Embracing fire Photo

Photographer’s Note

There is a beautiful atmosphere in the old part of the town of Komotini. Especially in the old market, where you can find dozens of tiny little shops selling anything you can imagine and more and dozens little workshops, mostly smithies.

One of the smallest shops, but at the same time one of the most popular is the workshop of Mr. Mestan Ahmet, in the photo. The last traditional knifemaker in Komotini and one of the last in the whole Greece (there are a few left in Crete, where a traditional knife is considered a great gift and a great souvenir for the visitors).

Everyday, when I passed outside Mr, Ahmet's workshop he invited me for a cup of coffee and a cigarette and we had long and interesting discussions! He taught me a lot about Komotini, but he taught me even more with his kindness. The first time he invited me for coffee, he asked me, how I like my coffee. I said "sweet". After 1-2 seconds of akwardness he asked me: "Greek coffee?". "Turkish", I replied and we both laughed. (About the stupid debate between Greeks and Turks about the name of the coffee, I have written before, in my "Greek or Turkish? Whatever!" photo). Then he picked up the phone and called to the coffee shop. The only words that I understood were "Cok sekerli"!

Then he asked me: "Do you know how many years I work in this hole? 48! since I was kid, with my father and my grandfather". Mr Ahmet will be retired in a year, he doesn't have a son to teach him the job, only 2 daughters, so probably, this is the last year that his workshop will stay open.

*WORKSHOP 1*: Diferent take, horizontal framing.

*WORKSHOP 2*: Close up to the hands.

***MORE PHOTOS FROM KOMOTINI AND AROUND***

Budapestman, vasilpro, elendim, ymrk, jimkok77, XOTAELE, atha2pan, dip, bostankorkulugu, syrus_persia, Dyerco, lc4giala, coco has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rbassin (4291) 2009-01-10 8:05

Bonjour Hercules
C'est une photo très intéressante, qui nous fait découvrir le travail d'un artisan.
Les détails de la machines, du métal et des étincelles sont bien mis en valeur.
Bon W-E
Roland

Budapestman (42876) 2009-01-10 8:13

Hi Hercules,
Great genre photo with spectacular details and impressive composition. The timing is excellent, beautiful work with superb note, my friend.
Have a nice weekend!
George

jasmis (51029) 2009-01-10 8:23

Sparkling shot. Amazing "men at work" photo.

Regards.

JLG (2086) 2009-01-10 8:31

hello Hercules
une magnifique scene !!!
cet homme concentré sur sont travail ,les etincelles ,les lumieres une compo parfaite
well done
jean louis

vasilpro (9497) 2009-01-10 9:08

Καλησπέρα Ηρακλή,
Πολύ ζωντανή φωτογραφία με ωραία χρώματα και σύνθεση. Όμορφη φωτογραφία που περιγράφει με γλαφυρότητα την καθημερινή ζωή του επαγγελματία.
Βασίλης.

TopGeo (22249) 2009-01-10 9:09

Γειά σου Ηρακλή!
Με τις παραμέτρους που εργάσθηκες, πέτυχες το ποθούμενο! Είναι εντυπωσιακά τα εφφέ! Καλός ο μάστωρας,
βρήκε τον μάστωρά του..
Χαιρετώ σε!
Γεώργιος

ymrk (9168) 2009-01-10 9:22

Kalimera Hercul! :)
An effect is superb!Dynamic and effective one this photo.Very nice shot with very hard job!
Congratulations,have a nice day,

Yağmur

jimkok77 (992) 2009-01-10 11:31

Ηρακλή καλησπέρα

Εντυπωσιακή φωτογραφία. Είναι από τις αγαπημένες μου αυτές που δείχνουν τη ζωή και τη δουλειά των ανθρώπων. Μακάρι να είχα το θάρρος κι εγώ να βγάλω κάτι τέτοιο. Δυστυχώς δυσκολεύομαι να πλησιάσω κάποιον για φωτογραφία. Και οι άλλες δυο φώτο είναι το ίδιο όμορφες. Δύσκολα θα αποφάσιζα ποια ξεχωρίζει. Η τεχνική σου είναι μοναδική.

Χαιρετώ

clio (23123) 2009-01-10 11:36

Geia sou Hrakli,
I like when you speak to us about the former professions in Greece. You had already made it in Serifos, I remember. This time the history is sad because this profession is going to disappear totally very soon. I hope that you bought mister Ahmet's knife in memory of your journey to Komotini.
What does it mean Cok sekerli (it's Turkish word?)
The three photos are great.
I think that the photo that I prefer is the close-up (for the photo only), but I like the 2 others because they make me meet Mister Ahmet!
Kalo sabbatokiriako, filika
Artemis

delkoo (34810) 2009-01-10 11:58

hi hercules
I love those "everyday life" scenes... showing the true face of the life of those people... what I like the most about your picture is how you have perfectly managed the light... it is very impressive...

ta leme
didier

XOTAELE (476) 2009-01-10 12:51

Hola Hércules.
Excelente instantánea, con muy buenos detalles.
Gran nitidez y buenos tonos.
Saludos, JL.

atha2pan (3551) 2009-01-10 13:04

Ela file mou,
epistrofi os Sakis tora. Euxomai na min me sbisei to afendiko :-D
Se xaireto, Sakis

YS. Kali fotografia opos panta

Morac (20899) 2009-01-10 13:22

Hello Hercules
It is a magnificent scene: this man focused on his work, sparks, lights and a perfect composition.
Good evening.
Marc

dip (12852) 2009-01-10 13:52

Geia sou Irakli,
oraia kai ediaferousa foto me polles leptomeries,oi spithes tin kanoun kai entuposiaki sunama,
kalo timing,
xaireto,
Dimitris.

bostankorkulugu (33984) 2009-01-10 15:56

beautiful portrait of Ahmet Bey with all the sparkles around him junior mou... the workshops are as cool as this one also... the knife looks terrifying though...
how is it going with the goddess?

the senior

gneufeld (15235) 2009-01-10 18:32

Hi Hercules,
I love the strands of light generated by the grinding action of the machinist - very good action, and the story is very revealing as to the live of a craftsman. TFS. Gerald

syrus_persia (2222) 2009-01-11 0:37

Salam doste azizam (my dear frien)dHercules
Good balanced composition; the colours are very attractive.The nice moment to capture.Very dynamic and effective one this photo.
Bravo
cyrus

Dragut (2025) 2009-01-11 1:06

Hi Hercules

Bel effet, le travail est toujours intéressant a photographier. Les vitesse lentes permettent des effets superbes.
Ambiance chaude..belle image.

bema (9112) 2009-01-11 1:46

Kalimera file mou,

very fine captured working-photo and a good portrait too,
my compliments..

Jassu bernd

Dyerco (9310) 2009-01-11 5:28

Nicely done Hercules.
These craftsmen are gradually fading away and it is a shame. I like the way you were able to catch the sparks flying passed his head.
Phil

lc4giala (2186) 2009-01-12 0:14

Καλημέρα Ηρακλή
εξαιρετική καταγραφή μιας τέχνης η οποία τείνει να εκλείψει …όλα έχουν γράψει πολύ όμορφα στον γεμάτο από πράγματα και υποφωτισμένο εργαστήριο
συγχαρητήρια

coco (28146) 2009-01-12 3:56

Kalimera Hercules.

La nota es riquísima, pero tiene a la vez un sabor amargo (por el futuro de su tienda y, a su vez, de toda una tradición y forma de vida).

Recuerdo que hace casi año y medio estuve haciendo fotos en un taller en Barcelona (puse una de ellas en TE), pero pese a repetir la temática la forma de enfocar la foto es diferente.
Puede que saque tiempo para poner alguna de aquellas fotos.

Por cierto, la foto me gusta, pero tengo dudas entre ésta y "diferent take".

Ta leme, file mou.