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Nell a faim

After ordering a coffee at a cafe opposite the Hotel de Ville next to the Seine, I noticed this child and her mother at the far end of the bar counter. The mom was nonchalantly standing with her back turned away from her little daughter, and fully immersed in a newspaper, while Nell was quite happily munching away on her baugette. This indifference struck be as both odd and humurous, and yet confident. The mom (Josh) was very happy for me to shoot some frames. I don't know about the reader, but I felt that this image conveys a dated feel, and the small-town diners in the mid-west springs to mind. I included the empty chair to reinforce that mood.

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Stefano T. Fabrizi 10 months ago

So romantic pict...

Cheron 2 years ago

Excellent !!

psychodaddy 2 years ago

amazing!

pop-aj 2 years ago

wonderful

ebrahim saeedi 2 years ago

Andre you work very well with life and human,bravo

Lev Tsimring 2 years ago

beautiful photo!

noite 3 years ago

a slide on piper 83

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated noite, and thanks for the fav:)
'slide on piper 83' - I am a bit unclear what that means..
Did a Google but could not quite figure this out.
Cheers! Andre

Phyllis Clarke 3 years ago

Andre - what makes this stand out for me, is also true for many of your pictures - they offer us a very powerful look at ourselves. You seem to have a keen ability to bring out the archetype of humanity and that makes us identify with image in some way. Another treasure. So glad you are on the front page in Critique. BTW, I think this ability you have is not about the technical - it is the relationship you create with your subject. Bravo many times over. A favorite for me too. Regards, Phyllis

Stefania Cruceru 3 years ago

I have no comments...maybe just to say that it's a favorite...

best regards,
Stefania Cruceru

Gabriel Stanciu 3 years ago

Great!

tim 3 years ago

a portrait of the highest quality Mr Plessis:)

Andre du Plessis Hi Tim. That is very kind of you to say...many thanks.
I hope that your second upload will be soon.
Best wishes, Andre

fotonstudio 3 years ago

your work is excellent, Andrè, no more need to be said...

Andre du Plessis That is so good to hear Antonio - like music you like

Colmar Wocke 3 years ago

Andre,

I am going to say it again "I wish I could have taken it!"

I simply ADORE this picture.

What does "Nell a faim" mean in English?

Colmar

Andre du Plessis Thanks Colmar. Once again much appreciated! Received your message as I was trying my hand at some achitectural scenes in Normandy, but think that I failed dismally... The title of this means "Nell is Hungry' - little 'famine'. Best wishes, Andre

Colmar Wocke 3 years ago

Andre,

This picture has been in my favourite list for some time now.

Let me tell you why.

Your picture's strength is its simplicity - there is not much to break the intimate contact one has with the little girl. Ones eye contact with her is strengthened by the weakness of the light - any more light here would have broken this.

The light from the one side adds dimensionality here.

Guess what - the main subject is not on the "rule of thirds" - the main subject doesn't need to be there. The main subject is in the mood of the picture (and the gaze of the little girl) and it needs to be in the middle.

A lovely capture and I only wish I could have taken it :-)

Colmar

Andre du Plessis Thanks Colmar for your lovely analysis on Nell. Much appreciated. I am in Paris at present, and walked past this place - could not help peeping inside to see if she might be there sitting against the red wall as before :-) It's called Bistrot Marguerite, very close to the Hotel de Ville. Regards, Andre

SofiG 3 years ago

cute

enzo penna 3 years ago

bellissima,

storytaylor 3 years ago

magic moment

Andre du Plessis Many thanks for the fav Thomas - all the way from Mongolia! Regards, Andre

Tom Hoops 3 years ago

Not too many pics have charm these days...this does...Bravo!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Tom!

Helmut Schadt 3 years ago

WONDERFUL!!!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Helmut.

Angela Bacon-Kidwell 3 years ago

Simple pleasures in life- Wonderful capture.

Andre du Plessis Thank you Angela.

Christina Desitrivianti 3 years ago

Her eyes.. 8->

Andre du Plessis Yes, I agree. Really blue in the colour original as well!

Christina Desitrivianti I see.. Her blue eyes is so alive in this photo. That's why I like it.. :)

RamonaG 3 years ago

.love it!!!

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated Ramona!

john turner 3 years ago

good one

Andre du Plessis Many thanks John. Andre

Daria Endresen 3 years ago

Excellent stuff!

Andre du Plessis Gosh! Two goldies visiting in tandem! Thanks Daria

Ursula I Abresch 3 years ago

I particularly like the direction of the light in this one, it works wonders for the image.

Andre du Plessis Thanks Ursula. I tried to retain the highlights by 'exposing to the right', and for once it worked :-)

Vincent Vigneron 3 years ago

Je réitère mes félicitations, pour ce magnifique portrait.... Bravo et merci pour le partage de cette très belle photo!

Andre du Plessis Cher Vincent, merci beaucoup pour ce commentaire. La confience dans le regard de Nell a rendu possible ce potrait. La soeur de Nell qui a 5 ans a supplié Josh, sa mère d'aller dans cet endroit particulier, car elle croit que c'est le chemin de la gloire.
André

Jason Friesen 3 years ago

I do like this one. One question. You mentioned talking to mom about getting the shots, did you do that before you shot it (in order not to get mom all worked up) or did you do it after in order to preserve the candid nature of the photo?

Andre du Plessis Hi Jason. I introduced myself, declared my intention, got permission, and then took the photos, which I shared with them (LCD screen) as I shot. It was all very agreeable, and Josh was pleased to get Nell photographed. We exchanged email addresses, and soon afterwards I sent large files to her for reproduction. One can sense quite easily in which direction an impromptu encounter will go. Thanks, Andre

Jacek Stefan 3 years ago

Very good!
Best regards,
J.

Andre du Plessis Many thanks...Andre

rcamargo 3 years ago

Fantastic picture! I liked very much the girl expression and the place with that high quality light and texture.

Andre du Plessis Nell's confident looks make this pic. Quite unusual to have a child as relaxed as this, given the fact that I met them only a minute or so before, asked her mom to move away a bit, and poked a lens at her while she was eating. I took about 6 frames, and the sequence of eating is never interrupted. No stage fright for Nell one day.... Thanks, Andre

Deborah Fort 3 years ago

Excellent - and as I'm sure many others have said, the light is wonderful. This really does have an old world feel to it but with a bright and delightful little girl of today.

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Deborah - as I mentioned to Ursula above - lucky this time! Andre

Giorgio Lorcet 3 years ago

lovely and really great portrait. love the light in it. bravo.

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Giorgio. That light that you like gave me so many headaches at PS stage! Regards, Andre

Peter Kemp 3 years ago

voted for this one .... love this picture ... great work

Andre du Plessis Thanks Peter. Nice to have a vote coming from you - I think that your last upload was quite something else.
Andre

Codrin Lupei 3 years ago

Wonderful image, Andre, it was a favorite in screening, a beautiful simple moment, perfectly captured! Great work!
all the best
Codrin

Andre du Plessis Thanks for sharing that with me Codrin. I have to admit - had that 'yes' feeling after this unplanned encounter. Regards, Andre

Stephen Edds 3 years ago

baie goed...lekke !!!

Andre du Plessis Watse ge-lekke met jou? Ny man - wragtige pure plesier! Groete, and I have to add that I have enjoyed
visiting your page. Shall keep a closer look-out for more desert work from you.

Stephen Edds That spent most of my Afrikaans my brou !!! I lived and worked in CT for ten years until recently,
are you in SA now? Lovely work and thanks for the kind words. Stephen :))

Andre du Plessis Well, you will have to do some more moedertaal comments. In London now, but only in body. Soul in the Garden Route. Cheers!

Stephen Edds How my mind drifts back to wonderful walks on Wilderness beach !!! :))

Femke de Wit 3 years ago

Fantastic picture in perfect B&W. Very nice light and very modest.

Andre du Plessis Thanks for the observation Femke. Regards, Andre

KoPi 3 years ago

ha ! this 1X thing must start looking like easy peasy to you by now lol. Very well deserved publication Andre. love the photo

Andre du Plessis A real enjoyable challenge this site. Have to re-work my images, as the bar has raised. Really eating into my daylight hours! Thanks, Andre

Laurent Roch 3 years ago

Fantastic portrait !

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Laurent

Ulysse 3 years ago

Une photo parfaite! Un magnifique N&B (un vrai)! Une photo que j'aurais aimé prendre (un jour peux-etre?)
Bravo !!!!

Andre du Plessis Le merci Ulysse pour les mots gentils. Ces moments arrivent quand vous ne vous attendez pas à eux. Félicitations, Andre

KPK 3 years ago

Most wonderful!

Andre du Plessis Thanks KPK. I visited your external website - you have some amazing work online! Regards, Andre

Claudio Solera 3 years ago

Great capture and nice b/w. Congrats! Ciao,Claudio.

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Claudio, and also for the congrats, Andre

John Parminter 3 years ago

I like it as well Andre, and I only like mountains...and my kids of course..:)
John

Andre du Plessis Awaiting your 1st kiddy upload then, John :-)
Thanks for your comment, regards, Andre

John Parminter errhh no, wouldn't know what to do to be honest.
john

Willy Marthinussen 3 years ago

very good. love it.

Andre du Plessis Good of you to visit Willy, and congrats of the cover shot.

Kevin Ng 3 years ago

This is fantastic Andre - love love love it!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Kevin.

Tommy Str 3 years ago

Such a good photo Andre. I've had a few looks at this at epz and it doesn't lose a bit of it's impact upon numerous viewings. It's perhaps the other way around

Andre du Plessis Thanks Tommy. I darkened the wall a bit, and toned down on the editing. I feel this one presents better. Thanks for visiting again. Andre

WK Chew 3 years ago

Nice light and beautiful shot

Andre du Plessis Thank you, and good luck with your own B&W work

Andre du Plessis 3 years ago

Hi Girang from Vicenza - Many thanks, and hope to see an upload from you soon. Best wishes, Andre

Girang 3 years ago

so cute, beautiful shot!

clickchick 3 years ago

OMG this is so fabulous...

Andre du Plessis Thank you! I was a bit worried, as I thought that it might appear a touch too dark. However, this is in keeping with the original setting. Andre

clickchick It's just perfect in everyway!!!

Andre du Plessis Thanks for getting back to me about that.
Been told that my work is too dark, but guess that I feel comfortable with a medley between mono + melancholy.
Regards, Andre

latoday 3 years ago

Oh look at her! She´s so cute!

I guess, You were again just using the available light, weren´t You?

I love it!

Andre du Plessis Hi Anja! Thanks for visiting. I know nothing about flash or reflectors, so make do with the sun only. Came across this soon after the Thomas shots, and she was just asking to be photographed. Irish family living in Paris. Regards, Andre