'J'ai Quatre-Vingt Sept Ans (II) et J'ai Joie de Vivre' ('I'm Eighty-seven Years Old [II] and I Love Life')

This eighty-seven-year-old thrift shop co-owner and his partner

invited me into their shop in Paris and were kind enough to allow

about three or four photos and to explain his philosophy of life --

essentially 'live life to its fullest' (which he assumed I was doing

also). Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If

you rate harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment; please share your superior knowledge of

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

Your comment is a little truncated -- I'm afraid I'm not sure I get the full meaning -- Do you mean that he appears to be saying what you have written?

John (Crosley)

After consideration, I guess that he is a little Merlin-like -- I just hadn't considered that aspect of this photo, being so close to him and all -- to me he's a live wire thrift shop owner who's lively and vivacious at 87 years old, living life to its fullest and not about to 'give up' and setting an example for older folks everywhere (and I think he saw something in me, lugging around my heavy cameras, also not a spring chicken, but also full of life, just walking around a foreign city meeting strangers and liked me very much -- he told me as much).

John (Crosley)

Sometimes I disagree with raters and commentators, but not this case.

I think this is one of my all-time best, and I'm glad for your endorsement (without any embarrassment or self-abnegation).

I took this in color and the colors from 'extremely warn room' lights', background overwhelmed the photo, but when I desaturated it, I was simply overwhelmed.

'Wow' was all I could say when (1) desaturation was finished and (2) after shadow/highlight filter was used when this guy's head began to pop, especially after some contrast adjustment was made since the head was almost black or dark in the original capture.

I put it in this particular folder instead of my 'Faces' folder to commemorate its place as I see it. (Not all those in this folder meet the same standard, regrettably).

But, also regrettably, my standards still seem to fall short of yours, and yours seem so 'easy' and so commonplace -- so unforced, and mine just the opposite.

So, 'Wow' in return. You are sui generis (one of a kind).

(I don't mate-rate however, so no harm done ;~)) if I seem fawning.)

Come on back anytime you see something you like, have a nit to pick or a comment to help improve things.)

John (Crosley)

I guess I should say it; my goal is to take a bunch of photos that the horrible critic but wonderful photographer Henri C-B could say, 'those are OK' to and to which he'd nod his head as being worthy.

I have a hunch he'd find this one that way; but who knows . . . he had a reputation for giving scathing denunciations of photographers who approached him or had their reps approach him for analysis of their work.

Maybe he'd just rip my best work to shreds.

I guess I could take that from him he were to have done that/I know my work's true worth (and he didn't always take masterpieces, though he certainly laid out what must have been a world's record). His career reminds me of a winning jockey who keeps riding and eventually rides enough steeds to become 'winningest jockey' -- someone absolutely skilled but also disciplined and finally who 'sticks with it' for a long time, until he and his discipline become synonymous. (That'll never happen with me, regrettably.)

Is that asking too much with my skills?

John (Crosley)

Sometimes I disagree with critics, even those who offer praise -- even the unqualified type, for I take some not so nice photos that sometimes do pretty well on critique for reasons I cannot explain (and others that I love that do poorly on critique for the same inexplicable reasons).

But, on reviewing my B&W photos as well as color, this is one of the most complex and interesting photos I've taken ever and doesn't just rely on a device of composition such as an 's' curve, a strong diagonal, an interesting background (although here it helps for certain) etc., all devices I've written about extensively.

And, this guy and I had very poor light and some of the four or so shots were out of focus and unsalvageable and maybe this was the only decent shot that could be posted at all -- What Good Luck!

This old guy just loved me, an older guy myself (but far, far from his age), as I think he recognized that somehow I have his joie de vivre hidden in my dour exterior -- or why else would I be plying the gloomy streets of November Paris with my heavy cameras and lenses searching for the perfect photo.

And, if I found it once, or came close, there's another one to find.

I like the fact that your comment had REASONS attached to it; not just 'nice photo'.

Oh, I just looked at your rate -- I see it did really impress you; I'm very glad.

I haven't had one of those ratings for a while; PN has worked to make them hard to give and get for good reasons what with mate-rating and all. I don't mate-rate (give few rates at all -- very, very few, but those I give are all high so the photos will go in my highest-rated folder for all to see what I like).

I always like your critiques because they're articulated; bare words of praise or dissing have little effect on me -- they're just 'feelings' without support that can be communicated until you tell me.

And thanks for doing so.

John (Crosley)

Great Eye!!!

This is absolutely one of my very best, largely unsung and unheralded, and largely also unviewed.

I'm glad you found it.

I'm very proud of it.

This old guy was a 'find'.

Thanks for rating it the highest of all ratings. (I'd tell you if I disagreed, -- I'm funny that way -- but in this case I can't argue.)

John (Crosley)

excellent,regards.

Thank you very much.

John (Crosley)

Dear John,

I had to register for this one. I am a student photographer, and this picture is absolutely stunning. What great personality and feeling to this image, and wonderful composition.

Kind Regards,

Gustav Lassen, Copenhagen, Denmark

You have paid me the ultimate compliment.

This guy is simply great; he was bustling with intellectual energy and interest when I photographed him last year, and I think I caught that in this photo.

I hope you stay around Photo.net; spend some time with my Portfolio and the Portfolio of other photographic artists who are wonderful -- they're wonderful to learn from -- it has taught me a lot.

And when the time comes, submit some photos for the critique process . . . which can be a little nettlesome, but at the same time you can learn something.

Welcome.

John (Crosley)

This may be one of the first of my captures in which 'I captured the man's soul'.

I am doing that now on a regular basis -- and now I am able actually to write or talk about it because people are saying of their photos that I have done that, wholly or partially.

He was a delight, and we connected instantly.

Best to you -- you're still batting 1,000 per cent.

You know how to pick 'em.

John (Crosley)

Hello John, I just joined this week and stumbled across your gallery. I would have to say this is one of my favorites from the gallery after a brief visit. I myself have not done much street photograpy since the 70's, on film of course. Love the lighting and the framing. Very masterful collection you have here, too much to take in on a single visit. I will return at another time when I have a few hours to spare to soak it all in. Like a museum of life.

FS

Frank Sines,

I took up photography largely again about six+ years ago, and what you see is my work since then, minus some very old work, plus a few works from the interim when I shot very little.

I wish you great fun perusing these photos; they diminish in quality as one gets towards the beginning of my folder, so don't feel required to look at 'everything'.

You are very welcome here.

john

John (Crosley)