Photo Challenge: LAYERED
“Complexity that works is built up out of modules that work perfectly, layered one over the other.” Kevin Kelly
Photo Challenge: LAYERED – A Street Entertainer & his Companions
Photo Challenge: LAYERED – A Street Entertainer & his Companions
What does layered look like to you? One of the joys of living near a popular metropolitan city is the surfeit of entertaining street artists and unusual sightings that dot the landscape. If you’ve ever lived in or been to NYC, London, Paris, Tokyo, Lagos… you name it, you can be rest assured that you will see someone or something that will challenge your understanding of the human capacity for creativity and sheer enterprise. Add to it the huge murals that show up in the most unexpected places and you’ll understand why big cities are a photographer’s dream.
For today’s challenge on – Layered – I have the good fortune to share the entertainer and his menagerie of animal/bird companions. This savvy entrepreneur can be found anywhere between the New York Public Library and Times Square. His companions are not for sale … no, they are far more than that and it involves photography and a story shared by one of my daughters who has encountered him more than once and has captured quite a few photos of our friend. There are lots of layers in the shot; from his clothes, to the cats, and the birds, and the carriages … adding up to a mystical menagerie. Look again, how many cats do you see? And doves? What about the parrots? The layers of cloth add to the collection of things in and around him. He wears a shiny grey silk jacket over a striped blue/white cotton shirt. His socks are colorful, shoes plain. Who is the man behind the character in the photo?
<3 I’d like to take a moment to send prayers and support to folks in Puerto Rico (Hurricane Maria) and Mexico (earthquake) who are dealing with catastrophes and loss of human life… Please keep them in your hearts and prayers! <3
more below!
“A story is a kind of biopsy of human life. A story is both local, specific, small, and deep, in a kind of penetrating, layered, and revealing way.” Lorrie Moore
Photo Challenge: LAYERED – A Street Entertainer & his Companions
Photo Challenge: LAYERED – A Street Entertainer & his Companions
What do you see in the main photo? Take a closer look. The Street entertainer has a menagerie of animals that move/travel with him in various cages and containers. Before you ask, he is not selling them. His cats and birds are eager entertainers and if you had the pleasure to meet him on the streets of NY, you could, as my daughter assured me, ask to take a photo with him and/or his companions. He makes money that way and the animals play their acting roles perfectly … sometimes they appear medicated? tired? Only God knows, because we would have to know him to even begin to lift the layers around his lifestyle and find out what led him down that path. More later!
The other shots are of the Hudson River and its vicinity. I never tire of the Hudson River and love going back there again and again to take photos. I take pictures there whenever the mood grabs me, and I have shots from all times of the day; it still takes my breath away. We are all layered and our stories, if shared, help others get to know who we are behind the mask or the public face, right? Our lives are filled with layers and as we unfurl or unreel them like an onion, we reveal the sweetness and the resilient spirit within.
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: – LAYERED – This week, let’s explore the interplay of texture and depth. This week, share with us a layered image of your own. The topic is wide open, as long as you focus on the interplay of depth, density, and texture (or just choose one of these elements if you’d like). Strata of clouds, a shirt collar peeking through a sweater, a cross-section of an onion: you can keep your interpretation as literal or as figurative as you wish. I look forward to exploring this topic through your photos!
Positive Motivation Tip: Explore your layered self and contemplate the sweetness and the resilient spirit within
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Very interesting, I’m never thought about a layered photo in this way. You really captured a lot from the photo of the musician and his companions.
It is quite layered in a different way. So I love that about it.
Such an interesting street entertainer to have all those birds and cats! It’s just about fall season which is the perfect time for layering clothes, (my fave type of layering is fashion layering lol)
Yes, and that is one thing I love about fall wear too… the layers.
At first I didn’t understood the essence of the photos with birds and fabrics around but when I get to read the content, there I started to understand everything. I completely love texture and depths of this photos. thank you for sharing.
Yes, it’s about layers and textures and depth and on… so I think the photo captures it quite well…
People do have many layers. someone once told me there’s two types of peoples apples and onions. When you peel back the layers get to know them some will be sweet and some will just make you cry.
Hahaha! That is a good one… I imagine we have both sides. 🙂
Layered for me is like the layers of our personality. The outside is what we often show people we barely know or don’t know at all. Just like how it’s compared to an onion.
Right and that is what struck me about the photo and the cast of characters featured. There are layers we all carry with us.
Ever since I moved to Shanghai I’ve been so inspired and fascinated by the people I encounter on the streets. Right next to my building I always meet this lovely lady that makes delicate bracelets using jasmine flowers.She’s incredible I could stand there and observe her work for hours. You can clearly tell how much she loves what she’s doing and how much care she puts into every single bracelet.
Great post! it reminded me of how sometimes we have to step back and appreciate those unexpected encounters.
True… the lady and her floral bracelets sounds amazing.
What beautiful imagery! You put some thought provoking words here to really make the mind think.
I enjoy the photo challenges as they get me out of mt familiar territory and make me think. Appreciated!
sounds very interesting to have these birds, i would love to visit!
You are so good at making your readers think. I love the idea of looking into someone’s layers and I like that even though we can look at an image, we still don’t know truly how many layers there are or that persons individual story. So interesting!
Thank you… it made me think even after hearing the back story. There is always more.
This is so interesting and deep. I love how you connect what you have read and what image have you taken to real life facts. I am inspired.
thank you… i feel inspired too
I love that quote from Kevin Kelly. And wow, those birds are absolutely beautiful!
Wow ..Street Entertainer.. l wish I could take a pic with them too .. as your daughter wish the same 😘 Animallovers
love it layer after layer of color how very pretty and definitely tropical to me
We never get to see things like this in Honduras but when I was in NYC I really enjoyed all the street vibes and acts
yeah, they have great street vibe in nyc
You taught me something I didn’t know again, what a layered photo could be. My special son would flip to get a shot of the man and his birds. He has birds for pets, has bird collection of everything and people have even brought real birds to him so he could help them and set them free.
Oh he would have a blast then… 🙂
Great job on making readers think a bit! What I love about this pic is that these animals (some are normally predators to the other) are there hanging out in harmony!
doesn’t it make you wonder how?
Some people may see this and think wow what an interesting shot and leave it at that. And while it is an interesting shot indeed, your piece makes you look deeper not just into the shot itself but more into the story that could be untold about it.
At first all I saw was animals, layers of animals and cages, but then you mention the man’s shirt and that caused me to take an even deeper look into this. There is layers or textures, rough and soft, layers of towel, crates & grates. And lastly there is the layer of this man and how we get to see one layer of him and the life he lives.
I had the same initial reaction and then as I looked at the photo and thought about it, it spoke to me on a deeper level and then the layers became more than mere props or images… Thank you lady! <3
This is what I love in big cities, you get to meet lots of creative people! And this guy carrying with him his animals is great. I love it even more that he shares his creativity/passion with people by letting them take pictures!
Yes… for a fee. He’s entrepreneurial
I totally touch and agree with you in prayer for Puerto Rico. This has me reminiscing on my New York days.
Yes… tough times all around.
Love the photos and the concept! As a quilter, I’m very much into fabric, and colors, and layers of fabric that all combine to create something totally different than any single fabric or color could have by itself.
Perfect, so this is right up your alley. 🙂
I love how you seem to find the most unexpected view for every photo challenge. Always the unexpected!
Thank you. I dont always but it’s great when one does.
I love layering my clothes for fall but where I live now we really don’t have fall so I can’t do that… Today I wore Tee shirt , shorts and flip flops ( 92 degrees)
Hahaha! You can pretend
I loved this quote by Lorrie Moore. I do think we all have a story. I’ve been really into memoirs and autobiographies lately. Not just celebrities but people with a life I haven’t lived. I finished one book about a lawyer who had a horrible addiction to coke and alcohol but was hyperfunctioning and no one knew. Now I’m reading the story about a 20-year-old who got ran over by a truck and survived.
I love autobios for the same reasons…
Maybe it’s strange but when you say layered, and I look at the photo with things stacked and animals on and around it, what comes to mind is the chaos of my life right now. We just had a hurricane, kids in school, husband, work, blog work in addition to work work …it’s all layered right now too.
I wish you peace, prayers, much help and a speedy recovery…
The theme is really different, layers. I loved all the pictures but the Hudson riverand the street performer companion picture were outstanding.
Thank you… Glad you liked them.
What a fascinating story. I would love to see this entertainer. I enjoyed how you built the other photos into the layer.
Layered – this is really very deep and interesting. I loved the collection of birds and cats..they are adorable
I really like your picture and the thought you put into it. It very much sums up the city! The street entertainer interested me the most, Im surprised the birds dont fly away but what a great way to live your life and make money!
There’s more to that story right… ?
Since my husband bought a dslr camera I wanted to learn how to shoot photos very well but I dont know where to start as I am not a pro. Thankfully there’s blog like yours who share photography like this. many thanks!
Join the weekly photo challenge, it will encourage you to try new techniques.
Great article, appears popular and is really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
I actually love all of your photo challenges, they’re so creative! Love this cute flock of parrots together too 🙂
Love the way you put the layers into perspective! Very interesting to look and know a person’s story and their layers! Love the fac that the cat doesn’t mind having the birds on top of hiM!
Wow, this is so interesting! I’ve never heard of this kind of street entertainer but I’d love to see them in action. Im so excited that today is officially the first day of autumn, perfect for layering! When I think of the word layered I think of beautiful autumnal clothing with gorgeous scarves and accessories, lol, im not very imaginative
But you are…
I have never seen a street artist but it is definitely on my bucket list. Looks like a lot of fun!
Hahaha! 🙂
Of course this was in NYC. Its one of the few places in the world where you can see creativity spilled out like this I loved the layered concept.
That is interesting photo after reading your post and I going to look for more things in my area to get more looks for this.
I like that he has cats and birds together. That is a statement on its own.
Wow!! This is really interesting. You always amazed me in everything that you captured, You are always in timing to capture every little thing.
Love the photos and the layering effect. Didint about this before. I have to share this with blogger partner who is all into photography and exploring new styles!
What a great way to fully explain and create a content around the word layered. For me, it can be a lot of things like for example, our own personality having different layers depending on the situation we are in.
I agree with you about living in a Metropolitan area. Every day you encounter so much diversity and creativity. Sometimes its hard to process it all.
The article is inspiring and has a deep meaning in it. People do so many things just to make their living. This is the first time I have read about such a amazing street artist but I am wondering does he train them and they do something when pictures are clicked or does people simply get their pictures clicked. I don’t know…but overall I just loved your article, how wonderfully you made a connection between your photo challenge and the street artist. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Thank you too!
I really like the photos and the concept. I really like your photo collages pictures looks so awesome.
Very interesting, I’m never thought about a layered photo in this way before. It’s funny that just recently a friend and i were talking about layers and that people have layers of personality . Once the layers are peeled away you get to see the true self and here i am reading your post about it. Great post.
Touche! Love the serendipity of that exchange
I love reading your blog posts and having something to think about afterwards. Now I’m obsessed with layering clothing items! I’m so happy Fall is here! Also, I loved that you took a moment to think about the victims in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
I love the textures in the photo and all of the vibrant colors.
This is such a brilliant interpretation of layered. It must be a pretty amazing sight to see all the different animals out on the street.
This post took the idea of layering in another direction. One photograph captured animals lunging in layers in the midst of layers of clothes. This is really a unique spin on the concept of layered look
Hahaha!… Don’t you see the layers?
When i think of layered, I think of nuance: the layers of meaning and understanding when we choose to turn a concept or idea over in our minds. I’m someone who likes to think. I like to think things through. I like to go beyond the surface and think all the way down to the bottom. That’s what layered looks like to me.
Wonderful insights!
Very interesting concept and an unusual way to look at layering. Definitely made me think! Thanks for sharing.
Your work is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing! I would never think to do photograph in this way.
Interesting! I’ve never really thought about life as layered. But if I come to think of it, you’re totally right. We see people everyday in crowded streets and don’t really know anything about them unless we see through their layers.
The street entertainer and his assortment of animals certainly made a great subject of a photo shoot and collage. Creative and thought provoking.
That shot of the sunset is beautiful! I always find it interesting how we all think about photos in such different ways, we’ve been doing a lot of studying on “layered photos” in one of my classes and it’s been something I never really thought of before!
Wow the sunset and the lake pictures are so gorgeous. I haven’t participated in Wp challenge from a long time but would love to start soon. You’re pictures are inspiring!!
For me, layered means layering our thoughts and wishes with “what the society will think” layer. Sometimes we just layer ourselves and pretend to be what society expects us to be rather than what we really are.
I do love birds. Though I normally go for birds of prey these guys have a certain charm about them
I love your writing style and the pictures in your blog posts. I think you can find layers everywhere you ‘look’ in life. I often describe myself as a person with layers, letting different people into different layers of ‘me’. I know that sounds weird, but I hope it makes sense.
I concur. We are all deeply layered.
I love how sometimes at first glance it seems like there is way too much going on in a photo, but then once you actually take a second to look at what is in the photos its so interesting to really look at each piece of the puzzle!
Right? I completely agree. This photo looks busy but it is rich with layers… we have to look
Very creative concept! Loving how you interpreted layers:) Thanks for sharing!
Layers is like life. There are ups and downs but still we should all know how to do what was right and always be happy whatever happens in our layered life.
I like how you brought alive the layered affect, by this man and his birds in such an abstract way.
When first looking at then entertainer’s layers, I didn’t see how much it really contained. But that’s possibly why we make layers–so things are concealed.
Loving the photographs. That street entertainer looks like interesting and I love the landscapes. I guess as a nature photographer layering in photos is probably my faveorite type of layering – especially in landscapes.
I love the layered effect of photos! Just like people, photos have many layers too, and it helps me see a new dimension of photos that I’ve never considered before. Thank you! I love that there are many stories to each photo and especially a bunch of photos! 🙂
I do too… I love the weekly challenges for those reasons.
Great way to capture this topic! Love these photos that focus in on details that can easily be missed.
What a cool topic, I think your photos help very well convey the meaning of “layered” in this contex. Quite a new thing for me since, layered for me has been just a way of dressing. Thanks for teaching me something new!
It’s always so fascinating to consider the layers that come together to make up someone’s life. The little moments and quirks that make them who they are and led them to do what they do today.
You have a great eye; and an appreciation of art-whether nature or man made that comes through in your photos.
Thank you for the kind feedback! <3
So pretty! I haven’t lived near a city for awhile, but I always appreciated the culture around every turn, and fun events and experiences!
This post is very thought-provoking, I love that quote by Lorrie Moore. Life is but a portrait of different layers.
Interesting post. I had to stop and think about that word, “layered.” Well, I guess if I can relate that word to myself. I am made up of different layers or experiences which made me the person I am today.
I used to live in London and I have spent a lot of time in New York and what I like the most about these cities is that you meet a lot of creative people there.
What an entertaining and fun read… I would love to see this guy in person, maybe someday when I happen to be in NYC
As for the layering aspect of your writing, I agree with you. Layering makes things (all things) more interesting and visually appealing to the eyes. It creates dimension and texture which I love.
Prayers and love should be sent to those in need, great reminder!
Yes, it sure does… and thank you for adding your well wishes.
Street artists can be very cool. I do love the picture of all of the birds there. Just such beautiful colors. Love the way the colors beautifully mesh together.
Oh I love theses inspirational photo ideas. Layered IS something that can be physical or metaphorical. Gorgeous examples!
I’ve never even thought about layers in this way but what a great sight and photo opportunity! We have so many amazing Street entertainers in London and I’ve never thought to take a photo of them like this.
Please do…
Love these challenges- layers are definitely something that can Be shown in a variety of ways!
I love the Hudson River… absolutely gorgeous. Especially at sunrise/sunset. Interesting about the street “performer”… it makes me sad that they are his act, but I hope he treats them well.
Having a lot of depth, texture, and layers in one photo is interesting. It’s bound to have many explanations and perspectives from the viewer.
I love layering flavors cooking, baking, photography and clothing. I always layer clothing no matter what the temp is outside.
I think it is very cool that you connect the photo deeper and the photo is so cool with the real life behind it.
So true why big cities are a photographers dream. So much can be captured in a single instance. And joining you in the heartfelt prayers for those affected by the disasters recently.
Amen…
Thank you for a great read. The word “layered” for me can be represented by nature and the ecosystem. Layering of the soil gives life and essential nutrients to the different living things that depend on it.
Yes that too is true…
What a great post. You are really great at inspiring and making me think about your weekly topic. Love it!
love texture and depths of this photos and how you tied it together with your content.
Lovely photos. As an animal lover myself, I could appreciate checking this guy out. Love all the colors in the photos from the birds to the textiles. And there’s definitely lots of layers. We have furniture on top of furniture, topped with fabric, topped with pets!
Layer for me is like life. Some it can be happy, some it can be sad. Some it is rich and some it can be poor. But what ever layers we have in life, We should stay strong and be contented for what we have.
These are some incredible shots! I love photos that are bemusing at first, and some element of layering is usually at play.
As soon as I seen the photo of the birds and cat, I instantly thought of looney toons lol. I love the photo of the river, I love how the clouds have various tones but blend so well. It is just beautiful!
It’s amazing to see those birds are not escaping while in the open but I’m not sure if their feet are tied. And I never thought that cats can be friendly towards other flying animals. What an unbelievable sight.
I would have just chosen a multi-layer cake to represent LAYERS. When I hear the word Layer, I think of neat layers piled one of top the other.
Hahaha! That would be tasty
Lovely peice of article, I love how you have interpreted layers in a very different and non obvious way.
Beautiful shots of the entertainer & his birds! Layered immediately reminded me more in the Fashion direction… A gorgeous skirt with multi colored tulle layers would be perfect!
Tis my first time to hear about LAYERED. To be honest you are great in presenting new things! Plus your photos explains it well 🙂
Love the beautiful picture. Spot on with your choice, as the birds and bright colors really stood out to me. Really fun read and opened my imagination as well to think outside the box.
pictures are very nice they look great i love the cat and birds
I have never seen a street performer with animals, very interesting! For me, layered means layer cakes or layering clothes in fashion. I am a baker, so that’s always what I think of first!
Great! At first I looked at the photos see the mess, but gradually I saw it was a masterpiece. This article is very interesting to have these pictures!
Reading this and the comments fascinate me. Individuals have different perceptions and diverse takes on something. The moment I read the word layered I thought right away of mango float where you layer each ingredient on top of each other, lol. Gosh me!
I lived in NYC for a short while and I can agree that every time I stepped out of my apartment, there was something amazing to look at, people are just simply creative there. I never saw this man and his companions but spotted another man once in Paris and it amazed me away. I was 10 years old at the time and I still think about it, being an animal lover, how all these animals can coexist in harmony. Btw, thank you so much for your prayers, they mean a lot to me and all Mexicans / Puerto Ricans.
I’d really like to visit there! The pictures were beautifully taken!
This is a very interesting post! You’re pretty savvy adding in current events/locations with your examples.
The entertainer must be really good to have his animals “layer” like that on top of each other. I have never seen a cat next to a bird, they are usually chasing them.
Really love this photos! Need to start to looks at windows in another perspective and play with my camera, X
It sucks what’s happened to Puerto Rico & Mexico but God will watch over the people of the land & keep them safe.
Interesting to know of this street entertainer, with those colourful birds and cat for his acting for kids entertainment. Loved this challenge, gave me a different perspective to look at.
When looking at the picture and the word “layered”, I never thought it has so much meaning. Thanks for sharing and let us think deeper..
The biggest city I’ve ever been too is Salt Lake City, UT, so I can’t speak too much about layers in large cities. However, I see these types of layers in my own small town. Here we have Cowboys riding down the street on their horses carrying wal-mart grocery bags. showing that under the layer of small-town-good-ole-boy there is also average consumerism.
Interesting, adds dept to photo and meaning