Paradise Lost

Thanks

the composition and general idea behind the shot are very good. The blur is a pity, thank you, Giuseppe

Thanks for your comment. I quite agree with you. This is a detail of a larger photo and I'm afraid it has lost some sharpness. I'll post the original and let you compare.

I feel the uncropped version of the image is better and more apt for the caption.

I like the cropped version better. I feel the original contains too much information and the man, who should rightfully be the center of attention, is rather lost in a sea of clutter. And, I don't mind the blur one bit.

After trying many different versions, I agree this is the best.

Ditto, Emmanuel.

I miss the bikes. I have the feeling they would've been a great addition if you'd found a satisfactory crop. Something a little "a la Erwitt".

Thanks. Erwitt is one of my favorite photographers for his sense of humor and wit as much as for anything else. I've got two books of his photos.

I like him very much too. I have a book about him, but with too few pages. I outta get myself another one. And Bischof too, one of my very favourites, and Capra of course, and Doisneau, and Ronis, Cartier-Bresson and Lartigue, and Stieglitz... (I'm just thinking my personal library is much too poor). They were all so humane and honest.

let me tell one thing: both of them have their own inner meaning and story to tell; I choose both :-)) I am glad you posted them: a good eye is a good eye (cropped or un cropped). Bravo, thank you, Giuseppe

Having read the other comments, I'm revisiting this image to comment on what it is I like about it. To me, the leaves frame the man, but it is the man that gives the image its gravity. It is the stoop of his shoulders, yet the firm set of his jaw that portrays a man in deep reflection about the decisions of his life. It is at once very Japanese--not unlike the portraits of Hirohito late in his life, of a man deeply crushed by memories of the severe consequences of the decisions of his youth, yet a man who lived long enough to see the rebound of his once devastated country to a position of prominence who saw it conquer with the pocketbook what it failed to conquer with the sword. Having read much about Hirohito, who was a humble man who felt burdened by the responsibility of his position his entire life--his fondest memory was riding the Paris Metro in his youth without being recognized, keeping the used stub of the ticket his whole life--this image reminds me of the man late in his life.

Good on so many levels Jack.

The above crop isn't bad, however the original just richer and being fair, just honest. That's IMHO the reason(s) why you did your utmost (!) in getting a completely satisfying crop. Noticing the original I got pleased. Indeed, the top isn't partially to crop and the sides and bottom hardly. ( I did crop just 2 mm at the bottom, especially on the bike in the midst and just a small white part.) That does mean the image is very well balanced..! For me title and story even are richer. Paradise lost, the man even having no eye on the future, the youth on his side. Just my thoughts, not wanting to be right. :)

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