black and white: then to now 'The Parisian Bookseller' (B&W Ed.)

Patience paid off for the very politesse-conscience (polite conscious)

Parisians of stature, as I waited a long time with my long lens pointed

down, obviously NOT taking photos before I approached this man to

ask if I could take photos of him working from a distance. This is the

result, slightly underexposed in this B&W rendition. Your ratings,

critiques and observations are invited and most welcome. If you rate

or critique harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your photographic knowledge to

help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

John, this is such a powerful portrait. Browsing the photo critique forum, this image triggered my attention even before reading your name.

It is the face and the eyes of this man that attract the viewer like a magnet. Obviously, we know very little about this man. But his portrait "clicks" with our inner child: it is that sort of paternal figure inspiring a combination of force and kindness that transcends our lives giving us a sense of stability and comfort.

When it comes to technicalities, I'm not the best person to give you sound advice. I'm always subjective and possibly inconsistent. When I saw your photo, I couldn't stop thinking of a portrait of one of my grand grandfathers - a drawing made by a famous local painter around 1920. I had that portrait above the bed all my childhood: he inspired me strength and confidence. I never knew the man - only his portrait - but this meant a lot to me. I found your portrait inspirational as well.

I played with this portrait a bit only to refresh my memories and to reconstruct that world buried in my past (see attachment):

• The square format reduces somewhat the amount of darkness that I found in contrast with my emotions created by the subject. You may want to keep more darkness for completely different reasons. As I said, my view is too personal to get it right.
• I agree with your statement regarding the underexposure; but I wouldn't change too much the overall atmosphere (especially, if taking some of the darkness through cropping). Just slightly enhancing the light on his face and increasing the contrast locally a tiny bit could give more force and balance.
• I added a frame - this is not a critique. I did it just because I wanted to remember that drawing from my childhood - the framing, the passepartout, the sense of proportions. And to realize how great this portrait would look on the walls of an exhibition.

I don't usually spend that much time on a photo, but this one was personal. Thank you, John, for making my day.

A very powerful and emotive image, I think a tighter crop would re-enforce the subject and pull the observer into the gaze of the subject - but that is a personal thing too - its an image I wish I had taken, great work

Excellent portrait, expressive eyes!

Stefan Poli,

Rarely in posting does one get such a warm and evocative response to a photo of any sort, much less a portrait.

Rather than respond point-by-point or even try to hit the major points you have made, I'd rather just ask readers to read your entire essay, and read the personal opinions you have expressed.

Art often is described as bringing forth personal feelings and emotions, and in this regard, although this is a photograph, I venture that for you, this also has become a work of art  -- something I saw when I viewed it afresh after several years since taking it but not desturating it - and then decided to desaturate it to see how it'd look.

I finally decided to desaturate it now that I have more skill in Photoshop, then to mark it down a half stop (a full stop was just too much, although this was by sight, not by any 'meter' at all).

The cropping and frame of yours are optional of course, as you explain; I prefer to shoot and post full frame, then lets others suggest possible crops where the original is suggestive of a possible crop - If I crop you have no idea  of any choice to make, but if I don't crop, you can suggest an improvement.   I have no wish to be at the start 'the best' - just good or 'good enough' to stop your eye to get you to look.

It appears I have done that well  -- all for a bookseller going about his business with a dark background out there on a sunny/cloudy day in Paris with a tent-like affair as a background.

Thanks for your emotive and strong response.

john

John (Crosley)

Pardon the delay in responding -- all due to a non-responding Internet connection.

I am happy you are pleased but not envious; you can take photos I'd give my eye teeth to take, I'm sure.

I'm not sure about the crop of the dark area in front of the man's gaze; we'll let time tell, but one thing's for certain, if I'd presented a cropped version, there'd be no discussion, which is why I seldom opt for cropping when I post, then there can be such a discussion.

Sometimes I do crop, though seldom, as I prefer full frame, but there are times. . . .

Thanks for the plaudits.

john

John (Crosley)

This is one of my best portraits; I'm glad you recognize that and of course it's the eyes that make it.  The underexposure of 1/2 stop seemed to help greatly, causing the head to seem to come out of darkness.

Hope your health is improving.  I'll see you soon as I'll have something to give you then I anticipate.

john

John (Crosley)