It’s been about a month since I checked out Pbase properly and left any comments. Now I’m back from my break, I quickly flipped through my favourite photographers list a day or so ago, looking for some inspiration. I thought I’d be easing myself gently back into things when I stumbled across a bizarre thumbnail with "Lorin Niculae" printed underneath. When I clicked on the image, I realised I was looking at the very definition of why we photographers, amateur or professional, take to the streets with our cameras. Lorin has always been a great photographer and like many of the best photographers on Pbase, does not partake in "vote trading" – a prerequisite for popularity it would seem these days. As such, his work will not always get the number of online viewers it richly deserves so this is my small attempt to correct that inbalance as "This is not a camel" is an almost iconic street photograph. Bordering on the surreal, it’s the kind of shot a viewer can only wish he was the owner of. A camel in the middle of an urban setting (which we see just enough of to get the location context) alone would be enough, but add a girl leaning tentatively but irresistibly across to touch it and a man who looks on with the same bewilderment as us, the viewer, and you have the makings of a truly great image. Finally, that look from the camel – a pose you could not have bettered were it staged – completes this image so perfectly. Incredible.

It’s rare that I feel both envy and inspiration from the same image… thank you Lorin! A link to Lorin’s image follows:

This is not a camel by Lorin Niculae (click for larger version)