One Tough Room II - (2004)

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 20 August 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

From the original shoot four years ago. Loose one of the pool tables, add a piano, get rid of the badly scuffed black paint on the floor, add a few neon signs, and - hey - we might get this dump looking a little better.

A contrast to yesterday's update.

(please note that I will be out-of-town today and will catch-up on your posts and comments soon)

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Comments (20)

Zygene from morlaix, France

Une magnifique atmosphère, bravo.

20 Aug 2008 5:41am

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

stark and wonderful! this has such awesome (and slightly foreboding) graphic qualities! bravo!!

20 Aug 2008 6:28am

P.J. from United States

This shot is really cool. I like the setup. The black and white is excellent. Well done!

20 Aug 2008 6:37am

Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia

Stephen, I sit here shaking my head... you amaze me, this image of the same room, totally different and a totally different feel, you do this so well, I am glad you shared all your captures with us because they are all quite unique and different. Thank you for your lovely response on yesterday's comments, it is a rich community this A-3 we all share, and how lucky we inspire each other and form lovely friendships along the way. Many thanks :o)

20 Aug 2008 6:37am

Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany

This is again a great study of urbanity. I really enjoy how you portrait these not so perfect motives. Wow!

20 Aug 2008 6:45am

Anthony from Germany

Great detail everywhere in this shot.Brilliant.

20 Aug 2008 7:35am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Impressive and dramatic.

20 Aug 2008 8:22am

Rui from Leiria, Portugal

This one was taken from the opposite angle, right? and back in 2004? Now it's a bit different...
Well, yesterday I said that the colour version was more impressive, in part due to the tables' red. But now, to be honest, I'm not sure. If in the colour versions the eyes were immediatly stuck in the red, now we are invited to discover the place itself...
It's really an awesome work.
And I agree with Kylie when she says how rich this A-3 community (I'd go further and say "family") sharing and inspiring each other, creating friendly relationships.

20 Aug 2008 8:49am

@Rui: My hope is that on-line groups - such as ours - will eventually change the world. The Internet is so vast. The groups are so numerous. Every imaginable subject attracts such global gatherings. People passionate about soccer, sailing, cooking, crocheting, aardvarks, and antiques - all gather to share words and thoughts with people from every country on Earth. They quickly become friends. As more and more people realize our complete connectivity - and our shared humanity - resistance to those who see solutions in armament and war can only increase.

Margie from Auckland, New Zealand

What can I say...it's awesome. I loved seeing the colour version, the update and the whole story that it was still going etc but the black and white shots really do it for me. Fabulously atmospheric and gritty. I love it.

20 Aug 2008 9:33am

@Margie: ...well the room is considerably less gritty now. Though I must say the bar still defines the word 'dive'.

Arps from Hyderabad, India

Brilliant Stephen...very intriguing shot... and yeah this one gives a completely different feel from yday's pic... amazing

20 Aug 2008 10:51am

Lorraine from Canada

Then why, why do I love this so much, are you using some tonal magic on us, so that we become totally addicted to dark, moody setttings, I love it!

20 Aug 2008 2:44pm

Marcie from United States

The 'dump' looks intiguing and exciting thru your camera lens. Well done!!!

20 Aug 2008 4:13pm

@Marcie: thanks - greatest compliment I've had all day!

DonLon from Providence, RI, United States

I agree with Rui. HTe color version with the red tables is striking, but keeps you from exploring the story in rest of the image. I think that is the reason B&W is so popular now. You get to the essence of the image/story. there is no color to distract you. Very well done.

20 Aug 2008 4:42pm

@DonLon: Interesting observation. I think, too - that we are just overwhelmed with color images. The ads, television, videos, movies, magazines, mailers, and the digital signs - all in color. Black & White maybe gives our brain a 'time out' from all of this.

Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain

I like much this one, and I have been looking also at the one of yesterday to compare. Of course I prefer the pics in b/w, but it has been interesting see in colors the present stage.

20 Aug 2008 5:59pm

Thomas Griffioen from Bocas del Toro, Panama

Very strong image! Personally I prefer it a bit shabby Stephen, the world's getting so organized already these days. ;-)

20 Aug 2008 6:01pm

@Thomas Griffioen: ...amen, my friend - choices and personality in our public meeting places are sadly narrowing. And 'virtual' pleasures fulfill not the soul.

gbe from kansas city, United States

really an amazing image

20 Aug 2008 7:13pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Like all the different textures of wood in this place. A strong B&W picture. But i appreciate also the yesterday one in color (and bravo for this100th on aminus !!)

20 Aug 2008 7:36pm