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Hemingway's Protagonist


Hemingway's Protagonist
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Akrawi (rafid76) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 507 W: 12 N: 512] (2508)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-15
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Olympus E-500, Olympus Z DIGITAL ED 8mm Fisheye, RAW
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-25 15:06
Viewed: 1199
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This guy was quite the character, he told me his father was, Gregorio Fuentes, Hemingway's inspiration for writing 'Old man & the Sea.' He said that his father was taking care of Hemingway's boat while he was living in Cuba and that parts of his store was made up from parts of the stern from the originally boat. Although the story was based on his father experiences in the sea, his own experience of coming to America was almost parallel to the story.
He escaped communist Cuba in the 70's on a small wooden raft trying to reach the Florida Keys (were he currently resides), which is about 90 miles North West of Havana. Allot of Cubans have tried this method and either drowned, got chowed up by sharks or got themselves caught by U.S. Coast Guard and deported back to Cuba for even worse reappraisals from the Government.
While on his wooden raft he would only fish to eat and once he caught an actually swordfish that he struggled to pull, from his lack of strength being in the sea, for 2 days on his hook that brought him as close as 2 miles of Key west and saved his life from being stranded in the ocean. To show his appreciation he cut the line and let it go, but he swore to me that ever since that day 40 years ago for 5 years he would see the same fish sculled on its fin from his hook near his boat every time he was at sea, he told me that a bond is always created between Man and Beast when they spill blood in a struggle.

Hemingway's never stated that he had a real live protagonist to his story, that it was completely from his mind, but after spending hours with this man listing to him in his cigar shop, telling me all this I became a believer.

If you Google GREGORIO FUENTES, you will see wealth of info on this subject and also a striking resemblance to this man!!!

I titled it 'SANTIAGO' which is the main character in Hemingway's book. the lady next to him is his daughter.
xkolba, adores, soma, paura, anducina, saylan-cb, gunbud, vagabondtravels, abulafia has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To robertokeywest: haharafid76 1 10-31 12:33
To paura: ?rafid76 1 05-02 01:47
To soma: thxrafid76 1 05-02 01:43
To angelsimon: hayrafid76 1 05-02 01:40
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • xkolba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 284 W: 70 N: 245] (3769)
  • [2007-04-25 16:12]

Hi Robert,
Excellent street shot. Interesting use of fisheye lens, great colors and sharpness. The picture is very well framed, you added excellent note.
Regards
Maciek

  • Great 
  • adores Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2546 W: 48 N: 3520] (11351)
  • [2007-04-25 16:58]

Hi Robert!
Great capture indeed!I like the effect of the fisheye and the composition is really great. And what a story you're telling..!
Regards, Anabela

Hi Robert.
A great picture and a fantastic history. I liked this book very much, because is really good and because Im inlove with all about fishing, and i like cigars very much too.
The effect of the 8mm. works well here. Exposure, colors and POV are very good. Only i donīt like the signature on the picture i would like it a little bit more down (hope you donīt mind), but it is only a little detail. It is really a nice picture. Congratulations and regards from Spain.
Angel.

  • Great 
  • soma Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 43 N: 112] (882)
  • [2007-04-25 19:31]
  • [+]

intresting picture & an excellent note rafid !
you know how to make ones connect to your photos by adding this nice remerable storeis .I can see you had a good time there with all those stories and cigars . Good use of the fisheye lens .one thing i agree about the signature it needs to move down a littel ...:P
have a nice day rafid ^_^
regards ,
assma

  • Great 
  • paura Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3823 W: 8 N: 2531] (20343)
  • [2007-04-26 6:18]
  • [+]

Robert,
Interesting composition here. Lighting, colors and shapes well resolved. Well done.

Are you already flying in the Embraer?

Paulo

Hi RObert, i like a lot how you have used the fish eye lens here!
the scene is very good, as the expressions of the persons!
bravo!
ciao!
Valeria

Excellent and picturesque compo, vivid colors and lens effect. Interesting characters. Nice brown, green and red tones.

TFS,

Andreea

Hi Robert
Excellent shot!Interesting composition is really great colors and sharpness,excellent note...
TFS/Regards

  • Great 
  • gunbud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4099 W: 3 N: 3492] (16267)
  • [2007-04-30 22:24]

Hi Robert,
Wonderful fish eye of the unique open air cigar store. The colors are strong and ture with lovely expression caught on the faces of your subjects. Wonderfully entertaining note.
Regards, Tom

Hi Robert

Great use of the fish eye. What a distorted view of this cigar shop. He totally could be old man in the sea's grandson haha. Really nice work.
Ben

Hi Robert
I love the effect of your fisheye! i don't believe i have seen anyone use it for a shot like this before. Great idea, i love the display of cigars and the two character in the center. The curved edges makes a natural lead to the center of the picture.
Really clever work
Harry

i love this photo, it's fantastic. however, i can assure you that he is not related to el capitan de hemingway. i've known this duval street cigar roller for a decade and i can assure you it would have come up. i've also met gregorio fuentes, hemingway's captain, several times in cojimar, cuba. i photographed him and his son. he's now gone, his son is still in cuba.

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