new -- color & b&w 'Growing Older Together'

This aging couple seems almost ideally matched as they begin to approach their

golden years. Your ratings, observations and critiques are invited and most welcome.If

you rate or critique harshly or 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. Thanks! Enjoy! john

Very strong work. Tight crop works perfectly here. I see they will never give up, they will never let each other down. And they are still hot!

The two old people posing in a completely natural way; what makes the picture an extraordinary document!

Best regards

PDE

'Can't add anything new, but chime in that I like the subject matter, the execution, crop, and I love mono for people (and most anything). One thing I like is that they're not 'pretty people'. They're regular, real people. The obvious bond elevates any couple as a subject. One of the more hard hitting shots I've seen this month - was exactly this subject. 'Nicely done, John.

John,  This is superb.  Well seen and captured.  Larry

Nothing to add to the previous comments John ~ A superb shot. Rgds. Rick

Priceless expressions that carry the experience of an aging life. It's an image with an high level of emotional and obviously a fantastic one.

Regards,

ricardo

This photo definitely conveys their "couple-ship". An embodiment of "you and me against the world" or "together in the world" and "for better or for worse". While the words are cliche's, the photo most certainly is not. This is a beautiful portrait of partnership, John.

Amy

Thanks for the compliment.

Interesting thing about this 'tight crop' is that I settled for a 'middle ground' as the photo does not get worse if I crop tighter in my opinion; they seem to connect directly with the viewer.

Thanks again.  Best wishes.

john

John (Crosley)

They didn't appear so old in person, but they are as revealed by creases on their faces and detritus of the years.  I had over 2,000 photos in line to post when I chose this one, not knowing if it would get top ratings or lowest; I haven't figured out for me how raters will react, but for me it was very strong, and I went with my gut.

I'm glad you agree.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your kind comment.

john

John (Crosley)

I treasure an enthusiastic comment from a well known and reliable commenter like you, a photo net platinum standard for commenting.

Thanks so much for the comment.

john

John (Crosley)

I take a big chance when I post a photo of a subject that is not so 'wonderful' in and of itself that my photography will catch or show something revelatory that overcomes resistance to a photo of a nondescript, maybe down on their luck pair, and show something more about their 'souls' than just two heads.

Cartier-Bresson refused to do 'heads'; I don't.

He just couldn't make them expressive enough I think.

I keep trying, and this is turning into a remarkable (and unexpected) success.

Thanks for the endorsement.

john

John (Crosley)

Thank you for the kind comment; this photo, however unexpected, seems to have some highly unanticipated sort of 'magic' to it, even to my surprise.

I ain't some hifalutin photographer who turns everything I photograph into unicorns and fairy dust worth gallery sales and the world's attention, but somehow I like this photo; it seems to connect direct to the viewer's heart, maybe even bypassing the eyes.  Anyway there's some sort of strong connection that worked out (this time).

I'd be happy if I could do this on a more regular basis; there's some unspoken connection here between photographer and subjects that was momentary but that is strapped forever in this image.

Thanks for the kind comment.

john

John

John (Crosley)

Sometimes my taste in photos posted does not align with what raters regard as 'good' and sometimes what I regard as good seems not attractive, and I expect ratings at the bottom of the barrel; this is one such photo, but I posted it anyway because it had my heart however 'unattractive the people' among life's throngs.

I gambled that I had found something special in this moment and captured it.

Thanks for endorsing my choice.

john

John (Crosley)

I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment about 'priceless expressions' -- they seem to carry the photo, and the communication with the photographer seems to elevate it, no matter how ephemeral the captured moment.

Thanks for your kind, thoughtful comment.

john

John (Crosley)

Your excellent comment is so well written and so a pro pos that I am at a loss for words to comment on your remarks and only recommend that others read what you have written for an understand of the subjects I have captured here.

Best wishes.

John (Crosley)

Absolutly wonderful couple! Great portraits!

As I have long said, I don't 'shoot' celebrities.  I 'shoot' regular people, and hope that the successful photograph will attain some celebrity for its photographic merit rather than the celebrity of the subjects.

Thanks for the compliments.

john

John (Crosley)