Actually she was posing for a fella who was also sat on the ground. Much to his annoyance I sneaked in a shot. One that I thought was interesting in itself, and also interesting as it shows how deceptive photos can be sometimes — hence the question mark in the post title.
Thankfully it was the former. Well, sort of performance art anyway. Explained in the comment above what she was up to. So happy to confirm it wasn’t anything worrying as it might seem.
Great reminder on how nothing is as it seems in a photo due to cropping or other decisions taken by the photographer and the fact that our brain is wired to see what we want to see 😉
‘Personal space’ is very much an Asian expectation. I am sometimes surprised you get away with some of your shots. Hans ter Horst is right that our brain sees what we want/expect to see.
Speed, a smile, and sometimes a quick word tends to be my approach. Still get moaned at from time to time, but it’s surprising how much a smile diffuses any potential problems, or at least eases people’s potential concerns.
Coli says
I’m really confused here. What was she doing? Just sitting in the middle of the street relaxing? I’d like to ask her what she was up to.
Lee says
Actually she was posing for a fella who was also sat on the ground. Much to his annoyance I sneaked in a shot. One that I thought was interesting in itself, and also interesting as it shows how deceptive photos can be sometimes — hence the question mark in the post title.
Coli says
I see. Hopefully he didny give you any foul mouthed remarks :). The more I look at this picture the more interesting it is.
Lee says
Nah, just some muttering and a very dirty look. But doing that kind of thing in public makes it, well, public!
Cheers! Certainly something different, even if it isn’t all it initially seems.
Jeffrey says
Hope it’s her own version of “performance art” and not some manifestation of mental illness.
Lee says
Thankfully it was the former. Well, sort of performance art anyway. Explained in the comment above what she was up to. So happy to confirm it wasn’t anything worrying as it might seem.
david says
You do produce some of the saddest pictures I’ve seen.
Lee says
Can’t say the same for most of the others, but happy to say this wasn’t sad like it looks. Exained be whole thing in the reply to Coli above.
Hans ter Horst says
Great reminder on how nothing is as it seems in a photo due to cropping or other decisions taken by the photographer and the fact that our brain is wired to see what we want to see 😉
Lee says
Yeah, photos very often contain a great deal of truth — even the truth — but like you say, that’s not always the case…
Sam says
Such a sad image — comforting to know she was actually ok.
Lee says
Yes, happy to say she was perfectly ok.
Theresa says
What’s that on the ground to her right?
Lee says
A glove. Makes a change from a lone shoe I suppose!
LAObserver says
‘Personal space’ is very much an Asian expectation. I am sometimes surprised you get away with some of your shots. Hans ter Horst is right that our brain sees what we want/expect to see.
Lee says
He is. Absolutely spot on.
Speed, a smile, and sometimes a quick word tends to be my approach. Still get moaned at from time to time, but it’s surprising how much a smile diffuses any potential problems, or at least eases people’s potential concerns.