Random Excellence: David Hufford

October Morning at Denenchofu. Photo by David Hufford

I happened across this arresting picture while browsing Flickr for pictures taken with the Panasonic/Leica 25mm ƒ/1.4. It looks a bit better there. I like the painterly color palette, which looks almost too perfect not to have been built up gradually and carefully, as in a painting.

The umbrella reminded me a bit of Gordon Lewis's "Precipitation"—and then I noticed the picture's small mystery—where's the precipitation? She must be using her umbrella as a parasol.

It turns out that David Hufford, the photographer, is a TOP reader, so I asked him for permission to show you, and here you are. Thanks to David.

Mike

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Yoram N.: "It seems David has a 'thing' for umbrellas. Streaming along his Flickr stream you can find many beautiful umbrella photos."

Steve Pritchard: "Many moons ago, on a trip to Thailand I noticed at the end of the working day that young men riding small motorcycles would collect their girlfriends or wives from their offices to take them home. The women would sit side-saddle and balance precariously on the pillion while holding up their handbag or briefcase in both hands as a shield against the sun's rays, while their partners wove dangerously through seven lanes of traffic in the Bangkok rush hour. It was explained to me later that a pale complexion was a prized status symbol, denoting someone with a good office job who did not have to toil in the fields or do manual labour. I don't know if the same may be true in Tokyo, but it might serve to explain the small mystery in David's serene photograph."

David Miller: "Sometimes it seems that there are too many photographs in the world…but not enough by David Hufford. Thanks for the link Mike—what a treasure! Thanks for the photographs, David—what a treasure chest!"

Darrell Marquette: "If you live in Phoenix, you will frequently see people using umbrellas on bright sunny days."

Ben Rosengart: "I use that lens almost to the exclusion of all others."

Mike replies: Nice stuff! And a portrait of Voja too!

D. Hufford: [the featured photographer]: "Thanks, Mike. Yes, she is using that as a parasol. It's very common in Japan during the summer. In fact, some men have taken to using them too. I do have a thing for umbrellas. I often have to force myself to refrain from taking photos of them.

"Thanks for the kind comments, everyone."

Mike replies: What? Rule numero uno...never refrain from taking pictures of what you want to take pictures of. Embrace your peculiarities, don't resist them. That's how we find our way as photographers.

Seriously.

Gordon Lewis: "Apparently the woman I photographed gets around. She's been sighted in Donenchofu, Japan. I guess the weather is better there."

Comments

[David Robinson]

Edward Hopper strikes again, it's amazing how sorted that guy had his imagery. That big patch of pink an a clear delineation of shapes here reflects his look for me.
Btw if you don't know Ezra Dyer writes for The New York Times to, he is entertaining.

[Mark Walker]

Well chosen picture, Mike. The colours are distinct and seperate like some paintings and it has, to me, a look of 1960's colour photo's (slight cast) - barring architectural details and street furniture. The composition of shape and colour is very pleasing. One of those pictures of the ordinary that just sings with its content.

[jean-louis salvignol]

Great photo. Hard not to think of David Hockney:

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/hockney-mr-and-mrs-clark-and-percy-t01269

In the filiation of Cezanne.

Just a pure impression as I have not yet looked at the other photos of David.

This also confirms that "definition" or "resolution" are really not at all a quality criterion. Moreover Hockney works his photos with an IPhone.

[Chris Lucianu]

David Hufford's series is outstanding. Thanks, Mike!

She must be using her umbrella as a parasol.

The delights of etymology: umbrella and parasol were originally exact equivalents: shades, sun-shields.

Umbrella shifted meaning along with functionality: rain shield. Parasol remained self-explanatory, especially in the Romance languages. French differentiated between the portable ombrelle and the larger, stationary parasol; likewise, Castilian has parasol and the smaller, portable sombrilla.

Regenschirm, parapluie, paraguas all follow the same para- logic (therefore, consistently: Sonnenschirm).

[tex andrews]

Yes, that's a damn near perfect photograph.

[Jeff]

No offense intended, but her left cheek appears unnaturally lit given the umbrella, the result perhaps of some liberal post-processing. Still makes for a nice photo, but I wonder if Neil deGrasse Tyson would protest.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Now we're talkin' my kind of photography! Full-spectrum active seeing using people to build an overall composition. Many images where you think you know the score at first glance...but then realize later that you don't. Excellent gesture captures.

Japan is a particularly good place for this type of work. (Yes, the Japanese women use umbrellas as parasols much more than American or Europeans.) But it can be done anywhere. (His Shibuya and Yokohama images tug at me to return!)

Excellent work, David. You've provided me with this year's answer to the annual question, "What did you do with your extra hour after the reversion from Daylight Savings Time?".

(Thanks very much for highlighting David's work, Mike.)

[Richard]

Ah yes, the David Hockey/Edward Hopper type of photograph. I like it.

[Michael Farrell]

Very nice.

I have a picture from last year in Vancouver with eerily similar elements: brick wall, tree in foreground, a woman walking right to left...

[John Krumm]

A fine Sunday morning discover, thank you. Love the work, David.

[Fabiolug]

It also turns out that David has a great eye for umbrellas, a recurring theme in his enjoyable Flickr stream.

[Craig Williams]

Awesome it looks like a hopper painting.

[Soeren Engelbrecht]

My first thought: "Quiet Colours" :-) How is it going with the selection of pictures, Mike ?? I assume that the current sale and e-business venture has been keeping you busy ?? Quite understandable - I really think that you have lots of great stuff going on at the moment :-)

[Mark Kinsman]

Lovely image. It is a great lens too. One of my favorite primes on the OMD E-M5.

[Roger Bradbury]

I have been looking at David's pictures and it is now well past my bedtime; it wasn't when I started. I like his comments too.

[Joseph Reeves]

They are good. Opens a window to Tokyo that I've never thought of before.

As usual, thanks for your inquisitiveness.

[Bill Tyler]

Mike, this is too much. I didn't think you'd ever feel the need to do meta-art, but clearly I was wrong. Sunday is supposed to be off topic. So posting on photography is off being off topic, off off topic, a double whammy. You're fully post-modern now.

That aside, it's a gorgeous image. Thanks for the post.

Bill

[Alan Hill]

I like the picture and I love the colours, but (someone has to say 'but' sooner or later) I suffer from a built-in irrational preference for horizontals and verticals that are accurately aligned. I expect that this shows that I am irredeemably and incurably boring and totally old school, but I can't help it.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

The price for shooting like it's 1980: $2,750....Yikes! Geezing is very expensive.