*The Cracken* Photo

Photographer’s Note

Slowly turning to one side, he listened to the endless cry coming through the light seeping boards separating himself from the flying steel of the storm outside. Smith turned over in his bulging throne, chasing the foul air that constantly hung around his hulking frame over towards his parnter lying in the ragged sack nextdoor; "sayya there, you think it's gonna end soon?" "What", came the tired reply. "I mean", Smith continued, "it sounds like Saint Mary's cries at the foot of Jesus." "Oh bloody hell, you want us to go to the locker; shut your bloody hole" shot Samuel.
Having lived over the salt since before he was off the teet, Samuel showed the signs of waters foul treatment. Covered in skin leathered by the sun and its chariot the wind, his bones gained a rolling prominence not unlike one fond of overindulgence and Absinthe. Caring little for people, Samuel enjoyed anger. Anger at being lost; stuck on this fu*king wood coffin in the middle a black lake crowned in swirling pain. He was the sort to find a path straight into a persons soul. Not the forgiving soul of God, but the hidden soul of man; instinct. He could provoke the finest dandy into a rage rivaling Zeus. Smith saw nothing in Samuel except for Samuels exceptional prowess topside tending the rigging.
Still, Smith could not get over the deepening roar of the torment outside of the cabin door.
"Sayya there Sam, I was ponderin' sumpin', I mean, this damn wreck has seen too many days rollin' along to survive this damn business above."
"For Christ sake, how did you manage to meet that wench you call a wife you whining fool."
Smith was immediately enraged and remembered why he seldomed confided in his unfortunate shiftmate. He decided that he would rather listen to deaths' wail than subject himself to the rotten tongue of this sinking pile of bones.
Remembering the figurine he began carving a fortnight ago; picturing the rounded curve along the bottom of the sea maid, Smith thought about a soft breast and how the skin seemed so new and familiar without contradiction. He longed for the slow curve just under a womans hair, where he could trace his cheek inhaling her words and imagining his wealth. His arms became heavy and he could feel her body stretching along, blood coursing warm through open avenues, flowing into the depths.
As he drifted, Smiths eyes began to focus, tracing the rounded outline of bluegreen staring back at him he started and fell backwards taking endless time to reach the wet wood below. Without delay Samuel was on top of him, "you asshole, I knew it...you had to dream...what did you dream...I saw it; bloody hell I knew it, we sailed right into the hands of the Cracken."

Clairedelune, manub, bakes888, syd1946, Click3, KevRyan, Angshu, AnimeshRay has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Clairedelune (4883) 2007-06-22 23:14

Chris!
I have no idea what your note is all about, but the photo is interesting. Please, forgive me, it is just my somewhat limited English, so don't take it too badly, ok? But even though I don't understand the story, I could picture well Samual and Smith. Go figure that out! ;))
The kind of photos that I like. Something unusual, with a story in it, not a forged one, but a true one. Right there, with this man on the sidewalk with his boat in one hand. I love his smile, his hat, his pants, his running shoes and his attitude towards you. I just wish I could see both eyes.
This man IS a character. I have no doubt.
Love it!
Claire
P.S.: I put a "useful" mark on your note, because somehow, it made me dream! :))

bakes888 (18055) 2007-06-23 4:03

Hi Chris. Great photo and intriguing note. Grown men and toy(?) ships, he must have character. Well composed and processed photo. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

wolf38 (12525) 2007-06-23 4:23

Hello Christopher. For a long time I waited for a new picture of you. There is it now. A marvelous picture in b&w and a noteworthy literary text. Altogether a outstanding photographic contribution. Best regards, Wolfgang.

arjun_das (1850) 2007-06-23 9:08

hi chris,

nice capture of the man holding that miniature ship in b&w mode. good sharp focus on the subject. maybe little bit less dof would have better result. tfs.

best wishes from arjun.

syd1946 (17807) 2007-06-23 13:46

Hello Chris,
One more fine shot from you!I recognize your style to this photo ,not from the black and white format which always fitting to your scenes,but from the posing of the old man.He seems to said,take the photo please I am proud of the handmade ship.Thanks for the story Chris,I enjoy it a lot...

wishes for your weekend,
Thomas

Click3 (1871) 2007-06-23 21:21

Hola Chris...tanks for visiting my Gallery once again and kind comments...long time no see...I see you have incorporated a full array of superb images & messages in your dallery...congrats !
This one is full of meaning...as allways...and technically very attractive.
Saludos from Chile,
Robert

KevRyan (22297) 2007-06-24 7:57

He looks quite proud of this boat - i wonder did he make it? I love that sense of his eyes smiling at you .....I had a boat like this as a kid but really old and much bigger - it was worth a lot of money - I think my parents sold it sometime when things were a little tough .....it certainly disappeared from my life quite suddenly!!

A reference for your quote would be interesting Chris ......a good literary companion to your picture.

best wishes Kev

ben4321 (9781) 2007-06-24 13:25

This is excellent - one of the best environmental/street portraits that I've seen here in quite some time.
He must have made it himself, the pride he has in his creation really shines through.
It's a small detail, but taking a step to the left would have enabled you to frame his face with the boat's rigging rather than having it partially obscuring his face like you have at the moment.
I really like the quality of the scanned black and white - there's no way that any DSLR could even come close. Digital is great, but when it comes to monochrome, film still reigns supreme, and I can't see that changing.
Good work Chris.

Cheers,
Ben

Polonaise (5629) 2007-06-25 8:02

Thanks Almighty on high for my limited English…
I can concentrate fully on your picture - and I love every bit of it…
It screams a portrait from every pixel.
That is a portrait of a very mature man, who HAS TO DO IT …!!!!!!
Modeling the boats, going fishing…You name it…
Smith or Samuel…A human being in his crystal clear form…
Hard to ignore this photo of yours, Christopher…To much of an emotion contained within.
" He was the sort to find a path straight into a persons soul. Not the forgiving soul of God, but the hidden soul of man; instinct. He could provoke the finest dandy into a rage rivaling Zeus. Smith saw nothing in Samuel except for Samuels exceptional prowess topside tending the rigging."…

Enough said .

Thanks, bro.

Don't let it die

george

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-06-25 16:51

Dear Chris,
It is a masterpiece in the making...the writing I mean...really! I felt like it is from the fourth page of a Moby Dick or something...and I felt stupid because I hadn't read it!! Coming back to the image, it is stirring, stolid, impeccably in tune with the literary flourish the equal of which has hardly graced these pages of TE IMHO. Terrific stuff, a delight that enriches us all.
Animesh

Angshu (33324) 2007-06-25 23:57

Good work Chris, one of the best street portraits I've seen for quite a while. The man is proud of his creation or his possession, whichever it maybe & why not! Reading your note is a pleasure, though this time it's pure writing skills & may not be anything to do with the shot...I'm really impressed with your writing abilities. And regarding the 'colours' & tones, film still rules supreme.
Friendly Regards
Angshu

hay_kes (28554) 2007-07-16 22:30

Hi Chris,
What a stunning portrait photo.Nice B&Wcompo.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti