A face in the crowd (1972) Photo

Photographer’s Note

A crowd of people, and one man in particular, listening to the musician I showed yesterday.
This picture was taken in a park in Kabul in September 1972. A time in history when Kabul was a really nice city with fresh air and clear skies, long before the destruction of the last 25-30 years.
This was scanned from an Agfa ISS b&w negative. The camera I used was a Canon FT-QL.

feather, fanni, mikolaj_kawa, saxo042, omerozden, serp2000, Clementi, skippy007, bukitgolfb301, Glint, lucasgalodoido, rigoletto has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

yquem46 (8671) 2009-07-12 1:58

Thanks Gert for sharing with us one of those good ones of the oldies ! Being in kabul in the 70s and thinkink of all these war years for more than 3 decades
Here i lihe the way you've "extracted" this portrait from the surrounding crowd. Makes me think, about at the same period, of the work by Roland et sabrina Michaud
Have a good Sunday
Patrick

jovejupiter (224) 2009-07-12 1:58

Nice face here Gert. I like the contrasty black and white. Good job.

papera (5715) 2009-07-12 2:28

good morning gert,
I agree with Patrick - these photos should be shared, they show a part of the world that doesn't exist anymore and at the same time a kind of photography that is gradually disappearing.
they can talk to me all they want of digital PP - I remain of the same idea, b/w film is a different world.
I use digital b/w a lot, but I am still running after the "film" effect - and I keep buying b/w film as long as they are sold...
I love the expression on the man's face, it's going through the monitor if you know what I mean =)
the bodies around him nicely frame his face and put it into context.
keep up with this series =)
cris

fanni (9037) 2009-07-12 2:36

Hej Gert,
when I look at such photos like this, I think: perhaps I should reconsider using a film camera (I still have it)!
Excellent DOF effect as well as a "portrait" effect: the accent is exactly on this one man, and part of the photo with the other man is a bit blurry - as if adding a little dreamy look. A really valuable both documentary/historic and portrait photo! and the b&w colours also make it look a real "oldie" with a touch of nostalgy.
Have a nice Sunday!
best regards,
Elena

feather (50560) 2009-07-12 2:39

Amazing quality for such an old negative. You have captured a wonderful expression on the man's face, enjoying an activity the Taliban would forbid. Fantastic to be able to share such treasures.
Kath

mikolaj_kawa (31889) 2009-07-12 2:43

Hello Gert! Amazing old shot from Kabul. Very interesting men. Interesting scene. Original work. Well done!

baba_flies (8191) 2009-07-12 2:49

Hello Gert! This picture goes deep and is something not everybody gets or got to see. As things go with this poor country, I guess your picture(s) have reached an incredible value. B/w is perfect for this one considering the time you took it, it gives this feeling of something that is no longer and yet we have to keep it to remind us. Excellent! Strange that I never realized what great pictures you have, I was probably too busy with other people on this site :))) Best regards, Barbara.

jasmis (51313) 2009-07-12 4:17

Superb series in B&W. Lesson of history.
Regards.

saxo042 (16576) 2009-07-12 5:29

Hej Gert,
Also a very interesting picture and a very good capture Would be interesting to know if the smiling man here is still alive...
Hælsningar
Gunnar

figenya (1737) 2009-07-12 15:24

Hi Gert,

As I have said before, I really love your old photo collection and take great pleasure when you share.

Regards

Figen

emka (22797) 2009-07-12 15:48

Hi Gert, fantastic! I like it. Splendid enhancing this man from the crowd. What a quality after all these years..

Regards

Malgorzata

SteveH (4025) 2009-07-12 18:41

Hi Gert, nice portrait, with the others in the image providing good context. The eye contact and sharp focus work well. Scan is good too, showing the grain from the original. And an interesting note to go with it. cheers, Steve

Clementi (45849) 2009-07-13 23:05

Ciao Gert,
another testimony of as the film, it gave that feeling of warm image, I believe that the same photo in digital she would not have had the same charm. compliments for the beautiful scene
Giorgio

serp2000 (9833) 2009-07-13 23:07

Dear Gert,
Very interesting archive shot from your collection!
Mysterious unvinsible land...
Warm regards,
Serghei

skippy007 (7451) 2009-07-14 2:19

Hello Gert, I must agree with all the others before on this one. Nostalgic, a yesterday that unfortunately is long gone, I refer to firstly & most importantly Kabul & secondly BW film photography. Well composed with the man's expressive face well captured & sharp, well reproduced, showing some sign of the original BW negative.
Regards
Santo

Flavia (10202) 2009-07-14 6:50

Hi Gert,

Unusual picture in TE! I love everypiece of it! The b&w and the grain. The perfect focus on the smiling man, and what a smile! Is it still possible to smile in Afganistan, after so much sufering?

Regards,

Flavia

sultana (1554) 2009-07-16 5:43

Hello Gert,
I like your so much gallery.I agree with Patrick;Thanks for sharing with us this historical documentary which we can not find anywhere.I love the expression on the man's face and framing.Well done,
Sultan

bukitgolfb301 (5144) 2009-07-16 12:19

Hello my dear Gert

What a dynamic and straight portrait !
Color balance, framework soft-focus are marvelous and
attractive.
Congratulation on your good job !
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Takero

coco (28318) 2009-07-16 12:49

And hi again, Gert.

And this picture is even better. I love it.
Another lesson where is not necessary say or add nothing.

Thanks for sharing.

Glint (3110) 2009-07-16 12:51

Hello Gert,
a jewel of an image, both sad and happy. Happy becasue it shows how men can be without fundamentalism of any hue and sad becasue this happy time has now gone.It is good that you can bear witness to such happy times and we can only hope that one day they will return.This seems right in b & w and the focus is where it should be. Thanks for sharing this.
best regards,
Bev

lucasgalodoido (16945) 2009-07-16 13:47

Hi Gert,
interesting picture of the Afeganistan people, and good choice of the B&W image, nice contrast too.
Regards,
Lucas

Waylim (11339) 2009-07-16 15:46

Hi gert,
I like this very much, black and white work perfectly, with strong contrast and very good definition on the man who is so concentrating on enjoying the musis. As a matter of fact I think it could also be crop to focus more on him for a more undistract POV of him. Thanks
Way

[workshop] [compare] +

nirvana73 (8884) 2009-07-17 13:16

Hello Gert
very nice historical and documantery scene again from you
very impressive look of the man on the left
thanks for sharing
best regards
Ozhan

kschanna (6) 2009-07-17 22:13

Are you sure you weren't working for Magnum photos in 1972...an amazing, classic portrait of the man.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

eversmile (6543) 2009-07-19 11:35

Hu Gert,

I like very much this picture. The black and white is an excellent choice here, and the expression you caught is so spontaneous!... It's fresh, very lively. Your note makes me sigh, because there's no chance I can discover this country now. Because it's not the same anymore, and because, as a woman; it's out of question. Your picture makes me dream... As others have told before me, that man stands out from the crowd and steal all the attention... That's magic! The WS from Waylim is a different picture but I like it a lot too!
Congratulations!
Regards
Marine

PS: It reminds me the work of Luke Powell on Afghanistan. (I do not know Sabrina and Roland Michaud quoted by yquem46)

devimeuxbe (56532) 2009-07-30 13:57

Hi Gert
it's interesting to see pictures from Afghanistan. This old one is a fascinating report
well done
Bertrand

daddo (11647) 2009-08-13 4:22

Hi Gert. What do men need apart from bread for the body and music for the soul? And yet there is always someone who dictates through force how one should live and even if one should be ALLOWED to listen to music. So many pontificators, so little compassion. I wonder what were this man's subsequent decades like. It is great how you have captured his inner life. regards. Klaudio.

artesia (342) 2009-08-21 5:57

So far this is my favourite picture of your oldies series!
The man is well placed in the picture.... in the middle of the crowd of others.

The blurry man and the background was appropriate..
Look at his face the expression was well captured.

Warm Regards

Artesia

rigoletto (27082) 2009-10-10 5:13

such an old gem, like a vintage wine! coming from the 70s, belonging to the monarchy times, the "relatively" happy days of afghani people, poor, but at least happier...
a masterful capturing of this dense, crowded atmosphere. the b&w tonality, the focus on his face and turban and the contrast are awesome. what can i say...
all my respects,
deniz