Man and Machine

Is that how it is for us blokes (and sheilas as well); man against the machine?
we spend a great deal of time thinking up these monsters and then we become so attached to them we can't let them go, even when they have well passed their use by date.
For some its hard to part with the smell of grease and burning coal. Its even harder to part with the memories.
I watched as he fondled and patted his pet, carressed its curves and stroked its steam laden pipes. He does it all day for no more reward than that of a promised return tomorrow. He and the machine will be no closer to completion at the end of the day. For 50 years he did this. Then he retired and his heart died until he could find her again and be close once more. This is a love story.

Tom,

thanks for showing this series. Pictures and test are matching perfectly.

It becomes easy to take the point of view of the person described.

Best regards,
Michael

Maybe the relationship between man and machine can be seen like this:
The machine is an amplification of the human force.
Not all of it is understood entirely and for handling this in an easier way, a 'personality' is attached to the machine.

The title reminded me of 'Man-Machine ' from Kraftwerk. I hope you don't mind the two links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kclSUOQ4HtY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7sGtXkUqeo

Best regards,
Michael

That first one has a very Cartier Bresson look to it. Not sure if there could be any higher form of praise?

Would love to see a good print of it. It's the kind of picture which would need a lot of work to get right in print but when done would be a true masterpiece!

Ben Rubinstein said:

That first one has a very Cartier Bresson look to it. Not sure if there could be any higher form of praise?

Would love to see a good print of it. It's the kind of picture which would need a lot of work to get right in print but when done would be a true masterpiece!

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i kent these images when i saw them - i think the b&W - nostalgic treatment is a bit over the top - it strikes me as a bit fartsy - doesn't add anything to the work - it takes away from what could be a strong piece of work.

Mark Hampton said:

i kent these images when i saw them - i think the b&W - nostalgic treatment is a bit over the top - it strikes me as a bit fartsy - doesn't add anything to the work - it takes away from what could be a strong piece of work.

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It wasn't supposed to be a 'strong piece of work', Mark, just some holiday snaps. Not every photo has to be a masterpiece. And stop stealing my words. '[artsy] fartsy' is reserved for crass, uncooth, low class Aussies.
Besides, I wasn't asking for a critique on the photos. I just thought the story might have interested someone. My expectations once again far exceed the capabilities of the audience.
I should stick to grass.

Thanks, Ben and Michael. Thank god someone can see above the thicket of artsy-farsties.

Tom dinning said:

It wasn't supposed to be a 'strong piece of work', Mark, just some holiday snaps. Not every photo has to be a masterpiece. And stop stealing my words. '[artsy] fartsy' is reserved for crass, uncooth, low class Aussies.
Besides, I wasn't asking for a critique on the photos. I just thought the story might have interested someone. My expectations once again far exceed the capabilities of the audience.
I should stick to grass.

Thanks, Ben and Michael. Thank god someone can see above the thicket of artsy-farsties.

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fartsy - lower class scottish scum can use this and i believe i fit into that bracket.

why bother with the processing if they are just snaps?

the story would have had more interestingness in colour for me. and as a member of the audience its my right to comment - as its yours to post work. thats the dance.

Mark Hampton said:

fartsy - lower class scottish scum can use this and i believe i fit into that bracket.

why bother with the processing if they are just snaps?

the story would have had more interestingness in colour for me. and as a member of the audience its my right to comment - as its yours to post work. thats the dance.

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I can do what I like with my snaps, Mark.what do you do with yours?

'Interestingness'. What the **** is that? Besides, it is in colour. Can't you see it?

So we have rights now, do we? What is this? Some sort of ****ing democracy? Just in case you were asleep it has been already made blatantly clear that you can keep your comments about how 'you' would have taken MY photos to yourself. If I want someone to tell me how to take a photo I'll ask. And I'm not likely to do that in a hurry from someone I don't know or who takes ****ing grass photos.
Is that Scottish scum, lower class enough for you?

Tom dinning said:

I can do what I like with my snaps, Mark.what do you do with yours?

'Interestingness'. What the **** is that? Besides, it is in colour. Can't you see it?

So we have rights now, do we? What is this? Some sort of ****ing democracy? Just in case you were asleep it has been already made blatantly clear that you can keep your comments about how 'you' would have taken MY photos to yourself. If I want someone to tell me how to take a photo I'll ask. And I'm not likely to do that in a hurry from someone I don't know or who takes ****ing grass photos.
Is that Scottish scum, lower class enough for you?

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i do what ever i like with my snaps tom.

yes we have rights - the great asher gave us them - i am not bothered by what you think about what i say about your work ... i will comment on it when and if i like... you post it i will comment .. that's the dance.

and please stop being such a child ..

Mark Hampton said:

i do what ever i like with my snaps tom.

yes we have rights - the great asher gave us them - i am not bothered by what you think about what i say about your work ... i will comment on it when and if i like... you post it i will comment .. that's the dance.

and please stop being such a child ..

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Isthat the best you can do, Mark?
The child in me is perfectly healthy and happy to speak out when it's necessary.
Go dance with yourself.

Tom dinning said:

_D3S2558 by tom.dinning, on Flickr​

Is that how it is for us blokes (and sheilas as well); man against the machine?
we spend a great deal of time thinking up these monsters and then we become so attached to them we can't let them go, even when they have well passed their use by date.
For some its hard to part with the smell of grease and burning coal. Its even harder to part with the memories.
I watched as he fondled and patted his pet, carressed its curves and stroked its steam laden pipes. He does it all day for no more reward than that of a promised return tomorrow. He and the machine will be no closer to completion at the end of the day. For 50 years he did this. Then he retired and his heart died until he could find her again and be close once more. This is a love story.

Click to expand...

Tom,

Generous to provide the love story behind these images. Usually I say that an introduction is more often than not needed. here, however, what you call, "snapshots" are evocative and memorable in themselves. There's a mood that connects them. It's helped by the presentation in B&W, so that razzmatazz color is no distraction.

There's a sense here of empathy with the toil of the working man who's sweat allows us to ride in cushioned comfort, maybe even sipping a laté or beer in the restaurant car. On the other side is a great respect you show for this machinery and it's marvelous transformation of human endeavor, allowing us to conquer lands otherwise hardly accessible.

Asher

This first picture is especially interesting, tom!


The reflection on the water and the empty railway line going to the distance is a simple and magnetic compositional effect. I'd love you to also post a copy here as this is also a path and worth being in our collection.


This last picture also is one of my favorites. Again a diagonal, (this time curved) balanced by the vertical silhouette of the worker.


Ddi you also take pictures of that woodpile in the rear and the car. Is that a jeep? Thanks for sharing,

Asher

Like most blokes my age I grew up with this stuff around me. We had a train yard not far from the house and playing on the tracks was the thing to do. I had an uncle who built these things at Commonwealth Engineering in Clyde and he would walk me through the place. Those were the days when there wasn't an OH&S man anywhere in sight.

The blokes here are all volunteers. They do this like we do photography. Just for the love of it.
This is the original shot of the first one for those who seem to think I cooked it too much. If I wasn't so lazy I would probably still shoot in B&W film. Its far more romantic.

Here's the fireman of Çock of the North'. Thats a train not an appendage.


I did get to the pile of rubbish at the back of the shed. It was a tractor. I did find an old Bedford truch and an Austin A40 laying about. These suited the ovcooked look a bit more.
Holiday snaps are such fun.


Thanks for helping me calm down. I had to kick the cat twice and take an extra shot of citalopram after that last fluster.

Cheers
Tom

Tom

now now dearest boyz- tell ya truthfully "don't play nice" much more interesting that way-

I think these photos show some of who Tom Dinning is- How he lives etc...I love that kind of stuff- Gives and idea of another's "goings on"
and Tom I know I'm being too nice and I'll back out smiling at'cha-
peace love and fire bombs!

Charlotte-