A "Good Gypsy" Photo

Photographer’s Note

Gypsies say that how "good a Gypsy" one is equates with how good a musician one proves to be.

This violinist, whom I met always at the same place, in the same underpass, with only his little white dog Lisa keeping him constant company, proved to be a "good Gypsy". Though he played well, it was his warmth that invited me to come close to him and take a shot. He didn't ask for money, he didn't mind me taking pictures, he didn't seem to worry about a thing. He only wanted to introduce me to his little dog Liza (see a shot of them in the Workshop). We talked at times and I felt there was a sense of camaraderie between us, he with his old violin, and me with my camera. He didn't tell me stories but his kindness disarmed me. Unlike some more popular street musicians, he was thoroughly relaxed and unassuming, bereft of the urge to earn more than what was being thrown into his violin case by hurried passersby.

Paula-AR, frostymon, ribeiroantonio, flory, gelor, stiginthedump, delnaja, faubry, teutza, Davidh34, eleparc, sidstakes, luisafonso, pasternak, michiels, Dpbours, mcenteesalas, AmiBe has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

naznaz567 (344) 2007-10-10 18:40

What a great capture and superb portrait!

ViktorVaughn (1517) 2007-10-10 19:02

Yes, a very good portrait. I like the movement in his hands, and the background to the left of him.
Your choice of B&W is also well-done.

Overall, an excellent shot.

tonycongo (82) 2007-10-10 19:09

Good shot the story is well written too. Mine always go like... "Took this shot, ugh. hope you like it." Like the workshop photo as well.

ribeiroantonio (21967) 2007-10-10 20:04

His clinging eye is simply wonderful and a sign of real friendship. We cam almost listen to his music by the way his arm moves along the violin. And his smile is worth any pixel of this photo. He is the opposite of many gypsies we can find around famous European monuments, such as Notre Dame de Paris. It is an excellent work.
Antonio

Polonaise (5638) 2007-10-10 21:22

Dear Sasa...
It's a photography that has no equal on TE.
This is a craftsmanship of a REAL photographer.
People's photographer.
Street photographer.
Soul photographer.
And much, much more…

Yes… It’s that good !

******

PS: How many times I used the word "photographer"?
(:-))
Still not enough...

cbrman (19049) 2007-10-10 22:59

Hello Sarolta,

J'aime bien l'allure jovial de ce violonniste !
Il est en mouvement et son allure décalé colle parfaitement avec le style du bout de l'affiche de gauche !
Bien vu !

A+

Dominique

flory (4804) 2007-10-10 23:12

hi Sarolta,
ooo,again beautiful;)love them music..their love for what they do.love more the ws,forgive me,but they are the most happy couple.Liza and music..
take care and continues to enjoy us!!
Flory;)

gelor (3224) 2007-10-10 23:51

Bonjour Sarolta,
Un beau portrait de ce sympathique et jovial personnage. Le traitement à l'ancienne est très bien venu. Joli travail !
Gérard

stiginthedump (1823) 2007-10-11 0:19

Another fine shot this Sarolta. The tones are very nice, as is the blur, but i love the character of the man that you've captured here.

delnaja (7871) 2007-10-11 0:19

Budapest inspired you a lot and I really like the way you show us this town, makes me want to go there!!
His expression... You are the only one to be able to capture those kind of expressions...

jasmis (50967) 2007-10-11 0:42

Perfect, dynamic portrait of a musician. Amazing sepia tone.
Regards.

ninaL (19578) 2007-10-11 0:43

Hi, Sasa.
Unique and beautiful photography.

His expression...love in his eyes...and then, outstanding composition with some levels of street and "Cyszertar" (...what does it mean) ? and people in the low street...Backround on the left !!! I have never seen that.

faubry (32415) 2007-10-11 1:37

bonjour Sasa, a very good and friendly smile.. good gypsie, i like read this word... not usual... very nice BW, thanks sasa.
take care
francine

teutza (10568) 2007-10-11 1:43

HY Sarolta,
i'm so impressed with this image and the WS...it's like taken from a movie..what an atmosphere..feelings..emotions...wow!!
no comment..an excelent one
teo

Davidh34 (838) 2007-10-11 2:19

Hi Sasa

Another wonderful, nostalgic image. I love how this series has used the old pictures in the underpass to create modern masterpieces. This man may be smiling, but you can see some melancholy in his eyes.

just two weeks until my sister moves back to Budapest!

Regards

David

rbcy1974 (20746) 2007-10-11 4:08

Hello Sasa
Welcome back!!!
I love this BW, did you put an tad of sepia in it?
Otherwise I love the way the old photograph complements the old style musician,
very welld one
Regards
Daniel

eleparc (24059) 2007-10-11 5:37

Once again, you are a living wonder to me! how do you get those extraordinary shots again and again... This one is good, especially because of the old photo that is close to him and the shadow of this man on the wall that gives the overall shot another dimension. I have also a clear feel for the ws that brings even more emotions IMO...

Two great shots!!
bisous
Eric

Darren (6819) 2007-10-11 6:36

Hi Sasa. Another nice shot here, but I have to admit that while this has a whole lot going for it, there are also a number of things that kind of bother me too. Not something too usual for your photos. First of all, while you are one of the real masters of monotone, I can't say that this is your best conversion. It is not bad, but it is too brown and too close to sepia, which I am no fan of. As for the composition, I can understand why you didn't want to crop his bow, but I think it has left too much space on the right, while I find that the stuff on the left is cut off too abruptly. I would personally prefer a crop through the bow so as to see more on the left. I do really like the expression on his face, and your choice of shutter speed was perfect. Criticism aside, this is a good photo, just that you have set the bar pretty high for me to really love it.

pcp (3368) 2007-10-11 7:13

Wow lovely capture and excellent color tone .

TFS

Senthil

sidstakes (770) 2007-10-11 8:57 [Comment]

Show Comment

Elaine_Blath (6170) 2007-10-12 0:55

Hi Sasa,

a fantastic one!! amazing atmosphere and composition, and again your fantastic sepia tones, goes right among my favourites...

Take care, Ivana

pasternak (13632) 2007-10-12 3:43

Great portrait, Sasa, the moving blur on his bow and hands is cool, and here your sepia toning goes well with the picture on the left which puts the portrait even further back in time, he really could be playing for these guys down there...

Cheers
Alexander

Griet (506) 2007-10-12 5:40

Hey Sarolta,
A very good portrait of this gypsy. Very well framed with the illusion of another scene going on.
A relaxed face playing a favourite song..??
Have a niv WE
Grtz
Griet

Furachan (0) 2007-10-12 5:44

Lovely, delicate motion lur on his hands here, Sasa and that clever mix of NOW and THEN in the equaly sepia'd photograph. Altogether a very successful pic, full of intelligence and joy.
Best,
Francis

michiels (4170) 2007-10-12 12:02

hi Sasa,

What i like most of all in this photo : you made him soooo happy, you can see it in his eyes, the little lights are there ! A fantastic gift for him !!! ;)
take care, inn

CliffW (2310) 2007-10-12 15:00

His expression and your capture of the movement of the bow is excellent. He looks like a kind man, which is something that pops off the frame. I agree that the mural/photo next to him seems a little cut off, but not badly. I wanted to say though that I *love* the workshop photo!

nerve (10212) 2007-10-12 22:06

Sasha, WS is a great picture imho..
cheers.

Dpbours (220) 2007-10-13 8:14

Hi Sasa,

That is again a very nice shot. He has a very gentle, almost compassionate feel over him. Sweet to see his love for his little dog Liza. And a good take to include the poster beside him!

Greetings,
Dennis

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-10-14 0:47

ciao Sasa, and here there is all your style and great eye...
this image is all about soul..
the hand in movement is fantastic...i would like to be there to listen the music of this man, in a town like Budapest..a great emotions i think..
fantastic also the old image on the left side..
bravo!!!!
ciao!
Valeria

vapours (7913) 2007-10-15 4:20

Great connection here between the musician and the print, at first glance its hard to decipher whats real and whats not. Good motion blur also.

AmiBe (6042) 2007-10-21 9:09

Hi Sasa,
I've missed this great portrait.
I really like his friendly face.
The left is interesting also, it brings me back some years ago...
rgs

coco (28090) 2007-10-21 12:33

Hi Sasa.

Very nice story and great photo where the sepia tone looks great.
I love the expression in his face and how you shot much more than a violinist: you shot his soul in this photo.

Regards.

PD: the WS is great too

marietom (32076) 2007-10-26 1:40

Excellente composition, j'aime bien la rue, et l'air du violoniste.
Marie