The Man At The Market Photo

Photographer’s Note

I met this man just as we sat down to eat our first TE gathering meal.......I'd just spotted this very colourful graffiti mural and saw this chap sitting in front of it - he offered to move - and i quickly admitted I was more interested in photographing him than the mural. He told me it had been painted by someone from Portugal and how much he liked this guy's work......and then he got into wondering why i should want to photograph him.........I told him that I thought he had a very kindly face and that whatever life had dealt him he seemed to come through it with his spirit intact......indeed he dealt with me in the calmest and kindest of ways. I now wish I'd spent more time with him as I really warmed to him......I was not sure how he was living but I'm guessing he had a stable place to stay......he was just so accepting and happy to have met me and for someone to take an interest in him.............

Galeota, bantonbuju, AnaFrantz, MiguelP, designsoul, Clairedelune has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10334) 2006-11-13 4:27

Yep, this man has indeed a face forged like an history book and even though appearances may sometimes be rather far from truth, I do feel a sort of calmness and kindness flowing out of his eyes. I'm not really sure the graffiti is the best background to go along with his face. Perhaps two interesting subjects but that I'd personally have dissociated. This is a touching photograph which gains its full dimension from the story that goes along with it. I like the way you have caught a noble side of this man, the fundamental qualities that we all share as human beings independently of our social status.

bantonbuju (48796) 2006-11-13 4:38

this one is not a nice, cute or some other pop-art photo,
this photo is not about learning the world - its about reading the soul,
a brave post today, my friend;
i do admire your growing on intensity of talking to people, ever closer...
best wishes, j.

hickthom (328) 2006-11-13 4:38

This picture is very natural and the expression of the man communicates a lot of his inner self. You certainly have a gift for taking portraits.

Thank you

MiguelP (14336) 2006-11-13 5:44

I can´t help but to look at the sarcastic smile of the "thing" on the right of the frame, specially when I confront "it" with the reality you present us in the main term. I guess we live in a colorfull world, the point is that certain people are just allow to enjoy the grey one. A close-up shot with a wide shot subject. Take care Kev.

Furachan (0) 2006-11-13 5:51

One of those great Ryan portraits, inflinching yet compassionate at the same time...
Excellent work,
Francis

AnaFrantz (624) 2006-11-13 8:11

That's the reason why I like human portrait so much. That's why I love photography even more. The ability of telling tales. History hidden behind smiles, shiny eyes, or sad faces. Marks, wrinkles, scarf's. Made by time, love or hate. That's why I believe photography beside art should be a mirror of reality, so one could bear your own wounds by finding himself in an stranger eye, who doesn't know where he lives, or does know but doesn't want to come back. Where on could not feel so lonely by meeting and knowing another soul. I liked this one, because his eyes tells me about life, and about what you well said "and that whatever life had dealt him he seemed to come through it with his spirit intact......" Intact or not, he does seems to hold the secret.

aralda (1240) 2006-11-13 8:41

I personally like the association of this guy with the graffiti in the back. I love that smile in the graffiti; prevents us from taking anything too seriously.
His eyes are wonderful, and nice to see his headphones. He was certainly enjoying his time there, outdoors, in the atmosphere he liked: music, the graffiti...
Raluca

natwald (0) 2006-11-13 9:38

The quality of the equipment seems to show through more in close ups.

Angelillo (9065) 2006-11-13 16:01

Hi Kev,

I absolutely like your note, it's plenty of humanity, of truly interest for life. I think that's we can see in your shot, in the way in which this man looks at you. I read in his eyes gratitude, affection, interest. On the other hand his face is like a memorial of life, the rides in the sky, the sign of, I guess, old burns. The bakcground is too very good, the big smile of the painting is nothing in comparison with the shy but alive smile of this man. It's touching, Kev. Thanks a lot!

Angel.

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2006-11-13 18:10

Hi Kev, this is a wonderful portrait, of a man with very friendly and gentle eyes. I love the way you got close to him, and the respect you pay him with this portrait. To be honest, I was waiting for this one, as you spoke about him with great joy, and now you say that you would have loved to spend more time with him.
It's a strange combination to see this gentle man in front of that loud wall of graffiti. Wonderful portrait, Kev.

designsoul (21394) 2006-11-13 22:55

This man moves me deeply, Kev. Who could resist such a kind, beautiful old face? I am so happy you didn't. He is remarkable, as is that warm glimmer in his eyes, the gentle soul he must have. I think I have to make space for it in my favs, Kev, for I keep looking at him again and again... and am moved in a very strange way. This is beyond photography to me, something very elemental, something very essential... spirit. You have captured it in the most beautiful, non-obtrusive, kind way. And it reaches us who open the thumbnail.
take care,
h

Clairedelune (4885) 2006-11-15 17:24

What a face! Your story and the photo that goes with it is so enjoyable. There is ten thousands stories (or even more) in this face, in his eyes, in his smile and in every wrinkle he got.
And what's more, this photo talks also a lot about you Kev Ryan, about your own spirit.
Life is not easy for me lately, but your photo Kev achieves to put a big smile in my face. Well, maybe not the kind of smile we can see in the graffiti, but a smile nevertheless. Thanks for that. And thank to this man!
Claire

InasiaJones (20705) 2006-12-15 5:07

Hi Kev,

Your note is informative and touching, as I think you dealt with this man respectfully and it’s a great way to approach people like you did.

I guess that your courteous attitude reflect in this image as the man seems genuinely collaborative and friendly. A very good portrait, urban and contemporary.

André