anthro photo web log
untitled human remains
Posted by danthro (Suburbia, United States) on 8 April 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
coming back to photoblogging after some time away; trying to post a new photo every couple weeks.
Comments, feedback, criticism, suggestions, etc. are always appreciated. Thanks!
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Saeed from Tehran, Iran
Wow..... Where is it? What they do with human remains???
Very Interesting shot . . .
8 Apr 2008 5:20am
@Saeed: It's a human osteology lab. I've only been there once, but as far as I know they just use the remains to educate students on the characteristics of human bones.
@Peter: Yeah, it seems like the whole thing is scarier in the photo. There it seemed like 'stuff' almost (not quite), which in retrospect is sort of disturbing. Thanks for your visit and kind comment!
Disoriented from Washington, DC, United States
That's so cool! Bones everywhere! I'm assuming it's a museum or maybe education-related like an anthropology department. Did you try taking a macro shot?
8 Apr 2008 7:06am
@Disoriented: You know, I probably should have taken a macro, but for some reason it didn't even occur to me, I think I was just to fascinated by the way the whole room and people in it were. And, alas, I don't expect I'll be back there anytime soon. Good guess, by the way, it was a lab in an anthropology department.
leibowitz from Spain
wow! beautiful scene... it's very original and misterious subject...
8 Apr 2008 10:25am
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
Very cool but now I need to know more about this place. Is it a classroom and are they studying anthropology anatomy or something like that?
8 Apr 2008 10:29am
@Laurie: Yeah, it's an osteology lab in an anthropology department.
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
Interesting but creepy work! Nice capture!
8 Apr 2008 12:08pm
Mike from Chester, United Kingdom
I admire this type of docu-report photo. Only works in BW as it does here.
8 Apr 2008 3:32pm
Sean from Champaign, United States
What an eerie collection to have staring back at you.
8 Apr 2008 3:34pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I really like this one. I wish I had a collection of skulls and bones like that (just kidding, but I would like to have some imitations as photo props).
8 Apr 2008 3:44pm
@Twelvebit: A slightly disturbing comment. lol I'm sorta kicking myself for not taking more photos. Thanks!
baobab from Cambridge, United States
great shot anthro - and glad to see you're taking anthropological shots :-)
the wide angle and lines in the walls, window and ceiling draw the focus towards the shelves of skulls; so do the long bones in the lower left, and the orientation of the boxes, trays and books in the foreground. it's not clear how much control you had over the composition: I really like having the living people in the frame, but might have had the two in the back a little closer to the camera and with their faces half-visible (i.e. a 1/4 turn toward the camera). with their backs turned they feel more distant and are implicitly excluding the viewer rather than pulling one in.
btw, interesting contrast between what looks like someone in a hijab and the starbucks coffee cup in the lower right corner...
8 Apr 2008 4:24pm
@baobab: thanks a lot! i didn't really have any control over the people in the photo, they were just sort of walking around talking with each other. But I'm not sure I would have wanted their faces in, 'cause then I would have had to ask their permission. I like having the living people in it too, I think because it makes the shot less just about the remains but also about the interaction of living humans with them.
You're observant. I hadn't even noticed the coffee cup. I just checked the original color shot though, and it's not starbucks, it's some other coffee shop's cup. Also, that's not a person in a hijab, it's a person who got blurred because he was moving. but as someone with an interest in human culture, i can say it's unusual if people in this country even know the word 'hijab.' anyway, thanks again!
Oswegan from Lake Oswego, United States
That's quite a collection they have. It looks like a photographer's paradise.
8 Apr 2008 7:31pm
Justin from Beijing, China
Holy crap that's creepy! Very evocative shot you've presented.
8 Apr 2008 7:36pm
@Justin: Yeah, but funny that it doesn't seem quite so creepy when you're there. I didn't even know they were real from how the people were acting, until they told me. Thanks a lot for your comment!
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Very impressive report shot. B&W works very well here. Well done!
8 Apr 2008 7:42pm
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
It would probably be rude if I said, you have people lining up to have you take their photo:-) so, I just say what an exceptional photo and interesting subject you've posted today:-)
8 Apr 2008 7:52pm
Scarabaeus from Manchester, United Kingdom
Spooky, a very unsual shot, thanks for posting it.
8 Apr 2008 8:13pm
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
The image has a very strong documentary quality to it ... everyone's just going about their business and not bothered by your taking the pic ... the B&W was an excellent choice ... nice work!
8 Apr 2008 8:16pm
vu@granby - Gilles M. from Granby, Québec, Canada
Unusual display. Good shot in a low light condition!
8 Apr 2008 9:24pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
I'm foreign :-) Or you are, depending on one's perspective.
thanks for explaining the motion blur. I'm always amused by scientists and their willingness to eat in their work environment.
9 Apr 2008 12:44am
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
A bit gruesome but it sure looks good in B&W. Very nice.
9 Apr 2008 1:47am
Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States
I like the photojournalist/documentary style of this...I agree, very good choice in processing this in b&w. At looking at all the different skulls, I think it's interesting that some of them are missing their mandible. This kinda takes me back to the days of A&P lab.
9 Apr 2008 1:53am
@Melissa W.: thanks a lot! i wonder what became of their lower jaws ;)
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Wow, what an awesome composition. Really grabs your attention. Nice job.
9 Apr 2008 2:19am
@John Maslowski: Thank You! Means a lot coming from such a skilled photographer!
Kevin from OrganicPIX.com from DFW, Texas, United States
This has a surreal feel; kind of CSI-ish seeing human bones scattered about on the table! Not an everyday sight :-0
The black and white further enhances this anthropological find!
9 Apr 2008 1:12pm
Sony DSC-W55
1/40 second
F/2.8
ISO 160
7 mm
skulls
human
remains
osteology
laboratory
