Photographer's Note
Got a phone call yesterday from my friend Yoshi, with whom I visited Japan,informing me that his dad had died after a long illness. I was fortunate to have met the gentleman as I lived for a short time in their home.
Like many retired and aging folk, he had a hobby or two. I know that in his healthier days he loved to work in his vegetable garden, growing his own mushrooms, bamboo shoots and a range of vegetables.He collected stamps and excelled in Sumi-e painting. Yoshi's mum is one of the top calligraphists in Shimane.
Mr Nagami was adopted by a childless couple, according to Yoshi a common practice in those days when the parents of the child had too many mouths to feed.
He was almost ninety and must have witnessed incredible changes in his country over nine decades.
Here you see him hanging persimmons to dry after the skin has been peeled- a ritual that he and his wife had been performing yearly. I can assure you that when dried, this fruit turns into a sweet and delicious winter pick-me-upper, especially the way Mr Nagami liked to eat it- with a small cup of good quality sake. The fruit once hanging is hoisted under the eaves and left to dry in the cool autumn sun. Amazingly, flies are not a problem.When I took this shot I was inside looking out onto the balcony.
I am also posting an example of Mr Nagami's artwork.
It is so true that each death diminishes us somehow.
Critiques | Translate
Wanda1
(15142) 2011-07-06 5:45
Hi Klaudio,
That is a sad story, but a lovely tribute to this proud man. I like the feeling of you looking out and him perhaps unaware as he delicately hangs these persimmons.
I enjoyed to see the artwork as well.
Regards
Wanda
holmertz
(102774) 2011-07-06 8:54
Hello Klaudio,
You have expressed your respect for this gentleman very well in the photo as well as the note. The portrait gets a tinge of melancholy when knowing the circumstances. It is however a very appealing composition with the man well placed between the fruits and the green curtain and the bamboo rod providing a nice diagonal frame on top. The reflections in the window disturb slightly, but it's no big deal. The man's gentle expression shines through the window much stronger.
Kind regards,
Gert
papera
(14372) 2011-07-06 12:37
ciao klaudio,
I was reading gert's comment and I was thinking that it's interesting how we all react differently to certain pictures and their elements. in this case, I love the reflections on the man's face, it creates a context (the photo being taken within the house premises, a window or a glass between you and him, the observation of daily life) that really appeals to me.
I agree with you that each death diminishes us in one way or the other; the other sad thing is that in most cases we never know when it's the last time we see someone.
c.
pajaran
(115989) 2011-07-06 13:23
Pozdrav.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o japanskoj porodici ...
Gospodin radi svoj posao, dobar snimka kroz staklo prozora, lepe boje i fotografija.
Starost brzo dodje, ostaju nam lepa secanja.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici, dobra slika umetnika, vaseg prijatelja.
Imajte mirnu noc, dobro zdravlje i lepo vreme, kod nas jos lose i nestabilno vreme sa kisom i lokalnim nevremenima.
Paja.
agjika
(3177) 2011-07-06 15:39
Hi Klaudio,
A wonderful tribute to what seem to have been a very nice man. You know, I am not sure about the artwork but I can see myself being quite a bit like him in my old age. I have to have my vegetables growing in my garden no matter where or when, I think it runs in my family! Very interesting treatment of these persimons, the fruit is quite common in Albania and I love it myself but this is the first time I hear about drying them.
This photo is also really nice. The light is perfect, the colours, the expression and the composition. You have captured the character of this gentleman really well.
Greetings
Aleks
SteveH
(8220) 2011-07-06 17:04
Hi Klaudio, nicely composed image, placment of the elements works well and the warm light on the colourful fruit assists; square format was a good choice, with no (avoidable) distractions. It conveys a sense of an old man concentrating on a ritual task, perhaps one which will be hard to come by as that generation passes. Cheers, Steve
worldcitizen
(16104) 2011-07-06 18:47
Hello Klaudio,
This is a beautiful and tender photo. In this wonderful face we can see a long life, and a gentle soul. The care that he is giving to the persimmons is moving to me. I like the way the sunlight touches some of the fruit, too.
kato
(11630) 2011-07-07 3:23
Dear Klaudio,
Firstly, you might be surely disappointed because you hear the report that best friend's father is lost first. Respectfully, I send my condolences. I guess that your desire overflows every day spent with him.
He looks very gentle like the good person. His feeling is transmitted from the photograph done to hang this persimmon. Feelings naturally return to the simplicity in childhood when the person ages. He is watching you and his family in the heaven as it is warm.
Best regards,
mikio
Disabled_A
(0) 2011-07-07 9:39
Hi Klaudio,
this shot immediately attracted me with its very special bright light shining on the persimmons! I think you chose a perfect POV to create the composition.
Very good tribute to the man; a very nice, very warm scene which - I'd say - remind us of the best human feelings... and little joys of life which we must treasure and keep in mind...
and your Note to this photo reminds me of transience of all things in the world.
One of the best photos in your gallery!
kindest regards,
Elena
PS. thanks for the interesting WS photo! (I love Japanese art.)
ahmet54
(3600) 2011-07-07 11:30
Hi Klaudio,
fine portait of this old man. He seems to be very concentrated in his work. Although death is is natural and common it's a sad moment when it comes.
Your portrait would be wonderful, if there weren't those
reflections from a pane.
Greetings from Germany
Roland
I had a lot of work during the last months. But I will try to post more in the future.
batalay
(41261) 2011-07-07 18:44
Hello Klaudio,
You've submitted an engaging note complimenting an excellent photograph. The explanation of the circumstances of the photo are helpful. I thought also that it was a photo shot with some reflections in a window. The man has a sympathetic face.
Warm regards,
Bulent
SnapRJW
(31631) 2011-07-08 8:09
Hello Klaudio - I missed this one yesterday but was pleased to see it today. Firstly, you have written a fine tribute to this dear old gentleman, both your words and photograph depict a man with a kind and open heart. I love this capture, you show a man full of patience and dedicaton, commodities in short supply in this age. Excellent work. Enjoy your weekend. Rosemary
Gerrit
(62042) 2011-07-08 11:38
Hi Klaudio,
Very beautiful portrait of this dignified old man.
the light is great and the distortion by the glass work real well.
Good tribute,
regards, Gerrit
abmdsudi
(95869) 2011-07-08 22:00
Salam Klaudio
Tribute to a proud Gentleman:
This looked amazing both with and without, it's good to see something different. Shooting through the glass window may not an ideal shot you would have liked but sometimes you have to take what you can under the circumstances. Great result, the light coming through the window is really good picking up all the great detail, colours on the persimons are very vibrant and stand out really well. I love the way that you have managed to retain the detail, his gentle face is well illuminated and perfectly framed by the green vertical with that little extra of space on the left. The glipmse of window blinds has that sense of illussion and confusion with reality but brilliant and creatively thought out! Well done. Congrats
Salam
Derya
(919) 2011-07-09 3:40
Hi,
daily life in a beautiful frame., I like the reflections on the man's face and the fruit
Best regards
Derya
roshangar
(1682) 2011-07-09 3:51
Hi, it's such a natural and great portrait in a nice light! and thanks for the note
Atousa
(7131) 2011-07-12 0:02
Salam Klaudio,
An impressive shot n note.. may God rest his soul at peace.
I really like the composition n his natural pose; also the man's concentration on his work..a fine presentation.. thank you.
Best regards, Atousa
wolf38
(30) 2011-07-17 4:43
Hello Claudio. A very nice photo. Here everything fits together perfectly. In addition, great composition and fine colors. Informative text. Top. Rgds, Wolfgang.
skippy007
(12510) 2011-07-19 3:39
Ciao Klaudio, I looked at this & thought what a beautiful tender moment you have captured here with this lovely old man in the process of preserving his fruit, the sunlight on his face I thought was a little strong but after reading your sad note those rays of sunlight took on a new & totally different meaning, I think they actually enhance the scene & give it a surreal look which I think is very appropriate for this sad occasion, my condolences. Bravo
Ciao
Santo
RhodieIke
(11752) 2011-07-23 23:49
Hi Klaudio, Super photo and great note telling us about this great guy and his past life, love the workshop picture, Well recorded, one to cherish, Cheers Iain.
sevy
(58) 2011-08-18 5:38
Hello,
I missed this nice portrait. The composition is very good, using well the different elements inside the frame to balance and provide color spots. I find this kind of portrait more interesting than close-up because it is more sharing the life of the people photographied.
Yves.
Ber
(8242) 2013-02-20 10:59
In this wonderful face we can see a long life, and a gentle soul. He looks very gentle like the good person. You have written a fine tribute to this dear old gentleman.
Ber
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Klaudio Branko Dadich (daddo)
(28748)
- Genre: ËÞÄÈ
- Medium: ÖÂÅÒÍÎÉ
- Date Taken: 2009-11-04
- Categories: ÅÆÅÄÍÅÂÍÎÅ
- Exposure: f/7.1, 1/60 ñåêóíä
- More Photo Info: view
- Âåðñèÿ: Îðèãèíàëüíàÿ âåðñèÿ, Workshop
- Ïóòåâîäèòåëü: Unforgetable Japan
- Date Submitted: 2011-07-06 4:51
Discussions
- To Wanda1: Sincere Thanks (1)
by daddo, last updated 2011-07-06 06:19