Working Class Heroes Photo

Photographer’s Note

Well, perhaps not exactly working class heroes--simply workers, taking a break, on the now heavily renovated (and, ruefully, graffitied) Szabadság híd (Liberty Bridge) under scaffolds. Much unlike Francis's (Furachan's) delightful and eye-opening public worker shots from Tokyo, these men didn't seem eager to busy themselves at all times. Languidly looking over the Danube and the Buda hills spreading in front of them, they weren't in any rush to run back to the scaffolds... understandably, I'd hasten to add...

Couldn't resist the duotone version, it's in the Workshop. This one has the original colours I was attracted by.

About the bridge: The Liberty (originally Franz Joseph)bridge was built between 1894 and 1896 to the plans of János Feketeházy. Although radically different in structure, the bridge imitates the general outline of a chain-type bridge, which was considered an aesthetically preferable form at the time of construction. The bridge was opened in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph; the last silver rivet on the Pest abutment was inserted into the iron structure by the Emperor himself, and the bridge was originally named after him. -- See Wikipedia.

bombilla, Flavia, Roly, mpdre, ribeiroantonio, faubry, luisafonso, eleparc, Dpbours, Jeppo, brevbrev14, bostankorkulugu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bombilla (3402) 2007-11-06 17:38

What are they looking at I wonder, Sasa? Thinking about swiping that last silver rivet? Or just oogling girls in the timeless mode of contruction workers worldwide? Not at you, at any rate. Maybe it's you who is stealing the silver rivet -- as you stole the kiss a year earlier -- in your continuing constructions of bridges. Jó estét. -Hugh

mpdre (1585) 2007-11-06 17:44

Dear Sasa,
I was reading this morning the very interesting introductory page of Furachan, have you read it? If not, go and read it :))) And after his words about you as one of the best photographers of BW here in TE, you come and surprise us with one photo in color!!! :)))
I hope he approves your choice this time :)))
Interesting image, very different to your previous ones, but I can still recognize something in your way to approach these scenes, the angle... I like the languid attitude of these "hard workers" :))) and I also like the green tonality that dominates the image ;)
Take care
Andre

Flavia (10202) 2007-11-06 17:55

Hi Sarolta,

Looking at the tumbnail your picture made me think about an English movie I saw few years back - a group of jobless guys that decided to strip to make some money. I guess their relaxed postures and colorful clothes, plus the background was the reason I associated your picture with the film. They really don't seem to mind you or anything else...

Cheers,

Flavia

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-11-06 18:03

It takes some guts to thrust the lens at these folks and snap. Blissfully unaware we wonder what they are thinking. Soft light and vibrant color. Quite a departure for your usual impressionistic contributions, more like Francis as you say.

ribeiroantonio (21723) 2007-11-06 19:43

I really like this colour version but I think the B&W is wonderful and truly your style. And the scene on their right hand side was so intense that they did not notice you taking the picture. Amazing! Well done.
Antonio

nerve (10210) 2007-11-06 20:58

i think b/w is much better in this case Sasha, its more your way i would say. duotone is excellent too, whats your settings for that? :)
bw.

cbrman (18679) 2007-11-06 22:34

Hello Sarolta,

Effectivement, ces personnes ne sont pas souvent remerciées du travail qu'elles fournissent ! C'est ici chose faite grâce à ton image !
Je dois dire que je préfére la version "duotone" de ton workshop !
A+

Dominique

bantonbuju (48334) 2007-11-07 0:19

hi sasa,
there is something extraordinary in this scene...some charming, friendly look of the working class fellows, some sort of smile indicating that they are conscious about your presence and on the other hand - they enjoy this presence...
bw, j.

faubry (32197) 2007-11-07 1:00

bonjour Sasa, i prefer BW version...and your style, but this one is good also, i like friendly expression, smile in the mooth..superb. soon
francine

luisafonso (858) 2007-11-07 2:53

For me it's the duotone version, no doubt about it... Although the green unity in this one looks terrificly good also. Amazing expression from the rightmost guy. He looks so dreamy. I wonder what they are looking at. A lovely girl, I am almost sure... ;)

eleparc (24059) 2007-11-07 3:35

Szià Sasa
Although I am very attracted by... the green, I find the b&w version maybe more powerful but in a different manner. This one is great as it is anyhow! How come nobody is looking at our international hungarian heroin? I really like the way you have arranged them in your frame... come on move a little to the right, please...;-)

So alike Simon, you are running under the scaffolds now...?

everlasting (10894) 2007-11-07 3:44

The greens are so captivating, sasa, and I wonder what is captivating these guys attention - especially the guy on the right in his dream-like state.

Dpbours (210) 2007-11-07 4:13

Hi Sasa,

Yeah, it is also the duotone that does it best for me. Yeah, you do loose the green - well, depending on the duotone ;-) - but you win in overall contrast. Duotone for me!

Greetings, Dennis

Jeppo (11586) 2007-11-07 4:14

Hi,

very interesting picture...natural expression.
I like the one on the right...looking quite tired and bored...

ciao
Silvio

vapours (7913) 2007-11-07 4:36

As you hinted in your note, a very Francis style shot with the low angle. The colour works well here, the green is the first thing that draws me into the photo and the guy on the rights look adds a bit of humour value.

bostankorkulugu (33330) 2007-11-07 10:16

yes the greens are appealing but the b&w version is the real you sasa, making us concentrate on the expressions on the guys' faces rather than the yellow badges on their uniforms or the writings behind...

loved therolled eyes on the guy on the right:)...

all the best

korkut

Furachan (0) 2007-11-07 13:36

Wonderful environmental prtraitute - the various expressions are priceless! In a way it feels as if you DID read my intro first, in that this clearly demands the color treatmnet ;o) Those blue overalls against a grafitti'd green background really make the shot. brilliant work, MAGNUM all the way, actually...
bw,
Francis

brevbrev14 (370) 2007-11-08 1:22

dear Sasa, the green is so strong here!
this time i prefer the colour version...duotone is fatanstic too...but you know..i love colours ... and here is so eye-catching..
INteresting background with some words or names...a very good graphical effect..
BRAVO!
ciao!
Valeria

prantik (1134) 2007-11-08 12:02

I prefer the colour version. The duotone version is good, but, it does not have the subtle emotional and/or mysterious/existential aspects that are typical of your sepia pictures. Here the resonance of the blue-green palette takes the colour version towards another direction which you usually do not travel. It's a really beautiful picture to savour.

paprika-jancsi (1927) 2007-11-12 8:39

Mit panaszkodsz Sasa, hogy nem jok a kepeid!
ez remekul van elkapva, a te stilusod.
kulonosen a baloldali tipikus magyar figura.
Mindaketto jo, de a sepia 'less distractive'.
Jancsi

eshirey (325) 2007-11-20 13:01

Love the color, light, and expressions. Nice shot!

banyanman (7716) 2008-03-01 3:24

This has an almost Polanaise feel to it, Sasa (maybe with a bit more contrast and grain!). I am pleased that you presented this to us as one of your rare colour posts, because this is one occasion when the colour version works much better than in B&W. The dominance of all the different tones of green is what gives this image its impact. Cheers . . . David