Please Help, a photo from Tennessee, South

Photographer's Note

Nashville's a place where good music can be found everywhere, not just in the popular honky-tonks lining Broadway. Walking down the street I caught sight of this gentleman, playing his banjo for change. I felt bad after I snapped this as he clearly wasn't thrilled with being photographed - I'd assumed the sign in his case was meant to be funny, but maybe there was a grain of truth there. Either way, the repeating cries of 'Please Help' from the case and the sign in the doorway, alongside the scene itself, made me take a snapshot.

bukitgolfb301, Sonata11, krzychu30, PaulVDV, thebest, holmertz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Hansaphotos (11379) 2013-03-18 3:50

Hello Andrew

Another fine shot from this capital of music. An amusing scene and a great daily life shot. What makes this so special is the extra sign "please help" on the yellow wall, and of course the hand written one is quite amusing. Wonderfully executed shot! TFS.

Best regards, Erling

quovadis (5677) 2013-03-18 4:06

Hi "neighbour", I truly understand your feeling, it's not easy at heart to take a photo of people who are in public asking for "help". Most of us seldom can imagine making living this way, still there is so much to it, for they perform and entertain, shine or rain. Tfs!!!

Tomek

bukitgolfb301 (53894) 2013-03-18 16:23

Hi dear Andrew, how are you?

Wow another so tasteful moody image from you!
Very imaginative and a little mysterious atmosphere! Great exposure and shutter speed setting!
Thanks a lot and have a good day!

Takero

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-03-18 20:32

Hello Andew,
this is an amazing capture of this honest scene, the same time is very funny, specially the note. This picture remind me scene when one guy place note on the cartons that he needs money for a beer and people drop the money for him. Tfs. Nice snapshot of daily life scene.
Kind regards,
Barbara

emka (152060) 2013-03-18 23:59

Hi Andrew, well observe scene. It seemed to me quite funny - my wife thinks I'm working, but maybe it is very sad? Interesting anyway.

Warm regrads

MAlgo

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-03-19 2:31

Hello Andrew,
excellent street snapshot!good you decided to capture it,even if he wasnґt thrilled with being photographed.
I agree with you about the sight in his case-we can take it literally as a funny slogan or maybe it has some kind of deeper and sad meaning.
Itґs another photo Iґm amazed by your 35mm lens-great details and nice,natural colors!

Have a nice day
Krzysztof

jhm (202823) 2013-03-19 5:13

Hello Andrew,

An amusing scene and a great daily life shot.
Your picture is very well taken, colours and light management is excellent.
Nice captured, excellent composition.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

No_One (4) 2013-03-19 10:05

hi Andrew,
It is an amusing scene, but as you say, tinged with misfortune, and it makes one stop and think of the circumstances that could have led to this point.
You can see his aversion to the lens in how he is making a point of looking away. Great daily life scene.
All the best
Noel

Miguel82 (47106) 2013-03-19 11:50

Acl,
It is a sad picture, this street musician is begging to help his family
Good pov, I think you take the shot very quickly
Have a nice day

mesutilgim (0) 2013-03-19 13:03

Hello Andrew,
Quite humouresque capture ! Good layout.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

PaulVDV (54735) 2013-03-19 13:12

Hello Andrew,
A humorous note can always help to get some money and a picture with humor is always welcome on TE.
Beautiful daily life-picture.
Best regards, Paul

thebest (4276) 2013-03-19 18:24

Hi Andrew,

I would love to visit Nashville - my hubby & I have visited the United States many times & the two destinations we would love to spend some time would be Nashville & New Orleans
This is always a sad sight to see as long as a dropped a dollar or two in his Banjo case I am sure he would have been appreciative... sad as it is these images make great shots - as your is!!!

Kindest regards,
Dawn.

kasianowak (15760) 2013-03-21 3:13

One thing I must say about this photo - so well spotted!
Thank you for sharing Andrew!
Best wishes
Kasia

holmertz (92724) 2013-03-21 8:25

Hello Andrew,
I thought I had already commented on this. Obviously I didn't. The banjo-player doesn't seem so pleased with your camera, but the strong colors, his sign and the poster give this picture a remarkable power, in spite of his reluctance to show his face.
Best regards,
Gert

eldancer1 (36343) 2013-03-22 7:38

Street musicians seems to be everywhere, there's a lot of them on the Las Vegas streets. Nice details considering a wide open aperture and good stop of the action with a slow speed. Good lighting and wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

jusninasirun (17529) 2013-04-02 3:34

Hello Andrew.
This is a great find and well captured under low light. Framing is beautiful and superb candid for street scene.
Regards,
Jusni