Close Encounter of the Kurd Kind, a photo from Mardin, Southern East Anatolia

Photographer's Note

Located near the traditional boundary of Anatolia and Mesopotamia, Mardin has a diverse population, composed by Kurdish, Turkish, Arab and Syriac people. It is the only city in Turkey where Arabic is the dominant language due to the demographic structure.

If you pay attention to the man walking, you can see he is wearing baggy trousers with matching jacket, typical of Kurdish people.

Royaldevon, dta, rigoletto, jjcordier, sevy, tyro, holmertz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Royaldevon (17791) 2013-03-12 2:06

Hello Andre,

What I love most about your photograph is its ability to begin a story. It is impossible to look at this photograph without imagining what is troubling the man.
A beautiful shot, full of lighting contrasts, textural details and, of course, that little mystery.

Have a lovely day,
Bev :-)

dta (51378) 2013-03-12 2:10

Bonjour Andre ,
Voilà peut être le genre de photos de personnes que je pourrais prendre , car , de dos , je trouve que c'est moins gênant . Plus hypocrite aussi , peut être :) . MAis quand j'essaie , de toute façon , je ne suis jamais assez réactif ... C'est en tous cas une scène que j'aime montrant ce viel homme, dans une rue pittoresque à l'architecture particulièrement intéressante . Bon équilibre des éclairages très contrastés .
Amicalement

resat1972 (5960) 2013-03-12 4:58

MErhaba

Güzel MArdinden farklı bir kare
tfs

Reşat

Nicou (97637) 2013-03-12 5:54

Hello l'ami

Quelle image de cet homme d'un âge certain, les mains croisées dans le dos qui qui monte monte dans cette rue et ensemble ces contrastes lumineux, très belle image avec ce personnage.
Bravo et merci.
Nicou

rigoletto (30462) 2013-03-12 12:38

Hello Andre,
This is a vintage-taste photo which would also do well in B&W (though i know, it is not ur cup of tea).
I was mesmerized by the beauty of architecture in there, not only in the town but also at those places in the vicinity. Maybe you will also show some of those details in future?
Your long notes have gone shorter, but i still enjoyed reading it.
I also liked the story you told to dta in the forum message. Old man going from light to dark... Quite a metaphor for Turkey.
Best regards,
Deniz

ACL1978 (5773) 2013-03-12 19:28

The title made me laugh before I even opened the shot to see a really interesting scene unfold, Andre. Great contrast of light and shadow here, with this pensive Kurdish man walking headlong into it. Sounds like a fascinating place to explore as well. Thanks!

Andrew

jjcordier (62280) 2013-03-12 23:05

André
Une photo très symbolique de cet homme âgé au dos courbé par le poids des ans et qui s'apprête à passer, avec fatalité, de la lumière à l'ombre (j'aurais pu jouer les modèles pour toi pour cette photo -)). Excellente photo, bien pensée et bien réalisée.
Amitiés
JJ

sevy (13273) 2013-03-13 2:32

Salut André,

Je viens de lire avec attention la réponse que tu as faite à Denis. Ca m'a rappellé la discussion que l'on avait eu sur le fait d'avoir ou non un regard direct sur un portrait et sur les sensations et sentiments différents que ça pouvait générer.
Je trouve que c'est un peu pareil ici. De face ou de dos, l'histoire n'est plus la même.
La démarche de cette photo est un peu à la Cartier Bresson et son fameux 'instant décisif'. Composer son image et attendre que les acteurs y entrent pour créer quelque chose. De ce point de vue, tu as déclenché au bon moment: une grande lisibilité ombre-lumière et l'ombre du passant qui ne se mélange pas encore avec celle des batiments.

Yves.

tyro (13065) 2013-03-13 16:53

Hello André,

An interesting note about this place and its people and a fine photograph of the architecture of the city.

But what is so wonderful about this picture is the old man, stooped with hands clasped behind his back as he plods along the road about to disappear into the darkness. We don't need to see his face to make us wonder quite what is going on in his mind - is he tired or depressed or just feeling his old age?

You have captured this man at just the perfect moment. The lighting on him and the buildings is lovely, the colours are superb and the details and sharpness exquisite.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

holmertz (26906) 2013-03-14 3:43

Hello André,
You captured the old man just at the right moment before he would step into the shade. Now he catches the sun, just like the heavy stone façades of the buildings.
I was in Mardin more than 40 years ago. It was a fascinatiing place but also so dirty (and my hotel was absolutely horrible, and not much choice either), so I didn't give it enough time. Now it's one of those places where I would really like to go back.
Best regards,
Gert

nikkitta (5852) 2013-03-14 14:29

Hola Andre

Yes ,he is wearing traditional clothes with the add of plastic kind of ojotas
I like your POV, only way to capture the attention at the the whole atmosphere
Interesting note to explain the photo,I like places with this mix of cultures

Greetings and TFS
Maria