Describing the Sea Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is Mr Stelios Kamakaris, but everyone in Milos knows him by his nickname, "Bizas" or "Bizis", I think. He has been a seaman, a fisherman all his life.

How did I meet him? I was surching for an open "Syrma" (plural="Syrmata", and if you want to know what "Syrmata" is, just check my ***Night falling in Klima***
photo), I wanted to take some inside photos. I found him sitting in his "Syrma" in Mandrakia, talking with another gentleman.

"Can I take a couple of photos from youρ Syrma?", I asked him. "Of course", he said, "but first, take a seat, I will bring you a cup of coffee, you look very tired". I sat there, enjoyed my coffee, and the conversation with Mr. Stelios and the other gentleman. I had forgotten what I came for! Mr. Stelios is one of those great storytellers, he had countless stories about the one of his great loves, the sea. He is also an expert about boats and ships, he can fix everything with his own hands.

I was really enjoying their company and I stayed there for a couple of hours, I really loved hearing him talk, although I sensed some sadness in his words and in his eyes. I had also noticed something strange... He was painting his fishing boat black. I don't remember having ever seen a black fishing boat.

At some point, he asked me "Do you want a beer now?". "Yes, please", I said and while he went to bring me the beer, I took the opportunity to ask the other gentleman, about the boat. "He lost his much beloved wife, a couple of weeks ago, that's why he's painting the boat, his other love, black, in sign of grief"

***MORE PHOTOS FROM MILOS***

kunitsa, bobocortis, bema, clio, antua, ciakgiak, Gerrit, dareco, g_panakia, cunejo200, portmanndominic, Budapestman, vasilpro, coco, Glint, CatherineD, oana79 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (11836) 2009-06-28 5:50

Milos, Santorini, Mykonos...all jewels of Kyklades....all places visited by masses of tourists cattled there by charter flight.
when we think about these places, we figure out the sea, the blue-white buildings, seafood, ouzo and nightlife.....BUT...if you have a bit more of curiosity and sensibility you just go and get lost into the tangle of narrow streets of the villages....and maybe you can find a mr Stelios who start telling his story, his love for the sea, for the beloved persons...and you realized there's a beating heart behind the platinated curtain of mass tourism...

tfs
Silvio

kunitsa (187) 2009-06-28 6:25

Hercules, thanks so much for the photo - along with the note I made me cry! I love how you captured the moment when the old man shares his story with such a passion and openness. He closes the eyes just to recall and picture live that very moment he is narrating about.. So much of blue color on the shot is definitely bringing in the sea feeling, while the glimpse of black adds a sad stroke

TopGeo (21723) 2009-06-28 6:36

Γειά σου Ηρακλή!ουάου
Μου άρεσε: η ιστορία σου, με αυτόν τον εμπειροτέχνη επισκευαστή καικιών! Μία φυγούρα μέσα στον χώρο του! με τις κινήσεις των χερών και του προσώπου του ,που μιλάει για πολλά! Αλλά και που με την έκφρασή του δείχνει πολλά,,,, ακόμη και την γοητεία με την οποία μπόρεσες να δώσεις στο πορτρέτο του με τον φακό σου! εκμεταλευόμενος το φώς που μπαίνει!....
Επαινώ σε!
Γεώργιος

bobocortis (14140) 2009-06-28 7:30

Hello Hercules.
A really intense portrait.
The fisherman has been caught in a moment of great expressiveness.
Excellent management of light.
Best regards.
Bobo.

bema (8677) 2009-06-28 9:12

Geia sou Hercules,

great sotry, great note and a very fine portrait..

have a fine day, Jassu Bernd

fkostas (426) 2009-06-28 9:47

Hi Hercules,

I find this to be very "posed", and there is far too much clutter and colour for an effective portrait.

Keep trying, though. :)

Farah

clio (22605) 2009-06-28 10:34

Geia sou Hrakli,
Great portrait and a very beautiful love story, which, as almost all the great love story, finishes badly.
I imagine when Stelios will take its black boat, all the inhabitants of the island will know that it is him and that he looks in the Aegean Sea for the face and for the soul of his beloves wife.
Maybe, one day, he will find her, then, this day, he will not return...
Thank's for this meeting, filika
Artemis

antua (470) 2009-06-28 11:58

Kalispera Irakli,

katpliktiki i fotografia tou kyriou Steliou.Mou aresan ta xromata,o fotismos alla idiaitera i kinisi pou fainetai na exei i foto.Pragmatika niotho san na eimai ego stin thesi sou kai na akouo tis istories autou tou tragikou kyriou.Poly syginitiki i istoria tou...
Kalo vrady.

Antonis

mesutilgim (36687) 2009-06-28 12:02

Hello dear Hercules,
I like so much those people; in my opinion each of them a unique "philosopher" . And you have given this touch here perfectly.
I can listen them for hours and hours; and you allways get informations you ara not able to fing in any website sor encyclopaedias.
Great moment you've captured here.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

sunamoon (5057) 2009-06-28 12:54

Hola Hercules,

La verdad que el momento de la foto es muy interesante, además el personaje de tu foto parece muy peculiar, me gustan mucho los colores y el ambientes como lo muestras, me parece hasta divertida, muy bien trabajo!

Un saludo,
Elena

ciakgiak (10548) 2009-06-28 16:00

Hello Hercules,
what great and exciting moment you captured. It's really pleasant hearing to these men so full of experience and with such history on its shoulders.
Colors are superb, his expression is really fantastic. Great portrait.
Friendly regard.
Giorgio

Gerrit (35613) 2009-06-28 17:11

Hi Hercules,
great action portrait, sharp and tender.
The dog and painting gear make a great combination.
Regards, Gerrit

danyy (68602) 2009-06-28 23:38

Bonjour Hercules,
un portrait d'une grande qualité graphique, un excellent rendu des lumières portant difficiles.
Le personnage est vraiment typique.
Photo nette et précise et d'une certaine originalité.
Bien à toi.
Daniel.

dareco (17104) 2009-06-28 23:49

I think you have really done a great job of capturing this mans personality. I like the motion of his arms and the expression. An interesting soul!! I enjoyed reading the note. TFS

g_panakia (3980) 2009-06-29 2:31

m'aresei poly h kouventa me an8rwpous pou zoun ki anapneoun gia ti 8alassa...to pneyma kai i skepsi tous einai toso 3exwristi..8liveri i istoria tou filou sou parol'ayta vriskei akomi to kouragio na to palevei...
h foto sou m'aresei h gwnia lhpshs, episis diaxeiristikes poly kala to fws kai den exases kamia plhroforia paroli ti diafora se stop tou eswterikou me to shmeio pou vrisketai o k.Stelios, to mono pou exo na parathrhsw einai oti 8a mou arese na eixe ta matia tou anoixta...
kalh synexeia
georgia

cunejo200 (7157) 2009-06-29 3:43

A fabulous daily life scene Hercules. The fisherman with his hand gestures are expressive, the blue wall provide interesting graphism. Just lovely. well done and congratulations. regards.
Danilo

portmanndominic (2388) 2009-06-29 4:32

Irakli Geia sou

you do'nt take only picture , you tell to us , story and i'st more intresting
TFS , Filika
Dominic

Budapestman (41686) 2009-06-29 5:14

Hi Hercules,
Splendid portrait with lovely story, the composition of the photo is excellent, superb details and colours. Suggestive work.Tfs! Congratulations. Have a nice week!
George

vasilpro (8578) 2009-06-29 8:14

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Πολύ καλή η ιστορία και το πορτραίτο του ψαρά με μοναδική αίσθηση ζωντάνιας και έκφρασης.
Σε χαιρετώ, Βασίλης.

jjbach (9101) 2009-06-29 11:12

Γειά σου Ηρακλή,
Πανέμορφη εικόνα με υπέροχη κίνηση και έκφραση. Καταπληκτική δουλειά!

Γιάννης

aadilj (17950) 2009-06-29 22:49

Hi hercules. This brings many more images to my mind. of the ocean of people who live this life...of colours and of stories. This is a momentary scene but it is poetic and very well composed

coco (27790) 2009-06-30 0:16

Kalispera Hercules.

La historia es magnífica. Creo que es esto que vemos hoy es uno de los motivos por los que me gusta la fotografía.
Pocas vez se puede hacer, creo, de forma fructífera.
Pero cuando lo haces, lo disfrutas mucho más que los siempre manidos paisajes que adornan las colecciones de muchos fotógrafos.

Ta leme, file mou.

kpav (5023) 2009-06-30 1:36

Γεια σου Ηρακλή, καταπληκτικό πορτραίτο και φανταστική η ευκρίνεια όπως και τα χρώματα και η οξύτητα της εικόνας. Αυτό που μου αρέσει περισσότερο όμως είναι το πως περνάει στον θεατή το πάθος με το οποίο διηγείται ο ψαράς τις ιστορίες του από την θάλασσα. Χαιρετώ,
Κώστας.

Glint (3040) 2009-06-30 12:00

Dear Hercules,
your photos and notes of your beloved islands have a way of drawing me in, of making me feel privileged that you show us these places and these people and their stories. I am always more satisfied when there is a person in the frame and a human story to be told.I like that you have shown the motion blur. Are less confident photographer may nto have, but this motion shows the old sailor's expressiveness as he tells his tale.
best regards,
Bev

Dyerco (9038) 2009-06-30 21:10

A man who uses his hands to create and to talk. I like the slower shutter speed to catch the motion.
Phil

Rafer (4230) 2009-07-01 3:18

Insuperable, el hombre está genial....se me cae la babaaaa...saludos

CatherineD (4860) 2009-07-02 11:17

This photo tell a story and the story explains the photo. Beautiful portrait of this man who want to express his sadness through the black colour, surrounding by blue, red, orange... Very impressive scene. Se xairetw file,
Katerina

salvator (18763) 2009-07-03 1:49

Yasu Hercules,
Your work looks outstanding. I almost had difficulties choosing a photo to write. Wonderful colors, wonderful sharpness.
Se xereto. Salvator.

quillo (7158) 2009-07-08 5:31

-

...... una toma emotiva y natural, dos conceptos
que dan a la foto ese algo que la hace cercana
a los sentimientos, y que eso se transmita
en una imagen tiene mérito.

Hola Hércules, me gusta el momento del pintor
de timones con su tranquilo perro detrás.

Un saludo y feliz jornada.

-

oana79 (99) 2009-07-15 13:17

Geia Su Hercules,

It's strange how you are finding these beautiful people and these heart-breaking stories. I have a saying for this: "we are precisely where we should be, at the exact time that we should be"...

Great picture, charming story, thanks for your time and effort!

Cheers,
O.

kdialyna (3068) 2009-07-20 0:19

Φοβερή έκφραση "επιασες" εδώ φίλε μου.
Γεμάτη ένταση και πάθος το πρόσωπο του κυρ' Στέλιου, δείχνει όλη την αγάπη του η καλύτερα τον έρωτα του για την θάλασσα.
Κώστας