On whiskey and Kafka Photo

Photographer’s Note

Sometimes while traveling you experience very strange days. July 21, 2008 was such a day.

We were walking up the hillside neighborhoods of the city of Salt when we came across a nice group of ladies who invited us into their terrace for coffee.
The patriarch of the family pictured here served as coffee on long glasses. I started tasting this strange cold coffee and even though I am not a coffee drinker I noticed a strange taste, then the man showed us a bottle of whiskey he was hidind in a paper bag. Turns out it was whiskey and coca cola, the coffee came later......

The rest of the day got even stranger, we climbed up to the top where we played football with some kids next to the mosque while the prayer was being called, and while I was filming one of my friends a didnt notice that his bag was gone. Turns out a little kid took it but as a game, and someone led us to the house where the kid was being punished by the angry parents for taking the tourist's bag. Then they ave us some tea and then one of the neighbors who spole pretty gooid english invited us into his house. Well his mother was Romanian and his father Jordanian. We only met th emother for one minute but she then left and was wearing a very conservative musmim dress, while her father in law was a happy go lucky man who told us he read kafka and nietzche.

ribeiroantonio, scalerman, johannes68, gary91, Floydian, macondo, noborders, Colombiana, bostankorkulugu, rigoletto, fabio_ts, riclopes, delkoo, BennyV, Housegaijin, dvlazar has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (21925) 2008-09-25 17:59

I never thought it would be possible to get that sort of spontaneous hospitality in Jordan. Women inviting for coffee, whiskey and coffee, kids games, etc, etc. It is really very interesting.
For the picture, it is a very nice portrait and very well done.
Antonio

scalerman (25747) 2008-09-25 18:21

Daniel: you've been using this POV in a number of your images - I think it works very, very well. Really, in a reportage vein. Great reporting, and cogent note - I suppose I'll have to redress my stereotypes of the Middle East - just a great note - incisive travel vignette. c

kikvel (4772) 2008-09-25 20:24

seems a Kakfa story! I like the feeling of the picture, not easy to explain why, maybe the old facade and the face of the man

Cesar

johannes68 (2866) 2008-09-25 23:43

Hi Daniel,
Romanian women seem to get anywhere! Funny story, an unforgettable day. This is the best way to tavel, to really dive into a land, get to know people, to see what hides behind the walls and buildings, and to learn that things are more or less similar wherever you get ;)
Regards, Johannes

barrufeto_77 (25817) 2008-09-26 0:37

Hola Daniel.

La historia es curiosa...y divertida...menos para el pobre chaval entiendo.

De la foto me gusta el POV y el buen contraste que hace con la pared.

Un saludo!

gary91 (15321) 2008-09-26 2:41

Salut Daniel,
Superbe image !
Composition vraiment nickel.
La prise de vue en contre plongée associée au tilt donne vraiment un effet énigmatique.
Très beau portrait et personnage étonnant.
Bonne journée à toi et bon week-end.
Amicalement, Christian

Floydian (30970) 2008-09-26 3:01

Hi Daniel,
Not only a perfect angle, but look at that face, what a great expression, strong, hard life, but still standing tall and proud. Also enhanced by your great low pov were it also includes the houses in a colour that fit perfectly to the man and wall on the left...clever, very clever and very good work.
Great note also, shows us daily life in a very simple but beautiful way.
Regards, Henk

macondo (13135) 2008-09-26 3:12

Hello Daniel.
I thought your story was very well told and a great background to this very 'kafka-esque' photo. He doesn't look exactly happy go lucky in this photo, but it is a very good portrait. I like the tilt and the low viewpoint very much. You captured his eyes at just the right moment. His face is well lit and shows every line and wrinkle very sharply against the slightly blurry buildings behind. The photo has a sort of spooky quality which is well suited to the story.
Regards,
Andrew

noborders (14199) 2008-09-26 5:40

What a great travel tale ! I enjoyed the succession of events, after all Yemen does not sound so dangerous reading your stories... A mixture of religion and freedom ; it seems that you met there decent and interesting people !
Superb portrait (as usual),
Best,
Cath.

Colombiana (2544) 2008-09-26 14:58

Hola Daniel,
Esta foto está excelente, y mejor aún, acompañada
de una interesante nota. Buenísimo punto de vista
el que utilizaste para captar de forma clara, no solo
a uno de los protagonistas de tu nota, sino poder
apreciar la construcción vieja--aparentemente abandonada, pero
con un tipo de arquitectura muy típica al lugar.
La expresión del señor denota una fuerte, pero al mismo tiempo afable personalidad.
Un abrazo...
Maryori :)

MarcT (21101) 2008-09-27 15:49

Salut Daniel,
Joli portrait rapproché. L'image est rude et sombre... pas beaucoup de bonheur qui en émane. Jolie histoire joyeuse dans ta note par contre.
Amitiés
Marc

bwiti (402) 2008-10-06 17:37

Très chouette ce portrait ! D'abord dans la finesse des traits dessinés, ensuite dans les teintes sombres de ce cliché, enfin dans l'air étrange et suspicieux de cet homme.
Efficace...

bostankorkulugu (33688) 2008-10-08 0:51

hey mister... Happy Birthday again! (i sent a greeting before though on fb)...
i like this shot a lot together with the note of course... i like the way you composed it with three layers, the portrait, the blue wall and the building behind... the way he looks up adds a lot to the charm i think... good job my friend...

take care...

korkut

rigoletto (26368) 2008-10-10 13:04

Here is the Whiskey Story ;)
Of course, i read your story on the exact day of its upload, but it was one of those terrible days with a broken server, so i couldn't add my words down under it.
What to say? Really a strange reportage with the patriarch, i really would not expect to be invited for whisky. The bag story is another weird one, you had a kind of strange adventure on that day.
All the best, buddy.
Deniz

ps: happy belated birthday!

jcdurka1 (1940) 2008-10-11 6:00

J'aime beaucoup ces visages profonds, marqués d'experiences et de gravités parfois. C'est toujours aussi bien pris et aussi bien raconté. Superbe.
JC

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-10-12 5:58

Bueno amigo Daniel, vas a tener que venir a Colombia para que sepas lo que es disfrutar de un buen café, sin whisky y sin Coke...

La historia en tu nota es interesante y la foto, no podria ser menor. Me gusta la nitidez del retrato, donde se observa con buena definición cada detalle, el adecuado uso de la luz y los excelente colores.

Saludos desde Colombia, John

fabio_ts (13674) 2008-10-17 3:32

I love how you have used the wide lens setting in this excellent portrait, also I really like the perspective from the low POV, fine work Daniel, BRAVO!!!

have a nice weekend,
Fabio.

riclopes (33011) 2008-11-27 0:31

Very nice to read the experience of your travel in the note, Daniel. You travel a lot! I also went to Jordan in April but didn't go to the very North and also haven't posted anything yet.
Anyway, this is a great portrait. I like the half/half composition showing the surrounding architecture in the BG and the low POV enhances his thoughtful expression while he's looking up.
rgds,
ric

delkoo (34414) 2008-11-27 4:10

bonjour daniel,
ton aventure est a la hauteur de cette photo, palpitante, originale, ces rencontres inoubliables sont la clé des voyages...

didier

toni_al (15430) 2008-12-03 10:57

Hala Daniel
Veo que ultimament tienes mas personajes que paysages, lo que se te da muy bien, son imagines que cuentan historias y con mucha fuerza
Buen Trabajo
Saludos
Toni

xavis (3176) 2008-12-17 13:50

Un reretrato con fuerza y caracter. El plano contra picado da mucha fuerza al personage y a la vez muestra mejor el contexto y arquitectura del lugar. Las luces estan muy conseguidas, como los colores.

Excelente trabajo,

Hasta la vista,

Javier

Cara (2029) 2008-12-23 13:57

Hello Daniel,
Great portrait, the sharpness is awesome and so is the pov choice providing a nice compo and dof.
I am allways intimidated when trying to take portrait street photos and i admire your abilities.
Congratulations, Regards,
Daniel

BennyV (4769) 2009-01-16 4:02

Wow, this is an impressive portrait. Excellent framing, great background and a telling look. Terrific stuff!
Great personal note too.

Benny

coco (27900) 2009-02-03 6:10

Hola Daniel.

Me perdí en setiembre esta foto y la verdad sabe mal, porque es toda una lección de fotografía.

Un saludo.

kschanna (6) 2009-03-09 5:34

Hello Daniel

It is certainly an interesting story and the picture goes wll with the central character of your story. I quite like the quirky angle and the man's expression

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

Housegaijin (346) 2009-03-09 5:39