Old Survivors, a photo from Varna, East

Photographer's Note

I was inspired to upload this old fisherman's survivng team by Kaj Nielsen /yesterday /
His shot from yesterday also presented a fisherman, absorbed deeply in his work. Here is my version of another one and his two boats. I saw him in Balchik a few days ago.

This is not a shot presenting something beautiful and is not a fiest for the eyes.
This shot is not radiating any romantic feeling or joyful mood.
This is a shot of the hard life of a team of survivors: a poor fisherman in his battered old boat, trying to make their living and keep up the harsh love they both are in with the sea.

He was mending his fishing nets, preparing for the next trawl and for his next date with his beloved - the sea...

pp: sharpened and cleared once, slightly saturated, resized.

ps: as a WS I posted the same picture but in Sepia so you can say which one you like most.
All comments for improvement are warmly welcomed as always.

Zanni, RGatward, Rinie_Hoff, avigur_11, Galeota, nwoehnl, Kenny10pin, bertolucci, Jeppe, Rockyboy, cmartos ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

olli (2091) 2004-06-04 5:42

Another great combination of title, image and note from you, Maria. Beautiful earthy – or should I say "seay" – tones. Interesting subject and great peaceful atmosphere. Very well done.

Zanni (6108) 2004-06-04 6:16

Beatiful composition introduced by inspired notes. I prefer the coloured version (the sepia needs more contrast, I think). Also if the fisherman's trade is hard, I think that it is better than doing many other alienating jobs.

spence (65) 2004-06-04 7:17

I like your composition here, Maria. It's a nice angle and the colours seem fresh and natural. It's good to see the fisherman at his task - very nice daily life capture.

RGatward (20108) 2004-06-04 7:37

Yes, I was impressed by that one also. Having a character in the shot certainly adds something to this sunnylike boat shot. Amazing that that is still a working boat. I think for the subject I prefer the sepia, but that's just taste. One of your best.

maciekda (19895) 2004-06-04 7:54

hi Maria, nice image, good scene, interesting subjects. the compo is a bit too tight for me though - some space on the left would be nice. and the compression is way too high - plenty of JPEG arfifacts everywhere, i guess the size of the file is quite small. pleasant picture.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-06-04 8:03

Hi Maria, Good boat picture and a great note to accompany it. They both show your empathy with people who have to work very hard to make a living in this world.
I like the crop and the composition is very good, colours are so soft, but I think I like the sepia-version best. Thanks for sharing.

avigur_11 (22535) 2004-06-04 8:03

I like this one very much, Maria, thanks to the pale colors. That exactly how I imagined Hemingway's "the old man and the sea" picture. VEry good composition.

Galeota (10352) 2004-06-04 8:14

YOu have written an excellent that suits perfectly the feelings you want to show us with this photograph. I like the POV showing us the back of the man rather than the face, that we are free to imagine. We feel the weight of years in the way he bows his head down, and he seems so in harmony with the old boat. Really great work.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-06-04 9:16

This one is indeed a fine combination of your favorite subject - boats - with a compelling daily life story, Maria. Good tight cropping around the scene, with the small boat at the left balancing the slightly diagonal composition in a good way. The fact that the colors are not too "flashy" accentuates the overall low-key mood. Well done.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-06-04 9:49

lovely fishign boats here, very nice work as usual and the boast do look very used and o nice

great work

bertolucci (14052) 2004-06-04 11:18

A seasoned old seaman on a weathered boat. Very fine composed capture, Maria :-). It's astonishing that this boat is still in use. Dramatic:.all the details that you provide spell all "old and worn out". I prefer the coloured shot - it displays the harshness of this scene better. Excellent work with again an excellent note!

Jeppe (18654) 2004-06-04 12:36

Yes Maria - you surely know have to spot you fine motifs and find the best title - that old fisherman and hes boat somehow seams to have grown and olded together - you quite right - this not a feast for the eye - but somehow it attrack the eye and tell story of how harsh life can be - thanks for sharing your always fine work.

Rockyboy (20598) 2004-06-04 13:19

What a very old one here! I like also to see the ficherman in this boat! It seems that he used this boat during all his live... Very nice picture, Maria!

Hanssie (11022) 2004-06-04 13:34

A very nice and good angle, you've chosesn here, Sunny ! Nice to see the colours of this very old weathered boat with a lot of nice details and the fisherman.
Very well done, Maria

cmartos (242) 2004-06-05 3:44

Well Maria, I really think yur boats shots gained another dimension now. Including man at work is really great here, it perfectly spots what you write in the note, which is great. As for the workshop I really prefer this version, it is more realistic and strong in my opinion. The old boat and its structure has also more impact in colour version. And frankly, a picture must not radiate romantism or joy to be good and strong. Yours is. Very good compo, very well rendered mood, nice sad colours, very nice, very well done Maria.

yesterday (9833) 2004-06-05 6:40

I was inspired to upload this old fisherman's survivng team, I am glad my picture could inspire:-))

You have a good angle, and the working fisherman is nature. I do like the atmosphere in those plases.

You have a wonderful texture in the picture, SPLENDID contrast and light, and the few color is great. Love you pic.

Regards kaj Nielsen

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-06-07 5:33

Wonderful picture with the boats and the old man !
Very well done maria !

Photo Information

Copyright: Maria Veleva (sunny) (3069)
Genre: Gente
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-05-30
Categories: Vida cotidiana
Camera: Pentax Optio 33-LF
Exposición: f/8.3, 1/125 segundos
Versión de la foto: Versión original, Workshop
Tema(s): A pair of photos with contrast, Traditional fishing boats [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-06-04 5:21