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spyed — barista
Published: 2010-05-27 22:06:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 11392; Favourites: 124; Downloads: 127
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blue bottle coffee company in san francisco.More human condition than street, but I really loved this photo for a variety of reasons. There are things about it that could be improved, and so I would love critique from any street photographers out there.
this was about 3 months ago.. which was actually a life time ago for me. i've been meaning to post it since. but, I generally haven't had much motivation to post.
I've got a theory about creativity which I think is interesting. I had a lot of motivation to take photos when I took this one, and I was in a remarkably negative state. I had just gotten out of a long relationship and the funk of that was just all over me. So creativity was a wonderful outlet.
Since then I haven't had motivation to create art work/take photos. even though I used to carry my camera around all the time before lately I haven't been.
And I believe that is because I am moving from a negative to a positive state and have not yet settled.
When I took this photo and even now, I love it.. probably because to me there is a lot of information here not only about this photo but also about the emotional state I was in and comparing and contrasting where I was then and where I am now is deeply satisfying... for me the central character here is for whatever reason an icon to me, a summary of this moment in my life. so it's a very personal photo. but I do think it's nice to look at in general.
Anyway my theory is, I find that quality inspiration is derived through changing emotional state. positive to negative, negative to positive. and I also think that if one is stuck in a positive or negative state of mind, that their creativity is hindered and reduced to dabbling with time. perhaps one in a stable positive mindset or negative mindset is just skill building, repeating familiar patterns and getting better at them. but true deviation, creation, invention, inspiration, creativity is formed as one transitions from a positive state to a negative state or negative to positive. that's where the good stuff comes from.
lastly I think that the actual release of this inspiration in the form of actual creativity occurs once there is stability. so once you first arrive to a negative state, or once you first arrive to a positive state you find yourself actually producing and releasing.
so, maybe if you are sad in your life, or happy in your life, or unsure in your life.. think about this outline and this theory... maybe it will help you to know that creativity is on its way.. or if you're blocked, maybe you need to toss things around in your life to spark a change in order to produce inspiration.
what do you think?
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Comments: 47
Just one minor change .. i would have cropped the open area at the to of the cups - and on the right the partial womens face ( they don't really add anything and take away from the picture ) ( my humble opinion )
other than that .. perfect subjects - one caught like a deer in headlights and the other completely un-aware
I find myself wondering about the people in the background and wonder what they are taking about
I think you should do a series of pictures like this, all hours of the day and night .. would be fun and interesting
All and All - great job
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Yeah everything that other guy said, other wise it's perfect
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hmm. i'm sad the ability to accept as fair expired. thanks for the critique I really appreciate it!
kind of irritating. to think i had something to do with that decision to make that system function that way. hehe
i need to revamp it soon. 
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Featured In My Journal:
THE LOOK: A Street Photography/Street Portraiture Feature.
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and yes i agree. If you're stuck in your life, like a stone in the middle of the river, you prevent creativity from flowing.
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You are so right.
I really needed to learn that, it was fantastic to read.
Thank you.
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awesome. hes like " why is this person taking my photo 0.o "
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Meeh... that is deep man, very deep. Those comments, they went through to me, and honestly, I was afraid that I was the only one who thought that.
Though I couldn't help but notice that there is someone looking at the camera.
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Something about shooting into shops and cafes, you look in and people are just going about their business, you raise the camera and snap off a shot. You always seem to find one person has seen you and they are caught expressionless, almost stunned like a rabbit in the headlights. That one person feels so isolated as though they are the only one who woke up and realised someone was about imortalise them in single picture. Simply wonderful.
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Such a nice capture of the moment- a capture of different moments and emotions in other peoples lives. Well shot
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I love how everyone else is involved in a normal day, like that one guy in the back paying and then there's just someone, I don't know, seeming out of place. Like he's not supposed to be there.
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Well he said all of the things I was thinking. ( `junoknight ) And possibly you could achieve the better focus with a faster aperture, although it looks like you couldn't get it much faster, lol. Just a better focal point, really. This is alllmosst there. You seem to have almost focused on the plates there, right in front of him, which is the problem, in my opinion, with digital photography. It is a nice shot, though. Well done
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Great shot.
The sharing in your comments is appreciated and really is welcome. You are appreciated for taking the time to go into what you were feeling instead of taking the short path of a quick comment. I believe that more sharing is better because it communicates that added touch of detail that gives a sense of caring. Of course that's a risk some are not willing to take.
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Those moments in between are sometimes the most painful. I look back at some of my lowest points, where I really found myself struggling emotionally, and realize that some of my best work came from that time period. I think those difficult periods in life put us in a desperate place...and the only thing we can do is create or express the pain of it. It's a coping mechanism and a very necessary process. Artists are lucky in this way that we can produce something positive from such a negative place. It seems it is the creative process itself that takes us out of the negative place. I've always felt that when I wasn't creating something, I'd fall into a funk no matter how well everything else in my life was going...as if not creating was directly effecting my level of happiness. I think whatever perspective we have at the time or whatever it is that we're going through...all of it is valid. I do find solace in one part of what you wrote in particular... "so, maybe if you are sad in your life, or happy in your life, or unsure in your life.. think about this outline and this theory... maybe it will help you to know that creativity is on its way.. or if you're blocked, maybe you need to toss things around in your life to spark a change in order to produce inspiration." I love those moments of self reflection. It makes it all worthwhile.
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Makes sense
The theory I mean
I'm not too sure about all forms of art, but I know that when it comes to writing, everyone seems to do better when they are suddenly really happy or suddenly really put down. They don't call it angsty poetry for nothing
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I think I agree with you. I find that I'm most creative when I'm at wits end and... in sheer exasperation and desperation either sit down at a piano or at my computer and go at it.
I do wonder though, did the barista know you took a picture of him? Haha.
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i'm sure you would have done it better justice but.. you know
hey i'm coming to paris in a few months will you be there?
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i don't about justice... your shot's good !
as for your question, i'd love to, but it's gonna depend on what month you mean...
i'm gonna be here and there, and hopefully in paris when you come
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I love the guys look which is looking at the camera :]
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homeostasis is hardly conducive to creativity, i agree.
a tighter composition may have helped remove distractions and make this a more intimate scene. i must admit that i struggle to find any meaning in this image, however. if there is a message here, i either fail to understand it, or i need to be you in order to interpret it. still, it is an interesting shot.
i hope you continue to enjoy shooting street.
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IMHO : There is not enough connection with the environment to make it a powerful street shot (taken from the street is not systematically street photography). Moreover, a good street shot does not need a long explanation to create reaction : it must be powerful by itself, whatever interesting the text is or not. A good example freshly posted here : [link] Besides, on a more formal aspect, the coffee machine and its label take too much place in the foreground of the frame and disturbs me from your subject, without brining value to your picture. Maybe shooting closer would have induced a more focused scene. Hope this helps to improve your street photography.
Nothing to do with this, but been being a deviant for 5 years and loving it makes me thank you a lot for what you created here.
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I know that I usually [but not always 
Also - probably it's slightly different for each human. Since every one of us are different from others
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I think the composition of this photo give a deep impression on me, especially, the eyes of that guy~~wanna find sonething out or just confused about the coffee menu
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I get a very odd feeling from this photo, like somehow I'm outside, I'm supposed to be invisible and unseen, and everyone is going on about their days, and that one person has seen what he's not supposed to. Like the Sim suddenly becoming aware of the player. 
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Not at all, that is what I was thinking 
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When I broke up with my last girlfriend of 8 years, I had so much to express that in one year I wrote a movie script, started painting again and dusted off my old camera. That lasted until I met my present love, I don't regret it since I love her with all my heart and I'm still very much into photography since then. In this case one out of three is pretty amazing to me!
I do think however that creative minds are at their best when in transition or in that in between world where things are not quite defined. Its that yearning that keeps the flame alive.
The shot is great! There's a bit of that in both characters, maybe more from left to right.
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I like your theory. Creativity often comes from the extremes of self, which leaves all of us creative mediums with a problem. You have to choose between your art (may it be visual art, music or literature) or yourself. If you don't suffer, your art does. And vice versa.
Anywho, nice pic.
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As a traditional artist, I have used art during low periods in my life as a form of procrastination. Being fairly skilled, I find it easy to tell myself it's worth my while to hide from life when I'm making good art.
I guess, you can also ask - If I was happy right now, would I have pointed my camera in that direction and taken a shot of that thing?
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Interesting theory you have, although it's not something I've noticed before myself.
I like the man's intense look; coupled with the cool lighting he looks almost sinister. I would suggest cropping above the beam at the top though, it makes a great natural frame and there isn't much of interest above it - if you cropped that bit out the beam itself would draw more attention to what's underneath it and you wouldn't keep dividing your attention between the two bits.
Cropping out the folk on the right would also focus more attention on the barista, but I suspect you have your own reasons for keeping them in.
I hope you feel more settled soon.
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I think you have a valid point. I've noticed my work change from negative to positive, and I've noticed that the transitions tend to make people notice, because those feelings are raw and unquestionable. A moment of purity with these emotions because they're fresh.
I think what you capture is fresh emotion rather than someone trying to work out of a niche because it's comfortable. You can even see the various emotions as you let your eyes wander around the picture. Curiosity, contemplation, happiness and maybe some slight stress in the far right.
My latest pictures are as sad as they can be, and stem from a pretty harsh point in my life...but I'm sure later on I'll be taking some more pleasant pictures. There will still be a certain framework and style I will float around, but something within that will change. The characteristics won't all be there.
Great picture, dude. For what it lacks, I think it makes up for in valid points.
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I know I find myself uninspired to write or paint when I don't have stability (employment, moving, etc). So I understand your theory in part.
In other news, I like the lighting in this shot. Warm colors in the back next to happy customers, cooler colors towards the front of the shot behind the counter. Nice.
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Seriously though, I agree. The best stuff comes out of when your life changes, there's so much new stuff to think about, and all kinds of creativity can come from that. When you're doing the same thing every day, it gets dull
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