Photographer's Note
Posted this as a result of the James Nachtwey forum.
A drunkard on a boat that liks Tulcea to Tudor Vladimirescu, a suburb.
I felt like he was part of me, like an alter-ego that i had wanted to exorcise for a long time but i never had the opportunity to overcome. Now, once he was out i could only admire him -- i had made a pact with him, i was empathising with him, just like Faustus..
Not listening to him, but imagining what i would have said in his place. I felt like breathing his words, like his beard has stinging my eyes. I had forgotten about the camera, my finger got stuck on the trigger, my D100 became like a heavier, bulkier pair of contact lenses.
I wanted to take a photo of the man behind him, but once he saw me get my camera out, he started yelling about the fact that Romania is floating awy in the wrong dirrection. He yelled and yelled, he stared at me and he pointed that finger at my face.
Bogdan(the other alter-ego)
Critiques | Translate
annaeva
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 46 W: 17 N: 25]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-s-s.gif){kind=small}
(162) 2004-10-28 12:25
wonderful note and an expressive picture. i like your short DOF and your composition. the colors are great too.
well done! /annaeva
Darren
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1468 W: 120 N: 1049]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(6823) 2004-10-28 12:38
Good shot here Bogdan. Like I do with Nachtwey, I admire you for being able to get in so close to what could be an uncomfortable situation ;) Guys like this are a dilemna for me. His nose gives away his addiction, which is sad, but the expression you have captured still reminds me that he has interesting stories to tell and is likely an interesting guy to be around. When taking photos like this, I think it is difficult not to make one of two errors. First, you can run the risk of being too moralistic and presenting the person as an example of the dangers of alcohol. Second, you run the risk in the other direction of making a caricature of his condition and making him more comic, but somehow less real or human. I think you have treaded that line very well. The harsh light in the background helps to tell the story in this case too, blowouts can look good.
TakiKO
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 58 W: 0 N: 20]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(115) 2004-10-28 12:45
Hi Bogdan, I like the expression of this photo. What is the man pointing at? If at a camera, You should be careful of it :) Well done.
joso
(2417) 2004-10-28 12:48
I'm deep impressed, Bogdan. Not only because of this one, but in general because of your way of looking, because how you present what you see. Because you don't wear pink-coloured glasses, even - or because - your contact lenses has the name of D100... Because you show the cruel reality, without "painting" it beautiful. Without that I think specifical romanian mentality (I'm coming also from there): worse shouldn't be/somehow it will be (lasa, maica, mai rau sa nu fie/o sa fie cumva)
Thank you...
János
Riz
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 134 W: 61 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2004-10-28 13:00
great detail in his face the dof is superb the soft focus bg and finger great capture I like the yellow look, and your note is well written thanks ofr sharing that as well I like what joso said as well,
Xplorator
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 61 W: 8 N: 81]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(667) 2004-10-28 13:15
Nice dramatic, tunel vision portraiture with high focuse, walking a certain line of style. One thing I observe is that there is no lack of ,,pesimistic,, pictures comming from Romania. Point me to one photographer that shows its ,,optimistic,, beauty in TE or TN ... There is plenty of that from wildlife to castles, from colorful costumed peasants to the extreme beauty of the citadine Romanian woman. Wish I`ve seen some of that too more often ...
jemaflor
(143827) 2004-10-28 13:47
Un cliché bien composé avec un visage très expressif. Voilà un portrait que l'on aurait envie de voir aussi en Noir et Blanc ... j'ai essayé un WS.
MiguelP
(14470) 2004-10-28 14:36
I dont know what else to add, Bogdan. The pictures you are taking at your place are wonderful so I look forward to see your point of view of the rest of the world. Your photos are honest and you have a personal way to see throught the camera.
SophieL
(6042) 2004-10-28 15:04
Well, I realise that not only you manage to capture the very human essence of the people you take in your pictures, but also it's your own soul that you're trying to investigate. A very powerful picture from you again. I feel like I'm always saying the same on your picture but they are all different, pictures of real people and they all have their story and their uniqueness. Keep going and I hope you'll manage to travel as you wish.
paguru
(1056) 2004-10-28 15:30
Unmistakably your style, Bogdan! I always admire your strong portraits, you have really found a way of expressing yourself and at the same time showing the personality of your subject.
Congratulations on this one!
jbweasle
(9393) 2004-10-28 15:48
Great portrait - so much expression and detail in the face. And the other man blurred and looking away, he fades into the background. The finger in the picture works well. I almost feel like I'm being poked in the eye!
maciekda
(19895) 2004-10-29 5:28
wow Bogdan, this is a nice photo. great compo with the guy so close, his finger in your lens and the other guy on the side, interesting colors too. good stuff, bravo
Luko
(14000) 2004-10-29 9:39
Even though you had shot that guy after a nose peel off in a posh parisian comestic store your shot would have pointed his favorite activity. Unfortunately, he's already gone too far...
I praise many things in your shot :
The way you tilted the horizon & the controled sharpness that doesn't go far beyond his eyes (I guess the left half of the pic is actually how this guy feels the world 24h a day : with a tilt and a blur),
I could almost smell alcohol through his breath and his sole teeth peering out of his mouth is a pathetic addition,
Most of all, with that finger poking at yur face, you captured the universal sign of the wino. When your mind mixes all up, the only way you have to communicate is point out your finger and shake it in front of one's face. It's the thin line to autism...
MKING
(3054) 2004-10-31 9:31
The warm afternoon sunlight is a little ironic-- it adds to the warm, rosy beer goggles sensation and yet it glows on the skin of a man who clearly is far from rosy. Yet it makes the shot a lot stronger than had it been dark, gloomy bluish environs which would paint a picture of a victim rather than a man.
Sad that alcohol is a universal tragedy, happens a lot here too.
RGatward
(20108) 2004-11-01 5:56
Another fine daily life portrait. Good use of DoF, and a great PoV and crop for this one. Rather scary note, not a good idea to get on the wrong side on drunks.
AJohnston
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 13 W: 3 N: 12]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(105) 2004-11-05 5:36 [Comment]
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-n.gif){kind=small}
alimo3
(6854) 2004-11-13 11:40
hi bogdan,
a very powerfull picture ,i just like it.
he has an incredible face and expression .
congratulation also for your all album (many portraits and no landscapes,ouf ...)
Bravo.
Tom
Ziiip to my favorite pic !
clodreno
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 3841 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2004-12-09 12:19 [Comment]
nygus
(8178) 2004-12-14 17:06
How could i miss that before. I recognize familiar DOF with digital Nikon
Leonie
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 798 W: 41 N: 777]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(8809) 2005-01-18 15:03
Hey there, you ever seen Kusturica films? I created a theme and added this there...perfect! Just the gold teeth are missing!! :-)
Cheers, Léonie
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 83 W: 49 N: 24]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-s.gif){kind=small}
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Bogdan Tt (Bogdan)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 71 N: 51]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(205) - Genre: Gente
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2004-10-00
- Categories: Vida cotidiana
- Camera: Nikon D100, Nikkor 28-70 3,5-4,5
- Versión de la foto: Versión original, Workshop
- Tema(s): Emir Kusturica [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2004-10-28 12:15
- Favoritos: 3 [Ver]
Discussions
- To Darren: blowout (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 12:51 - To Riz: detail. (2)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 01:38 - To Xplorator: eye of the beholder (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 01:52 - To jemaflor: ws. (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 02:04 - To joso: attitude. (2)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 05:09 - To TakiKO: pointing (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 02:30 - To MiguelP: world (3)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 03:02 - To SophieL: travel (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 03:13 - To paguru: risk (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 03:34 - To jbweasle: .. (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-28 03:51 - To Xplorator: plenty of (1)
by joso, last updated 2004-10-28 04:56 - To centurion: locatia (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-31 01:02 - To maciekda: composition (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-31 01:22 - To Luko: addiction (2)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-10-31 01:39 - To MKING: a happening. (2)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-11-03 11:24 - To RGatward: crop (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2004-11-01 06:05 - To Leonie: k. (1)
by Bogdan, last updated 2005-01-18 03:17
