Monday, February 6, 2012

"Les rails de chemin de fer"


Le mot "train" peut évoquer une variété d'images, de souvenirs, et de sensations. Nos vies n’ont-elles pas commencé avec des trains à la main comme jouets, soit fille ou garçon ? Il y a des trains qui encercle l'arbre de noël de l'enfance, des trains au zoo, au Disneyland. Enfants, on rêve des trains, sans se rendant compte que, pour la plupart d'entre nous, les trains ne font pas parties de la vie quotidienne. Une fois que nous avons grandit, les trains nous représentent non seulement une époque perdue mais aussi une enfance perdue. Pourtant, dans notre jeunesse, est-ce que c'était ce sens de nostalgie qui nous attirait aux trains? Ou, la joie venait-elle de l'anticipation, de la découverte grâce au déplacement physique?
En France, parmi d’autres pays, cette joie est encore connue quoique peut-être rendue banale par une nécessité quotidienne puisque les français se servent des trains pour se déplacer. En regardant des trains en France, on chercherait peut-être ce sens de nostalgie mais on finirait par y trouver plutôt la modernité, ou au moins l’utilité. Mais en regardant les rails on trouvera les traces des voyages qui datent parfois des centaines d’années d’où provient cette nostalgie malgré un usage courant des trains en France et malgré un rare usage plutôt commercial et pas du tout personnel aux Etats Unis. Les rails de chemin de fers ne rappellent-t-ils pas tout de même les impressions d’anticipation, du mouvement en avance, toujours en avance ? Le mot « chemin » même n’est pas un mot statique ; un mouvement ou plutôt un changement y est impliqué.
Je voulais surtout capturer la même ambivalence et les mêmes impressions évoquées par les rails de chemin de fer qui se trouvent projetés sur mon chemin quotidien. Un chemin qui, j’avoue, est souvent marqué par un sifflement de train.






8 comments:

  1. The order you chose--especially for the first three--is really great! The descending line of shadow in the first picture is almost mirrored in the second one with the ramp's incline. Then the third picture fits nicely because the bars in the background look similar to the bars of the ramp in the second picture. ANd then even the last two work together nicely because of that red stripe on the top of #4 which ties into the red lines on the garage. Good order choice!

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  2. I like that in your text how you describe how the word "chemin" is not a static word but expresses movement, and i think it can be difficult to capture that movement in a static photo, but i think you did a good job. I think the strong diagonals, whether from the structures themselves or the light playing on them, in almost every photo definitely direct the eye and give a sensation of movement. You also worked really well with light. I wish the last photo played up the diagonal lines a little more but overall i think you did a great job.

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  3. L’idée de cet essai est très intéressante. J’ai aimé voir les mêmes modèles répétés dans d’autres endroits. Le texte aide à voir une connexion entre les photos qui serait peut-être plus difficile sans une explication.

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  4. I especially like photo number four. The shadow of the wires reflected on the white wall is so perfect! I like that it takes a minute to realize. It's subtle presence is really nice, and the horizontal lines at the bottom correspond with the shadows as well.

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  5. I love this essay, mostly because of the colors. The positioning of all the lines and images are very strong, they provide a sort of abstract yet classic feel to the theme. The chose of shots was nice because it does look old school and provides some nostalgia without needing to be black and white. I like how in the third photo the focus just keeps drawing away to an almost infinity.

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  6. Your eye for train tracks, or those things that resemble them is incredible. I bet you see train tracks everywhere now from having trained your eye! I think I simply wanted to remark on the cleverness of your angles and the areas you were able to make look like tracks. Perhaps the one that most caught my attention was the yellow ramp (mostly because of the awesome colors) and the ribbed wall that had the shadow of power lines crossing it. Genius! This is one of those essays I think, "I wish I thought of that."

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  7. It is amazing how none of the lines and general structures repeat themselves from image to image. You have five very distinct and different photos, which for a viewer is much appreciated and creates a much more enjoyable experience. I also really like the use of color as well, particularly in image number two. That one to me stands out from the other ones. I like the dark ambiance created by the burnt orange and black colors (interesting how there are really only two colors in the entire image). I also like the simplicity of the diagonal line cutting across the plane of the photo. Great project I really enjoyed this one.

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  8. I liked the picture with the stop sign. It made me ponder how our imagination can see things from our own experience even if we cannot actually see it. In other words, I could see the front of the stop sign in my mind, even though I could not actually see it. I also love this photo's use of lines. It is simple way to encourage the eye to move. Great job!

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