Joy of Light Photoblog
One Tough Room
Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 12 August 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.
Pool Tables - The Merchant Bar - Oakland, California (2005)
The Merchant Bar is in the center of Oakland, California's dwindling Produce District. Bars such as this are on my personal 'endangered species list' in urban California. They were common when I arrived here in 1970. Skyrocketing rents have forced the closure of most all of these working-class 'dives'. Here is a living look at bye gone days. 'Rack-'em up'.
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Zygene from morlaix, France
Belle ambiance ou personnellement je m’y sentirai bien
12 Aug 2008 5:25am
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States
just stunning -- the worn surfaces at the hands of unimaginable beings over the years is truly beautiful -- it is as if their collective souls still exist -- a very literal part of the remaining architecture! marvelous shot and magnificently presented! bravo!!
12 Aug 2008 5:36am
Erik from Amersfoort, Netherlands
Cool shot, the top view give the shot an extra ambiance, very well done.
12 Aug 2008 6:20am
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
I bet these walls could tell many a story, seen many a fight and house many a secret. I love your composition looking down on the pool table and the lack of people gives you the feel that that cops might have been on their way for a bust. I love what this image portrays, well done Stephen.
12 Aug 2008 6:44am
@Kylie Greenan: A very safe bet, Kylie
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
Great documentary with a sad story, Stephen. This picture still possesses some great deal of this places former charme.
12 Aug 2008 7:36am
@Mirko Herzner: I'll report back - but as far as I know - this place is still there and unchanged. I need to get images of the bar. It is as colorful as the pool room.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
One hell of a photo! Bravo for this unique perspective and really moody shot, I'm looking forward to more, I hope ;)
12 Aug 2008 8:41am
@Lorraine: Thanks. I needed to 'Google' Gatineau to discover you're across from Ottawa. It looks beautiful. I will post more on The Merchant Bar - soon.
djedfre from schaumburg, United States
wow - there's a place you need to 'watch your back' at! great shot! love the perspective...
12 Aug 2008 8:47am
Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States
Great gritty image, Stephen. I can imagine a whole cast of characters that have been in that room over the years. Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson...But I bet that room has some stories that could put the movies to shame. Thanks for the movie memories this morning!
12 Aug 2008 9:21am
@Eric Fry: Eric - I've had a similar 'cast of characters' go through my mind over this image. I'll add Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, and Marlon Brando - in some films that perhaps were shot in a parallel universe. Just to be fair - I'll cast and place money on Barbara Stanwyck and Lauren Bacall as well.
@Veronelle: a minor milestone - my 1000th comment at AM3 - thank you. And that you all.
Isao from isère, France
Trés sympa, angle impeccable pour montrer l'essentiel et créer une ambiance, beau rendu des textures !
Very nice, perfect angle to show the essentials and create an atmosphere, beautiful rendering textures !
12 Aug 2008 9:51am
Thomas Griffioen from Bocas del Toro, Panama
Wow! This is a very cool shot from the top!
12 Aug 2008 10:14am
paulski from Muncie, IN, United States
great angl, and love the textures and detail throughout. superb choice for b/w, too...
12 Aug 2008 11:00am
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Very atmospheric capture and great story Stephen! "American Pool" was once popular too in HK (early 80's), but didn't know why, all of a sudden, it was completely replaced by snooker...
12 Aug 2008 2:16pm
@hugo poon: ...it is odd to consider what changes and evolves our popular culture. Had you said some video craze - I wouldn't have been surprised - but snooker!? - I hadn't seen the word in years. It had some popularity here in the late fifties and early sixties. It never has had the popularity of pool which remains strong.
Jeff from millerstown, United States
Nice work. There's nothing better then hanging out in a dive. You have captured the atmosphere and the feeling of hanging out.
12 Aug 2008 2:57pm
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
It looks a tough room. Your image is exceptional. Love it in greyscale.
12 Aug 2008 4:01pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
It certainly is tough, perhaps even dangerous. The grafitti and worn floor really show the character of this pool room, and presented wonderfully in this BW.
12 Aug 2008 4:11pm
@Observing: Thanks, Mike.
alex centrella from California, United States
wow, this image really tells the story...the black and white makes the shot..
12 Aug 2008 4:38pm
Marcie from United States
Looks like it's about to be condemned! Interesting point-of-view.
12 Aug 2008 5:45pm
@Marcie: I don't think the City of Oakland would dare. The bar room fight would be inside City Hall - which is only about 10 blocks away.
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
A raunchy image taken from an excellent perspective, Stephen. I like the finish and the mood of gritty artistry.
12 Aug 2008 6:27pm
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
I love this image and all that it remembers me. Very well made, Stephen, one of my favorites.
Thanks for commenting my photos those past days. I'm still out in holidays and today I can connect and write some commentaries.
12 Aug 2008 7:27pm
@Paco Díaz: Ola! - and I trust your holidays are going well. Thanks for taking the time to check-in
Seraphine from San Francisco, United States
love how you preserved the grittiness
of the place. the table is the only
calm in the room.
12 Aug 2008 7:44pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
An incredible bird's eye view and an excellent B&W traitment.
12 Aug 2008 8:23pm
Baz from Teglia, United Kingdom
I love the angle, the details and overall the atmosphere of this image!
12 Aug 2008 9:58pm
willow from Chelsea, United States
This photo tells a story better than many authors. I like the view from above and the B&W. It emphasizes the loneliness of a bar bereft of customers. I can imagine a similar shot of the same place full of customers and in color. What a contrast!
13 Aug 2008 2:17am
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Great perspective from this angle Stephen. You made an ordinary scene look very dramatic and creative. Love this image and the b/w processing. Apologize for not visiting lately, I set up a new site with a new host provider. My new url is www.sirius2photo.com
13 Aug 2008 2:19am
@John Maslowski: John - great to hear from you and never a problem. Thanks for the comments.
Jennifer Radio from Statesville, United States
wonderful! the lighting is perfect.
13 Aug 2008 2:58am
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
A little(and great) "acrobatic" angle, Stephen... a very special atmosphere on this B&W... and beautiful textures.
13 Aug 2008 9:47am
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
Everyone's already said it but I'll add my two cents worth. This is a seriously cool, gritty, moody shot. I love it.
13 Aug 2008 8:19pm
