Bob

An image with great story inside.

Bob, indeed. i wish something were written on that clipboard to give us a clue or a secret. a very captivating dramatic characterization, paul ;-} dp

Thank you Vlad and Donna. Donna, I have always thought the torn blank piece of paper on the clipboard spoke volumes, but that is probably because I was there and had spoken to Bob several times before photographing him. I often wish I had used my 4x5, but it still works for me with my old contax 35mm rangefinder with Tri-x. Bob was 88 at this time and his little shop was cluttered with anything you might image from small engines to chains, various used tools and wire. The shop was utter chaos, but that and his face drew me to him. He never smiled but was always friendly. He sat there day after day and mostly had very elder visitors. I never did get an image that captured both he and the chaos of his shop, but managed to get this one published in B&W magazine before he stopped coming in. I was able to give him and his family a couple of copies of the issue. I don't think he is still alive and his greasy old shop has been turned into an art gallery of sorts.

Paul, I love this shot.  The mood and expression is lovely.  In fact, I love the paper pad just as is (a crucial aspect of the composition, in my view): the way it hangs, that it is torn, and that, precisely, it is blank!  The symbolism is very strong.  The expression on his face is remarkable as is the grey tonal range on his face, on the walls, on his short/hands, the wizened face, his downward, deep gaze.  It speaks volumes for those who want to listen/look...I apologize for thinking out loud in advance, but I just wish the frame was slightly to right so that his left arm is not cut off (... then I don't know what you had there in your field of vision)... but then I realize that this detail, your current pov that is, in a way mirrors the torn paper somehow, so I have reservations about what I say as I say it! ...thinking out loud, which I hope you don't mind too much :-)  Well done, Paul. Best, -h.

Thank you Hamid for an excellent critique. I think my POV might have been related to issues with space and me only having a 35mm lens on my 35mm rangefinder camera. I don't really remember. I just looked at the negative and I cropped a little off the top and a little to Bob's right, but his left arm is as I shot it. This was the last shot of him that day, and the only one that worked.