Invasion of Privacy, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

This is my last shot for the moment from the Oakland waterfront at Jack London Square. As I walked along the promenade I came upon steps leading down to the water's edge. I noticed this young woman who had found space as far away from passersby as possible to have a telephone conversation. I didn't wish to interrupt her, but I definitely wanted to take this photo. I paused at the top of the steps and brought my camera up, hoping she wouldn't notice my invasion of her privacy. I took two quick shots before moving along.

I doubt it is different in other parts of the world, but in the United States cell phones have become a fact of life, to the point that a woman took a call last Sunday as the movie was about to begin, explaining to her friend that she couldn't take the call as people around her were groaning. Had she not thought about turning off her phone and ignoring the call?

This woman at least sought a bit of privacy for her conversation rather than sharing her woes with the rest of a disinterested world. I couldn't hear what she was saying, nor did I want to. But I definitely wanted to document the phenomenon of cell phone conversations in public spaces. Welcome to the modern world!

Sepia and a bit of grain after rotating and cropping.

carper, timotey, Proxilva, kikvel, Rinie_Hoff, Isabelle, pamastro, quantabeh has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bfly (5775) 2004-08-01 3:20

hi Curtis...I guess it is a fact of life here too..people do not talk in the movies yet but I am sure this will happen pretty soon..

I think TVs changed our lives..watching in a crowd has changed character...talking, eating, chatting, discussing loud about what's on the screen/stage is natural..habits from the living room is carried to big screen...I am afraid this will soon go into theatres..

I liked the grains and the composition very much..she really looks squeezed into that corner..and I know how it feels to take one or two shots and run :)..I tried another composition that changes the feeling for me...all the best..fusun

[workshop] [compare] +

carper (96) 2004-08-01 3:52

Really nice one Curtis,
And that in sherpia, yes I like the composition, the creating depth, the lines, very good job.

Burnham (2428) 2004-08-01 5:06

Great paparrazzi work, and equally great PP work. About the cellphones, you're right they are everywhere, and even though I hesitated for three years to get my own, I'm now completely dependent on it - But I promise you never at a movie, never on a bus just never anywhare where people might have to listen to a private conversation against their will. Good note.

timotey (119) 2004-08-01 7:36

Very well caught scene ! Your note gives us the proof that that woman has a nice attitude to hide herself to have a phone call. If a few of all of us would have the same attitude, we would certainly don't have to be fed up with a cellular phone ringing in a cinema.
I particularly like the ambience of this shot, like a spy shot taken hiden behinf a wall. B&W choicewith this grain emphasizes this feeling. Very well done !

maciekda (19895) 2004-08-01 12:02

very nice picture Curtis, good composition and good moment - natural expression. i like your post-processing too, interesting work

Proxilva (2157) 2004-08-01 12:24

cell phones???? what is that???? we don't have that here ;)....

nice capture, i like the processing you've done, but even the grain and sepia cannot hide this modern shot Curtis...

well done

kikvel (4784) 2004-08-01 20:14

Curtis:

You tell me this...I work in a cellular company!!!! Since 1993.

You have catched perfectly the need for privacy that humans demand when they are on the phone.

The graininess is a good thing and the soft tones also.

I like it!

oh, my cellphone is ringing, I got to leave, Bye!!!

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-08-02 17:20

This is funny, Curtis, not only that I like this shot very much, but Last saturday I have been taking a lot of pictures of people with a cell phone on their ear, I wanted to fill a frame with about 8 shots, instead of making a theme. We had the summer carnaval in Roptterdam, and a lot of people wereon the streets.
This is a nice one, like lIne says paparazzi-like, she's really withdrawn within her own space, with her legs drawn up. I like the diagonal that she forms in the frame. Sepia suits her, and you apparently.

sn00zie (2384) 2004-08-03 6:13

a funny yet brilliantly taken picture. well done Curtis!

avigur_11 (22535) 2004-08-03 16:34

Grain, contrast, sepia, and a very good cropping. Exactly how I like it. A very good composition, and excellent PP. Well done, Curtis.

RGatward (20108) 2004-08-08 17:19

You've come up with a good theme topic there, or maybe a category for the next scavenger hunt. Well caught daily life.

Isabelle (9046) 2004-08-10 7:34

every detail is well composed here, Curtis: colors, frame, pov, excellent.
your note is an interesting document for the future.
one of these days i saw a man talking and making gestures then i noticed the cellphone. he looked kinda weird. thanks god i don磘 have one ;)

cdewet (0) 2004-08-14 10:47

Hi Curtis
I "moved" to TN. This is very nice, a good title and body language that goes with it. I have had enough, leave me alone type of stance.
I posted some desert scence which You might like to look at, further to our desert discussion of some time ago.

Oldtree (2457) 2004-08-14 17:32

Hi Curtis.
I like this shot. The body language of this women seem to indicate a very concentrated conversation. This is a very nice and moody picture.

joseelias (0) 2004-08-16 8:20

Well cell phones. In Portugal they are everywhere. As a matter of fact Portugal is the country in Europe with the largest number of cell phones per inhabitant. About 10 million phones for 9 million inhabitants!

About your photo I like the relaxed feeling in it. Good use of sepia and grain. Well balanced composition.

dominique (11414) 2004-08-17 4:06

Belle composition , j'aime la position de la personne et le cadrage , bien vu .

quantabeh (5205) 2005-04-25 13:50

it is truly a great moment for a controversial and sensative subject.
thanks for sharing,
Behrang