I saw the photo on Reddit, then I searched for the source, or at least an older version of the photo.

I didn't pay close enough attention to the version I picked.

I updated the OP.

in the photo?

It looks like an explosion to me.

You buying it?

I don't know and I'm not having much luck finding anything of it's history.

I looked at it using FotoForensics, but didn't glean anything useful. I'm not very skilled in using their tools though.
http://fotoforensics.com/tutorial.php

If this were a news item, I'd delete it. "Pretty (or smarmy) picture of unknown provenance" fits within my personal criteria for a Lounge post, though, so I think I will leave it. Will update OP regarding lack of provenance.

Particularly since the signage is in Cyrillic.

Flip it upside down and enlarge that sign on the ceiling. Looks like "OCTOPOXHOI CTyNEHN" (but I don't do Cyrlillic).

Individual strands of hair are identifiable on the head of the female near the door, but the text on the door sticker is illegible. I guess that's why it strikes me as a painting. Some details are crystal clear, but others not. If you enlarge it and look around, it has a "paint by numbers" cartoonish feel, but that could be an applied filter of some kind.

I had noticed the Cyrillic writing but haven't investigated it. I might, tonight, but I'm running a little late rght now.

From a couple of Reddit posts, in this thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/f938ab/passengers_watching_the_sunset/

One poster says it looks like their hometown of Omsk, Russia. The next poster provided this link to Google Maps (View ? ) :

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9899042,73.3493749,3a,45.6y,277.58h,90.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1st0FaEm9LAwhsNDJSAygsNA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2020, 09:13 AM - Edit history (2)

Thank goodness. Someone needs to keep an eye on me.

Thanks and to FiveGoodMen, MontanaMama, SanityClaws, Arkansas Granny, and jberryhill.

From the subreddit "photoshopbattles" :
https://www.reddit.com/r/photoshopbattles/comments/f8psys

The OP contains the "original" picture, the responses in the comments section are deliberately photoshopped versions.

I'd have a hard time answering that for most pictures, or any art. I'll have to think about it.

Full disclosure, I am really bad at subtexts and reading between the lines, probably having something to do with my being raised by wolves. I'm taking your points and question at strictly face value and am perfectly willing to answer them to best of my ability.

If there is a subtext, like "this picture really bothers me" or "this post doesn't belong here", just let me know. If that's the case I'll delete it. The post really isn't that important to me.

Also, I need to cut this short in a few minutes.

Last edited Wed Feb 26, 2020, 10:30 AM - Edit history (2)

In no particular order:

• I was never under the impression that I had stumbled on some great art, or the next Ansel Adams (and not just because this is in color, although that helps) I know you didn't say or even imply that, I just wanted to get that out of the way.

• I do get what you're saying about the nature of the image, at least the broad strokes (insert groan here). I suspect I'm immune to artistic nuance, however. FWIW, I find the second of the pictures you posted much more disturbing than the first. Nice turn of phrase, by the way.

• Why did this catch my eye? I'm mostly spitballing here, but:

? - The sunset. Sunsets are appealing. If you ask me why I find sunsets appealing, I shall be forced to take drastic measures.

? - All the people are looking at the same thing. I don't know exactly why that catches my attention, but it does. My theory is that it's similar to the situation where everyone is looking at some point overhead, newcomers to the scene will also look in the same direction. Perhaps as a result of some evolutionary advantage (e.g., spotting predators or other danger, or food). Purely speculation, though. Also, the more I look at the picture, the more unnatural it seems that everyone (in frame, anyway) is looking at the sunset. I'd expect half the people to be doing something else. Perhaps Russians are more romantic than the bus riders I've seen.

? - As far as the aesthetic aspects that you're talking about, I don't know whether that's part of why I found it appealing or not. I seem to recall reading about manipulating saturation and other elements to "trick" people into finding an image more eye-catching. I'm afraid I don't know much about that.

? - I don't know if it has anything to due with it's "appeal", but the picture reminds me of a book's cover art. With the nuke version of the picture especially, it could easily be the book cover for some SF/dystopian novel.

Whew.