Garlito -- The Tango Singer (Reincarnate)**+ *

The real tango singer Carlos Gardel (Garlito), died tragically in a

plane crash in 1935. This is a street performer who, although older

than Gardel at his death, mirrors the look of the one-time superstar

whose fame was worldwide. (And is the subject of a musical on

Broadway). Your ratings and critiques are invited and most

welcome. If you rate harshly or very critically, pleae submit a

helpful and constructive comment/Please share your superior

knowledge to help improve my photography). Thanks! Enjoy! John

No superior knowledge from me, but I know what I like! This is a fab concept and you've truly captured a mirrored image. Its a simple idea but works so so well. Nice one!

 

Regards,

 

Claire

You've saved me introducing the word 'mirror'. I was tempted to use it in my caption or request for critique -- my 'intro'.

 

The question is which of the photos are of this guy and which are of the guy he's emulating?

 

I think the photo at the upper left may be of him (it's color) and the other two may be of the original 'Gardel' -- Garlito, but I may be mistaken. For instance, the photo, lower right may be of this man in a younger time, but who knows -- it's certainly of a much younger man.

 

I never really approached these two men, isolating them from a great distance.

 

This was taken in the San Telmo District, near the antique 'flea market' on a Sunday, and I am sure this guy hangs out there a great deal of the time.

 

Garlito probably is the second most famous entertainer in Argentine history -- right after Evita -- Eva Peron -- a true icon, whose star was boosted when he died in a plane crash in 1935.

 

He started singing at a market on the street -- and quickly was boosted to stardom, recording, performing and traveling internationally -- a true Argentine legend, and because 'tango' was a 'star' of Argentina, and he sang 'tango' (whatever that is as singing), he became even more famous. His voice was apparently absolutely mesmerizing (after the Frenchman, Mesmer, whose name became synonymous with hypnotism.)

 

You probably have noted I like to use 'mirroring' when I can in my images.

 

Look around and you'll see more/sometimes reverse mirroring or mirroring of shapes, here and there.

 

Thanks for noticing.

 

John (Crosley)

 

 

Love this photo. It has a great feel to it... like i'm there at the time(years ago). The man in the front really adds to this image as well. The colour, light, and expressions are perfect.

Wasn't Gardel's nickname "Carlitos"? This fellow, I believe, is Carlos Lujan, who sings Gardel's songs in his tradition. And aren't the photos in the background of Lujan himself (they don't look to me quite like Gardel)? None of this detracts from the esthetics of the image, but I was professor too long not to ask.

I went through about 10 pages of 'nickname' 'Carlos' 'Gardel' 'tango' on Google.com and found the following references:

 

He was born in Toulouse, France though most believed his story he was born in Uruguay, but for that reason he had for some a nickname as El Francesito (the French boy).

 

His most famous nickname was 'the Creole Thrush' as it is spoken in Spanish -- Zorzal Criolla.

 

No mention of his use of Carlitos, Carlito or Garlito. I heard Garlito, so I went with it, but I could be wrong.

 

However, I try to be thorough and accurate, as you can see.

 

I don't want to peddle mistruths.

 

I also found a good account of his death -- a plane carrying him and prominent Colombians crashed on a runway in Colombia when it mysteriously veered and hit another plane -- both filled with aviation gasoline and 15 people were killed, mostly from burns, and mostly outright, Colombia and South America's landmark aviation disaster -- famous because Colombia was an aviation leader and also famous because there were many prominent people on board the plane beside Gardel.

 

As to the photos, I am unable to tell.

 

John (Crosley)

This photo has many devices in it:

 

1. Mirroring of two different kinds:

 

A. His image, four times

 

 

B. The repetition of the colors blue several times and the color range of brown/yellow from the foreground to the background, breaking the planes and thus tying them together, just as the repetition of images does.

 

2. Use of selective depth of field, to emphasize the subject, separating him from the near figure, assistant/bystander, and also most sharpness on the newspaper article, upper right, so one can actually read the name, for maximum storytelling ability.

 

3. Use of an out-of-focus figure for framing and also to give an 'I was there' in the crowd sense for the viewer and to emphasize that this is a 'street' photo and not one taken in the abstract or in a studio but amid some hustle and bustle.

 

4. Use of period custome by the subject and his assistant/bystander, mirrored in the photos(s) to emphasize the story.

 

5. An interesting face for the subject to keep with the theme of the folder (about faces).

 

6. Wall-to-wall imagery, with no 'blank' or unnecessary spaces, such as a blank sky -- the image is completely full not only of the subject but of things that help show off the subject - nothing is wasted.

 

There may be more, but that's enough, I think.

 

Thanks for the comment.

 

It helped me think this image through.

 

I so much love comments/they make me think.

 

Thanks again.

 

John (Crosley)

This is yet another in a growing line of photographs of mine in which I have employed an out-of-focus foreground to frame and emphasize the main subject(s) of the photo.

 

In a world in which some people, nature photographers especially, believe everything must be sharp and crisp, there is plenty of reason to show a figure, as the man at left, an assistant, all out of focus.

 

Moreover, the leftmost man, has the same colors, and thus the theme of blue and gray which (along with yellow/orange) dominates this photo, is continued in his clothes -- his face color, with its deep tan, reflects the same facial coloring of the tango singer street imitator, to 'tie the composition together' in a subtle way.

 

If someone is standing in front of you or between you and a subject, don't hesitate to place the subject in sharp focus (not hard with autofocus and 'focus points') then shoot away. The out of focus foreground and sometimes background will serve to isolate and make your subject 'pop' or stand out.

 

Here, breaking all the rules, I have placed the 'subject' in the center of the frame -- right smack dab in the center. Theoretically that should make a most uninteresting photo.

 

But this man is mirrored or 'echoed' in three more images, so the eye is compelled to wander through the frame, each time discovering a new image and then trying to determine 'is this the same man' or another, earlier man, the namesake tango singer, perhaps (of course depending on how much one knows of the history, or how much one reads the caption and comments to even be cogniscent that there is such a man.)

 

This also is a photo which is 'painted with color' Rather than having a person standing on the edge of a mountain framed by washed-out sky, here the subject is framed by interesting things. See my Presentation; Photographers: Watch Your Background', if how to create such photographs interests you.

 

It's loaded with examples from my portfolio, together with commentary, in which proper choice of background helped change otherwise mediocre photos into a greater ones.

 

John (Crosley)

It was nice meeting you in my store and I, certainly,

enjoyed our conversation. I was constructive and

informative. I've been busy and did not get a chance

to touch bass with you sooner, but here I'm.

I must tell you, I checked out your photography and it

was amazing and interesting flavor of all sorts of

pictures. Look forward to hear back from you.

Stay well and keep in touch,

Daud

 

 

It's interesting that a 'haberdasher' such as yourself should choose a photo of a man dressed 'to the nines' in an older style, such as this guy, to leave a comment on.

 

And to run into an Afghan haberdasher in one of the world's most exclusive malls (and a handsome one to boot, despite his protestations -- that means yours -- that you were not photogenic -- and to break those protestations with a simple series of photographs of you in your workplace was a delight. I am happy you were pleased with my work -- I always find my cameras (sometimes huge and sometimes small, to be 'magic boxes, through which I gain amazing 'sight' and sometimes 'insight' when I view people and circumstances through it(them), to a degree that formerly astonished me, and now seems more expected (though I am amazed still, each time at how 'magical' the results are (generally).

 

Thanks for the e-mail -- I replied in kind.

 

John (Crosley)

Well, It was nice to hear from you. Tell me please, "haberdasher" what does it mean. If you are in the area please stop by and say hello. tks,

'Haberdasher' -- clothing salesman. Simple as that.

 

Your photo will be published some day. Sure as night follows day, I think, but not sooner (probably much later, and not as my best work but it's in line to be published.

 

Thanks for the kind invite.

 

John (Crosley)