While Dubai is famous for it's rather large buildings, malls, and indoor ski resort, some of my favourite places to visit are the souks (or markets). These are located on either side of the creek and you can cross between the two on an abrah (a small wooden dhow).
When I was there in 2008 I took this shot, a portrait of one of the many old guys who spend their days sitting and chatting in the markets. When we went back there this year he was there again, just round the corner from where I photographed him last year.
I have another three portraits from the same trip that I'll post at some point soon.
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
10.35am on 5/4/09
Canon 1Ds Mark II EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
70mm
f/6.3
1/60
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
comment byGarry at 11:20 AM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
I thought I recognised this guy :)
He's wearing the extra year well... looks like a nice new leather jacket to go with it.
Great contrast between the headwear and the blacks surrounding it
comment byIlan at 11:21 AM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
What a suspicious look!
The best portrait are always of older people. Baby's are mostly cute, but a photo of an elder will always have a story "on his face"
Great processing here, emphasizing the life story of that guy. Each wrinkle, each hair... Awesome.
comment byCraig at 11:48 AM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
I think this is an exceptional potrait, better than the 2008 shot which was already good. This is pensive with that distant look in his eye, smashing work :)
comment byODILIA LIUZZI at 12:31 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
really artistic.. ther's poetry in these eyes..
well done david..
comment byMirko Herzner at 12:38 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
A stunning portrait. His eyes have this intense stare. The processing suits him very well.
comment byCarlos Garcia at 01:16 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
His countenance and the abyss of those eyes... either he will suddenly laugh heartily, perhaps as Gandalf would, or the weight of his journey has steeled his brow as it carries the tales of his world, giving permission to only the slightest shadow of a smile. That's what I see in this wonderful portrait.
Hello,
That's a very nice black & white portrait. Great job !
Greetings from Morocco !
comment by Mark at 04:17 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
I like the portrait, but there's something odd about the eyes. They look metallic, as though they were silver plated. There's not much warmth in those eyes. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
comment byCarlos Lorenzo at 05:09 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
The eyes and wrinkles on this hardened face really tell a story. Great portrait.
comment byBriony at 05:22 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
this picture is amazing! how cool that you were able to photograph him twice. his eyes are quite intense in both shots.
comment by DedicatedRR at 07:23 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
These are great, both capture a lot. Did he remember you?
Heh. Same guy? That's brilliant. Fantastic b&w. Love the leather jacket too. :-)
comment byJoanna at 11:02 PM (GMT) on 17 April, 2009
wonderful portrait, this man's face is so rich...
comment byNicki at 12:41 AM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
What a contrast! First i saw the typical style and then, i looked at his jacket. It doesn't really fits together, but shows exact the way between traditon and modern times.
comment by Kevin at 01:02 AM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
I'd love to hear how you (and others) approach these strangers (particularly in foreign countries) to take their pictures. I'd be afraid to do it as I would think it an imposition. How do you phrase the question?
comment byjanko at 10:07 AM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
impressive portrait ! Looking at his face you start wondering about his story. Interesting face / look / expression. Also the way the headgear (smooth, clean) contrasts with his face (all wrinkly).
comment bywill pattison at 11:13 AM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
sweet! kevin, i was an eyewitness, so i can tell you that david is fearless. he'll walk up to pretty much anybody and ask to make their portrait, and because he's so bloody charming and handsome, nobody ever says no!
this guy, however, made him pay 10 dirhams, which was cheap at twice the price!
wp.
comment bydjn1 at 11:28 AM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
Ilan: I agree, older people are much more interesting to photograph.
Mark: I think he either has cataracts or some other problem with his eyes, hence the rather odd look.
DedicatedRR: I don't think he did recognise me.
Kevin: if you've already read Will's comment, just ignore the bit about me being "charming and handsome" :) More seriously, you just need to ask people nicely, and nine times out of ten they'll say yes. If you're nervous, or appear nervous, it will put people off, and you need to be able to explain what you're doing if you're asked. Other than that though there isn't too much else you need to know. If they don't speak English, or any other language that you speak, you may have to just indicate what you want to do - point at your camera, then point at them - but you'll easily be able to tell if they're happy for you to go ahead. And finally, the worst that has ever happened to me is that some people have said no.
Will: lol :)
comment by Mike at 02:15 PM (GMT) on 18 April, 2009
Dave, in addition to tall buildings and indoor skiing, you forgot one other thing Dubai is famous for: slavery.
comment byJennifer at 11:35 AM (GMT) on 19 April, 2009
How incongruous is that jacket - love it - really need some shades to complete the look - maybe next year ;-)
comment bydjn1 at 12:30 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2009
Thanks everyone.
comment byJeremy at 05:35 PM (GMT) on 19 April, 2009
Mike - you're right. I haven't been to Dubai, but I've been a couple of times to Abu Dhabi, where the story is the same, and the Asian workers would make a very interesting subject, that I have never been brave enough to attempt.
While Dubai is famous for it's rather large buildings, malls, and indoor ski resort, some of my favourite places to visit are the souks (or markets). These are located on either side of the creek and you can cross between the two on an abrah (a small wooden dhow).
When I was there in 2008 I took this shot, a portrait of one of the many old guys who spend their days sitting and chatting in the markets. When we went back there this year he was there again, just round the corner from where I photographed him last year.
I have another three portraits from the same trip that I'll post at some point soon.
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 1Ds Mark II
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
70mm
f/6.3
1/60
aperture priority
+1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
I thought I recognised this guy :)
He's wearing the extra year well... looks like a nice new leather jacket to go with it.
Great contrast between the headwear and the blacks surrounding it
What a suspicious look!
The best portrait are always of older people. Baby's are mostly cute, but a photo of an elder will always have a story "on his face"
Great processing here, emphasizing the life story of that guy. Each wrinkle, each hair... Awesome.
I think this is an exceptional potrait, better than the 2008 shot which was already good. This is pensive with that distant look in his eye, smashing work :)
really artistic.. ther's poetry in these eyes..
well done david..
A stunning portrait. His eyes have this intense stare. The processing suits him very well.
His countenance and the abyss of those eyes... either he will suddenly laugh heartily, perhaps as Gandalf would, or the weight of his journey has steeled his brow as it carries the tales of his world, giving permission to only the slightest shadow of a smile. That's what I see in this wonderful portrait.
C.
Hello,
That's a very nice black & white portrait. Great job !
Greetings from Morocco !
I like the portrait, but there's something odd about the eyes. They look metallic, as though they were silver plated. There's not much warmth in those eyes. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that, and I'm not sure how I feel about it.
The eyes and wrinkles on this hardened face really tell a story. Great portrait.
this picture is amazing! how cool that you were able to photograph him twice. his eyes are quite intense in both shots.
These are great, both capture a lot. Did he remember you?
Heh. Same guy? That's brilliant. Fantastic b&w. Love the leather jacket too. :-)
wonderful portrait, this man's face is so rich...
What a contrast! First i saw the typical style and then, i looked at his jacket. It doesn't really fits together, but shows exact the way between traditon and modern times.
I'd love to hear how you (and others) approach these strangers (particularly in foreign countries) to take their pictures. I'd be afraid to do it as I would think it an imposition. How do you phrase the question?
impressive portrait ! Looking at his face you start wondering about his story. Interesting face / look / expression. Also the way the headgear (smooth, clean) contrasts with his face (all wrinkly).
sweet! kevin, i was an eyewitness, so i can tell you that david is fearless. he'll walk up to pretty much anybody and ask to make their portrait, and because he's so bloody charming and handsome, nobody ever says no!
this guy, however, made him pay 10 dirhams, which was cheap at twice the price!
wp.
Ilan: I agree, older people are much more interesting to photograph.
Mark: I think he either has cataracts or some other problem with his eyes, hence the rather odd look.
DedicatedRR: I don't think he did recognise me.
Kevin: if you've already read Will's comment, just ignore the bit about me being "charming and handsome" :) More seriously, you just need to ask people nicely, and nine times out of ten they'll say yes. If you're nervous, or appear nervous, it will put people off, and you need to be able to explain what you're doing if you're asked. Other than that though there isn't too much else you need to know. If they don't speak English, or any other language that you speak, you may have to just indicate what you want to do - point at your camera, then point at them - but you'll easily be able to tell if they're happy for you to go ahead. And finally, the worst that has ever happened to me is that some people have said no.
Will: lol :)
Dave, in addition to tall buildings and indoor skiing, you forgot one other thing Dubai is famous for: slavery.
How incongruous is that jacket - love it - really need some shades to complete the look - maybe next year ;-)
Thanks everyone.
Mike - you're right. I haven't been to Dubai, but I've been a couple of times to Abu Dhabi, where the story is the same, and the Asian workers would make a very interesting subject, that I have never been brave enough to attempt.