a vanishing world Photo

Photographer’s Note

A second photo about the Hemshin people living along the Black sea coast (till Abkhazia in Georgia), also about the architecture of the area, changing fast nowadays.

This old lady kindly allowed me to take her portrait ; she was about to have her nap, as always at that time of the day.

I preferred to keep the original colours here, as my aim is not to post photos only for their beauty, rather first for the information (NB : if I have time later on, I'll maybe try a B&W version, as an exercice).

;-))) ... As I cannot get rid of my "professional deformation" (ex tour guide) : for the ones who have time to follow me, I've added other photos to explain her environment that is disappearing fast :
the large version of the panorama from her window (NB : if you cannot see the photo, here is the link to the small version) : a mere "photocopy" of the reality I'm afraid, but what a superb marriage of nature and architecture ! - those houses are disappearing quickly in most areas, unfortunately),

... and ***a succession of 6 down-to-earth photos about the same house and its environment, starting with *2 not-very-sharp or good, but informative photos* (sorry) : first, the traditional room in which she is sitting*** (links to the next photos in each note).

......................................
The Hemshin people have in general a good level in education and are hard working people (as many other groups living along the Black sea coast), as a consequence they are often richer than in the east of Anatolia. Part of the family lives now in Ankara and is there only for the holidays.

salvator, MrCairo, tehanu_f, Clementi, bostankorkulugu, thea0211 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SteveH (4025) 2008-10-06 3:35

Hi Cath, Another image showing how involved you become with your subjects. The sidelight from the window showing us her face is perfect. As much as I enjoy the other elements in the room, colours and textures, I would really like to have seen a much closer shot of her face. BTW the link to TL didn't work for me :-( cheers, Steve

yetis_bey (337) 2008-10-06 3:37 [Comment]

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amazon (10931) 2008-10-06 3:42

tipik bir hemsinli kadın,başindaki oraya has yöresel örtüsü ile son derece güzel fotoğraf vermiş,dik kadraj ve ahşap arka plan son derece dikkat çekici,
ellerine sağlık,
iffet

faubry (32511) 2008-10-06 3:50

bonjour Cath, une femme très fière d'être photographiée, un bel intérieur en bois, une photo intéressante; merci
à bientôt
bises
francine

Greyfinn (32) 2008-10-06 3:57

Hi Cath
Next impressive pic you've made. I lke your point of view and your smart style
Thanks for sharing
Piotr

marietom (32284) 2008-10-06 4:17

salut Cath,

Une vue toute simple, de superbes couleurs, matières, et tissus... J'aime beaucoup.
Bonne journée
Marie

MiguelP (14338) 2008-10-06 4:44

The other day I saw a fantastic turquish film "Pandora´s Box", in fact it won the main award of the San Sebastian Film Festival, and the showed this arquitecture as well, or so I think. I love the framing here, Cath, the wall of wood but down there the colors and shape of the silks... Thanks.

MarcT (21105) 2008-10-06 6:54

Salut Cath,
Joli portrait de vieille matrone avec les photos des enfants au mur. La lumière passant par la fenêtre donne un bel éclairage latéral.
Amitiés
Marc

Polonaise (5638) 2008-10-06 8:15

'Nobody does it better"

It's simply pricelsss of what you do to this community, Cathy.

I have this uneasy feeling that I know Turkey better than my both countries - for crying out loud !!!

:-)))

Love, Katarzyna...Love and respect

g
............

ymrk (9266) 2008-10-06 9:35

mERHABA CATH!

Harika bir siluet,güzel renkler.Tebrik ediyorum,güzünüze sağlık

YAĞMUR

holmertz (10115) 2008-10-06 11:31

Hello Catherine,
It's amazing how you managed to make this woman look so perfectly relaxed. I take it for granted she doesn't receive foreign photographers in her house every day, maybe not even every week ;-)
The even light, coming from just outside the picture, is superb (as usual), and I love the photos on the simple wooden wall.
Best wishes,
Gert

mesutilgim (37583) 2008-10-06 14:22

Hi dear Cath,
Another wonderfull interior capture. Perfect pov and amazing light management.
Very good notes as well.
TFS and
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

salvator (18995) 2008-10-06 14:33

Bonsoir Catherine,
A very srtiking photo, with outstanding colors sharpness and use of light. I love it. Superbly composed.
Amities. Salvator.

kensimage (8543) 2008-10-06 22:16

She reminds me of "Whistler's Mother" (the nickname of the painting "Arrangement in Gray and Black" by James Whistler), the way she sits serenely but a bit sternly, as if to say, "Just be sure you don't make me late for my nap." It's great how she's placed on an old couch, against old wood, yet those surroundings are well-maintained, like her! The window light is really beautiful, too, Cath. Regards, Ken.

MrCairo (4747) 2008-10-06 22:22

Mood, mood and mood again - it's great frame. Face with calm eyes !
Best regards VVojtek

tehanu_f (6874) 2008-10-06 23:25

the original colours are very good here, maybe much better than bw because I like the colour of the wood behind the woman. it accentuates the other colours and patterns nicely. your portraits are getting better and better (but none will come close to our top model cahide's!:))))

Burberry1 (6041) 2008-10-06 23:41

Wonderful tones, great light and compo not to mensione the great relaxing expression of this woman.
A photo like from the old books-full of nice mood and calmness.

My best regards, Agnieszka

bantonbuju (48856) 2008-10-06 23:51

classical, delightful, well prepared portrait in the natural environment of her house which she seems to be proud of...
beautiful...
best, j.

Clementi (45849) 2008-10-07 0:58

Ciao Catherine,
un bellissimo ritratto dove la donna ha una bella espressione ed e' fiera di se stessa.Ancora una volta hai colto un momento molto bello.
ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

nirvana73 (8884) 2008-10-07 1:59

Merhaba Catherine
doğal ve samimi bir kare
ışık ve sunum harika
paylaşım için teşekkürler
selamlarımla
Özhan

dvlazar (6492) 2008-10-07 2:48

Great environmental portrait Cath - she seems comfortable in this space. THe window light is lovely, and the darkness around her on the wood adds drama.
Top work,
Dave

azizbilgili (1714) 2008-10-07 4:54

Merhaba Catherine,

Işık, renkler teyzenin doğallığı hepsi mükemmel olmuş.

Paylaşımınız için teşekkürler,
Saygılarımla.
@ziz Bilgili

parbo (11054) 2008-10-07 5:13

Hello Catherine,

Beautiful full portrait of her with amazing lights through window. Wooden wall and door creates splendid background with their unpainted, natural textures. I checked also the panorama from her window, its really unbelievable. Wonderful, congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

cirano (1283) 2008-10-07 10:58

Pîreka Hemşînî bi rûniştina xwe jî,bi nêrînên xwe yên jixwerazî jî,bi wêne û prîza dîwarê texte jî gelek balkêş e.Pîroz dikim.
TFS.
Dûrzan

ninaL (19646) 2008-10-07 12:15

Elle est superbe.
Ou bien, elles sont superbe...la photo et la dame...non, je voulais dire, la photo et LES dames, il ne faut pas oublier celle qui a su cadrer et composer ainsi de façon aussi élégante dans un intérieur aussi modeste...Ce qui frappe ici, c'est cette touche dans la composition, proche des toiles-portraits classiques des gens "de la haute", dans un décor de la vie quotidienne simple mais très belle...
Amitiés, Grazyna

KemaLMerT (11226) 2008-10-07 14:15

Işık, renkler, doku..ve kompozisyon tümü ile çok güzel ve başarılı. kutlarım. selamlar

scalerman (25787) 2008-10-07 14:51

Catherine: great feel in this image - along with a host of details to complete the portrait - straight from the Dutch masters' school of painting. congrats. c

bostankorkulugu (34198) 2008-10-08 5:58

the texture and the colour of the wooden pannels and door looks just great here as the background for the lady... beautiful shot with a caheming light cath... my dad is a laz (and mum is a turkish cypriot), we even have a house in a village of hopa very close to the georgian border, but heavent been there since 1988 :((...

thea0211 (1355) 2008-10-09 12:56

cath,
still impressed by the human richness of your photography!
i like here the intimity of the corner where she takes her nap in, the kids and nephews portraits on the wooden wall, her confortable wool stockings and last but not least, the nicely 'posed' electricity cable.
a life, as it is.
i would have kept the colors here too, i think black&white would loose the texture and warmness of the wooden walls, an important aspect of the house.
well done!
dora

dilane (10289) 2008-10-11 14:43

Bonsoir Catherine,
elle semble ravie d'être photographiée, elle me fait penser à ces photos de nos grands mères, j'aime ici les couleurs chaudes du bois, sol, mur, porte, quel bonheur - et la lumière filtrée par le rideau éclaire juste ce qu'il faut le visage de cette dame - sympa aussi les photos au mur...j'aime beaucoup
bon dimanche -

baladeva (202) 2008-11-06 20:44

:) like the title, appropriate. You know you seem to mee as some historical perservationist, I just realised that, mean you take all those photos of "less privilaged" people, yet happy people.
Good job.
TFS.
Nenad.