Old Man with Walking stick.

Background's tone is too similar to his skin. Tigher crop on right could work better, not sure.

 

Great textures, good expression. Thanks for sharing this!

Very good shot!

The stick also doubles as a weapon. Note the knob - he could have

given you a good whack on the head so you would have a knob on the

head bigger than the knob on the stick! However, his fighting days

are over and he uses it to lean on now.

I think the fact that his head and the background are the nearly the same shade of dark grey is a virtue. Saw a portrait by Josef Sudek the other day with even less tonal differentiation between the background and head.

The subtle and slight differences in tone would make this a wonderful large scale fine art print using the alternative process that Sudek used....

which is ....well, the book is 1000 kilometers away from me right now. Sorry :)

Impressive expression. You can see his experience of life and wisdom in his eyes.

Beautiful detail.

I really like this. The tonal similarity of the man's face and background suggests to me he is really part of his environment. Also it has a hypnotic draw, I'm wondering what he's thinking?

Fantastic photograph.

maybe level out the shoulders slightly, great image

Brilliant photo. I cropped this to reduce the space around his head to concentrate on the space he is staring into. A small crop on the bottom seemed to make his head "float "in the image which I liked. Thanks for posting a larger image. Have you manipulated it to get a deeper glossier black tone? Louis

this is very good!!!

The original cropping was fine. Leave it alone.

I enjoy how dark skin tonalities are reproduced here; one of the unbeatable characteristics of photografhic B/W film... and you did it very well with tis subject, plenty of mystic.. looks like he is singing/talking... great composition too. congrats!

In my opinion; too bad, you're almost there. What doesn't work in my opinion is the excessive black component that does not afford separation between the subject and the background. These kind of shots also require good side lights giving texture to the skin. It is worth you keeping at it on the same subject as results will eventually come through. Strong image though

Julius...I would kill to be able to print these series of shots you've done in a conventional wet darkroom using fiber paper...yes kill.

I originally printed these 12"x16" a few years ago. They are to big to scan on an A4-size flat bed so I scanned the negative (2.25"). I should (dare I?) send you the negs in an envelope so you can have some fun in the darkroom. I saw your pictures. Looks like you have an affinity for indigenous cultures too. I took these pictures at their homes, in their villiage with natural light. The only aid I had was a tripod and a lady from the village I knew who persuaded these old-timers to sit for me. I printed 6"x8" and was back in the village a weekend later and gave them to these good folks a thank-you for their cooperation. They were really happy because for most of them, it was the only high quality photograph ever taken of them. Their families were equally thrilled. Mastering the technical aspects of film, paper and lighting is very important but all it does is to serve a purpose - and that purpose is a social/emotional one that transends technique. I could have achived better technical quality by carting these folks back into town and putting them in a studio or used a backdrop and studio flashes in the village but there comes a point where technique interferes rather than adds to the purpose.

Waaw Very little portraits have such an intensity !! Only the second portrait on photonet that get's a 7-7 from me

beautifull tonality.

Good enough for book and exhibitions! This old man looks tired and wise. Don't know what to write if I have to be "constructive" but I keep watching it, therefore...

amazing texture in this subjects skin, very nice work

I love this shot. Great composition. I totally feel for this guy.

The print is a little to dark in my point of view, but nice expression, good shot!

Amazing tones. Great work.

It just evokes feeling.

could get a better print, perhaps. I lose the face in shadow.

beautiful