samrat

Thank you for your interest in this photo. You made a very fine interpretation regarding the amalgamation of old and new; I missed that completely. That is what's so interesting about photos; new angles and meanings can always be found.

In Turkey, elderly ladies often knit intricate patterns in the hope of selling

them. In a country with a rich tradition of weaving, it is not entirely

inconceivable that this lady would have woven bigger things at some point

of her life.

Thank you for your constructive comments.

This is an excellent photo of an exquisite piece of art. With a good potential for contrast, I felt it would work well in B/W and have attempted likewise. Your crop works well with more space in front of the figure which, I feel, creates an anticipation of something or someone which or whom the figure is addressing. I have close cropped it further from behind with an adjusted cropping from the front.

Thank you. This was one of those moments that pop up just like that.

I spent some time staring at this photo. I was unsure what to make of it. Of course, you have provided a ready explanation (and I'm happy to agree) but going by what I see in/understand from your photos, this felt very superficial indeed.

Then I noticed the man's pullover. And the expression in his eyes. Call me what you may, John, but I felt that the picture on the board has come to life in front of it. There is the beast and the woman. And the girl on the right (why did you include her?) represents the viewer staring at the drama occuring in front of her. Surreal.

And then your caption seemed to make more sense. A stage is being set for something quite gory. More interesting indeed!!

Talk of flights of fantasy...!! LOL...I suppose I have gone a bit too far this time.

Regards.

Thank you for your comment. This is interesting to me only with regard to the intricate designs...else, I did not do much neat post-production work. You can still see the line across the upper part of the pillars...there was a rope/cord there which created a distraction. Also, I spent some thought on whether the original colour version should be exhibited but I chose this. Part of the reason is of course my bias towards B/W. But I also wanted to see how much effect I could create by using contrast.

Thank you for your comment. It is indeed encouraging to get a positive comment on colour/tones from you...I'm sure you'll understand why. Regarding the cropping, I may consider cropping a bit from the right but am unsure of the left. I wonder if too much close cropping would make the subject cramped.

Thank you. I have toned down the colours a bit and added little contrast. This is one of my few recent colour photos.

This reminds me of only one person any Bengali will relate to.....

Lovely silhouette. 

Well, well...we have been to the same place then. I love the way you have captured the wall and more so because you did it in colour which is completely opposite approach to mine. Beautiful tones and contrast. Regards.

Thank you for your input. My thoughts with regard to the cabinet coincide with yours. The situation as it presented itself was too good to pass. I have three shots in all here; this is definitely my favourite.

Thank you both for your inputs. I should have mentioned in the beginning that in Turkey, people do wear different dress types rather than "seemed to". The people in general are very warm and friendly and are generous hosts. They talk to you as you pass their shops/restaurants and have a ready sense of humour. To my sheer delight, Turkish food is as excellent as their architecture.

Is this really your palm? Such detail would be difficult to obtain had I kept the insect on one hand and tried to press the shutter (or shutter release) with the other....there would be some movement....job well done!! Regards.

Thank you all for your interest in this photo. I also have a close up version but chose to display this as the surroundings put the man in perspective.

Olaf, the man probably thinks he's stuck in life (pole or not); do you agree?

Thank you both for your interest in this photo.

I did think of cropping out the cabinet altogether but I thought that it would cut off a lot of the gent and that it would not work. Also, the cabinet would provide the feel of the place a little more than just the manikins. But I see from Amalda's version that it may not have been too bad after all.

I do agree it would have been better with the feet included and perhaps I should have been positioned a little to the left myself (that would have taken care of the cabinet to an extent with a more frontal view of the man). But I did not wish to bring myself in view of the person as it would have made him conscious that someone was photographing him.

For some reason, the site won't accept my comment here. I've posted the same in your portfolio. Regards.

In Turkey, people seemed free to dress whatever way they wanted with

due respect to religious sentiments. Thus there was a frequent mixture of

the traditional with the more western varieties. Thank you for your

constructive comments.

A gentleman enjoys his Turkish tea in Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. Turkish

hospitality is well-known and people very courteous and friendly. Cups of

Turkish tea, Apple tea and Turkish coffee are always on offer.

I'd appreciate comments on the composition of this photo; should I have

cropped off more from the right? The line of manikins end almost where it

seems to at the far left. Thank you for your input.

Well spotted, Svetlana. A very innocent image in more ways than one. Regards.

I do agree with all the comments that have been penned already. This is a story of interactions at the very basic level; man to man. It also emphasises that a street shooter should be able to step up and ask others if they are happy to be photographed. This is basic courtesy, but often some (me included) take the "voyeur" mode rather than approach upfront. I suppose the debate can continue till the end of time, but I also think it depends on the situation. Permission makes the subject more aware and lose spontaneity.

Here, the man looks with you with some suspicion still...or so it appears. It gives him a forbidding look, as in "don't mess with me". There is humour in this, for he has already been messed with when you got him to agree to be photographed.

Some of the children look as if they were asked to look at the camera; especially the boy and girl (2nd and 4th from left). Of course, it could have been that you spotted them and they spotted you; that is more expressed by the other boy and girl in the group and the little girl to the left who seems unaware of your presence.

That is why I mentioned it "appears" to be a posed shot rather than a "definite" posed shot.

Thank you for dropping in to comment on this photo. I used a basic photo-editing software, Photoscape, to do post-production work. I did sharpen and adjust contrast but I suppose I could have done more. Personally, I wish I could have toned down the glare on the pillar to the left as well (and perhaps get rid of the small figure at the left bottom). But overall, I was happy with the composition and the overall feel of the photo. Regards.