Old men and the old houses, a photo from Beijing, North

Photographer's Note

In the evening sun,
these two old men stayed in the new developed land,
where have been changed to build new road.
they told me that the old buildings behind them were
the last emperor's uncle in the Qing dynasty.
"Maybe they would be out of the fate of being demolished."
the old men said.

tcht, designsoul, fc22, Galeota has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Furachan (0) 2006-08-24 7:27

What a beautiful shot, Mingfang. this one just SCREAME at e from the thumbnail. I have few favorite slots left and this one goes straight in. Love the mption blur on the old guy on the left, love his crazy hair and his fan, love the beautiful dying light on the othe rman, sitting.
This is great stuff!
Francis

ALSOM (6616) 2006-08-24 7:36

Very nice one, the (sad) feeling from these 2 men are so powerfully captured: they can only be witnesses of changes, maybe not even being able to be up in arms agains the authorities.
Nice composition to express the sunset of this area and the sunrise of a new one.

I wish I could have the men a little (but a very little) brighter especially the one on the left ...

Thanks, Alain -

pridel (233) 2006-08-24 8:06

Hello Mingfang
You made a success of a very beautiful photo. The atmosphere is sad, it is the end of the day, the men are old, and we speak about demolition. colors are acutely beautiful. And I like very much the attitudes of both men.
Pascal

designsoul (17843) 2006-08-24 13:09

You really are an incredible photographer, Mingfang! The soft peachy glow behind the front man, spreading his fan, with his few strands of gray hair blowing in the winds of change, and the other one, sitting, looking at what may soon become the past, is so eloquent, so lovingly presented... am moved by this splendid, sad, spectacular shot, so well seen and composed.
Take care,
sasa

jinju (14265) 2006-08-25 4:56

Hi Mingfang,

this is a very sad shot. but you kept it in color. I admire that as th enatural reacton may be to enhance the mood with a b/w conversion. But you let your compisiton do the talking and were 100% right to do so.

tcht (7565) 2006-08-25 6:37

Wow Mingfang, another beautiful shot! I think your photography, although very good before, has now reached a higher level since you've bought the D50 :)) (just j/k, but I think digital gives you more shooting time and makes shooting more convenient!)
Your four previous posts are fantastic, and I couldn't see a single thing wrong with them. This one is flawless too. The way they look, those dark houses plus the light - all adds to the nostaglic atmosphere of the place. Some day in the near future you'd become a very successful photog!
Great documentary here :)
Congratz
CheukHin

fc22 (746) 2006-08-25 11:19

Hi Mingfang, that's a wonderful capture.
I love the men's attitude and feeling of loosing those houses - almost like loosing an elder relative, so that now there is nobody older left any more...

Cheers,
Florin

Galeota (10352) 2006-08-26 2:57

Hello Mingfang. This is such a great composition. Not easy, I suppose, to get the proper exposure (slightly underexposed), but it was remarkably mastered. Evening sun mirorring the evening of their lives I guess. Everything seems to be dying in this photograph, and yet everything is still alive. Beautiful and metaphorical.

don_narayan (2014) 2006-08-26 17:14

Hello Mingfang,

Wonderful shot, the composition is moving and the colors really create the atmosphere... with this pastel colors sky. nice work.

Narayan

flydragon (0) 2006-08-26 18:52

hello
a bit dark maybe
bur what a cool picture
and alway your special vision
i love the composition Mingfang
as usual your pics are alway a pleasure
hugs
�simon�

markoci (3933) 2006-08-27 9:32

absolutely lovely mingfang! the kind of compo that most of us would never "see" when we'd come across it... simple yet beautiful, and those colors!... a piece of history captured for the generations to come..

francbois (480) 2006-08-27 23:42

Hi Ming Fang
These two men don't look as they are talking together,
But they look altogether so close to each other
Clutching each other silently as the day dies
And just waiting together for it to fall over...
They are really conveying a sad and important change in their life, it is pending, and blowing like a breeze, that turns into a blizzard if (by inattention) you turn your attention to it...
I do not have to tell that a photo that tells so well so much is GOOD :)
C U, regards, F'