A Story about seagulls and an old Lady Photo

Photographer’s Note

An old one, more than 10 years ago, in Antibes, along the walls on the sea and close to the castle.

An old old woman everyday gave to the seagulls the bread of the day before. Some dozens of birds everymorning waited for the old lady.

All the people that had cars parked close to the "restaurant for seagulls" were a little bit bored and angry, cause every morning they found the cars with a inch of guano over.

The only ones that love the old old lady were some photographers that walked on the walls in the early morning.

All that happened in the 1996 and 1997.
From the 1998 the old old lady has disappeared.

Rumors and local metropolitan legends told us that the old old lady was eaten by a giant seagull, others by a giant octopus came out from the sea, someone think that now she's in the Bird's Paradise, other that she's in the Car Lovers Hell, someone other talks about an Antibes Murder Mystery...someone wrote that the old lady was a ghost...

anyway, the seagulls of Antibes are today in a famine period...as the owners of the Car-Washes.

;)

*Scanned image*

enedimd, brevbrev14, papagolf21, sined, pat0500, bostankorkulugu, snunney, evanrizo, vinicio, giorgimer, leo61, chrisnet, scobert, vonp, salvator, lilimih33, bibiweb, eleparc, designsoul, TopGeo, PixelTerror, eza1701, photographer123, marknunnerley, Cricri, Emile has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Nicou (45777) 2007-06-01 4:43

Hello,

mangifique cette photo, toutes ces mouettes en plein vol et le NB va à merveille.

Très belle journée

Nicou

enedimd (1528) 2007-06-01 4:50

Hello Paolo,
Excellent frame with BW version.
Superb note. Real life story is so impressive and attractive.
TFS,
Have a nice day.

dragonslayero (3108) 2007-06-01 4:52

Hello Paolo

What catches me here is the amount of action in the photo. The amount of orden in a scene that looks completely in chaos.
Composition and layout is great, I especially like the way the frame is cutting some of the gulls. It creates a nice sense of a crowded scene.
Slightly overexposed, but with a avaliable light doesn't seem to have been the best...
Thank you for sharing.

Odd Jarle

sidstakes (770) 2007-06-01 4:54

Dear Paolo,
This shot of the seagulls is beyond any adjectives that comes to my mind. Its so good! I am hoping to take a shot like this someday. Wonderful really, keep it up!:)
Regards,
Siddhartha

Furachan (0) 2007-06-01 4:55

Very nice scan, Paolo, I like the way you fill that frame with birds, and the position of the horizon line a quarter of the way from the bottom. Well seen,
Ciao,
Francis

partha (13667) 2007-06-01 4:57

Hi Paolo.
This is a very good shot. Very good dynamism and the birds add wonderful effect here. B&W is a very well conversion.
Partha

carlab (2087) 2007-06-01 5:00

ciao Paolo, che bella immagine (e che bella nota)!
complimenti
Carla

papagolf21 (56765) 2007-06-01 5:10

Cher ami Paolo,
J'ai beaucoup aimé votre note accompagnant cette très bonne photographie.
Voilà qui me plaît de mêler humour, légende, et photographie.
L'esprit de TE, est parfaitement respecté.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

sined (4483) 2007-06-01 5:21

the old lady is now a young seagull ....

pat0500 (21513) 2007-06-01 5:25

Hi Paolo,
I like much thiis one..!
Very much seagulls on this beautiful picture, good choice for the B/W..!
Good light and sharpness, very nice composition..!
Best regards,
Have a nice weekend.
Patrick

bostankorkulugu (33984) 2007-06-01 5:34

very impressive shot paolo, so dynamic... i like the contrast and the vertical compo a lot... very cool note too :)...

ciao!

korkut

snunney (35522) 2007-06-01 5:41

Hello Paolo,
A wonderful dynamic image that works extremely well in black and white. Great tones and clarity.

evanrizo (456) 2007-06-01 6:11

Cioa Paolo, your scanned photos come soooo good, very good quality.
The image has a great effect with these seagulls, a great title too with the notice all the work here is very interesting.
TFS
Evan

Calimero (572) 2007-06-01 7:27

Hi Paolo,
Very exciting note:) Wonderful shot and BW is well done.
Thank you for sharing,
Selen

vinicio (22428) 2007-06-01 8:09

Anche se vecchia e da scan è un'ottima foto Paolo, complimenti, hai preso bene il momento in una bella foto.
Ciao
Vinicio

giorgimer (21478) 2007-06-01 8:23

Ciao Paolo,

bellissime sia la nota che l'immagine.
Il B/N funziona perfettamente e il momento "fissato" con la fotografia è molto interessante.

bravo come sempre

Giorgio

luiscar (3282) 2007-06-01 11:06

hola paolo, excelente imagen con un espactacular contenido, me refiero a los pajaros, es realmente curiosa, buena luz y definicion.
un saludo.

leo61 (43816) 2007-06-01 11:14

Hi Paolo!
Great action in this shot,well composed with the triangle of the cliff and the dark sea.B&W works very well here.
Regards,Leo

chrisnet (20376) 2007-06-01 11:51

Hello Paolo,
Nice shot, you have well captured the mouvement of these seagulls, good choice of Black and white, well seen and done.
Regards
Christian

scobert (5333) 2007-06-01 12:36

Hello Paolo,
Excellent photo with a great narrative. I like to think that this eccentric but very nice lady is in "bird heaven". My wife and I have spoiled all of the cats that we have had and we believe that we will end up in "kitty heaven". Good job of capturing the movement of the seagulls just right. If the motion isn't captured correctly the image will look chaotic and cluttered. Good job!
Stan

devimeuxbe (56398) 2007-06-01 13:43

Hi paolo
This one is very nice
beautifull cropping on these birds.
excellent use of the black and white
Bertrand

vonp (2235) 2007-06-01 14:42

Ciao Paolo,
Storia curiosa e ottima foto!
Bella l'inquadratura ma soptrattutto la luce che sei riuscito a catturare.
Buon WE
Paolo

WepWaWet (3973) 2007-06-01 16:20

Hello Paolo,
Magnificent B&W work with great contrast ve very well framed.
Regards,
Seref

lilimih33 (9874) 2007-06-02 1:04

Hello Paolo!
Very beautiful black & white composition!
Lovely point of view!
Good action picture!
Excellent done!
Lili

bibiweb (8) 2007-06-02 3:13

Ciao Paolo,
Lovely story, perfectly illustrated by this shot. This reminds me of the famous Hitchcock movie. The B&W goes very well here and it is well contrasted. It's a good quality scan, though there are quite a few artefacts visible around the birds in the sky.
Have a nice week-end.
Brigitte

salvator (18943) 2007-06-02 3:29

Ciao Paolo,
One of the best composition I have seen today. Although a little cluttered, I find it extremely nice. The choice of the b&w and the details are superb. I wşsh you an excellent weekend. Best regards. Ciao. Salvator.

delkoo (34810) 2007-06-02 3:33

hi paolo,
you are a very good narrator, you photo fits well with the story as well as the b&w treatment, i would like to know what happened to the old woman, maybe the the bakery had closed!!!!!
didier
-:))))

I would like to distribute smileys at everybody but I never have it enough,

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-06-02 4:39

ciao PAolo, stavo giusto venendo a trovarti nella tua galleria! :))
bella l' idea del BN qui, ottima la composizione così ravvicinata!
anche la nota come sempre è ben fatta e utile!
ciao!
Valeria
buon WE a te! :))

eleparc (24059) 2007-06-02 6:26

i like your fairy tale that the old lady was eaten by a giant seagull... it is so sweet! Pity you could not include her in your photo at the time...;-)

Budapestman (42876) 2007-06-02 7:40

Hi Paolo,
Beautiful shot. This is a magnificent and impressive spectacle. Its an excellent POV and superb timing. Great work.
Have a nice weekend, thank you
George

designsoul (21394) 2007-06-02 9:55

Great shot, Paolo, and a difficult one--I know as I am trying to catch seagulls in flight often, but they're either overexposed or way too blurry. This is great. So many of them and with great contrasts. Love your little story; hope she is in Birds' Paradise, and not in Car Lover's Hell... ;-)
Have a beautiful WE dear friend,
ciao!
sasa

xkolba (3188) 2007-06-02 10:01

Wow, what a great composition Paolo! So many seagulls on one frame, very, very good dynamic B&W shot. I like strong contrasts between birds and bright background. Very well framed!
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Maciek

rhizomes (15325) 2007-06-02 12:06

Hi Paolo,
Very nice old one !
I like all these birds on the way to go...Great b/w picture !!
Christophe

Charo (31851) 2007-06-02 18:57

Hola Paolo,
Estupenda foto con todas esas gaviotas en plena actividad. Excelente difinición y contraste.
Buen trabajo.
Saludos
Charo

bend1k (910) 2007-06-02 22:47

these seagulls must miss the old lady. great shot

dilane (10289) 2007-06-03 4:26

hî paolo
good shot with the seagulls
i think that the BW is the best for this picture
regards dilane

narpad (945) 2007-06-03 11:30

Thanks for comments on my picture. Your gallery is out of this world! I really like this picture!

Nicj

TopGeo (22249) 2007-06-03 12:19

Hi Paolo Wonderful ideal scenario with these surraunding the as old fashion B&w shotand so perfectly light and contrast. Superb idea and nete Thanks
Georgios

capthaddock (28640) 2007-06-03 22:08

Hi Paolo - the age makes it a classic, the profusion of birds makes it worthy of display, very fine vintage quality, with a generous amount of sky of course.

PixelTerror (86861) 2007-06-04 7:24

Ciao Paolo,
It's not that easy to spot an old lady in this gullsmess (tm ;-) ) and yes it definitely reminds of the Hitchcock movie, I think the BW fits quite well to this image.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

eza1701 (3343) 2007-06-04 7:53

Hi Paolo,

I enjoyed reading your note on this one, it made me smile. The photo is excellentl, packed with action and it works really well in B&W.

Best regards,
Paul.

photographer123 (5803) 2007-06-04 12:14

hi...
looking little over sharpned..but wonderful action you caught.good note too.best wishes...subir

jinju (14265) 2007-06-05 3:16

I think it was a giant seagull;)

I like the closeness of this shot. You are in a hitchcockian nightmare:) fantastic busy scene

jemaflor (39759) 2007-06-05 6:55

Hi Paolo,
great effect with this angle, good choice for B&W, a shot as the Alfred Hitchcock film ... well done, bravo !
later ...

markstaples (15670) 2007-06-05 13:09

Hi Paolo
I didn't see this one well you posted it. It's almost abstract in nature. I think the black and white suits it well. Nice one.
Best wishes
Mark

Bluejeans (33113) 2007-06-07 12:09

Ola Paolo fantastica foto com todas estas gaivotas , gostei da foto a preto e branco ,parabens!!!!

marknunnerley (2768) 2007-06-08 11:09

Very funny story, as well as having a sad tone to it Paolo. Love the b&w shot of the seagulls. Very nice image. Have a good weekend.
br
mark

Cricri (43790) 2007-06-08 13:01

Ciao Paolo,
Jolie histoire de la dame aux oiseaux....
trés belle image en N/B, un bon choix du format également, magnifique
amitié
cricri

Emile (20151) 2007-06-08 23:25

Perfect timing Paolo. Sharpness is excellent and your POV is very good, Great framing and crop. Good work. Nice shot.
Well done.
Best regards.

sowhat (981) 2007-06-12 11:44

I like the dramatism of this picture, the clear layers of tones (white, black, gray) and the crazy flight of the seaguls. Great feeling of motion and a very well chosen moment for this pic.
Thanks for sharing,
Ioana

flatwin (1936) 2007-06-14 16:01

bonsoir,

superbe shoot de ces oiseaux en N&b en plein vol

bravo

arnaud