The Draw Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

I suppose this is a bit of a change for me - a 'portrait'. Taken by stealth from about 15 metres away, while sitting amongst the outdoor tables of a cafe beside Honfleur's 'vieux bassin'. I used a longish lens setting to take a few shots of some of those 'voyeurs' who had placed themselves at the outward facing tables for gazing at passers-by. I was pretty sure she didn't notice me take this, but when I opened the file on my computer I thought she seemed to be looking straight at the camera! Anyway, she was so absorbed in drawing the cigarette smoke into her lungs that perhaps the camera didn't register. I enjoyed watching her patient Dalmatian rest his head on her leg while she smoked away. I'm reminded of a catchy song from the 1940s:

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
That you hate to make him wait
But you just gotta have another cigarette

Written by Merle Travis and sung by Tex Williams, the song 'Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette' was the number 1 hit for 6 weeks in 1947, and must be the best smoking song ever. Merle is on Tex's left in this 'video clip' from another era.

fanni, BeBeHooker, saxo042, ChrisJ, holmertz, tyro, Royaldevon, feather, paura, JanD, jlbrthnn, Kielia, skippy007, gunbud, mikeyeats, bisok, LeeLoo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

aadilj (17950) 2009-08-06 5:31

Thats cool and without a worry shot thats beenc aptured so well and with such amazing lights and clarity!

delpeoples (6804) 2009-08-06 5:33

Hi Neighbour, she certainly seems intent on sucking away at that ole coffin nail. Great capture, I love the facial expression, her eyes are like those old portraits you see in haunted houses. And the dalmatian is priceless, poor thing should sue for passive smoking. Nice sharp image with great light and colours. Congrats on this very Gallic photo, Lisa.

BeBeHooker (6032) 2009-08-06 5:49

Hi Macondo!
Wonderful woman, wonderful scene. Excellent momment. Perfect dynamic shot.
Cheers!

ChrisJ (70443) 2009-08-06 6:06

Hi Andrew

A superb daily life capture & good portrait of this nicotine addict. Good dof & sharpness with excellent graphism, colour & lighting contrasts. Tfs!

saxo042 (16316) 2009-08-06 6:07

Hi Andrew,
She obviously doesn´t read all the warning text on the packages. Maybe some day she will be aware of the facts. But that´s her problem... You have anyway taken a very good photo here, I like the red colour against the black background.
Kind regards
Gunnar

snunney (35522) 2009-08-06 6:49

Hello Andrew,
A great 'off the cuff' portrait of this lady enjoying a cigarette in the sunshine. The dog resting his head on her knee is a definite bonus and adds much to the atmosphere.

holmertz (10003) 2009-08-06 8:03

Hello Andrew,
An excellent portrait, or whatever you prefer to call it. Those eyes and the intensity of her inhalation are really worth watching. The black background is perfect, and the dog's head on her leg is such a sweet ingredient in this otherwise shocking picture ;-)
I am totally amazed that they in 1947 were singing about "smoking yourself to death". I thought smoking was regarded as an entirely nice and sophisticated habit in those bad old days.
Regards,
Gert

tyro (2668) 2009-08-06 13:03

Hello, Andrew.

Fabulous!

A very fine impromptu portrait of a woman who, were she not drawing so frantically on that weed, might actually look quite attractive!

The single-minded concentration on that cigarette has been captured perfectly - the tight muscles of the neck, the drawn-in cheeks, the posture of the right hand holding the cigarette and, of course, the miserable scowl.

And, not least, that poor long-suffering Dalmatian!

An excellent photograph and a great note and link to accompany it!

Best Wishes,

John.

burraburra (914) 2009-08-06 15:25

Hi Ian,
Good portrait shot after so many wonderful landscapes :) The splash of colours work well here with the dark BG. Love the clarity. I like your notes and the link. This lady is certainly getting her moneys worth sucking the small remainder of her ciggy; hand on bag she is getting ready to go.
Regards,
Graham.

Royaldevon (5944) 2009-08-07 0:57

Hello Andrew,

Yes, this is quite a change for you, but it is a very interesting and successful one.
I don't think she is looking at you. There would be more 'interest' in her gaze: a query, a twinkle, a pose.
The shot is impressively detailed and stands out incredibly well against the dark shadow of the b/g.
This could be a great anti-smoking advert; the total concentration, from her, on the killer weed and the pathetic and soulfull gaze from her beloved, caring friend!
Well done, Andrew!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

feather (50168) 2009-08-07 14:36

Excellent timing as she drags the last of the smoke from the cancer stick into her blackened lungs. I love the attitude of the poor dog as he waits patiently. The dark interior of the café is a perfect background, especially contrasting so well with the colour of her top.
Loved the video. Thank goodness those smoke-filled rooms are a thing of the past.
Kath

alftrek (2929) 2009-08-07 16:20

Hello Andrew,
I think too that she noticed you and she looks pretty mad too. You are lucky that she didnt ge up from her seat and thrash your camera with that longish lens.

A well timed shot particularly with the dimple on her cheek and that look in her eyes, though her dark hairs blend in with the black background. I like this daily life street photo.

Regards
Alfred

kschanna (6) 2009-08-08 2:46

Hi Andrew,

This is a true portrait and the success in this picture is in the moment you released the shutter. Being an ex-smoker, I know whats going through her mind right this minutes, a mixture of contentment and joy - of finishing a cigarette.

Very well captured
Regards
Kamran

paura (39376) 2009-08-08 5:12

Andrew,
Interessante composição mostrando um hábito que está aabando por aqui. Bonita composição, com bons ajustes de exposição.

Abraço

Paulo

JanD (15053) 2009-08-08 7:30

Howdy Macondo!
Very nice woman, interesting scene. Good momment. Very good capture. Original work.
Regards.

ben4321 (9807) 2009-08-09 3:45

Man, she looks pissed off!
The light is excellent in this shot, and I like how she stands out from that dark background. The dog is a nice detail too.
Shooting with a shorter lens would have given this shot less of that stealthy surveillance feel, but then again I can see why you might not have wanted to get any closer...

Cheers,
Ben

wolf38 (13087) 2009-08-09 9:47

Hello Andrew. The photo is a skillful person study. Very well observed and in the best way realizes. Altogether protruding. Best regards, Wolfgang.

delkoo (34810) 2009-08-10 4:29

hi andrew,
nice portrait taken with expertise, she seems enjoying her cigarette, the black background iqs perfect for a such situation.

best regards
didier

jlbrthnn (39039) 2009-08-10 6:24

Hello Andrew,
Your portrait taken in a spontaneous way and with the dog is remarkable. The black background contributes to the glare of the image. A very beautiful opportunist photograph. It is noticed that the practice of the cigarette is not very gracious. Superb clearness, very good realization. Congratulations.
Have a nice day.
Cordially
Joël

chriswhitley (1480) 2009-08-10 13:30

Hi Andrew. Not so French chic. A very successful portrait, the dark background assisting greatly as a number have remarked. The dog is a really nice touch. Chris

fanni (8889) 2009-08-11 12:54

Hello Andrew,
sometimes we look- but we don't see... maybe that was the case with your taking a photo of this lady?
of course, maybe she didn't care...
but in any case, i like this photo: very good capture, and it would say a lot more to a good psychologist ;) Good, interesting moment!
And I also like it that you captured the dog as well :) the doggie... waiting... and loving its master no matter what sort of master it may be...!
best regards,
Elena

Kielia (8739) 2009-08-13 11:46

Hi Andrew,
an amazing portrait of this bold lady! She is obviously so much addicted to this vice that she did not even notice you. The expression on her face is priceless! Great management of the light! And a fantastic note. Congratulation!
Warm regards
Harriet

skippy007 (7355) 2009-08-13 16:59

Hello Andrew, I don't think you totally got away with it, I'm sure she is looking at you. Amazing, you see these smokers sucking away as though their life depended on it, I know what it's like because I was one of them. There is a lot to like in this shot, the expression & the look, colour & contrast, the Dalmatian with his head resting on her lap, rich colours & clarity, I also like the dark BG, making her "pop out".
The sound on my computer is not working, I was unable to fully appreciate the song but the message is clear.
Thanks
Take care
Santo
PS. I think Alfred is back sometime next month. A good time for another meeting?

Waylim (11159) 2009-08-14 0:13

Andrew,
Wow, not her best moment is it. I hope she can see this shot and see how it doesn't look so hot. The dog is just so patiently waiting. Wonder if she did see you took this shot even when you were far away, that's why she kind of give you that look. Anyway, not cool to be a smoker this day, actually very pathetic sometimes to see them smoking outside in the rain and cold. Have a good day.
Way

molla (6903) 2009-08-16 14:39

hej Andrew
it's more and more seldom we ae people smoking in this way (fortunately)
you have to se a french movie from the 60's :)
But I do like the attitude, her way if looking at the you.
Anders

gildasjan (24149) 2009-08-26 7:56

Bonjour Andrew
L'instant propice au déclenchement pour figer l'attitude de cette fumeuse.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

bernardec (2235) 2009-09-17 9:06

Andrew

bon, elle fume beaucoup
et son regard semble sévère
mais ce que j'aime dans ce portrait c'est la position du chien
pas facile à prendre
bravo

Bernard

batalay (21213) 2009-09-18 16:25

Hello Andrew,

I like this portrait of sorts, and your message. Please, don't worry about critiquing it, but it brought to mind the photo I posted three years ago, Lung Cancer Research Center.

Warm regards,

Bulent

gunbud (28165) 2009-10-07 20:21

Hi Andrew,
This is a classic humorous shot. It looks like she has not had a cigarette in a while with that long drag getting the maximum of needed nictoine into her bloodstream.
The dalamation has found a nice bit of shade and protection from second-hand smoke.
Regards, Tom

mikeyeats (440) 2009-10-09 2:45

Andrew,
Just my sort of picture, human life in the real. A person smoking which you see less and less of these days.
I like the dog, dogs do that sort of thing, and the having a black background concentrates the image really well.
Keep taking pictures of people. Sometimes when looking at the picture on computer afterwards you realise you have been seen, I like a black compact for the job and turned to silent, no horrible mirror noise of an SLR.
Good one.
Mike

bisok (290) 2009-10-24 1:54

Hi Andrew

I know this "painting" from somewhere :-)
I mean Leonardo da Vinci, but there isn't a cigarette there :-)
and the woman is much younger ...
It doesn't matter!
I like the idea and the photograph. It's a fresh look at ...
Thank you for interesting Photographer's Note as well.

Oh .., I reckon, You don't smoke ... :-)
Me too :-)

Greetings
John

LeeLoo (5236) 2009-12-09 5:24

Dear Andrew McRae!
Wonderful woman.
Amazing pose.
Excellent scene.
Nice point of view.
Original shot.
Perfect exposure.
TFS!

agjika (289) 2009-12-19 5:12