'The Laborers'

Great portrait

Best regards

Xavier Corcobado

xcorcobado.blogspot.com

'Two laborers, one a boss, I think, rest against a bin, after their crew dug

a street to 30 to 40 feet deep to work on heating pipes that were to

supply heat to an entire street of buildings during Ukraine's punishing

winter. They worked in fall and raced against winter which would freeze

the ground and make their task impossible; they barely made it. Your

ratings, critiques, and remarks are invited and most welcome. If you rate

harshly, critique very critically, or wish to make an observation, please

submit a helpful and constructive comment; thank you in advance for

sharing your photographic knowledge to help improve my photography.

Enjoy! John

It's recent.

It's also more subtle than some of my other work; I keep switching around. 

I LOVE variety.  Who wants to see the same old thing, time in and time out?

Thanks for the comment.

john

John (Crosley)

This is one of those photos I thought I'd keep for myself and never post, because the face, foreground, is darker and the eyes are not bright, which breaks some Photo.net rules (but not the rules I think of fine photography).

So, I figured I'd just keep it and wait for some other forum, but I got a bug last night, figured I'd just go ahead and post it, regardless of rates or acceptance.  I've been surprised; it's been well received.

Thanks for taking the time to let me know your impression; I'm most appreciative -- I know it takes extra energy to leave a comment.

john

John (Crosley)

Som one mentioned here ht he like this portrait, but this is not a portrait, this is a remarkable street telling story capture and the DOF helped to emphasize the appearance of the contents here while the b/w format been so wise along with the high quality contrast and tone this image do connect with me nicely.

Thank you for sharing it and wishing you all of the best.

In all fairness, this could be called a 'street portrait', thus splitting the difference since it focuses on one man.

In any case, I appreciate that it connects with you; I had thought the viewers here would reject it, but was wrong (as I often am about posting).

Thank you for taking the time to let me know your opinion and also the concrete reasons that back it up.

Thanks again.

john

John (Crosley)

Interesting street portrait! And I liked your comment too :-)

Spacibo bolshoi. 

(Big thanks))

john

John (Crosley)

You make an interesting photo out of everything :)

Congrats

That is one of the nicest comments I have ever received.

I may have your remark printed big and framed.

Really!

It embodies everything I strive for.

It was taken1/2 block away, on my way to the store.

;~))

john

John (Crosley)

I love the DOF and all the characteristics of this photo. There is a story being told here and I want to hear it! I just feel like sitting and looking at this photo. It truely captures me.

I think the 'story being told' here was being interrupted by 'yours truly' the undersigned and that, this being two guys and all, you might blush if you heard the 'story'. 

All joshing aside (sorry Josh, I use it in the vernacular), these guys are just taking a break while working on a street.  Heavy equipment did much work and guys had to wait around while the equipment was moved into and out of place. It was like the military, hurry up and wait.  In fact, these guys were really hard, vigorous workers who earned their pay in my estimation, and anyone who thought they just 'stood around' (while waiting for equipment or others to do necessary jobs) severely underestimated their energy -- I was favorably impressed.

I got to know some of these guys, and they were kind enough to let me 'sneak up on them' here, as at the start when I came near, all the hands would go in front of faces, in the 'no photo' gesture, but after days and weeks, they gradually accepted me. 

I felt the foreground guy was interesting looking enough to be a movie actor if he had other talent . . . . Soviet's old 'romantic comedies' had an actor who looked similar.

Yes, the USSR had 'romantic comedies' under the Soviets, and surprise!,  they were not bad, considering the constraints of living and being also propaganda under the old, corrupt Soviet system. 

They were, for all that can be said against the Soviets, pretty darn good entertainment, and some could easily stand up against the good stuff from Hollywood. 

All that being said, though, Sonia, I think you're right.  This one kind of sucks you in, doesn't it?

;~))

That was the intent . . . . to let you in on their 'intimacy', as though you're just joining them for a break or a smoke after doing some heavy digging yourself. 

You, in this photo, are 'just one of the guys' I think, and I wouldn't be surprised that's its attractiveness and why it seems to be growing on viewers.

I am grateful you shared your views; they got me to thinking why this is working out so well, as it is 'different' from others of mine . . . just one of my many approaches to a common theme.

john

John (Crosley)

The geometry of the box, the placement of the figures, the Depth  of Field (with a 12-24 mm dx Nikkor no less) at f4 full aperture, all help, I think, to create a feeling of dimensionality to this photo.

I take many photos that are more 'two dimensional, and are intended to be just that -- often as abstracts or juxtapositions.  This is different.

We could be approaching the near guy, foreground, to be slapping him on the back, giving him a jab in the ribs or just telling him a new joke . . . . he's that 'familiar' in this photo . . . he 'sees' but is not disturbed and 'accepts' which is something I had to work to obtain from these super suspicious guys who at first assumed I was some sort of 'work spy' looking for loafers.

I traded jests and jokes with them, some small  banter each time I passed, took a few photos and went on my way.  Eventually, this was taken toward the end, and reflects that partial 'acceptance' I gained.

*******

Also, it's not 'worked on' in Photoshop basically, other than contrast and brightness - -eyes were not 'selected' and enhanced, giving this a more 'realistic' look and not 'contrived' like the look in those supermarket checkout magazines whose cover models have had their skin details 'smoothed' by special filters. 

In my photos, generally, 'smoothing' is a last resort for an otherwise unviewable photo, and has little place in almost all of my photography.

john

John (Crosley)