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My World: Mel's by Night

Martin Stephens

New member
Just hanging out on the corner using the backdrop.
DSCF0857_zps06791d7c.jpg
 

Rob Naylor

New member
Great example of pose mirroring, the three guys perfectly aligned and sharing the same perspective. The top area of the image for me could be lost just below the No Parking sign, leaving the "BREAKFAST LUNCH" neon in image.

Another nice touch is the Soup Happy Hour sign, it works well with the subjects (IMO).

A great street catch, Love it!
 

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Hi, Rob,

Great example of pose mirroring, the three guys perfectly aligned and sharing the same perspective. The top area of the image for me could be lost just below the No Parking sign, leaving the "BREAKFAST LUNCH" neon in image!

Maybe, but the fact that this is Mel's is of great social significance!

Best regards,

Doug
 

Martin Stephens

New member
Being a long time resident (in the past) of San Francisco, "Mel's" is of course a bit of a touchstone. That's why I left it in "reflexively". But, I really should consider the image without that bias, and crop it for the most interest. I am undecided, but maybe cutting down into the Mels a bit would be fine.

I am going to post another pic here shooting the other direction from Mel's at another SF icon.
 

Martin Stephens

New member
Tommy's Joynt

This would be across the street from Mel's.
Note: I placed the edgy character near the edge on purpose. I mention this in advance because the first person I showed it to thought it was a bad mistake. It might be, that's ok. But it was intentional.

DSCF0754_zpse41657de.jpg
 

Martin Stephens

New member
I learned from a Joel Meyerowitz piece a while back the value of finding an interesting backdrop and then waiting patiently for something interesting to happen in front of it. In the past, I had always been moving and looking for the subject apart from its b/g. So, I was in SF for one night, and had about an hour to kill after dinner. My hotel was directly adjacent to Mel's. Since I was having a lot of back problems, and not in any mood to walk, the "Meyerowitz Exercise" seemed appropos.

No, I can't say these are all exciting, but each has bits I enjoy looking at later. In addition to taking the photographs, I love examining them later for weird little details not seen at the moment the photograph was made. Little "ah hah!" items. For instance, it's always funny how many times you can find people looking right down the barrel of the camera. People in cars and on busses and so on. Ok, I admit - I am amused by small things.
 

Rob Naylor

New member
This would be across the street from Mel's.
Note: I placed the edgy character near the edge on purpose. I mention this in advance because the first person I showed it to thought it was a bad mistake. It might be, that's ok. But it was intentional.

DSCF0754_zpse41657de.jpg

Hi Martin,
Here, I like the "edgy man on the edge", for me the fact he is wholly in-shot and looking out of frame intimates something slightly shifty is going on, I like that. Mix that with the "ATM Inside" sign and anything could be about to happen!
Good catch...makes me think - thanks!
 
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