The ghost of 'lectricity...
Hardy
Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 26 February 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany
Cool picture! The man is sooo serious and holding... balloons. Great contrast!
26 Feb 2007 8:58am
@Manuela Photography: Thanks Manuela! he was quite a character!
Makoto from Sapporo, Japan
It is a funny action in contrast with an earnest expression. Nice take!
26 Feb 2007 12:21pm
@Makoto: Thanks makoto!
@Angry Buddha: ;) this guy was giving them out all and sundry, I must admit to being a proud owner of one of his balloons myself ;)
@Nick Passantino: thanks Nick!
Jerry from Tampa, United States
Sharp image Duncan! Wonderfully contrasting colors!
26 Feb 2007 5:58pm
@Jerry: thanks Jerry!
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
Great capture! Your eye for the colour contrast (and subject contrast too!) is unerring!
26 Feb 2007 6:00pm
@Bronnie: thanks bronnie!
@Still: thanks still!
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" Three Stooges next?
26 Feb 2007 10:10pm
@Damon Schreiber: youve given me an idea ;) thanks Damon!
Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan
Really funny Duncan, I liked this one, the security guy holding the balloons, so cool!
26 Feb 2007 10:43pm
@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: he was a wonderful chap, thank you alfredo!
@Daroru: oh yeah! bring you own beer and get it on! thanks daroru!
bronzebilly u.k. from cardiff, United Kingdom
great expression--right place--right time again--billy
27 Feb 2007 12:12am
@bronzebilly u.k.: many thanks billy!
Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia
That's the best segway between photos i've seen on this site. Hilarious, FANtastic work mate!!
27 Feb 2007 3:07am
@Chris Sullivan: I thank you again for this comment Chris ;)
@Prashanth: cheers prasanth! they were certainly a comedic couple!
Mike Cash from Kiryu, Japan
That job has little enough dignity without making the poor guy pass out balloons. Quite a few older gents in Japan find themselves filling "guard" positions at a variety of places after having retired or having suffered down-sizing; there are very few other places they can go at that age. I know of one case of a retired JAL pilot working night shift as a gate guard at a factory. While he may look a bit of a prat with the balloons, this photo actually demonstrates man's incredible perseverence in the face of adversity. At his age he wakes up to a crap job and goes out and does it with all the aplomb he can muster.
27 Feb 2007 12:37pm
@Mike Cash: Aye, its a sad fact that the vast majority of people in this position are here because of the collapse of the bubble economy. Ive met many a guy like this who at one time was a high flier etc. He did seem to be enjoying his work though, which at least made me smile.
H.O from Victoria, Canada
I love this image. That is very important work I really respect them actually.
28 Feb 2007 5:56am
@H.O: Yeah, these guys have a hard life, working in all weathers for often long periods. I agree with you, they earn their money the hard way.
Fujifilm FinePix S9000
1/400 second
F/4.9
ISO 200
67 mm