valide 2, a photo from Istanbul, Marmara

Photographer's Note

in front of Valide Mosque, also called the Yeni (New) Mosque...

I am not sure why she had such a sad expression on her face..for the time I was there over an hour, she had been waiting like that with very worried and sad eyes..

we have a saying in Turkish for begging "you go and beg in front of New Mosque"..she was maybe a kind of beggar, I don't know..but even this were the case, I felt sad for her and for the sleeping kid..

ps. I am in a bw mood recently..maybe even more a black mood :)... I was full of colors when I came back from India..I hope to find colors back by the end of this month after some holiday...

pp. shot in bw, enhanced by the gradient tool, sharpened (usm 100, 2, 0), added grains (regular, 15, 50)

AdrianW, elroyie, prlcs, phi729, cgrindahl, Enia, Marcie, jhonny_blue, Isabelle, cmartos, jane-d has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

photosettle (1554) 2004-06-22 12:44

I love this photo. Nice tonal ranges. the textures in the cement, her facial expression, the darks in the background all add up for one amazing photograph. I really like her placement in the photo... she is light w/ the nice dark background behind her that really sets her apart. Nice job.

AdrianW (2274) 2004-06-22 14:06

Good shot! I really like the composition, and the sad look on her face adds an usual and interesting element to the scene. The only suggestion I have, is that I might have considered a little dodge/burn around the child's hair - as it is it doesn't quite stand out from the background as well as I'd like... Very nice capture :-D

elroyie (2750) 2004-06-22 14:08

Great composition and authentic expression of the mother (I guess), very good catch of a moment. The black background helps a lot with emphasizing the subject, good work!

mustafaa (610) 2004-06-22 14:19

S𧩓er kompozisyon. Acı, fotografin heryerinde hissediliyor. Ozellikle siyah beyaz olmasi bu duyguyu kamciliyor. Tebrikler.

Galeota (10352) 2004-06-22 14:34

I hope you get back to colours in your life..but that you keep offering us some more B&W in your photographs.. very good Fusun.

Each photo I see from you and the more I'm reassured about the fact that you are one of my favourites in TE.

Tibetix (0) 2004-06-22 15:15

M悞emmel... Mustafa'ya katılıyorum... Bu fotoğraf renkli olsaydı bu kadar etkileyici olmazdı... İzninizle favori fotoğraflarım arasına alıyorum :-)

prlcs (63) 2004-06-22 17:01

L'approche consistant � photographier en noir et blanc est vraiment tr鋊 bien choisie. Le post traitement augmente parfaitement l'aspect dramatique de la sc鋝e. Magnifique composition et quelle emphatie !

phi729 (2101) 2004-06-22 18:11

What a work! This B&W photo is the most beautiful effect. The "tortured" face of the mother render the dramatic atmosphere. The combination of the spacing of framing on the left side and face of the mother adds a nostalgic touch. I also like the detail of the mother's left foot that twists...

A piece of art, Fusun...
Congratulation!

Enia (365) 2004-06-22 19:40

Hi Fusun,
I like both your bw and color mood.
I think this one is one of the better bw of yours, regarding the tones and also the subject. Even if she has that face on purpose it is still a very sad feeling to look at her and at the same time a very well captured photo!
Have a nice holiday!

cgrindahl (6113) 2004-06-22 19:47

When I returned from India a few years ago I felt very much the same way. There is something remarkably alive in India that I find lacking in my world, hence my depression. I felt revived with I spent time with friends who'd been in India as well, and who, therefore, understood when I spoke of what I missed.

The expression on this woman's face and her turned foot seem to convey angst, even as she tenderly holds her child. It is a very poignant image and nicely done. Thanks for sharing it with us. Perhaps as summer continues color will return once again to your life.

spence (65) 2004-06-22 20:18

A very effective and affecting shot Fusun. Technically excellent with great contrast and composition. The setting is superb and of course the mother's expression of anxiety creates a moving tension in the shot.

Marcie (345) 2004-06-22 22:26

Beautiful composition, but very sad lady and child. An image, what really touch. Your notes sounds also quite melancolic, Fusun, use it for the art, otherwise cheer up!

Steely (895) 2004-06-23 0:30

she looked distressed, and very worried, maybe she's there to draw strength from a place of worship

Poignant image fusun

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-06-23 5:09

Wonderful B&W picture, but inthe same time very sad...
You catch a misery in the world.
Very well done.

Darren (6823) 2004-06-23 8:06

Hi Fusun. Really good shot here, I think most everything works. The b&w was the right choice I think and I like the high contrast of this one. Only two very small things. First, I wish there was just a little more space on the left. This might have put unwanted elements into the frame though. Secondly, with the high contrast you have given this, the kid's hair kind of blends into the background. I think with lower contrast, this might not have happened, although I am not sure the photo would have been as effective with lower contrast. Good shot Fusun.

ttmountainman (2279) 2004-06-23 12:15

Lovely image..poignant...she is worried for sure...not really afraid but worried...seems alone with her child.
It touched me very deeply...
The image is your usual perfect one Fusun...did you shoot it in colour or B/W as an original??? Postpro is great...i like the unsmooth floor..:-)))

manny (22032) 2004-06-23 12:25

Fusun, this is VERY VERY good. The composition, the emotions...they are just awesome. BW suits very well here.

In BW mood? I hope it doesn't have some double meaning.:) I will post a very pretty picture of a very colorful girl in Nan tomorrow. I hope I can help in getting you back to colors.:)

Cheers.

waskahegan (0) 2004-06-23 22:15

Hi Fusun, I can't make out what she expresses either but she looks very preoccupied. The child asleep and oblivious of what she thinks adds to the scene. I like the texture of the concrete as well as dark background.

dominique (11414) 2004-06-24 4:19

Une tres belle image , j'aime le cadrage et le regard de cette dame , un regard qui respire la detresse . bien vu

jrzufferey (7305) 2004-06-30 7:08

Une belle image N&B magnifiquement contrast嶪, le sujet est beau la construction bien faite. La d彋resse semble habit� le regard de cette jeune m鋨e. Amicalement/jr points suivront

cmartos (242) 2004-07-05 19:22

Wonderful shot, wonderful compo, sad reality very well rendered. The B&W is perfect, perfectly processed too. When we are in a sad mood we tend to shot sad sceneries, but anyway your capture is really nice! Thanks for sharing Fusun.

roshangar (1682) 2004-07-08 6:50

and the life...what dose it mean?

numahr (350) 2004-07-12 7:19

Very strong picture...

This (Valide) Yeni Camii has a special character, personnality, and your pictures render it nicely. Here in particular the B/W and contrasts are just perfect for your subject...

I invite you to see my "what motivates them": maybe her sister...

jane-d (154) 2004-07-17 15:36

This picture makes me feel uneasy because of the troubled look of the woman... But on the other hand, the child sleeps with perfect trust in his mama... I almost feel like giving this woman a hug... Very well done!

kourosh (2346) 2004-07-27 9:47

great shot Fusun. to me she dosent look like a beggar at all but rather she seems anxious, perhaps she has been waiting for someone for long.
very well seen and well done.

rinusj (64) 2004-09-21 16:43