A Portrait of Dongjiadu # 1, Shanghai 2005 by Kal Khogali

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The Old Town...Today

Canon EOS 20D
1/15s f/3.2 at 50.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

Guest		25-May-2006 16:18
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Guest		23-May-2006 19:09
In the concrete forest swift industry teased minds with prevailing smoky waves.Lulled by the urban magician's performance.With impish demur rolling slyly over gullible polished cheeks and alerted furrowed brow.Of what could happen next.The message was unclear.Making them shiver with anticipation like antennae hairs looking for a cold stray waft.Anxiously holding their pensive leaning thoughts,which might collapse at the slightest sigh.

Rob Rosetti		03-May-2006 19:27
This is my favourite, I think.. A piece of art.. Voted. Roberto

Kal Khogali		19-Apr-2006 06:15
What insight Doug...your comment reminds me of the one here on an SP I made which seemed to set everbody offhttp://www.pbase.com/shangheye/image/51087200, which is a perfect partner to your words below. I totally agree...photography is an instant reaction in time. It's frozen, weather by the photographers choice or chance, what I see in it, is not what others will necessarily see, or even feel. Here is an example; this ladyhttp://www.pbase.com/shangheye/image/56536166 is this ladyhttp://www.pbase.com/shangheye/image/56460956 ..now you see a little of what I see. K

Guest		19-Apr-2006 05:25
"The purpose of a portrait, as I've noted in the introduction to my gallery on travel portraiture athttp://www.pbase.com/pnd1/portraits , is to go beyond making a likeness to define the character and personality of the subject." No... this is not the purpose of a portrait.... one's character or personality does not need to be defined, nor can it be defined in a photograph. It is a fragment, a mirage, at best a half truth... A portrait can be for ANY purpose or for no purpose at all.... it can be to bring the subject OR it can be to bring the vision of the photographer, the subject themself becoming irrelevant.... used in a sense, and secondary to the vision. It is predominantly a story of fiction, or of a partial truth.... or a story in between. Richard Avendon said it pretty well and with accuracy.... "All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth"... "My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph." Richard Avedon He was honest when describing portraiture in those words...

Guest		18-Mar-2006 13:14
You seem to have the ability and the sensitivity of locating unique characters. This is a clear example of it for me. The grey tonalites and the soft movement of his hand and head together with his nearly adolescent look and the cigarrette consuming slowly in his hand create in my opininon an impressive atmosphere which makes this portrait a superb one

Valery Titievsky		13-Feb-2006 18:05
Excellent portrait! Bravo! My vote!

Chris		20-Jan-2006 21:48
Excellent. Beautiful, non-gimmicky use of DOF. Great expressiveness and the framing is right on.

Guest		14-Jan-2006 21:44
this is great- love the smoke- bravo

Wolfgang		12-Jan-2006 17:38
What an expression!

alibenn		23-Nov-2005 06:08
Another fine portrait Kal!! Soft focus works here, making it more timeless..

Phil Douglis		22-Nov-2005 16:59
Thanks for asking this question, Jen -- the sign gives it context. You take Chinese signs for granted. I don't know what it says, but to me it places the image in China, which I think is important.

Guest		22-Nov-2005 15:59
I really like this, the eyes are great, and love the way he's holding the cigarette. I wish I had the courage to take portrait photos like this!

Jennifer Zhou		22-Nov-2005 09:46
I don't know why, last time I clicked in to see this portrait and since then it has always been in my head.. There is something about him, that is unforgetable..He is one of us, but his spirit seems rising above this world. I see you have a very slow shutter speed, but the blur actually helps here.. PS: question for Phil, I don't see how this 'softly focused sign behind him' help to tell the story...Can you explain why you think so? Thanks..

Phil Douglis		21-Nov-2005 22:31
This is your most impressive portrait to date, Kal. The purpose of a portrait, as I've noted in the introduction to my gallery on travel portraiture athttp://www.pbase.com/pnd1/portraits , is to go beyond making a likeness to define the character and personality of the subject. You include so much here that tells a story: the open collar, the cigarette burned down to a long ash, the unruly hair on chin and head, and the softly focused sign behind him. The black and white rendering removes flesh tones and makes him a symbolic figure as well. There is a timeless quality to this image as well -- perhaps it is a combination of his appearance and your interpretation of that appearance. The only minor problem I see here is the softly focused white patch in the background. The eye keeps wanting to go there. If you could remove it (and removing a meaningless distraction with photoshop is not a sin) the image would be simpler and more direct.

Guest		21-Nov-2005 22:09
Ooh man, this is awesome! To me, being a western guy, he's a mix of old and new China. I don't know how to explain that, but it's very, very expressive. And to be truly honest, you're doing me too much honor with your comments on my portraits. Yours are better Kal.

scott clarke		21-Nov-2005 19:49
Excellent. Looks like it was shot on a large format camera in the 1800's. The slight movement and nothing to suggest otherwise. Really well done.

arminb		21-Nov-2005 19:05
Very well caught!!!

Robbie D70		21-Nov-2005 19:01
Yes , ray is correct you have a great skill in showing interesting characters. They never seem awkward ,but totally relaxed and original . Great shot .

Guest		21-Nov-2005 17:54
Wonderful portrait, and all of that with a 50mm lens! Even the smoke wafting up from the cig had character. Vote

Ana Carloto O'Shea		21-Nov-2005 17:26
If he was posing for you I bet this one wouldn't turn out so wonderful :) The man really has a very expressive face. Great work Kal!

Ray Rebortira		21-Nov-2005 16:11
The portraits you take are fascinating character studies, like this one. I truly admire your ability to capture the person's inner being. And I wish I could do it too. Bravo!

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