March 25, 2011
One thing that amazed me last year while doing my 365 bar trek was how people reacted when I approached them and asked to take their picture for the blog. Before I started, I thought maybe fifty percent would say yes. I was pleasantly surprised that it was usually closer to ninety percent saying yes. At first I dreaded walking up to strangers and asking to take their picture, but after a while, I got used to it and I enjoyed it.
This led me to think of an idea for MAD to do occasionally, instead of approaching several people for a photo, I’m just going to approach one person and ask to take twelve photos of that person’s face. If they agree, I’m going to call out different emotions and words for the person to react to. I’m going to call this, “Extreme Close-Up.” Let’s go see if I can pull this off.
Goddamn, it's cold out here again tonight, where are you spring?
It's kind of deserted out tonight, I guess people are pissed that spring has refused to be sprung on this city and they're staying inside.
Oh no. I guess I should thank them for the warning.
I think I'll cut over here and go to Union Square Park, there's always people there.
Okay, here's Union Square Park, let's go to the other side where the steps are, kids are always hanging out over there.
Jesus creeping Christ, it's empty over here and it's not even 10:30! Come on people, work with me!
I was going to ask this guitar guy, but I went over and he seemed to be stoned out of his gourd really into his music, so I didn't want to bother him.
Okay, here we go! This competitive chess player's name is C and he wasn't camera shy at all. He agreed to be the first person to play, "Extreme Close-Up" on MAD. The idea here is to get C to look directly in the camera and then I'm going to throw words out and have him mirror them with his expressions. Here we go!
Happy. (I wanted C to look directly in the camera, but after repeated requests, I gave up I thought maybe this was a better angle anyway.
Sad. (Not too much different than happy, but hey, what are you going to do?)
Confused. (He's still not looking at the camera, but he's getting into it a little more.)
Mad.
Charlie Sheen.
Emilio Estevez. (This prompted C to look away even further from the camera and say, "Man, I don't even know who she is!" I figured this was a good time to end this first edition of, "Extreme Close-Up." Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark!)
Extreme Close-Up—Epilogue
Okay, I admit, this exercise could’ve gone a little better. Part of it was me, maybe I should’ve given C a little more direction, but after asking him to look directly in the camera 37 times, I got a little tired of asking. I thought about trying someone else, but there was no one around and quite frankly, I was kind of out of the mood to do this. I’m not a beaten man though, I will try this again...maybe in a bar next time.
Further reading and watching: Epic Fail, Close-Up Toothpaste, Close Up The Honky Tonks and Repo Man.
Things that come in threes.
Stooges
Iggy’s Stooges
Blind Mice
Amigos
Jacks (and a Jill)
Sons
Little pigs
Musketeers
Wishes
And of course...
You’ll live without her,
Just don’t you think about her when you’re trying to drive.
19 Comments
Reader Comments (19)
i like the idea and hope you try try again! i also like the new colorful headlines!
I'm photophobic, I would walk away if someone asked me to do that. Glad there are those that won't, even if it didn't go exactly as you'd imagined.
My dad was a repo guy in college, wonder if he lived by the code.
Look's like C just blew his 15 minutes of fame on MAD. If he only knew how far this stuff can reach. Oh well, at least he gave us all the bird on the confused picture.
Yes .... good idea that would probably work a lot better in a bar !
Should have went to Otto's or the Blarney Cove ..... I'm sure plenty of willing participants would have been around :)
"Ordinary people...I hate 'em, ordinary people spend their life AVOIDING tense situations.....
Marty Wombacher spends his life getting IN to tense situations...." - Harry Dean Stanton (paraphrased)
@rita r: I will try again, don't worry!
@kari: Two friends of mine were briefly Repo Men years ago and they definitely lived by the code, especially the speed part!
@Al: The bird flip is a bit of saving grace here.
@GENE: Outstanding idea, I think I'll try this at Otto's next week!
@Jaws: That's my favorite quote from that movie and I'm honored you placed me in it! Thanks!
As far as I'm concerned, Repo Man is a training film for anybody who drives and deals with the public for a living. I'm very serious!
HAHAHAHA! I really like C's Charlie Sheen! I think he nailed it! Good idea for the MAD blog, Marty! And stellar song by Little Village. I love that album!
Honestly I think it's a matter of size. You need an SLR to put your subjects at ease. "This isn't an awkward situation at all, this is a real deal photographer, look at the immense size of his camera."
But as Rebeca Black says, it's Friday, and I'm too tired to even come up with a camera/penis size crack.
@Biff: That was my favorite one too. And Little Village was a great band, too bad they only made on album.
@csp: Maybe, but I think it was more the subject. Personally I think the bigger the camera, the less someone would be at ease. But like you said, it's Friday and I can't think of a dick joke either!
@ MAD: It's been about about 2 months since you've started MAD and now I'm not only seeing, but feeling a great boost of momentum here. Midnight movie, SNC, Papaya wars (update please!) and now Extreme Close-Up!
Fucking great idea...
and, if it makes you feel any better, It's starting to get a little bit chilly down here...so Spring wont be too far now.
So is the fact that I recently bought an SLR an expression of my penis envy? Cause its not you know.
@Clacky: Thanks, I like the idea too, I may have better luck inside, I'll try again next week. The Papaya Wars will be updated next week, there's still about four more of them to go to. I'm glad you're liking the blog, nice to hear.
@kari: I forgot your new camera is an SLW, that's how much I know about cameras. I don't think that was the intention behind csp's comment, but I'll let him speak for himself. Looking forward to your Foto Friday, the new shots with your camera have been great. As rr says, "KOC!"
I agree with Clacky. It's been fun watching this blog evolve. It's a whole different animal than 365 and I'm enjoying it just as much if not better. Even when it "fails" it's fun to see you trying and I'm loving the short stories on here. Need a spokesman? LOL!
@Clacky: remember stumbling upon the Arthur movie shoot - with the Batmobile - at the Wall Street subway stop ?
imho...MAD's "new" look is a touch garish...oh shit not sure there is such a thing..."touch garish" "touch pregnant"...oh well others seem to like it have to flow w/ it...
not sure C could mustard up the stuff after direction...appeared more of a "free bird" to me...great concept...hope MAD has more success w/ this in the future...w/o all the fanfare great concept...
look forward w/ almost the same anticipation (cue carly) everyday as i did w/ 365...
[to newsreel camera] And I promise you I'll never desert you again because after 'Salome' we'll make another picture and another picture. You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!... All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
—Norma Desmond
rr
p.s. sorta gave MAD an idea to get "up in the air" for an after dark...maybe he will come thourgh...
@Barfly: Thanks, when I have a spokesman budget, you'll be the guy!
@rr: Thanks, I'll try again next week, we'll see what happens. Love the Norman Desmond quote! Perfect! Don't count on the "up in the air" shots though, I'm terrified of heights. And I'm still fiddling with the new look, be patient!
No blue jokes today.
"bye-bye"
Thanks @csp. I really need to stop looking at this site before I go to bed.