REFLECTION ON THE SPARE WHEEL COVER OF A CLASSIC MERCURY CAR.

REFLECTION ON THE SPARE WHEEL COVER OF A CLASSIC MERCURY CAR.

REFLECTION ON THE SPARE WHEEL COVER OF A CLASSIC MERCURY CAR – Belmont Park, San Diego, California.  [575 words]

I shot this image soon after the black and white picture of the Roller Coaster one, also at noon in Belmont Park. The light was too harsh at that time of the day, but didn’t have much time to wait for a softer light.

Why do I like this image? Because it is, let’s say ‘evocative’. Analyzed from a photojournalistic point of view it simply does not work, at least if we talk in the narrow sense of the word photojournalism. The intent of this picture was not to ‘tell a story’, but to be evocative. It evokes a lot (at least to me, a foreigner) through the use of symbols. Although American citizens who are more used to the symbols present in this image might find it more boring…

“The intent of this picture was not to ‘tell a story’, but to be evocative. It evokes a lot (at least to me, a foreigner) through the use of symbols.”

What can be inferred from this image? Sometimes it is useful to make a mental exercise: imagine we have not seen the caption (that usually adds information from what the image says), trying to separate what information the image (and only the image) gives us. First of all, I’m in California as the colorful car plate proudly estates.  I’m also in the US (look at the bars and stripes flag in the reflection) in a place where some people are really fond of cars, fond enough to restore and collect some pieces whose production was discontinued decades ago (some people in the United States have a special relation, some form of idolatry with cars that has always impressed me). I’m also in a beautiful holiday place, under a blue sky surrounded by huge palm trees, maybe in spring or summer…

“Sometimes it is useful to make a mental exercise: imagine we have not seen the caption (that usually adds information from what the image says), trying to separate what information the image (and only the image) gives us.”

We can add that the dominant color of the picture (that greenish-blue turquoise color that fills most of the frame) can be an added value. It’s a beautiful color indeed.

This picture, one of my favorite of the trip to the West Coast of the US, has never been published. Photographers are said to be awful editors of their own work, but have to say that had I been the editor of my reportage, I’d have chosen it to close it, because it’s not direct, it tells indirectly and can be a good closing that can provide a good piece of thought about the place I am in.

One of the biggest disappointments in my career as a photographer has been to discover that most of the times my best images were never published. Most editors always went to the ‘easy’ and direct photography. I can recall a ‘director’ of a magazine who always said: “Bring me beautiful women!!!” as if that was the final aim of Travel Photography.

“One of the biggest disappointments in my career as a photographer has been to discover that most of the times my best images were never published.”

That’s why we all who love photography enjoy so much reading National Geographic issues, one of the few publications whose main concern still is the quality of the photography they publish. If those publications that have already closed down had bet for a quality photography that made people think, they would have hold the internet era on. Although questionable, this is my personal opinion… I’d like to hear yours… you can comment the picture if you have some free time…

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| EXIF DATA: Nikon D800 | Lens:  Nikon 24mm 2.8 AF-D| 1/125s f5.6 ISO 200 |


This image:  Reflections on Mercury spare wheel, San Diego, California is available for sale as an Open Edition Fine Art Print on sizes up to 50x73 inches (120x180 cm). Buy it here.

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