Olive seller at the "Vucciria" market in Palermo

There is wonderful detail in this image. I also like the tones. I do not like the object on the top right corner, but this is such a strong image that it is not overly distracting. Nice work. TC

superb photo . Congratulations

 

Jean-Noel

Excellent photojournalism. Beautifully done.

underexposed. fill flash would help. this has no reason to be dark and moody. this man is proving bounty and sustenance.

It's a good B & W. I like it!

glass panel line cuts through his chin?

I like the tonality on this. For me it creates interest instead of it just being a "snapshot". I think working the darks and lights in B&W is one of the joys of photograhpy. The structuse in the right is a little dominant to my taste, but you can't always control these things, that's what makes street photography interesting. At least to me.

Good B&W

I would like to thank those who have found a little time to comment or leave ratings on this photograph. Some viewers have spotted a couple of defects of which I was not fully aware: the glass panel, alas, does cut through the chin of the seller; and the strange thing hanging from the top right (a large 500W bulb waiting to be lit after dusk) is indeed a bit distracting. Obviously I was not careful enough to avoid these shortcomings. On the other hand, I cannot agree with the suggestion of using a fill-flash in these circumstances; the interposed glass panel prevented this anyway, and then I do not think that this photo is underexposed. It could indeed be given a "softer" interpretation in the darkroom, making some more details visible, but then the deep tones would be lost, and honestly I like them as they are.

I like this kind of scenes a lot. From my point of vieuw, the print is great. Actually i like the bulb in the front. The border of the glassplate is a bit of bad luck. I think these kind of prints will be documents very soon. Things are changing so rapidly. Ciao,

You have a great photographic eye. The originality of your framing and approach to color on some shots are a 'wee bit' problemmatic, but your eye for 2d design is very strong indeed.

 

I like this shot, and I think the subtle glass line slanting across the subject's face actually adds something and can't be considered a defect.

Thank you for your comment. Since you seem to have had a look at the rest of my portfolio, I surely would appreciate if you went into some more detail regarding the color and framing issues. Do not worry, I am not here for applause and I can withstand some critique!

Michele,

 

I don't want to make too much of this, but your portfolio could be strengthened by winnowing out some of the weaker shots, and carefully evaluating your work for the personal qualities that you bring to it, beyond striking design and vivid color -- which seem to be things you can almost take for granted (for sure, not everyone has that gift).

 

If you comb through the PN galleries, in particular the "Top rated photos", I think you will begin to recognize a 'naive glibness' (for want of a better description) that so easily overtakes most practitioners, usually down to ignorance about the possibilities and achievements in this medium, and/or (perhaps) intellectual laziness.

 

Based on this shot and some others, I think you have it in you to go way past.

Elvis, thank you for your comment. I had a hard time trying to understand what exactly you mean by "naive glibness" - the two words look mutually exclusive at first sight. However, I think I managed to go to the hearth of your message in the end. The trouble is that I feel my own photographic tastes are rather eclectic - I have dedicated many years to black and white reportage photography of the kind exemplified by this photo, and further years to the restoration and diffusion of the century-old photos a small selection of which can be found in one of my folders. But, at the same time, I am very much attracted by the abstract, colorful photographs best represented in PN by people like Carl Root or Kim Slonaker, and outside PN by photographers like Fontana and Ghirri just to cite two Italians I know better. And, why not, by fine macros like those by Mark Plonsky ... etc. etc. Therefore, I understand that the general impression one can get from my portfolio is that of some inconstancy, eclectism, and lack of a personal style. I will try to follow your suggestion and crop something, but - rather inevitably - my personal tastes will not always coincide with those of PN viewers/raters.

Bianco e nero da manuale, questa 蠵na delle mie preferite della tua gallery. Ne vorrei vedere molte altre cos젺)

I submitted this photo for critique years ago, but I would like to

show it around a bit more. I am very fond of my old B&W pictures; this

was taken at the market of "Vucciria" in Palermo some thirty years ago.

I like this picture a lot. Beautiful B&W work!

Excellent documentary shot, Michele ... Everything seems to be in the right place for me (even the old light lamp). Wonderful B&W tones & textures ... (underexposed ?? ... not for me !!).

Best regards.

Full of stories, meaningful with a very good and deep (deep as the life!...) b/w tonalities range. Rich concerning the visual information. A pleasure to see!...

 

Best regards.

No plastic bags..I like it the way you took it, the composition with a man's expression are superb.