Hey! We're down here!, a photo from Ankara, Central Anatolia

Photographer's Note

What is the soldier looking for? Could it be the two men sitting below? Probably not, after all, because this soldier from the Turkish war of independence (1919-1923) would not have been bothered by two friendly pensioners.

The bronze soldier is part of a major monument, crowned by Kemal Atatürk - founder and first president of the Turkish Republic - sitting on a horse-back.

The location is Ulus Square (Ulus Meydanı), the centre of the older part of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was from here, and the nearby ancient citadel, that Ankara grew from a modest provincial town in the 1920's to the multi million city that it has become today.

While the Ulus area is still a very busy district, the most important parts of the city are now 2-3 km further south, where the parliament, government buildings, presidential palace and also the major hotels and modern shopping areas are located.

ourania, Highmountains, Glint, bukitgolfb301, mohammad_H, Tigerlily, Tigerlily, agjika, adidas5nb, abmdsudi, macjake, macjake, Sonata11, fabbs99, Graal, Suppiluliuma, ayferaldanmaz, pajaran, fanni, tyro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ourania (12367) 2012-10-26 11:25

Hello Gert,
great observation, point of view and perspective offered a very interesting and comprehensive collection of details that confirm beyond any doubt the identity of the city. I like very much the sharpness and lighting and how all the elements and subjects are well placed, your composition is superb. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great weekend,
Ourania

Highmountains (1834) 2012-10-26 12:23

The clarity and sharpness of the photograph actually enhance its mood and temper. The expressions are fundamental to this photograph. Its not just the bronze statue of the soldier, but also the expressions of the elderly folk. Its not very difficult to understand that the two are engaged in a serious discussion.
The surrounding buildings and the pavements have heightened colour and contrast.
Thanks for sharing.

mesutilgim (67960) 2012-10-26 13:47

Hello dear Gert,
Very nice capture of this place in Ankara, which is one of the most photographed corners of the capital city.
Those two man -most probably from the countryside- are adding a nice accent to this scenery.
Interesting and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Glint (5573) 2012-10-26 13:50

Hello Gert,
this is a wellcomposed image. The soldier, dark and set against the light sky.The minaret in the bg like a sky rocket firework. And the pensioners anchor the scene.
Bev
ps I learned about Ataturk when my son studied him for his Scottish Higher exams years ago.I do hope Turkey remains a secular state.

Waylim (22355) 2012-10-26 14:58

Gert,

Very nice shot with a littel sense of humor. I enjoyed it. I like the casual atmosphere of friends enjoying each other company and nice conversion.

Way

bukitgolfb301 (30065) 2012-10-26 17:12

Hi dear Gert

Another significant image by your own style!
Good combination of unique statue and two old guys. Thier back have some pathos for me. Many thanks for you sharing and have a good day!

Takero from Tokyo

emka (58140) 2012-10-26 23:31

Hi Gert, It is a good example how important is a title and note. The photo of these pensioners and soldier looking for something is nice but with other elements it makes excellent post. Many interesting details as well, as this slender minaret. well observed and presented.

WArm regrads

MAlgo

mohammad_H (6598) 2012-10-27 2:03

Hi
View this statue, in front of the old man.
Very Good Notes
Clarity, transparency, good, attractive colors and lovely
Have a nice day to start

Nicou (97679) 2012-10-27 2:38

Hlelo

quelle compo sueprbe, ces deux personnages assis qui admorent la statue le soldat, très beua cadrage et ensemble sueprbe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Tigerlily (2343) 2012-10-27 3:19

Hi Gert,
The image made me laugh.. It looked like that he was looking for the two men sitting there...Excellent composition. I enjoy the sense of humour.. it's like your 'trade mark', using people as foreground and leading to the background. From now on , I have to walk with my head looking backwards, just in case if you have a camera in hands...:-D Have a nice weekends.

agjika (4011) 2012-10-27 4:12

Hi Gert,
This is a very good photo and I can see that you have composed this photo very carefully. Low pov and have taken care of the minaret's position. I would have prefered the man watching the statue not to be there but he is!

Lovely and colourful, great contrast.

Thanks for sharing

Aleks

marabu61 (3914) 2012-10-27 5:56

Hej Gert
Ankara is such an unknown place to most of us. Thinking about Turkey one thinks automatically of Istanbul or the southern holiday resorts, but Ankara?
So it is good to see something of this city as well. Fitting title to your carful composition of these two country potatoes in the big city. Great low POV
Hejdå och trevlig helg
Daniel

saxo042 (31800) 2012-10-27 6:29

Hej Gert,
En ganska rolig bild! Man undrar just vad konstnären hade för avsikt, jag förmodar soldaten skall föreställa att han spanar efter fienden men det ser nästan ut som om han pekar med fingret mot huvudet; "Är du dum, eller". Männen i förgrunden tycks inte bry sig. En bra bild ur det verkliga livet.
Hälsningar
Gunnar

eldancer1 (17036) 2012-10-27 9:27

I think those old gentlemen are reminishing their younger days maybe as soldiers themselves or just enjoying a beautiful day watching people. I like your pov and it has good dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

dkmurphys (36801) 2012-10-27 10:02

Hi avert,
Funny scene. I like the calm atmosphere in that city corner. Well composed scene, have a fine evening.

Daniel

adidas5nb (1101) 2012-10-27 20:58

great pic with a sense of humor.love the atmosphere.
REGARDS
dwaipayan

bayno (16195) 2012-10-27 22:34

Ciao Gert,
who knows if the men sitting in front of the statue of the soldier discuss the history of their nation, despite the day a little gray colors are vivid, sharp and very deep, very nice framing, these are the pictures that I call the shots stolen, nice one...
have a good sunday...
Valter

daddo (18517) 2012-10-28 2:57

Hi Gert. A humorous title and a cheeky composition. You probably know by now how much I detest the baseball cap- a ridiculous thing to be seen on the head of an adult male- another sign of the hold the American culture has upon the world.If Ataturk could see this man, I wonder if he would have banned the fez. One day the Afghan turban will give way to the cap- not too soon, but soon enough. Anyway, a fine composition. Regards. Klaudio.

abmdsudi (26233) 2012-10-28 3:15

Hi Gert
Beautifully composed street photography timely yaken. This is an excellent, natural candid that conveys the feeling of a moment of relaxation wonderfully blended the background to real life. But I do like the purity of the elderly in the foreground and the juxtaposition between them and the apparent moument. This certainly is one of your best, and the humor in the title works well in this context that tells a story, taken and presented in a superb manner. Well done, Congrats
Kind regards

boa (4313) 2012-10-28 13:16

Hej Gert,
kul foto från ditt favoritland (?) Jag gillar din väl valda bildvinkel för att få till det här intrycket med soldaten och två pensionärer. Intressant är också att se det moderna Ankara i bakgrunden från den här historiska platsen. Skarpt och snyggt från din Ixus får mig att fundera på om jag ska skippa min systemkamera och ta med en liknande din istället nästa gång jag reser. Fast jag antar att du har ökat mättnaden i färgerna efteråt?
Hälsningar
Boa

ps. Lust på en fika? Jag hör av mig i veckan.

macjake (39227) 2012-10-28 17:52

Hi Gert
haha...there seems to be a run on the statue thing recently!
I've posted a couple of statues in my last 2 photos.
I really honestly do enjoy these street scene shots.
they are Real!
what you see here is the real city life, the everyday life. its fun to investigate the bg scenes.
cheers
craig

TopGeo (37994) 2012-10-28 23:47

Hello Gert!
A picture of the road talking about yesterday, today and perhaps for the future can;
as said by an old artist: Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalleled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the ever-changing and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself. - Berenice Abbott, All right I like it! bravo
best regards
Georgios

fabbs99 (5441) 2012-10-29 0:00

Hello Gert,

Superb frame which speaks a visual-story.Notwithstanding the elderly gentleman sitting and sharing a chat, the focus of the composition remains on the iconic statue in the middle.The bronze soldier seems to be looking beyond after maybe a shell may have exploded nearby and there was a lot of fumes and dust all around.Good sharp image and great POV.TFS.

Best Regards
Farhat

Graal (88886) 2012-10-29 2:25

Hi Gert,
nice composition, a few themes in one. An interesting place in Ankara. Good note and informations about the monument. Also fine reportage.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

ayferaldanmaz (946) 2012-10-30 10:56

hi Gert,
wonderful, enjoyable and meaningfully shot with title, i like it a lot :) you see the people in such a unique way, a photographer's eye! congrats to spot this great scene, tfs.
best wishes,
ayfer

wolf38 (28180) 2012-10-31 0:27

Hello Gert. A truly original photo with a touch of humor. Title, Photo and text complement each other perfectly. Well seen and presented. I like the photo.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

pajaran (36224) 2012-10-31 23:49

Dobar dan.
Lep trenutak ...
Dva gospodina odmaraju uz razgovor pored spomenika vojniku ...
Dobra ostrina, kontrast i perspektiva.
Dobar tekst i kompozicija.
Lep spomenik i arhitektura.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

fanni (13868) 2012-11-04 14:41

Hej Gert,
I have always admired your ability to find interesting subjects for your photos :)
All these three men (including the bronze one) create a nice triangle... and at first sight it may seem they are talking - all the three ...
and it's also amazing how many details we can see in one little photo!

warm regards,
Elena

mvinagre (815) 2012-11-09 11:27

Ola Gert

Excellent composition, of this scene daily.

best regards
miguel

tyro (13073) 2012-11-14 8:56

Hello Gert,

I don't know how I missed this one but I've just seen it now, having been directed to it by the link from your photograph of today which was taken in the same place.

Funnily enough, the humorous aspect of this one is not unlike that in my own photograph of today (thank you for your kind critique) - the fact that someone is perhaps not noticing that someone else wishes to be seen!

Your composition here is excellent and there is a definite strong (though imaginary) "line of force" between the gaze of the soldier and the two elderly gentlemen realxing on the wall in the foreground.

Your picture is technically very good too with fine colours, perfect exposure and excellent details and sharpness.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

mkamionka (24529) 2012-11-14 12:39

Hi Gert,
I like very much the composition and of course the title made me laugh! These two old man make an excellent foreground for the picture of city life behind. Very well seen and captured!
M