COMMERCE

COMMENTS

Andre. said at 1:28 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Thank you for the striking REAL COOL collection. Love the SHARP detail and “brain-involved” photography...An instant Fav

Noe said at 1:34 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Interesting photos Allan... great set!! =)

Sirnicolay said at 4:34 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Bird-busters? That's pretty disturbing. It's the first time I've heard of that kind of commerce. Tsktsk.

Leftofcenter said at 7:36 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
on a mission, last gasp, glimpse into the future, scrolling down the plot got heavier & zanier, you gave us that clever "abking vision" on the absurdity of it all, totally enjoyable series again, I can only learn!

ElZorroTOX said at 7:42 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
The comments above say it all. Once again you've created a work of art that makes us feel many diverse emotions.

21-gramm said at 8:02 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
great story, Alan! good concept!

Charlespop said at 9:11 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Brilliant in billions of ways ! Thank you !

Ira said at 9:23 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Interesting photos. Something is very similar to Russia. Such sensation, that I simply walk along the street and has gone to shop:)

Lifequest22 said at 10:42 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
Love it. "Bird Busters"-- Wow. This tabblo reminds me of Gerge Carlin's "Stuff":

"Actually this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That's all, a little place for my stuff. That's all I want, that's all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody's got a little place for their stuff." ..........................."That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff!"

And Allan--then we send all our stuff to the landfill.

Pkeener said at 11:27 a.m. on May 30, 2008:
first of all, the title treatment is perfect. looks like a commercial sign, and Linda, great observation. Allan, I really like to view the world through your eyes. its the way i think, but you pull it off so well. they are all wonderful images that evoke thought, compassion, humor, irony, and LIFE. i don't know why but "Aisle Three" is my fave. I also love the serendipity of so many of them..the shovels that spell Oregon in Nevada (that whole window is a treat.) the POV on "begins early" the way the henna picks up the pattern in her dress..you have one of the best photographic sensibilities i have seen. Love the colors you chose, as well.

Siagian said at 12:19 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
the bird buster shot was on the money! great street photography here Allan!

DocEna said at 12:42 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
A story or stories in pics..great sensitivity to capture the images...crude and artistic stirring mixed feelings.

Flinkfar said at 1:52 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
AWESOME COLLECTION. I can't pic a favourite, way too many great shots. ( note to self: go make more street photography)

AliDar said at 6:32 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
Oh my 'Bird Busters' made me exclaim out loud! Great shot; Actually, every one is. This is an excellent commentary on consumerism. ... Just one thing though, why is the fat person going on a mission? ... to consume more? And your thinking she doesn't have to because she's fat? Every other photo seems to make some sort of a statement, and I'm not sure if I interpret 'on a mission' correctly or not.

Karsten said at 6:56 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
well you kept a great scene of life here Alan! the bird buster and the shovels are my fav´s..thanks for this view!

SterlingGray said at 11:20 p.m. on May 30, 2008:
An amazing and striking collection. Greatly enjoyed the stories that unfolded with each photo and how everything kinda came together as one.

Chiloedream said at 9:57 a.m. on May 31, 2008:
EXCELLENT Allan, bravo.

Abking said at 12:29 a.m. on Jun 1, 2008:
Thanks Andre, Noe, James, Annelies, Zorro, Den, Charlespop, Korinka, Linda, Pam, Woody, Enaldo, Bertil, Dar, Karsten, Sterling, Thierry, for your kind comments. Dar, with the "on a mission" photo I was taken by the determined focus of the woman's expression. She had bags of goods and was in a shopping zone which isn't immediately apparent from the photo. I thought the unwavering state of mind reflected the trance commerce can put any of us in. What she was really thinking or feeling, who knows? Could have been a million other things. If the chance photo happened to be someone who just stepped out of a modeling agency with a similar expression, it would have worked just as well.

AliDar said at 4:21 p.m. on Jun 1, 2008:
Thanks Allan for your explanation. ... Somehow though, I don't think the shot would be as effective if it were of someone skinny or someone considered attractive by societies standards. ... Unless of course, her mission was heading off to the shoe store to add another expensive pair to the overflowing collection she already has in her closet, AND that was apparent in the photograph. The shot doesn't show the fat woman's bag of goods, nor anything else indicating she was in the shopping zone, except for the fact of the context of this tabblo. You're explanation is a good one; she does have a determined expression, but whether it was your intention or not, the fact still remains, the woman is fat, and that is a very noticeable subject in the shot. it's so easy to see it's meaning in this context as a negative comment about the amount of food she consumes, when she could so very easily have a thyroid problem, or just have such a crappy life that food is her only pleasure.
Whether or not the photo is offensive, I'm not sure; Obesity is a fact of life. ... I was just thinking though, if someone had made a tabblo about the joys of laziness, and included a photo of a homeless person. ... Without the lounge chair or the cocktail glass in his or her hand, all you see is a shot of a homeless person, saying that they are lazy.

Leftofcenter said at 12:45 p.m. on Jun 2, 2008:
chili Dar!!! :)

Leftofcenter said at 12:49 p.m. on Jun 2, 2008:
I liked that pic for the expression on her face- now that you've mentioned that she is FAT- yes, I guess she is. but the expression on her is still priceless- that's all there is to it. end of story.

AliDar said at 3:03 p.m. on Jun 2, 2008:
Allan, my apologies if you feel like my comments are an attack; They are not meant to be. My intention was to discuss a detail that I saw in the photo like we usually discuss detail in photos here at tabblo. When I view a photograph, (Annelies, now that I mention it?) I assume the details are intentional, or at least the happen-chance was noted. I've always been honest about what details I see, and I find it quite enjoyable to discuss them. Photographing the homeless, fat people, folks who have some sort of oddity different from the status-quo, bring up a number of issues. Diane Arbus photographs always brought up the most interesting discussion in the photography class I took at art college.... Sorry if my comment offended anyone.

Abking said at 1:07 a.m. on Jun 3, 2008:
Thanks Lefty, and no Dar, I don't take your comments as an attack. I welcome feedback and find people's subjective reactions interesting and informative. I want my photos to reflect the world I live in and I look for the shifting line between mess and message. This tabblo is about commerce, like the song "money makes the world go round," (for better or worse) and not consumerism. They're related, but if I was working with that title, I'd do an entirely different tabblo.

Pkeener said at 8:29 p.m. on Jun 5, 2008:
coolness. your tabblos always grow on me.

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