008-08-13 4:18

I don't care about the blur at all, but the subject is very strong. If we could be sure of the ages of the seated people there are probably four generations in this image, but it is the contrast between the old lady and the baby playing that is the most striking, just as you intended. Compositionally, one of the things I usually prefer is the main subject entering the frame. In this case a better balance would have been if you had been able to capture her as she was still to the right of the mother and baby. From your note that doesn't sound possible, but on the other hand, placed where she is could symbolise her at the end of her life as she is approaching the end of the frame. Very good observational shot.
Kath

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-08-13 4:21

An interstng documentation about the people of Paris. A good shot with good sharpness and good light. Well detailed.
Best wishes,
Achim

daddo (28748) 2008-08-13 4:22

Hi Andrew. It's all been said already. It really is a mother of a shot with all the elements of childhood, youth, adulthood and old age included into one evocative composition. i must say that she must have been a speedy old thing, considering that at 100th of a sec. her feet are still blurry.Lovely light and the two pigeons add a nice touch. Regards. Klaudio.

ElAprendiz (30) 2008-08-14 15:13

Hello Andrew:

Undoubtedly an image captured very well, with a strong enough message.

The composition is extraordinary, within a frame well balanced. Samples two facets (start and end of life) through a scene subtle and forceful. Sound management of enlightenment.

John

zeca (19762) 2008-08-17 20:52

Its a clever composition, Andrew! Very well seen and perfectly captured, from the children to the old woman. Take care of yours because our time will also arrive..
Have a nice week!
Zeca

Dyerco (10185) 2008-08-19 7:08

Hi Andrew
An interesting image of youth vs old age. Very well composed considering how fast you say she was moving.
Phil

skippy007 (12510) 2008-08-19 15:47

Hello Andrew, An image that makes me stop, think & reflect. I always say to my wife we either get old or die, I don't like one or the other, I would like a third but getting old is not so bad, the thought of being old & unhealthy is the problem. Good daily life shot, I think the inclusion of the mother & child, giving us that contrast with the old lady is what makes it work & interesting, it gives us something to think about. Excellent note.
Thanks
Santo

ilDottore (5252) 2008-08-20 9:00

Hi Andrew,
Very good photo, forcing us to think, how quickly the time is running.
Sometimes is good to stop our everyday activities and find the time for a minute of reflection...
Thank you for posting.
Best Regards
Chris

UlfE (14641) 2008-08-20 23:02

Hi Andrew,

An excellent shot. I love such street shot where you just capture what is going on the scene is very vivid a you tell a good story. It was a bit of a bad luck that the old lady was moving fast, but on the other hand the motion blur also illustrates that she is in fact moving fast. She also works as a lead-in to the younger lady and her son that is sort of the main subject. Could have been a very nice picture as well with just her and her son. See WS.

Cheers,

Ulf

[workshop] [compare]

Buin (42580) 2008-08-21 9:46

Hallo Andrew!
The others have said all. A very thought provoking picture ...
Greetings from summerly Germany!
frank

delkoo (68) 2008-08-28 7:09

hi andrew,
The youth is the time to study the wisdom, the old age is the time to practise it. [Jean-Jacques Rousseau ).
great photo with philosophical issue.

best regards
didier

testmaniac (13508) 2008-08-29 11:15

Hello Andrew! Yes you are right! Excellent composition and idea of this photo!

TFS

Phil

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-09-08 2:44

Hi Andrew
I was really was intrigued with your note and there were plenty of elderly men and women with this problem in London. A classic shot of three generations, where from what I can see the older generation being forgotten. (I could be wrong however). Its a classic shot and powerful and one I like very much. Superb motion movement with the rest of the image pin sharp.
Excellent work Andrew
Jim

emjleclercq (15778) 2008-09-12 23:25

A great illustration of the passage of time: the contrast is striking between the bent old lady and the mother and child playing in the background...

All the best,

Emmanuel

KateinDenmark (1634) 2008-09-29 12:50

Hi,

This is a wonderful shot and you've cropped it beautifully. It's interesting how she seems to be moving faster than the child on the rocking horse. Very nice perspective and a great name for the picture.

Regards
Kate

noborders (1010) 2008-09-30 11:52

The title is true but a bit cruel too, still it is the sad reality, stricking contrast here between these generations - the woman looks also like rather poor and lonely, like a sort of homeless... Sad reality and a photo that shows more than one thing about the world !
Best,
Cath.

scalerman (26900) 2008-10-15 12:34

Andrew: of course the very best images tell a story - either through action, expression, or contrast. This is a fine example of the latter. Great reportage. c

rabani (9645) 2008-11-18 18:03

Dear Andrew,
Your title for this photo is...melancholically thoughtful. And just about decisive as well. Seeing the old lady and the way she holds herself with a contrasting mother and her child in the near background, takes away the feel of this touristic location.

I always believe and hold that photo is about how one feels when one sees a scene unroll itself. For composition is really the frame of one's mind. You got it made here Andrew.

As for people leaving nothing on my photos, that's ok really. If one's contributes, one should not expect much in return. Furthermore, it's partly my fault for not having much time to go around and socialize nowadays. Even though Trekearth & Treklens is about photography, it has become something of a social network.

Regards
Rabani

Glint (6171) 2008-12-15 1:46

hello Andrew,
I came across you via reading your the forum thread about the origin of your user name which I found interesting. I will have to go back and read One Hundred Years of Solitude again.But anyway, I love discovering photographers like yourselve by browsing in this way. I like this and others of yours as they they tell stories. Everyday scenes but with something to say and feel.Here the poignancy of the contrast. Here youth and age, hope and perhaps despair.
regards
Bev