"I am..... Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

"I am blessed, and all my life I have been loved by the Earth that feeds my family and I,"
is what he said after giving me some mangos to eat, I spent all noon listening to this mans stories. sometimes I find education in the most unlikliest places.

PIERRE-HENRI-AU, gary91, daddo, Wanda1, Hellas, jrmejias, BennyV, basithry, Ramy, casperduppy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (5190) 2008-03-16 15:02

Hi Robert,
Very nice portrait of this clever man.
Sharp and colourful.
The background with the fields and the clouds make it more beautiful.
Greetings from Belgium, Paul

Wandering_Dan (3225) 2008-03-16 15:11

Hi, Robert -

An amazing portrait. The character comes through very powerfully, and the background sites him perfectly. The face is a bit distorted, true, and there is something else off that I can't put my finger on, but overall it's an excellent characterization.

Regards,
Dan

PIERRE-HENRI-AU (439) 2008-03-16 15:34

Hi Robert,
The blur of the bottom detaches well the man who was happy to be nourished by this ground which flees us more and more.
The break point behind its head accentuates this impression of maelstrom which watches for us if we do not put a term at the predations that we make him undergo.
Thank you for sharing
Cordially
Pierre

Le flou du fond détache bien l'homme qui a été heureux d'être nourri par cette terre qui nous fuit de plus en plus.
Le point de fuite derrière sa tête accentue cette impression de maelström qui nous guette si nous ne mettons pas un terme aux prédations que nous lui faisons subir.
Merci pour ce partage
Cordialement
Pierre

gary91 (15321) 2008-03-16 16:08

Hello Robert,
An incredible picture !
You captured the eyes of this man in such a perfect way that it is impossible to detach the eyes from his looking.
The composition is very unconventional with the subject perfectly centered but it seems evident that rules have been made to be trangressed because in this case, it was the perfect option.
I just have the impression this man is looking at me right into the eyes...
Have a nice evening.
Best regards, Christian

diegomach (471) 2008-03-16 16:35

Hermosa foto, que buena composicion, que tremenda expresion. Es muy linda
te felicito, gran trabajo.
Diego

loneroc (1229) 2008-03-16 16:44

Hi Robert,
This is almost as good as travel portraits get. Well done!
Like I wrote in my WorkShop note - I have the exact same camera and lens and I know it takes some guts to go so close. You must have been around half meter off from his face?
I wasn't sure whether you left vignetting there on purpoise. Maybe - I'm not sure if this would work better without it. However, one thing I think would improve this - now your horizon is slightly tilted towards right. I workshopped this image and tilted it slightly more.
I personally think it makes it even better - balances somehow.
Still, excellent shot in a difficult light.
Cheers!

[workshop] [compare]

mpdre (1585) 2008-03-16 16:53

Hi Robert,
Excellent portrait, very intense. I like the combination of the dry earthy colors of the soil with the blue cloudy sky. A great feeling of human and nature balancely fused by your camera... You got really close!
Regards,
Andre

daddo (11363) 2008-03-16 19:45

Hi Robert. lost touch of your work but I am most impressed and moved by this wonderful portrait of this man in his element. Resilience, pride and honesty seem to come across that expression and that weather beaten face. I like the dynamism in this work as both he and the clouds appear to be moving towards us. great colours. I am so sad to hear that 50+ of your people keep on dying each day. What a tragedy. Salam. Klaudio.

Wanda1 (10945) 2008-03-16 22:46

Hi Robert,
What I like most here is the colouring of the shot and your use of wide angle. The blue of the sky ties in well with the blue on his clothing, and you have really captured some wonderful facial features in this expressive portrait. Nice work!
Regards
wanda

aadilj (17950) 2008-03-16 23:31

This one Robert is the most sensitively composed shot I have seen in recent times. its so finely nuanced and captured that i can feel a sense of movement in it. Absolute winner

Hellas (5125) 2008-03-17 0:01

Hi Robert, how are you?
A great portrait, indeed! The close-up emphasizes the man's face, having the DoF very well blurred. The colours are natural with very good definition especially of the dress.
Regards,
Atha.

AnaFrantz (624) 2008-03-17 2:05

Good Morning Robert,
Your portraits, has what I cheerish the most in photography. Has soul. Brings a message and help us to see how infinitesimal is the veil of humanity.
The quality of your shoot is beyond question.
Thanks for sharing.
Carpe Diem!

jrmejias (247) 2008-03-17 12:57

Hi Robert,
Really nice portrait, specially the effect of the foreground, he looks like a magic man, I think he is a special guy...
KR Ricardo.

Manamo (3474) 2008-03-17 18:37

Hello RObert,
very good shot! wide angle is definitely not the best for a portrait, but strangely, here I find that it works good because of the perspective it gives to the clouds. they seem to converge over his head. The vignettes are a must, very very nice.

I think the shot could be enhanced to give some edge. Some might not like, it's my view:see the ws. The increased contrast adds some punch to the scene in my opinion

very good take!

Marc

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BennyV (4709) 2008-03-18 0:22

A great note and a wonderful picture. Something about it makes it almost other-worldly. I think it's the(focus on the head in combination with those clouds. TFS, Robert.

Benny

shaddy (8) 2008-03-20 11:37

love it ! and the story with it.

Talia (242) 2008-04-29 11:48

Whoa! I like this shot a lot Robert! Really intense. Great sky and expression on his face. Cheers! It's been a while!
Talia

rbcy1974 (20742) 2008-07-02 11:10

Hello Robert
Very nice view, great closeup on this man. The environment is very well captured.
Regards
Daniel

sn00zie (2384) 2008-07-09 1:39

WOW! not only do his words have power, so does this picture.

i love the pov you chose and the way you've framed this picture.