The deadpan type Photo

Photographer’s Note

Nous sommes au marché de Saint-Rémy en Provence, ce que vendaient ces deux hommes, je ne m’en souviens pas, mais celui de gauche est en ce moment, malgré son air grave et sérieux, en train de raconter une plaisanterie… avec tout un art théâtral propre à beaucoup de gens du Sud de la France…
En arrivant devant son étale je l’entends dire à un autre homme :
« Non mais franchement ! Tu ne sais pas reconnaître un âne en rut ? »
Là je m’arrête, je me dis, au passage, qu’ils ont des têtes à se faire prendre en photo…
Il insiste et redemande à l’homme… il prend son temps, il sait qu’il a capté l’attention de dizaines de passants, il prend la pose que vous avez sous les yeux…
Finalement il enchaîne :
« Et bé ! Si tu ne sais pas, ça veux dire que tu es plus couillon qu’un âne, parce que l’âne, lui, il le sait !!! » (Éclats de rires des gens qui attendaient la chute).
Un goût douteux mon anecdote ? Mais il fallait voir avec quelle manière il racontait ça, théâtral !!!

***

We are at the market in Saint-Remy in Provence, which sold these two men, I do not remember it, but the one on the left is in this moment, in spite of its serious air, telling a joke... with a whole theatrical art specific to some people in the South of France...
While arriving in front of his slack I ear him saying to another man :
“ No… frankly! You cannot recognize a rutting donkey ? "
There I stop, I say myself, that they have photogenic heads...
He insists and ask another time the same thing to the man...
He is taking his time, he knows that he caught the attention of twenty or so of passers, he takes the pose you actually can see on the pic...
Finally :
" Hey ! If you do not know, that please say that you are more asshole than a donkey, because the donkey knows it !!! " (Bursts of laughter of people which awaited the fall).
A doubtful taste my anecdote? But it was necessary to see with what a manner it told that, theatrical!!!

gildasjan, TopGeo, Nicou, vinicio, jhm, Charo, axiotea, prumod, pierrefonds, noborders, sined, fotomek, rtome has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

gildasjan (24157) 2007-08-23 8:46

Bonsoir Jonathan
Il suffit de lire la note pour comprendre.Si on regarde la photo au premier abord on se dit qu'il ne faudrait pas jouer avec ces gars là!
Bien vu et bel instantané.
Bonne soirée.
Amicalement
Gildas

mursaloglu (5272) 2007-08-23 8:59

Dear Jon
Thanks for your comment for my picture. But I really did intentionally so darker for giving a sinister and mysterious mood to my picture. Your picture meanwhile is a great portrait work with enormous balance of light and shade between this two people. Good job. ihsan

TopGeo (22279) 2007-08-23 9:02

Hi Jonathan,
Excellent portraits of mans! Great image and colours good sharpness I like this POV and this expression,well done
Bravo
Georgios

Nicou (45831) 2007-08-23 9:14

Hello

Très belle imag que ces 2 individus de Provence de bonne tête, la gag est sympa, rude et cru mais tellement réel.
J'aime bien ces image vivantes de la vie de tous les jours, se temper dans la culture des lieux qu'on visite et là on apprécie un max.

Bravo et belle soirée

Nicou

Wandering_Dan (3299) 2007-08-23 10:23

A good people shot, especially with the explanation to make it clear. Pity the DOF is too shallow to get them both in focus, but you picked the right one to focus on.

Nice use of colors, too.

batalay (21223) 2007-08-24 4:29

Hello Jonathan,

A first rate photo before the weekend, accompanied by a highly engaging note. I am impressed by your French! It represents a double portrait, with contrasting moods in the two faces. Without the deeply involved listener it would be a good portrait, this is excellent.

Warm regards,

Bulent

vinicio (22428) 2007-08-24 4:37

Also without your amusing note this is a good image, a well done portrait, I like also the limited DOF that give a good two levels of view between the men, with the story it's excellent, as you work, Jonathan, compliments.
Ciao
Vinicio

jhm (83446) 2007-08-24 4:39

Hello Jonathan,

I think that everywhere this type of people find this sort raconteur.
But you took a very nice portrait of these not charming man. Also the second man have a smile with a little irony.

Have a nice weekend,
John

Jeppe (18623) 2007-08-24 14:10

Hi Jonathan
Surely a couple of "special types" which you present here - thanks for sharing the story behind as well.
Jeppe

axiotea (16309) 2007-08-24 22:55

Bonjour Jonathan
De vrais pince sans rire! J'aime bien l'air amusé de l'homme à l'arrière qui t'a repéré, tandis que celui a l'avant plan semble sérieux. Une photo et note amusantes sur ces "drôles d'oiseaux" :)
Amicalement
Marilyn

prumod (8264) 2007-08-25 1:28

it's interesting jo..
the capture is nice because it's composed with two impressive expressions... like a scene from a play!
greetings...

Charo (31877) 2007-08-25 3:21

Hola Renier,
Estupendo retrato con buenos detalles y excelente color.
Buen trabajo
Cordialmente
Charo

ben4321 (9809) 2007-08-25 10:22

I like this double portrait Jonathan. You've managed to capture great expressions on both faces - a kind of cocksure cockiness on the face of the joke-teller, and the bemused furtive attitude of the other guy.
The tight crop works well, although I wish that both of them were in focus, especially as the chap on the right has the more interesting face.
I like it though, good work.

Cheers,
Ben

manada (6237) 2007-08-25 14:25

Hello Jo
I find your shot really extraordinary and not only for the situation but above all for the unbelieveble faces of the men.
When I saw that photo in your gallery, alredy in small size is great.........
Cette photo me plait vraiment beaucoup, bravo mon ami.
Excellente dimanche
Freddy

vincent24 (9038) 2007-08-26 0:31

Salut Jonathan,
Oui,des personnages assez photogenique...a peine sortis des 70's,l'anectode est sympa et le coté pince sans rire est perceptible a travers le regard,
bon dimanche,
vincent

ninaL (19596) 2007-08-26 12:32

Bonsoir, Jo.
J'aime beaucoup le "type" de ces types.
On dirait qu'ils sortent directement d'un film genre les "Valseuses" !!! Très cinématographiques plus que théâtrales, leurs expressions !!!
Bravo d'avoir saisi cette situtation.
Amitiés, Grazyna.

pierrefonds (26691) 2007-08-27 6:09

Bonjour Jonathan,

Un bon portrait de ces deux hommes, l'un sérieux et l'autre un peu joyeux, la photo a une bonne composition, netteté et de jolies couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

noborders (14201) 2007-08-28 2:54

J'adore ton histoire, quelle truculence ! LOL... Et elle convient en effet à la tête du conteur, qui prend un air sérieux et qui se sait écouté...
Très amusante, cette photo, ... j'en redemande, si c'est possible !
Amicalement,
Cath.

sined (4483) 2007-09-02 21:28

des attitudes tres photogeniques! presque ethnologiques.. bravo Jonathan
Denis

donluicu (23963) 2007-09-14 0:58

effectivement, il a l'air grave pour un comique, ....

concernant la blague, bien que j'en connaisse des tonnes pourries comme celle-ci, je garderai le coté theatral!! :-))

ciao

fotomek (920) 2007-10-03 13:44

interesting story - habits, very well composed portrait! congratulations & compliments - Tomasz

mikeo (12117) 2007-10-06 1:21

Hi Jonathan,

Always when I see this photo - it immediately associate with you:) I was watching it many times as a thumbnail but opened it only today:)

Its a great story which creat superb climate to the photo!
Good job!
Greetings
Aga