Jimmy "D"

After photographing this fellow making a payphone call on a downtown

Binghamton street corner (the cigar and his serious demeanor made him

a prime subject), I introduced myself and he told me: "They call me

'Jimmy D'". Talkative and affable, Jimmy looked my camera over and

told me that in his early years he worked at the Ansco Camera Works in

Binghamton's First Ward. In the early part of the last century,

Ansco--later taken over by Germany's Agfa--was a serious competitor to

Eastman Kodak located less than 200 miles away in Rochester. In fact,

at one point Ansco sued Kodak over patent infringement and won. Jimmy

and I talked for almost half an hour on that street corner. It was a

pleasant encounter. Your comments and critiques are always

appreciated. Thanks...Bill

First, I like the photo. I'm curious if the belly might be less noticeable if it were cropped. It seems the silver cord draws my eye to the belly and I stare at the beautiful brown button...that's certainly not the important part!

 

The hand and facial epression speak volumes. I wish I would have been there! Great DOF. No distractions there. I love this shot!!!

i agree with the first comment...if cropped just above the bottom button, it would really focus the eye on what this picture is all about...such a great expression, such a great moment in time you captured...such a great shot!

Nice story. Jimmy D is no doubt quite a character. He has a presence. A very strong presence. The cigar is a nice touch. Yet if there was no cigar this would still be a great shot. The face, the body language jump out at you.