'Man of Maidan -- the Ukraine Pension Chief, Retired'

Taken before the dozens of killings that sparked driving the president

from Kyiv, this man, who identified himself as the retired head of

Ukraine's pensions and who was joined by a retired general, offered

encouragement to the huge protests at Kyiv, Ukraine's Maidan

(Independence Square) before they became violent with protesters

vs. the (now former) administration's riot police, the dreaded 'Berkut',

sparking events that are still in play in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

Your ratings, critiques and observations are invited and most

welcome. If you rate harshly, very critically or wish to make a

remark, please submit a helpful and constructive comment; please

share your photographic knowledge to help improve my

photography. This photo is posted for photographic notice only; not

political notice, as that is something on which I remain neutral and

which is a matter for Ukrainians to resolve among themselves.

Thanks! john

It is important to note that I am a photographer and documentarian.

I have no axe to grind.

My interest is in taking good, interesting photographs, whenever, wherever. . . .   I do so for myself (and those in the world I share them with), and have no 'agenda' other than taking  'good photographs' and leaving a good body of work that will speak for itself perhaps beyond my lifetime.

My personal views, whatever they may be, are of no consequence to the photos I take and at times may contradict those views -- but that's of little matter, as I'm not an ideologue.  I take the photos for photo impact, to be 'interesting', and to show my abilities as a photographer, not to further one or another agenda, political or otherwise.

The current crisis in Ukraine is for Ukrainians and geopoliticists to decide, not me.  I'm merely one guy with a camera (or two) taking what I hope are interesting photos when some injuries I have let me.  I mourn those who lose their lives no matter on what side, and also those who are injured, with the same understanding.

john

John (Crosley)

caveat:  In identifying this man, I am going from memory, not from notes;  He WAS a high official, no doubt about that, even if I have the office wrongly quoted, and we were soon joined by a retired general.

jc

He has intelligent (an a bit skeptical) eyes. You have again made use of high contrast to good effect here, John.

Amy

This called for a high contrast treatment, I think, considering the high-contrast events under which it was taken, just a couple of days before violence erupted at Maidan (Independence Square), Kyiv, Ukraine, in which dozens were killed as they battled with Berkut (riot police) who abandoned rubber bullets and fired real bullets.

Now the President resigned, then didn't resign, is in Russia, and Russians have sealed off parts of the Crimean Peninsula and not ruled out invading or taking part of Eastern Ukraine.

In view of such events, it was clear that such events could have been foretold, and it seemed only right to portray the grittiness and harshness of the circumstances through this portrait and many others that I have in processing. 

This high-profile man is an encourager, but the men who lived three months in tents were deprived of showers, regular shaving, etc., during much of their almost completely peaceful (until the end) vigil.

High contrast seemed the only choice.  A salt and pepper/aged beard only encouraged that treatment.

Best to you Amy.  (Oh, and the man was a real charming guy, encouraging my support, which I withheld, keeping my neutrality, which he respected.)

john

John (Crosley)

Powerful portrait John  and very interesting document!

When you just place a comment, I know I've done well, and when you say 'powerful' I know I've accomplished what I set out to do.

Thank you so much for letting me know your thoughts.

john

John (Crosley)

It's a strong portrait, made all the more so by his dominance in the frame, even with a little bit of background narrative to suggest the goings on around him. His eyes are dark and deep, penetrating.

I see this as more metallic in processing than high contrast. The steel gray and sheen of his skin is rather unnatural rather than emphatic or expressive. His beard is quite sharpened. I think of Moriyama as a Japanese street photographer who worked with a very organic, even though creative, high contrast black and white. See what you think. (Of course, I'm not suggesting you emulate Moriyama, just consider how a strong high contrast look can still feel organic.)

Example 1

Example 2

Politics simply can't be washed away or denied. Most photos, whether intended to be so or not, can be taken to be political. As well they should. They are statements about life. Photographers can't control how their work will be viewed and what interpretations will be given but neither can they suggest that they are inherently apolitical. A photographer, by aiming his camera and choosing what to include in the frame, has taken a stand. What that stand is is not always clear, but it is a stand nevertheless, and that stand has ramifications, if only just to SHOW something the photographer chose to show instead of all the other things he might have chosen to show at a particular time.

I am most thankful for another one of your great critiques.

There is much I am thankful for about your analysis of the black/white version of this photo (there is a color version too) and its 'sharpening' and 'high contrast'.  These are things that vary from day to day.

As to politics, that is not something that I will discuss on this forum.  Perhaps when I am in your fair city we can sit down and have a productive discussion; in the meantime, please respect my position . . . .

Thanks for gracing me with your wisdom (no irony intended).  It is always welcome.

john

John (Crosley)

"please respect my position . . . ."

It's in great part because I do respect your position that I attempt to offer mine. No specific political discussion necessary here!

Strong and hard image you have here John, this man has a unique expression! Ucraine is in a very complicated situation indeed...and we may see it in their eyes...Best regards.

Recognize it or not, your critique contains inherent political elements; I ask you to respect mine and the fluid nature of anyone seen as a critic of Russia which is currently engaged in an 'incursion into Ukraine'.

To suggest that ANYTHING I photograph has political motives or intent, whether or not intentional, is not presently a proper subject of discussion due to recent events.

Please communicate nothing other than photo-specific critiques (but not  nature of my photography choices/why this subject or treatment sort of critiques?) to these comments, and otherwise wait until I have a chance to sit down with you and we can share a friendly meal when I'm in San Francisco.

I've spent long periods in Russia and Ukraine, and I don't take sides; I'm not a journalist; I'm a photographer, and I'm not beneath taking a photograph that contradicts personal feelings, so one cannot necessarily take any photograph I take and extrapolate from it my personal opinion . . . .

I'm far more complex than that.  Any further discussion on that subject should be postponed until my return and in person . . . .

I'm dedicated to taking a good photograph, and have no political agenda.

OK?

No reply here please, but I'd welcome a PN IM response, expressed in generalities.

john

Thank you for expressing your opinion on the photography shown here and the depiction of this particular subject.

I very much welcome considered critiques such as yours.

Again, thanks and best wishes.

john

John (Crosley)

Actually the photo is apolitical.  It is simply a picture of a man on the street. Nothing about him or in the background to suggest that the photo was taken during a period of Ukrainian unrest -I am not saying that it is not; only that I'd have to be there to know. Thus, politics is not a subject here.

A critic would know this is a Crosley It is good that work has a signature.

Your remark about this being apolitical is entirely correct. Good observation.

I just am an opportunist.

Whenever there's a large gathering of willing subjects with interesting characteristics and/or actions, that's where an able photographer is likely to find good, interesting subjects and photographs to take all without having to adopt their politics or even know what they are specifically.

It helps to have a 'roadmap' of the dispute or knowledge of the event for which people are gathering, in order best to document it and the people, as they relate to the event, and that can affect some photos and photo content, but many others are just 'character studies', as here.

Where else are you going to find so many wonderfully interesting subjects, many with interesting dress/looks and many anxious to be photographed.

By obliging their wish to be 'seen', I literally get months worth of photographic subject choices that I might pass on the street, offered to me just for walking a few blocks, and no dirty stares or need to explain myself or my self-appointed task or even run risks that have come to seem normal that are incumbent with 'street' photography (though I've learned many ways to minimize those).

Thanks for an able submission, Meir.

Alas, I can take more than high contrast photos, however, and if I were to resume taking nude photos, you can bet the contrast slider would be way to the left and the words 'high key' might be in more common use when one would speak the word 'Crosley'.

;~))

john

John (Crosley)

Interesting portrait and the person!

And he really was a nice, interesting and warm fellow.

Also, as pointed out about crowds at events in general, he was most cooperative and hoping and/or expecting to be photographed, so this fit in with his wishes and 'made his day'.

It's seldom that in 'street photography' one gets such a warm reception as one can when attending certain kinds of events as this.

Best wishes.

john

John (Crosley)

John Kerry was in Maidan early today.

John Crosley was there later.

Our aides forgot to coordinate our schedules.

Maybe next time.

john

John (Crosley)

מה לעשות what can you do?