David-Wangina Elder

Thank you for your critique and rating.

This photograph demonstrates everything that I love about B&W film. Thank you...

I'd love to hear more about the story of this man's life...That is a moment in it (his life) that you captured. His knowledge contains so many things we will never know. That is the power of your picture...a window into the unknown of a soul which is real and yet so distant from us. I want to give it 7/7 but it is not very sharp, so I give it 7 for originality and 6 for aesthetics. Thank you for sharing this precious and very unusual but enlightening (somehow in a way I do not know) vision with us.

Thank you for your interest.

His eyes are sharp, but the 200-mm lens at f4 has a very shallow focus, that gives you the feeling of softnes.

I meet David during filming a documentary in the Kimberleys region of West. Australia, he was one of the last of the Wangina tribe- which doesn't exist anymore. During our travel once he shot an emu from the car I was driving, to be prepared for dinner at the camp fire. We had some other aboriginal kids with us, from different regions of Australia, and David made them to hug the dying emu one by one. Later after I asked him why did he made the boys to do that, he said: now they experienced the suffer of a dying animal, now they know what struggle this creature has to go through. After this experience these boys never going to kill an animal for no reason. Only if they have nothing else to eat.

This picture was taken days later, when we arrived to his tribe's ancient secret site and he was preparing to ask his ancestors' spirit allow us to enter to the site.

Sadly he is not with us anymore, he joined to the countless previous generations of Australian natives who are still a mystery for us white people, mainly for they incredible knowledge of nature and skills to communicate with other species, even rock and sand.

According to Aboriginal traditions, I am not supposed to show this picture of a dead man. Like everything else belonged to him, this picture too should be destroyed, not to remind anyone of him anymore. However, David was a modern man, he understood the modern world, and when he agreed to be photographed for the documentary, he knew these images are not going to be destroyed after his death.

I can only hope I am not hurting his dignity with the publication of his photograph. Regards; Laszlo

Once again, film truly captures the essence of the man's soul and the composition and framing excellent. Also, as you have explained the lens that you have used truly adds the "Kindness", "Softness" to his very expressive face.

Excellent.

Laszlo. I read your story several times. I will never forget it. Some American indians had the same philosophie et respect of the lives they took so that their own might live on. Very few men alive today run their life with that kind of dignity in their day to day activities, (it only happens 10 minutes a week in church when they are not snoozing). David-Wangina on the other hand sounds like honor and the right ways of living were important to him. He probably understood and enjoyed the principles of nature we can never dream of knowing they even exist. Some "uncivilized" worlds (not all) are actually a lot more civilized than our own, It's obvious to you probably. I think it shows in your capture, (the dignity part), that's why it's such a fascinating picture. I agree with you that it's not disrespectful to his memory, on the contrary, you paid hommage to him. Thank you so much for spending the time to share his story with us. I think the people viviting your picture will enjoy it and, just as I did, learn something. Thank you.

Excellent.

This is yet another great portrait. Your B&W work is amazing, and the stories behind each of these Elders is great to hear. How did you come to take this series of pictures? Thanks - Lex

Alexa, thank you for your visit and complement. I shot a documentary film years ego up in the Kimberleys region of Australia when I meet David and other indigenous people. The experience will stay with me to the rest of my life and if time permits I am going to share it and upload more pictures of this remarkable people. Regards; Laszlo

Ezt az arcot nem lehet elfelejteni.

 

Great capture. Works well in B/W.

Regards

Rafal

I visiting your portfolio, as many time before, and looking this image, portrait, witch is almost alive. Reading your comments and story, ( I have a bad feeling, he is  the lucky one) then I wonder, why I can't find my name on the commenters on this page? I don't believe it, I didn't left a comments. The image and the story is shocking. Lately, I have to many bad, and tragic news around me. I hope, you are all right there, under.

 

Greetings to you,  Lászlo.

Bela