The clan, a photo from Cluj, West

Photographer's Note

This is part of a family of gipsies. They lived near the forest, in improvised houses (see behind them), during the season of mushroms. They are 'nature' people, and their crop of mushroms is signifiant - they sell the mushroms to pick-up centers for big companies, and make a living of it. They stay there for about 2 months/year. During the winter, they have houses in villages.

I'll probable post tomorrow a second picture, with that community - they were some 100 people there. They build like a small village of their own, with their own rules, near a regular village.

It was difficult to take this pictures - I stopped the car, took some photos from far away, as I was kindda affraid to enter on my own that community. Still, after they saw my camera, some of them agreed to let me take their pictures. This guy on the left, he wanted me to take a photo of all his family. He was proud to show me his kids, and was posing like some important person (I took him a portrait, he was very proud).

The photo is now very well framed, I know. I took out about 80% of the color.

sengir, gioy, verge, gemme, markoci, Vasylis oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

sengir (4956) 2004-11-18 9:19

interesting story
I like almost everything in this picture except for the way that you cropped the boy on the right hand.

gioy (425) 2004-11-18 9:26

Good portrait and choice to took out colours, so they are more cold...I like it.
It's a pity for the right boy, however the picture is very nice!

verge (1242) 2004-11-18 9:28

good family portrait. i like the framing, i agree with anthoni on the croping

gemme (43) 2004-11-18 9:42

The 'passé' look of the picture you gave by taking away most of the color makes it look very nice and probably translates these people's lifestyle very well. At the same time, it is a reminder that gypsies still live on in Eastern Europe, a fact which many probably ignore. Thanks for this beautiful photograph and for the story that nicely completes it. I must agree however about the framing, that's slightly awkward. I love the pants that flap in the wind on the house, though!

mortijo (12828) 2004-11-18 9:42

Nice group photo. You should have avoided cutting the boy in half. Otherwise good. Prsonnally I prefer more colours or sepia, but that is just a matter of taste and has nothing to do with the quality of the shot.

KUAN (1502) 2004-11-18 13:21

I like a trousers on this pictures ;)

sikor102 (1548) 2004-11-18 18:32

Extra photo! In spite of all, super colors :).Good job.

roconnell (327) 2004-11-27 23:23

The desaturation adds to the wind-blown and faded setting of this family in the open. Very well done.

markoci (3933) 2004-12-12 1:09

great shot! i love the way the boy on the left sort of peeks into the frame. wonder why you dedcided to leave any color and not go with b&w?

Vasylis (1414) 2006-07-29 4:46

i have been there and is a fantastic place to be ... i am happy that you post such a relevant picture and such a pertinent comment.

great one.
Vasylis