Photographer's Note
Speaking from my experiences in North America, the upper floor of the Market Hall in Budapest is pretty ideal for taking shots. Perhaps it was also the morning wine that didn't make my subjects shy away from my lens. They were sweet, sad men who had to start their days with this boost. I was moved by this old man's holding up his glass filled with wine, as if for a toast, when I pulled out my camera. Cheers to him...
Critiques | Translate
Davidh34
(838) 2007-10-25 15:12
Hi Sasa
A perfectly lit portrait. A masterclass in every respect.
Regards
David
syd1946
(1167) 2007-10-25 15:19
Fantastic portrait Sasa!In fact there is much more than a portrait.It could be a great scene from a well known old movie.I feel like I saw this scene somewhere...
Incredible tones and play with light adding much beauty and interesting for this unique photo...
wishes,
Thomas
eleparc
(24063) 2007-10-25 15:26
it looks like water to me... eau de vie maybe though! LOL some hungarian schnapps? did you toast with him? not quite my favorite due to the harsh light... still a nice testimonial
eric
Polonaise
(5802) 2007-10-25 16:13
Cheers to you, Sasa...
A big time - cheers !
For it is one of the most captivating portraits I've seen in many years !!!
Yet...
Dear Sasa...
If you produce something of a such magnitude, the smallest imperfections drive you nuts...
It doesn't bother me at all the minor problems in a so-so photograph - but here...
Tiny, white specks here and there (mouth, eyeglasses, upper lip, above his head (This one serious - big, white speck of some lost in the space - sunray dot (?)...
Dear - I repeat ...
It applies ONLY to the highest class photography there is and your photo is such a class.
My heart cries..
(I wish I hadn't see those spots, especially, that it never happened in your works, before!)
Please, don't be offended...
You represent very high level and those things are un-acceptable in there - on the very top .
love
g.
Furachan
(0) 2007-10-25 16:26
This one is even stronger, Sasa - i's a classic portrait, classic tonalities, beautiful backgrund to situate the scene, unbelievable sharpness. SImpler than the previous one but sometimes simple is best. To make a close portrait as interesting as this is quite a feat let me tell you.
Great work,
Kindest,
Francis
Cormac
(26565) 2007-10-25 16:43
Another wonderful shot from you! I like the way you got in close for this, really giving the photo a nice sense of intimacy. Lots of great details too - the lines in his face, the tiny bit of light on the right side of his forehead, showing the outline well. Nicely done!
ribeiroantonio
(22730) 2007-10-25 18:16
It is a great portrait. The B&W is very good with an excellent contrast. The man looks very happy with his glass of wine. Cheers!!!
Antonio
prezntime
(3946) 2007-10-25 20:19
Ah...for me it's all about the hair...Look how it's swept backwards, like seagrass in a flowing torrent. At once soft and subtle, yet, somehow defined by hard lines.
Why do I concentrate on the hair so much? Well, first, the lines and angles of that hairline mirror the lines and angles of the window just above...do you see, that Eddie Munster widows peak completing that downward triangle of the window above. Not only that, but hair...you know, can speak volumes about its mode of transportation, so to speak. Old fashinoned and simple, not kept enough to mark vanity, but trim enough to show a lack of enthusiasm about maintaining some troublesome mane...more time to spend with wine in the morning. AND, why should one have so much hair on their head if they have adequate quanities on their eyebrows?
Perfect light (and when I say perfect I mean...really FFFing good)...great B&W tones.
In Pennsylvania his name would be Butch...something "Ski", like, Wyonkowski.
My two cents Mrs...
SOUL.
Chris
mpdre
(1611) 2007-10-25 21:07
Dear Sasa,
I really admire your elegant use of lights and shadows to create these amazing portraits full of soul. This is very unique in your photography… Like the man, I also elevate my glass to celebrate your poetic vision of the world... Cheers, dear Sasa! Show us more of this enigmatic Budapest, where the time seems to have stopped for a moment to let you rediscover it :)
Hope to see you soon too!
Andre
cbrman
(21685) 2007-10-25 22:54
Hello Sarolta,
Un portrait très réussi de cette personne à la min patibulaire !
L'arrière plan est assez curieux vis à vis de la scène ! On a l'impression de se trouver dans une ancienne usine ! cela donne à la scène une ambiance particulière !
Bien vu !
A+
Dominique
luisafonso
(862) 2007-10-26 1:08
Can I repeat your critique to my last photo here? Ah, how do you do it, Luis? Well, you have the reply here... I guess the attitude behind the click explains it all. That's why your people shots are always so human. I love how you played with light here. Even with so many shadows in the picture, the light that glows trough his hair and glass is a bliss. His Karajan's hair is really amazing but its the gentle stiffness of his toast that totally wins me over on this one. Great portrait.
ninaL
(21348) 2007-10-26 1:22
Hi, Sasa.
I like it a lot.
Beautiful portrait with wine.
I like particulary Interaction beetween subject and photographer.
Good B&W.
Best regards. Grazyna.
faubry
(35447) 2007-10-26 1:44
hello Sasa, a very strong portrait and a sad life... sad day for him and of course every day the same ritual.... superb BW. great work
francine
gabrielpat
(7163) 2007-10-26 3:33
hi Sarolta,
a really good light for this B/W.very sharp,maybe the will be sharp too!!
patrick.
pasternak
(15185) 2007-10-26 3:41
Very good portrait again, Sasa, due to this unusual light, I still cannnot imagine what the building might look like... Your work on contrasts has produced a very strong 3D feel to this image, the play of light on his face especially is striking. And his look is really inviting to share some wine with him... when I was young, Hungarian wines were quite popular, especially Riesling, but I think I haven't tasted them since then...
Cheers :)
Alexander
Dpbours
(222) 2007-10-26 6:20
Hi Sasa,
I don't really see the sad part in the shot! I wouldn't mind starting my day with a glass of white wine when I'm retired! ;-)
And a nice discussion going on there with George... I see one little dot, but it's not due to flare. But you have to look very very crefully - and with my -"a lot" lenses, this is not something I'd have seen if not reading George's note :-).
Greetings, Dennis
broglia
(3604) 2007-10-26 9:08
Astonishing shot Sasa, the light & shadows are mesmerising. Simply wonderful. His gaze is magnetic. Best regards, Roberto
Darren
(6823) 2007-10-26 9:47
There are two halves to this shot I think, split diagonally from the bottom left to the top right. I really like the bottom right half; his right eye looks great, the exposure is good and it is an inviting photo. The top left half doesn't do as much for me though. There is just too much black and not enough detail overall. A nice shot, but not your best Sasa.
michiels
(4170) 2007-10-26 13:32
hello Sasa,
the light is gorgeous. you made great photos in Budapest. a lot of inspiration. the image is so sharp, you can always touch him.
greetings, inn
jmcl
(14535) 2007-10-26 15:50
HI Sarolta,
I love the darkness in this .. it is so smooth .. this elderly gentlemen toasting you emerging from such a vast and industrial unknown .. I love the feeling of the way his hair is combed .. almost a motion .. almost an expression of melancholy wisdom .. it is hard to tell but I love the way he seems to be staring at ... relating to his glass ... not to you .. very thoughtful .. thanks for sharing it.
take care,
John
KevRyan
(22956) 2007-10-28 4:58
I think you probably nailed him Hobbit! We get a great sense of who this guy is and where he is in himself at the moment but there is something in what darren says too - overall I like the image - it is a strong atmospheric portrait of an encounter that rises above the casual portrait to the fine levels of art - my 'issues' are around the dark areas of the man's face where i think a little more shadow detail would raise the technical and emotioanl level of the encounter for the viewer.........I think........it's perhaps a fine tuning experiment.....
bw kev
brevbrev14
(140) 2007-10-28 10:52
dear Sasa, the light....here the light is absolutely WONDERFUL!
the expression, the texture of the skin, the signs of the time... and the reflection...
this is a great photo, a masterpiece..
a lot to learn for me..
ciao!
Valeria
dilane
(861) 2007-10-28 12:31
Hi Sarolta,
Great portrait, - superb light - J'aime beaucoup ici le N&B - trinquons à sa santé -
mes amitiés
daniel
Luko
(14000) 2007-10-30 2:17
There are lots of interesting things that can be pointed in your image, like the wonderful lighting which I suppose is provided by the intricated frames in the background.
This is something in which old central Europe is superior thanks to its Art Nouveau architecture : I'm often flabbergasted with the quality and the complexity of light you bring back from your motherland adventures.
Did someone also mention the amazing textures of his skin and his shirt too... I told you : many interesting features... But what is the most awesome of all is how you played on the magnifying power of the glasses.
Talking about cheering up in front of a lens : see his spectacles and his eyes behind, how they echo to his filled up glass (even the half split Black/bright areas are paralleling). This old folk LIVES for that morning shot, he's all eyes and thumbs for it. This is a photo Alcoholic Anonymous wouldn't like to see pinned on a wall...
I cannot fault it anywhere, this is truly an excellent contextual portrait (even if some people may qualify the word "context" as vain intellectual gymnastics), this is no monkeying in front the lens : it's the relationship between a guy and the instrument of his pleasure.
I have read a few comments about a flawed lighting : I simply cannot understand them, unless the aim would be to supply a photo for an ID card. This is light mastering at superior level.
Just a cultural observation : do they serve wine in such quantity... it's three times more what you'd get in a Parisian Café. I really thought it was water...
vapours
(8264) 2007-10-30 5:28
Amazing again Sass, and even better than your previous. Such thickness with that strong background and the many shadows, the tough look of the man just matches that scenario perfectly. One of the best portraits Ive ever seen.
nicoz
(1979) 2007-10-31 6:50
Hi Sarolta,
This one is awesome too! It has this kind of psycho side I would expect to find Las Vegas Parano or something. This big head from up close, the glass full of alcohol, the crazy shadows. Yep it's all good!
I like the details of the buttons on his shirt ;-)
Well done!
Nicolas
coco
(30439) 2007-11-04 12:40
Hi Sasa.
Wonderful portrait where the light, the shadows, the face and the black and white are superb.
Very well done and thanks for sharing in this great portrait.
Carlos.
Clairedelune
(4923) 2007-11-05 18:31
Hello Sarolta,
Your Morning Full of Wine photos are all great. I like how the warm sun (well... it looks warm!) has done miracle. The light is indeed beautiful and give a great depth at all the series. But the light alone was not sufficient. You had characters coming straight from books! :)) They make the photos, in my opinion!
Nice quality of the deep shadow part, and no overexposed parts. This meant you know well your camera.
I was looking at a few of your old photos lately, and I must say that I prefer your sepia version of late. They are more subtle, closer to B&W. Really closer to my own taste. But, it is a well known fact (at least, to me!) that I am not especially a lover of sepia. But this kind, absolutely perfect!
Oh and I can't imagine to be able to drink so much wine! :)
Claire
vincent24
(9060) 2007-11-23 8:38
Salut Sarolta,
I like a lot the serie and i've watch this one before 2 or 3 time...i'm impressed by your bravery to photograph that man...so close,his look in your lens...i'd like to do the same...
The morning light is marvelous in his shining hair...like a caress on his cheek,ther's a sort of gravity in his eyes...showing his glass of wine like his destiny,
congratulations...have a nice week end,
vincent
abulafia
(4900) 2007-12-04 4:25
Hi Sarolta
I really love these very close portraits of yours. Everything is so sharp and clear, and you are a real expert in using the light and shadows.
Harry
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Sarolta Gyoker (designsoul)
(17843)
- Genre: ¤Hª«
- Medium: ¶Â¥Õ
- Date Taken: 2007-09-22
- Categories: ¤é±`¥Í¬¡¡A¹ª«
- Camera: Nikon D70
- Exposure¡Gf/7.1, 1/200 seconds
- Photo Version¡GOriginal Version
- Theme(s)¡GUne question de vin..., Portraits 101 : a lesson in portraiture, CLODO's SELECTION VII [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2007-10-25 15:10
- Favorites¡G1 [view]
Discussions
- To Polonaise: Am I losing sight? (4)
by designsoul, last updated 2007-10-25 06:06 - To luisafonso: Karajan's hair is really amazing (1)
by Polonaise, last updated 2007-10-26 04:54 - To Darren: Fantastic! (1)
by designsoul, last updated 2007-10-26 12:10 - To Luko: I first thought it was beer too (1)
by designsoul, last updated 2007-10-30 05:10 - To giovannab: Grazie, Giovanna (2)
by designsoul, last updated 2007-11-12 03:05 - To vincent24: Merci Vincent (1)
by designsoul, last updated 2007-11-23 05:45