Ata Kemal Sahin  


When life gets hard.  by Ata Kemal Sahin

August 2020 - When life gets hard.

August 2020 - Ata Kemal Sahin

Original

About the Image(s)

Life has ups and downs and the main point is to hold on to life and no matter where and how old you are! He is 82 years old and still has an active business life ie selling Turkish national flags on Kadikoy streets, Anatolian side of Istanbul. He’s a respectable old man and always poses for me as we’ve known each other since long years and I always make time to listen to him. I used PS to resize, crop from top and sides and convert to bnw.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
13 comments posted




Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you for sharing, Ata. I do not have comment for improvement. It hits my mind so heavy, I lost words.
How did you shoot? After getting consensus of shooting? What was the magic word to make his eye like that?   Posted: 08/01/2020 03:09:38
 
We have been living in Kadikoy for 45 years so everybody knows each other and you can imagine the power of our friendship. But the main reason I know is: He loves our Founding Father Kemal Ataturk so much and my name is "Ata Kemal" and I'm the follower of Ataturk's principles and ideology as well. He has many private problems in life which I cannot tell so there is always sadness in his eyes. He always makes me tearful. I think, the magic word to describe his sad eyes is: Questioning Life. Thanks for your emotional comment Haru.
Exif data is: f3,5 1/100 ISO100 50mm (Canon 7D)   Posted: 08/01/2020 03:55:12



Haru Nagasaki   Haru Nagasaki
Thank you, Ata. Understood that this would not be able to achieve by a stranger. Great work.   Posted: 08/01/2020 07:51:36



 
Nice image, mono conversion looks spot on as well as the depth of field. His face definitely shows his wear and tear of the years. Also the image is nice and sharp. The only problem I have with the image is that the white pole in the top left hand side Is a distraction for my eyes.   Posted: 08/04/2020 00:33:48
 
Hi David, you're definitely right, it could be cropped. Thanks.   Posted: 08/04/2020 00:40:16



Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
(Group 32)
Ata, this is one of your best shots. Photographing someone you have known for so long is significant, and your and his stories are touching. Thanks.   Posted: 08/10/2020 10:37:58
 
Thanks for your supportive words Stephen. Corona has dramatically stopped us and not easy to go somewhere for travel photography. Luckily, we went to Eskisehir last week, 200 miles from Istanbul for few days and have taken 2K of photos. Days were too hot and humid, can you imagine how difficult it was to work with face mask? Anyway, you can see my regular posts on my Instagram gallery @atakemalsahin   Posted: 08/10/2020 11:22:58



Arne Skinlo   Arne Skinlo
(Group 36)
This is a great shot, Ata. I like the camera angle and the line of the flag poles. The impression of his face shows a man who have lived a life. My suggestions for improvements is to make more contrast to his face. In particular, whitehead's his eyes and the beards.   Posted: 08/11/2020 23:19:53
 
Thanks for your comment and suggestions Arne.   Posted: 08/12/2020 03:29:51



 
Hi Ata, This is an excellent example that BW remove the distraction of color so that the focus can be on the subject .
Composition and removal of distraction is well done.
Just a recommendation to go further so that the 3 bright spots ( left corner, next to his left ear , and top right) get tone down more.
Great story and you have capture his expression really well.
  Posted: 08/17/2020 10:22:36
 
Your constructive recommendations were well-noted, thanks Angela.   Posted: 08/17/2020 10:38:28



 
This is just a great story-telling image, Ata. Your image of his face is mesmerizing. My only suggestion would be to crop out the entire white section on the upper left, which would eliminate the distractions and bring him even closer to the viewer.   Posted: 08/29/2020 11:07:16
 
Yes, that's true; but it was just to make it clear that it's a flag. Thanks Bill.   Posted: 08/31/2020 01:35:55