The Orange Seller Of Sultanhamet, a photo from Istanbul, Marmara

Photographer's Note

I am fresh - or so late home from travelling - not so fresh (but too tired to sleep) - back from a meeting with a group of remarkable people all associated in some way with TrekEarth - I can see and read that their photographs are already stimulating interest and comment - and a publication has already been suggested! Well my first offering is actually one of the later photographs I took but it illustrates well my emotional desire to discover and portray something of 'old' Istanbul - classical in one sense but also not classical by the extreme cut of the framing - the older men and women of this amazing city (particularly those who work at street level) carry the legacy of a way of life which has so many elements which have been replaced but for me the city breathes evenly with its past as well as its present - although people also expressed so many concerns for its future - the age we live in perhaps........but this man seemed so solid, me romanticising.......huuum! Taking a look out of Jerzy's book and look in his eyes, perhaps you will discover the fullness of what i see.

Taken just off Sultanhamet Square.

Thankyou dear Turkish friends for such a great time! Let our footsteps lead us together again which ever direction we set off to travel........and thankyou for Jerzy for motivating me to do it!

dareco, InasiaJones, daddo, AnimeshRay, bostankorkulugu, Traczewska, faubry, salvator, broglia, luisafonso, rigoletto, sayan, eleparc, tehanu_f, Angelillo, designsoul, asival has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dareco (17136) 2007-11-06 19:55

A fantastic portrait. I can only dream of taking a picture like this. Great detail, and I like the mustache and wrinkles. TFS

erel (11890) 2007-11-06 21:01

MERHABA
Çok güzel bir portre BRAVOOOO. selamlar. EREL

InasiaJones (31566) 2007-11-06 21:09

Hi Kev,

You're mentionning the "not so classical - extreme cut" of the frame of this photo and as a matter of fact, I think is something remarkable in the composition of this image. The fact that the subject is also off-centered create a visual stress that got a great power of attraction.

I like the way he's looking through the camera, conscious about what he is doing, proud, self-assured, phlegmatic... How could it be different with such a mustach...

Very good portrait, perfect "eye contact", advantageous soft 3/4 light, tight cropping for higher intimacy, ideal background dark and out-of-focus, honest B&W conversion, clever tritone effect with warm grey or something more than black...

I'm loving it!

André

c_anindya (57) 2007-11-06 21:16

Excellent shot, the details are just amazing in this.

daddo (28748) 2007-11-06 21:54

Hi Kev. A fine Anatolian face.The quizzical eyes and the "seasoned" mustache make him an exceptional subject. The cropping and the subsequent removal of distractions make his presence felt.B&W a great choice. The sharpness of the image is exceptional. My compliments. Regards. Klaudio.

AnimeshRay (9089) 2007-11-06 21:57

What a pristine portrait! The smoothness of it and the detail. It is so difficult to pull such strong portraits in natural light, yet you do that over and over again.

There is also no telling when you will do a monochrome, effortlessly switching between the two. I find it impossible to do so effectively.

Excellent stuff.

Animesh

venslens (448) 2007-11-06 22:31

Good work!!! The cut on the upper half actually adds value to the picture.Would like to see a lot turkish things from you...

greetings from india...

Traczewska (14) 2007-11-06 23:45

Splendid portratit! The best of National Geographic this year :)Calm, suggestive, a little exotic face.. tell me in what atelier you made it , imediately I'll go to make a portrait of mine :)
Vivat Turkey!
Agnieszka

vagabondtravels (6511) 2007-11-07 0:29

Hi Kev

Great portrait. I know this guy, we walked by his stand all the time from our guesthouse. He sure does have a heap of personality! Anyhow good work.
Ben

bantonbuju (51815) 2007-11-07 0:47

oh man, this is a real tresure, this photo...
i think you went for a real killer to start off with the turkish photos...cant wait for the next ones...
--------
i think that the "precission" of the image is extraordinary, the details on the man's face are pin-sharp...his deep thought painted on his face...
just love it!
bw, j.

faubry (35447) 2007-11-07 1:14

wonderful portrait Kev....his glance had a power magnetic.... superb BW also, bravo, i like it.
francine

salvator (19110) 2007-11-07 1:23

Hi Kev,
You made your 5D talk my friend. The portrait is absolutely superb. The sharpness and superb details, the eye contact, the choice of b&w is wonderful. Reminds me of old time sepia portraits in my grandfather's album. Superb photo job like Jaap says.
Best regards. Salvator.

broglia (3604) 2007-11-07 1:43

Hi Kev, I've been waiting anxiously for your shots from Istanbul. You guys all have such different styles that I was intrigued to see the results - and I've not been dissapointed. This is a wonderful portrait of a man who doesn't look that old to me - the huge moustache making him look older than his years perhaps. And he is wearing the outlawed Fez - a throwback to the days of the Ottoman Empire, pre Ataturk.

As with Jerzy's shot of that strong woman, the eyes have it. Absolutely brilliant! Best regards, Roberto

Furachan (0) 2007-11-07 2:27

Well there I was, Kev, storming about close portraits, how they're too esay and all tht, and you prove me wrong, just like that ;o) humping great face and mustache, yu know, hell of a face really.
Welcome back!
Francis

luisafonso (862) 2007-11-07 3:06

Very beautiful Kev. You couldn't find a more genuine character to start this series. It's so good, it's like if you have condensed all the Turkish culture into a single b&w frame. It's all in his eyes for everyone to discover. My deepest respect for what you've achieved here dear friend.

rigoletto (34279) 2007-11-07 3:13

Hi Kev,
Yes, unfortunately this is still how Turkish people are in the regard (or in the imaginations) of many Westerners, but it was a joy for me to show you that this is not really true, and i believe that you have many jewels to share and prove how modern Turks look like.
You did the best with your camera as usual, and the strong face gives power. Cadrage is a bit too tight and the light is a little bit low for my taste.
Cheers,
Deniz

sayan (2617) 2007-11-07 3:25

Hi Kev,
Its a wonderful portrait! The deep and thoughtful eyes are the great attraction of this face. I like the way you cropped his hat. Nice work in b/w.

regards

sayan

everlasting (19680) 2007-11-07 3:38

Beautiful portrait, Kev and brave, I would never have been able to go for this extreme cut. The light falls just right for you.

eleparc (24063) 2007-11-07 3:38

What a strong and human portrait! I like how you focused on his large and thick moustache and above everything this tight crop! the b&w is indeed THE choice! A stunning portrait! congrats!
Eric

nerve (10231) 2007-11-07 5:09

nice one, a sharp look, i would still go for a vertical format though, i would like to see his 'fes' completely. and maybe a bit more contrast too.. good portrait overall Kev, hope you had a good time in this great city, cheers.
ps. doesnt he have a name btw?

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2007-11-07 6:39

at first i thought he was you... in disguise... even tried to see simits on top of his cut head... but then realised he looks waaay to much older, and that his moustache is not fake...
this one looks like it is from one of those books showing the 18-19th century istanbulers indeed... a masterful shot that i like a lot...

cheers kev, knowing you was great...

MarcT (20964) 2007-11-07 6:47

Hi Kevin,
I knew you are an excellent portraitist. This is a new example of this specialty.
Cheers
Marc

cak (4931) 2007-11-07 10:37

moustaches are talking.there are an impressive expression.

tehanu_f (6896) 2007-11-07 13:06

Hi Kev,
How did you find this guy, who looks as if traveled from the past with his fez and huge moustache? You captured an interesting expression on his face: a soft, almost sad look in his eyes contrasting with his image. The lighting is good, too. Congrats.
Fusun

Angelillo (9374) 2007-11-07 13:19

Hi Kev,

It's a magnificent (maybe not absolutely classical, but it doesn't matter) portrait. You has captured the character, the fortress and the proud of this man... the texture of the skin, the light over the black, it's fantastic! Thanks.

Greetings,
Angel.

gzm (134) 2007-11-07 15:35

I really fell in love with the texture, both in the moustache and the face. It is more real than the reality itself; the beauty one wouldn't notice in daily encounters if there had not been the photo. We miss too many details in real life. Thanks for sharing...

designsoul (17843) 2007-11-07 18:33

Irresistible portrait, Kev. I missed you on TE--now I am starting to find out why! What a fine, exquisite portrait... to me, his radiant calm, his gentle gaze tell it all... I look at him and become enveloped by a soothing sense of serenity. A wonderful portrait, a real treasure to start your days in Turkey.
warmly
sasa

adelune (0) 2007-11-08 14:33

A very successful portrait! What else?! TFS so a great picture Kev, alain

dr38 (373) 2007-11-10 2:47

i like tihs portrait very very much. best egards. Arzu

batalay (41261) 2007-11-10 16:05

Hello Kev,

I came across your work while critiquing a photograph by Brendan Head. This is a powerful portrait, and in b&w presents a timelessness. Indeed, there are other aspects of this portrait that I like very much. The dark background works well, and the centering of one eye on the vertical centerline is an auspicious asset. It was discovered by the British-born psychologist Christopher Tyler that in almost all great portraits (from Leonardo's Mona Lisa to Rembrandt's powerful portraits, that one eye of the subject is placed very close to the vertical bisector. Dr. Tyler, who works in San Francisco, made the discovery in 1998, and I wrote about it in my book, Math and the Mona Lisa. It is a principle never taught in art schools, yet the gifted artist intuitively frames his/her portrait in that manner.

Warm regards,

Bulent

gertan (1527) 2007-11-13 10:42

Kev perfect portrait. Very good detail, good usage of lights. Impressive...
TFS.

Gokhan

Polonaise (5802) 2007-11-14 17:18

His face, the look in his eyes and your immaculate technique - have created a masterpiece, Kev...

The very, very old, extremely classical - a masterpiece...!

Delightfully confusing, delightfully amusing...
Why...?
What is so special in this miniature image of the real world, of the real people ?

Well, you're the master, Kev.
You should know the answer...
It's good...
It's just very good !
A treasure on TE!

……………
g.