Out the Door L
Walking Away
Posted by Lorraine (Gatineau, Canada) on 26 July 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Why?' He asked. 'Why would you want a photo of an old man like me?'
I paused and smiled. I could have told him that he was beautifully craggy with eyes still shining and that he had a killer sardonic smile. I could have told him that his question merited a very poetic answer. I could have told him how interesting he looked to an artist. I could have told him all that, but I know he's heard it too many times before...
So I didn't say anything, and took another man's photo walking away...
@Andrew: Hey Thanks a lot Andrew, I always forget someone there's so many to visit ;)
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
How poignant Lorraine. Now we all want to see his face but understand that he walked away. Wonderful capture.
26 Jul 2008 5:23am
@Marion: You always understand, thanks always :)
@Ekaputra Tupamahu: Thanks very much Ekaputra :)
Lena from Russian Federation
I wonder why he asked this if he had been asked it many times before? Maybe he just didnt want anymore to be taken pictures of... but it turned out good, this picture is just different and it makes it special :)
26 Jul 2008 7:19am
@Lena: Good thinking Lena, those were my thoughts more than is...:) thanks for yours visit!
@Nina: thanks a lot Nina ;)
@António Pires: Beautiful thought Antonio, now why didn't I think of that LOL
valenttin from Navodari, Romania
wonderful image. try to crop some of the right side, let him "leaving" the image...
26 Jul 2008 9:50am
@valenttin: That's good advice Valentin, thank you :)
Carlos Palma from San Juan, Philippines
simply awesome. conveys much more than the eye can see. evokes emotions that i thought i never had.
26 Jul 2008 9:55am
@Carlos Palma: That's a beautiful compliment Carlos thanks very much :)
@Ina: I'm glad you do, thanks a lot Ina :)
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Your caption is as wonderful as the photo! Well done!
26 Jul 2008 10:35am
@Betty: Thanks a lot Betty ;)
@eddy: Thanks for the lovely comment Eddy, i appreciate it :)
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Hong Kong
It's a great story with an interesting ending, Lorraine. We know how he looks because you have told us. I like your interesting finish on the photo.
26 Jul 2008 11:42am
@Michael Skorulski: That' s a very nice thing to say Michael, thanks so much :)
@laughingwolf: Thanks Tony :)
@_____ H o M o _____: Tahnks a lot Homo :)
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
Interesting isolation technique! Well done Lorraine!
26 Jul 2008 1:15pm
@Craig: Thanks very much Craig ;)
Cheryl from Texas, United States
nice commentary, somewhat sad as is the photo, very nice pp, I agree with
Valenttin about cropping the right side.
26 Jul 2008 1:22pm
@Cheryl: It's a good suggestion Cheryl, I just hesitate in doing so ;)
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
You picture speaks a thousand words, Lorraine!
26 Jul 2008 1:43pm
@Judy: Thank God that means I don't have to talk long LOL thanks so much Judy, you're a sweetie :)
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Great story; nice shot of the other man walking away. Ahh, but for the word picture, the first one not pictured will forever be etched into our imaginations.
26 Jul 2008 1:54pm
@Viewfinder: You have such a nice way with words Vf, thanks always ;)
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
Love the combination of image and text. Quite a story...
26 Jul 2008 2:24pm
@Andrew Gould: I appreciate that so much Andrew, thanks :)
@tyan: You're so sweet, thanks Tyan :)
Hans from Heiligeneich, Austria
the man in the middle of the pic, in the middle of my mind now....walkt away, and ....i found no words for this scene...
26 Jul 2008 4:00pm
@Hans: a you are a philosopher Hans :)
kerfendal from Paris, France
un homme solitaire, solide comme un rock, et le fouilli des brindilles en fond rend sa presence encore plus massive, une evidente poésie dans ce cliché
26 Jul 2008 4:01pm
@kerfendal: Wow quel commentaire, merci beaucoup Kerfendal :)
@TravBoy: Thanks for your beautiful comment TravBoy :)
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Great shot... you are one brave chicken... hehehehehe
26 Jul 2008 5:50pm
@Fliss: lol that's it exactly Felicity, I'm a brave chicken ;)
terrorkitten from Bath, United Kingdom
I'm like you Lorraine, I always ask...well apart from my from the hip series when I am just plain sneaky!
26 Jul 2008 5:57pm
@terrorkitten: Thanks Phil, I do those too ;)
Tracey from White Hall, United States
Very nice, Lorraine. I agree with cropping it a bit differently to move him out of the center of the frame. I love the choice of yellow(?) overlay here...perhaps suggesting the golden years of life. The bare branches in the background also add to the mood. Well done!
26 Jul 2008 6:24pm
@Tracey: Thanks so much Tracey, probably would have looked better ;) yes good eye on the overlay!
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
When I lived abroad I found I could approach perfect strangers and say - take your picture, and the answer was always Yes, if you want to. In the UK it's no no no.. don't. I think you got this one nicely Lorraine, sneaky :)
26 Jul 2008 7:31pm
@Observing: That and there's always the hip shot ;) lol thanks very much Mike!
Helma from Tehran, Iran
Amazing colors mode ! lovely and interesting shot ... excellent !
26 Jul 2008 9:16pm
@Helma: Thanks a lot Helma, I appreciate your visit :)
saeed from ahwaz, Iran
what a beautiful and effective shot! very very nice! your subjects are always so interesting ! well done
27 Jul 2008 3:54am
@saeed: That's so nice Saeed, thanks a lot :)
Michael Rawluk from Wiliams Lake, Canada
Wonderful processing. You nailed that shot.
27 Jul 2008 5:59am
@Michael Rawluk: Lovely compliment Michael, thanks always :)
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Interesting picture. The text too. A photo is not just freezing a moment... has also a story attached. Very good!
27 Jul 2008 9:54am
@Rui: Thanks so much Rui, I really appreciate it :)
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
This shot has been haunting me, Lorraine! It made me think this way:
" I know too much of life's despair....
Why is she there?
To pick my brains,
To shoot my face,
To lock my soul in a box?
Why is she there?!
....I need some socks,
but this is not your care!"
27 Jul 2008 12:35pm
@Japanalia: Ahhh Gabriela, such delicacy in your words, looking a the other side of the lens, your heart speaks so well, I love your comment, it'll remind me when I forget :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I like the story that is told here...there is a feeling of sadness, but perhaps that is because it's really another man's story.
27 Jul 2008 12:50pm
@bluechameleon: Another person's story...you reminded of a poem I wrote previously, I like your comment, thanks a lot :)
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States
intriguing processing here Lorraine -- simply loved the description!
28 Jul 2008 2:24am
@dj.tigersprout: thanks so much Dj, coming from someone who can write the way you do, it's twice the compliment :)
@Ras: ooops lol more than likely, thanks a lot Ras :)
Tracey from New Port Richey Florida, United States
Love the b&w you did a super job
29 Jul 2008 5:14pm
@Tracey: Thanks a lot Tracey :)
Martie from United States
Great photo - and wonderful processing. LOVE it, Lorraine!
30 Jul 2008 2:10am
@Martie: Hey Martie, thanks so much, are you all settled in?
Fujifilm FinePix S5200
1/480 second
F/7.1
ISO 400
45 mm