From Behind
But You Can See It All

Judy_from_behind_in_Canada_JudyBooks

That’s Judy!

I’m good for about one movie a year…though it’s been over a year now since the last.  That’s not to say I’m not influenced by cinema!  In fact, I notice an approach that pops up in my photo “style” and I think it was inspired by a scene from  “Remains of the Day,” a James Ivory  movie from 1993 starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.I recall as soon as that movie ended I marveled to Judy how interesting it was that Anthony Hopkins completely stole a major scene when we watched him from behind, watching a car drive down the road.  I was amazed how much emotion we could see even though we couldn’t see his face.  I still think about that.
I notice that I do that from time to time.  And it’s not because I’m being surreptitious to the subject.  Instead, I think it’s the right approach to capture a feeling or attitude.  Instead of seeing the person’s face, we see their shoulders, their gait, their overall posture, etc.  I think that view from behind says a lot.
The photo above is one of my favorites that I ever took of Judy.  It’s hanging in my office.

Judy_Art_Institute_from_behind_JudyBooks_Art_Institute

Judy with her Friend

That’s Judy again.  With her friend in the “new wing” of the Art Institute of Chicago.  I think this photo is one of Judy’s favorites of her!  I kinda posed this shot…in a way.  It was near closing time and no one was around.  I asked Judy to walk up to the big guy to get a closer look and I braced myself on a post to get the photo of her from behind.  Too bad…he is banished to the courtyard of the Art Institute now.

Travelers_from_behind_at_Union_Station_in_Chicago

Weary Travelers at Union Station

It’s weird when you really like one of your own photos.   I like this one (above).  Two timeless and weary travelers at Chicago Union Station (going up the famous steps from “The Untouchables” movie).  I never did see their faces, but I imagined what they looked like while capturing this scene from behind.  Read their body language.

The_Liberty_Bell_from_behind

The Liberty Bell

Never saw this girl’s face.  I was focused on the Liberty Bell and she walked into the scene.  Lucky me!  I took her photo from behind and, once again, I never did see her face.  But her posture with the camera and the way she’s standing pretty much define her and how she feels about what she’s doing…at least, for me.

Gabe_and_Drew_from_behind

Big Brother and Little Brother

Here’s another image of mine that I cherish.  That’s Isaac on the left and Gabe on the right in a precious moment.  Walking down the sidewalk to breakfast on New Years Eve day, I was behind them and brought my camera up to my eye as Gabe looked down at Isaac and clutched his hand.  No smilin’ at the camera, but this photo is full of joy.  And, it was the final photo of my 2012 Photo a Day project.  What a fitting ending!

-Stephen M. Levin
“Life Scapes”
www.stephenmlevinphotos.com

 

 

 

SML Photography