I was at the Toronto International Auto Show this weekend with some new friends. At the Mercedes exhibit I glimpsed this scene out of the corner of my eye. A woman with quite a nice set of buns was leaning waaaayyy into the backseat of this S class. I liked the relationship between her buttocks and the rear profile of the car. A quick composition later it was snapped. I thought about giving it a title like (The view beyond the C pillar).

Exposure information: Leica M6 TTL + 35 mm Summilux 1/60th sec @ f1.4 (100 ISO film ~Ektachrome 100) Unfortunately, I didn't have a KR3 cooling filter on the lens so the yellow cast (minimal) was removed in Photoshop.

Cheers,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 26, 2002

Answers

What? She's got the buns on a tray on the back seat right?

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), February 26, 2002.

Well, sort of interesting but I would suggest getting somewhat closer to her... or her butt at least. That way you can emphasize the curves better.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), February 26, 2002.

nice benz...

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouthlessspam@cox.net), February 26, 2002.

John:

I think you should go back and re-shoot this one. This time get a little lower and a little more left. Center the Benz wheel and have the buns in the upper right -- more aesthetically pleasing.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

Thanks 4 the analysis Jack. So how could this frame be improved upon.

This was shot at the new mini exhibit. Outrageous pricing... they want 40 large for a top-of-the-line mini. Anyways, exposure information, M6 TTL + 35 lux, 1/60th @ f1.4, Ektachrome 100 rated at 100, ambient light. The overhead spotlight on the model was harsh and I wanted the background to expose properly. Candidate for Photoshop?

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Definitely a cute set o' buns! Thoughtfully echoed composition-wise with the Benz as well. Anyway, the neighbor girl where I live has her beat rear-end wise though! Now if only I could sneak a snap shot of them without her knowing! Maybe when she's bent over doing something on her patio, preferably with those skin tight blue jeans of hers... ; )

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

Uninteresting picture and boring, puerile comments. (I am being kind).

-- Mitch Alland/Bangkok (malland@mac.com), February 27, 2002.

In your world, I am sure everything has to have a profound meaning. After a day of studying advanced mathematics (I am a grad student), it's nice to see someone with a sense of humor! I also work in management, so as you can see for the most part I find photography is a hobby, not an end-all pursuit. : )

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

John, you appear to have low standards on buns. As for the photo it deserves an honorary Turner prize but just turn off the lights.....

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), February 27, 2002.

I agree with Mitch on this one. Puerile. The picture has nothing to recommend it.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 27, 2002.

Picture's no good, Mr. Chan, no good...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 27, 2002.

James:

>>In your world, I am sure everything has to have a profound meaning. After a day of studying advanced mathematics (I am a grad student), it's nice to see someone with a sense of humor! I also work in management, so as you can see for the most part I find photography is a hobby, not an end-all pursuit. : )<<

Hey, that would be OK if the picture was good or funny...but it ain't got nothing. And just because someone is WRITNG about a woman's ass, doesn't make it funny.

-- Mitch Alland/Bangkok (malland@mac.com), February 27, 2002.

I don't know what is more irritating - getting a water drop on the front of my 55mm Heliopan filter, or taking the time to review another one of your mediocre photos. You invested HOW MUCH in Leica gear just to take these kinds of photos?

-- Steve Brantley (sbrantley@nccommerce.com), February 27, 2002.

i have no comment on the first photo. my brain just froze after seeing it.

the subject on the 2nd photo is either out of focus, or you deliberately focussed on the table.

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

Did some of us just turn 12 years old?

This photo is really sub-par in every way. Sorry, John. Even worse, some of the follow-up comments are extremely juvenile. Jesus, grow up. And you wonder why more women don't contribute to this site?

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

I have to agree with Richard. We have had a rash of juvenile sexist comments with all of Mike Dixon's work..and now with this. No wonder there are few women contributors. I like Mike's work by the way, but the comments it engenders are decidedly from the boy's locker room.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

I don't think the image is as puerile as most of the crass responses to it. C'mon guys, lighten up!

:-|,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

Well...whatever, everyone has an opinion, and John, if you ask them for it they'll damm sure give it to you. So I guess I can't say I feel apologetic for others' opinions (as most of the time I don't like to comment on a comment, unless someone's doing it to me). Anyway, keep sharing your photos...

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

Just curious, John: do you have any series or long-term projects you could post? Something that engages you as a photographer in heartfelt way? What you have presented so far seem mostly like compositional exercises, which may or may not have merit--but they are very hard to comment on (as you are discovering).

I for one wouldn't mind seeing something more ambitious, requiring more of your photographer's skill than the off-the-cuff stuff. Don't take only the easy pitches; swing for the fence.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), February 27, 2002.

Hey now that's something we should all engage in as photographers. Telling a story with your images has to be one of the higher pursuits.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

As a matter of fact... I'm starting a long term project as we speak. I'm lining up the contacts (probably will take me awhile to gain their trust) and doing some background reading into this project at the moment. That's why I can't attend the France thing this year. I figure this project will consume every one of my Saturdays for the next 52 weeks minimum. By then, I'll sit down in the "picture editor" mode with my contributers and hammer out a photo-essay. There should literally be hundreds of images to choose from so it'll be fun. Certainly not anything like what I've accomplished so far.

Helps when you have more than 1-2 rolls of film to choose your posted images from too!!!

;-)

Cheers,

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.