The Petroleum Club, a photo from Texas, South

Photographer's Note

The wedding I recently attended in Texas ended, rather incredibly, with a very small after-party at the top of the Exxon/Mobil building in downtown Houston, at an exclusive club called the Petroleum Club - one of the guests at the wedding was a member, and arranged to have a small group of us in for complimentary wine and hors d'ouveurs. It was unquestionably a higher-class setting than I am accustomed to.

Pictured here is a small room whose decor has not been updated since its swank 1960s days - not out of neglect but out of nostalgia. It is an homage to a time past, when oil executives were king in culture, rather than just in economics. The person sitting is another guest at the wedding, enjoying the ambiance at a quiet moment.\

macjake, BennyV, delpeoples oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

SnapRJW (31631) 2012-11-13 4:37

Hello Andrew - The look of your shot fits with the note I wrote today! Very smart. I like the contrasting deep blacks and the subtle pools of light. The shot has that aura of luxury and a genteel lifestyle. Nice work, sharpness indicates this was taken before the wine had taken hold. Warm regards rosemary

macjake (98260) 2012-11-13 8:34

Hi Andrew
at first glance, I thought the subjects in the background were washing machines! haha
and the man was sitting in a laundry mat!

but i suppose he's too well dressed for that! :)
I like the ambiance, the classic black and white feel with chrome. There is a shimmer and shine to the scene.
different, i like it
cheers
craig

BennyV (34734) 2012-11-13 10:18

Hi Andrew

Thanks for your sharing this shot 'from the inside'. The name of the place conjures up old money, cowboy hats and big cigars...you know what I mean. The treatment in bl/w is very effective here. The position of the guest is very good, well placed within the whole. I also like his relaxed pose. He's not terribly sharp, but that's OK, it goes with the ambience & the interior is what the picture is really about.

Benny

Juzo (2151) 2012-11-14 20:52

Hi Andrew,
A timeless feel to this shot, from a seemingly timeless place (decor-wise). The deep shadows and the framing are great, the textures and light are smooth and clean.
Cheers
Justin

delpeoples (60342) 2012-11-14 21:15

Hi Andrew

How refreshing it is to see your subject here in the midle of Texas, sans Stetson and cowboy boots, a real testament to American multiculturalism. I love the black & white treatment here, the strong contrast works well and I like the muted light in places and almost a spotlight on the wall and the subject. I also like how you positioned your subject to the left of the frame, giving us a good look at the decor of this classic old place. If it aint broke, don't fix it - good to see the owners of this place live by that rule.

Thanks for sharing, have a great day
Lisa

wolf38 (30) 2012-12-04 23:23