Sunday, July 29, 2007
Deportes
In honor of my new obsession with racquetball, here is a cool photo essay that was created for the New York Times Magazine a little while back. It's a nice change from the usual sports photography you see. The photographer, Vincent Laforet, distance, composition and especially depth of field to create some unique images. He uses selective focus as a way to not only guide a viewer's attention, but also as a way to alter our perspective, make us see these events in a new way. The effect of messing with something as simple of depth of field can be pretty startling. Even sports stars look as small and insignificant as they really are -- I don't mean that in a demeaning way, just in the sense that the ocean and the natural world are huge compared to one human...and, stuck in our own brains, we can't help but view our worlds in such a human, me-centric way. These photos set things straight. We look like we are little figurines in a little dollhouse-world (stadiums, streets, courts) that we created, which is essentially the truth.
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4 comments:
Thanks for posting this photo essay, they photos are amazing and a startling perspective on our miniscule presence in the world as compared to mother nature! Gorgeous too, especially the ones of the surfing competition. Through your blog you are constantly providing me all sorts of new literary, visual and photographic experiences I would not otherwise have! Now that I see you are posting, I am thinking you and familia are not yet in D.C. so check out a new comment to your D.C. trip itineray blog with an additional few suggestions of mine!
Check out the work of Olivo Barbieri, who also employs a similar technique.
Also, check out Thom Yorke's Harrowdown Hill video here: http://bentimagelab.com/sg/pages/HH_Video.htm
By the way, I discovered yesterday that Matt Pinfield has a show on HDNET. It warms my heart knowing that.
Linds, thanks for sharing this but i was very sadenned (spelling? that looks weird) to see that you frogot to mention (how convenient) the most major development to come into your life via your obsession with raquetball, which is: your new status as a memeber of Lifetime 24-Hour Fitness. Yes, after years of mockery (watching as i did sit-ups or tae bo in our ann arbor appts, hiding in the back seat of jamie's car to scare me when she kindly picked me up from the CCRB after a work out, scoffing of any mention of self-imposed exercise other than spontaneous sports playing), you, Lindsay Trapnell, have joined a gym and even have a designated "gym bag" with your "gym clothes". this post is mainly about my own vindication. in reality, i am excited that you have a new outlet for recreation and fun, even if it is amidst the post-work suburban parents business person population.
Responses in order of those who commented:
CB, thank you for the additional recommendations. We actually had the night time tour already on the itinerary and it is one of the things I am most excited about. We're leaving in 2 days!
Jeff, thanks for the referrals. I checked out both -- really cool stuff. Now I am wanting the Nikon 2.0 lens adapter from Lensbabies that can create a similar effect. I'll put that on my Christmas list. Too bad it's only July. Also glad to hear Matt P. is still going strong. In related news, I am excited to check out The Two Coreys.
Laura, you have officially outed me, but I was going to come clean. You will be pleased to see I have now gone on the record (see current July 30th post, #1). I have faith that the public will stand behind me. See David Palmer, 24, Season 1.
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