The Sun Is Setting..., a photo from Lisboa, South

Photographer's Note

This is the first of a series of photos taken in Palma de Baixo, a sort of village inside Lisboa. Imagine yourself surrounded by tall buildings and six-lane speedways, turning a corner and... voilá: small houses, old houses, clothes hanging out to dry in the middle of the square... there's a special magic peace about that place.

The Sun was setting behind the houses...

And the people... old people, mostly. As Luís Afonso was talking to this very nice old lady, I was taking pictures, they didn't mind. She was complaining about how her house was almost falling down, how poor she was, with a family to look after... but all along you could feel she was a happy person, that she had joy enough for herself and for others. She ended saying what a marvelous person her son was, how lucky she was to have him.

The sun is setting on her life... but you could still feel the warmth.

The other woman didn't say a word... she just sat there, silent and grey...

Mondaychild, luisafonso, marknunnerley oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

mrmike1935 (4871) 2006-11-28 7:37 [Comment]

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Mondaychild (378) 2006-11-28 7:42

Hi Peter,

what a wonderful photo! It´s so authentic and warm-hearted! I also like your note on this.
Well done!

mlopes (494) 2006-11-28 10:25

WONDERFULL STORY!!!!!! Both told on photo and text ... wow ... i really like how you've introduced this photo. It's nice to see our country seen by the eye of a foreigner, but it's not usual to see this kind of gentleness and respect ... this king of compreenhension and understanding for the way of living.

Sorry for this long critique, in fact i'm not critiquing anything... i'm bowing before you. The photo it's not techincally perfect but who cares anyway... this is my lisboa and you've portraied it masterfully.

luisafonso (862) 2006-11-28 13:59

Wonderful picture Peter! I do love the burnt highlights in the center of the frame. I am sure the hope will come from there. Good depth and nice deep saturated colors. Want to see more from that pot. Take care, l.

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designsoul (17843) 2006-11-30 13:21

Hi Peter,
A work full of wonders. Very nice composition, a great feel. I like it and feel that the soul of Portugal dwells somewhere within. However, hope you don't mind me making a WS for it. I find the red too saturated, and feel it needs a bit more cyan and less red to bring out the textures of the sweater. I have also made it sepia (cannot get away from myself, eh?)
take care,
sasa
will be back

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Polonaise (5802) 2006-12-02 19:57

Unusual! Very unusual.
The untypical size ratio of this photo, its DOF - colors, against the light setting - all combined created something curious, yet beautiful.
It looks as if you Peter, arranged this setting according to your idea rather than accepting existent situation.
As I said - quite unique, yet charming presentation.
g.

bantonbuju (51815) 2006-12-05 2:26

indeed unusual,
but what surprises me most is the fact that these women seem not seeing you, i feel like as if you were completely behind their sight, on the other side of the fence all right, but was that other side invisible?
best wishes, j.

marknunnerley (2780) 2007-01-01 6:21

Peter,
how sad for the old lady, yet you say you feel she is happy in her soul. Fantastic composition here, it really is. Superb positioning of the woman on the left, with rim lighting on her jumper from the setting sun and the other old woman sat quietly there, probably heard her moans a thousand times. Great exposure too. Really very good photo Peter.
Happy New Year,
BR,
Mark