Kathy @randystreat challenged me to portray loneliness. So here's my response to Kathy's challenge. I have seen this lady before. Today she was sitting at Tram Stop 19 in St Kilda Road, ironically the tram stop for Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance. I hope my photo conveys the sense of lonely despair I felt emanating from her hunched and shoeless pose, even from the other side of the road.
This has been an interesting challenge leading me down a rabbit hole following the idea of the difference between loneliness (which may be an imposed and undesirable state) and solitude (which may be freely chosen). Along the way I found the following interesting article by Hanya Yanagihara 'Loneliness Belongs to the Photographer' (The New Yorker, July 10, 2016) with interesting ideas about loneliness and photography. I don't agree with all the ideas expressed in Yanagihara's article but it has some interesting talking points.
Great shot- I think it would be even more powerful in black and white. The colors are on a happier note to me and even though they contrast nicely with her pose, I think they draw too much attention to themselves- but that's just the way I think. It's an artistic choice.
Hi Ann, thanks for that critique. I did pay with b&w but in the end chose muted cour as a contrast. Somehow her figure was a bit lost in b&w. I am interested in what others think as well? @olivetreeann
That's an excellent photo, perfectly illustrating the theme of your challenge š¤ there's a very interesting tension between the lonely woman and the quite colorful wall that seems to push against her mood. It's a bit like being lonely in a room full of people. And thanks for sharing the article :)
This is a fabulous representation of the word. I read the article you linked. I agree with you about the difference between lonely and solitary. I tend to be a solitary soul but don't often feel lonely. I looked at the photos in the article and am not sure loneliness described a few of them at all. Solitary was the better word.
BTW, if you write a comment and address it to me by @randystreat I will usually see in Notifications. It doesn't work the same with the user name is included in the comments for the photo by the photographer. Has to be below where everyone can comment. Didn't know if you were aware of that or not.
I think you've portrayed loneliness perfectly. She's so hunched and despondent with her head in her hand. And your composition with her sat in a corner looking into an empty scene adds to the sense of loneliness.
I agree very much with what Kathy @randystreat said. I too am very solitary but rarely lonely but lots of people assume that if you are solitary then you must be lonely.
I like the photo in colour, I think you are right in that she would be a bit lost in black and white.
You've fulfilled the challenge really well Suzanne. The lady does indeed look lonely, and I think I agree that she would be lost in the image if it was black & white.
Good morning all. This was a very interesting challenge and, clearly, judging by all your responses, elicited interest in others. I thank Kathy @randystreat for the challenge and everyone else for their thoughtful comments on my photo.
@olivetreeann
BTW, if you write a comment and address it to me by @randystreat I will usually see in Notifications. It doesn't work the same with the user name is included in the comments for the photo by the photographer. Has to be below where everyone can comment. Didn't know if you were aware of that or not.
Thank you for the link, too - I have read her book āA Little Lifeā - it was a tough read. Bookmarking the article for later-on-today reading.
I like the photo in colour, I think you are right in that she would be a bit lost in black and white.
@randystreat
@randystreat for the challenge and everyone else for their thoughtful comments on my photo.
I did take some other photos, one of which I posted today.
https://365project.org/ankers70/365/2025-01-27
It is in monochrome and much more sombre but I am not sure if it works as well. Again, I would be interested in comments.
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