Negreni

Photographer's Note

Diving again back in the past.

Negreni - a village on the half way between Oradea and Cluj, in the West Carpathian Mountains.
I don't know if the tradition is continued till now, but there was once in a year a marketplace.
People - most from the surrounding villages, but also from over 100km - came with traditional products, most of them homemade. Also food, cereals, animals. Three days long.
It takes place in the valley of the river called Crisul Repede, right near to it.

Sorry for the quality, it's a scratched and overscratched negativ for over 20 years.

Miks, CVTJan, mitternacht, mimi, sunny, jhonny_blue, dawekato, quovadis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mitternacht (1839) 2004-03-20 6:19

You did a very good job cleaning this up Janos, it is very clear that it's an old picture but I can't see any scratches at all. I like the proud look on the mans face, the baskets seem to be fine craftsmanship. The hills are in the back are nice, because normally you would expect to see this kind of picture in a different environment. Well composed image.

manny (22032) 2004-03-20 7:34

You have a very good POV here. This is what makes this shot desirable. Sepia works very well as well. Good shot Janos.

Miks (1717) 2004-03-20 7:57

Intriguing motive and a great composition to go. Good job on the exposure. Despite the hard light both the texture of the baskets and the shadows of the trees in the background. Thanks for cleaning it up for us. It is certainly worth the effort! Thanks also for the informative note. The only improvement I can think of would be some more space over the couples head (about the distance from the womans head to the left edge would have made a pleasing comp). As it stands they are a little crammed in there. But that is a detail, its still a great pic!

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CVTJan (1244) 2004-03-20 8:10

Dear Janos, this looks like out of a photoalbum of my grandparents. I like the contrats of the market atmosphere and the background forest. Very well composed with the merchants on the upper left. Yours, Jan

pascalbene (1717) 2004-03-20 10:20

Very nice pyramidal composition. The BW works very well here. I like expressiions of those merchants. Thank you Janos.

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-03-20 13:36

Those old photos from Negerni are amazing, looks like 200 years ago. This is great - the pattern of the basket and tos two old fashioned people, the soft contrast and the excellent sharpness. I like this shot very much, Janos. Very well done.

sunny (3069) 2004-03-20 15:07

Having in mind the years back it was taken, this shot is a wonderful documentary and fine as a quality Janos! I like how the B&W increases the mood of a hard working life they have. Your composition is really very strong - with the baskets in foreground and the couple behind them. I like it very much!

maciekda (19895) 2004-03-20 20:56

it is a great picture, the composition is wonderful, a pose of the guy is great, you really managed to get an interesting composition, background with trees is good too, the quality is not bad at all - i like this contrasty B&W. the only small flaw i can find here is the guy between the man and the woman... anyway, it is a very very nice picture

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-03-22 5:01

Wonderful moment Janos ! Itґs perfct !
The faces expressions are great !
Comgratulations !

bfly (5775) 2004-03-22 5:10

thanks for sharing..after so many years, it must be feeling very good to have shot such a picture with such atmosphere...this is a documentary for me to keep a copy in our "reference" pictures if you permit..documentary but still with a feeling from a Zsabo film :)

dawekato (2269) 2004-05-19 10:52

Hi Janos, long time no see! I love these slices of life from the old world. This is particularly good: terrific DOF from front to back. Well balanced composition with people situated at the intersection of thirds. Perhaps it could use a bit of brightness reduction, but overall there is a good range of greys. And of course the subject and peoples' expressions are fascinating. I don't see any dust and scratches. Good work!

rinusj (64) 2004-09-21 16:18

Nice composition indeed. It is like the signature of the maker of the baskets is in the upper right corner. :-)

flydragon (0) 2004-09-24 7:05

HI Janos
verry interresting composition here
with people on the left
for me the quality is not so bad
for a old picture, just sad
its a bit bright
i should take time to
watch your work

well done
••simon••

Treepwood (413) 2006-10-28 11:30

Very good.

quovadis (5711) 2012-11-21 4:31

Hi Janos !

No problem, the scratches actually give more distinctive/mature value to the frame. Very well done, seems the old photographs alike old love never lose ground to the present times. Nice original composition, hope the people of Negreni still continue the tradition. Tfs.

Tomek