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Carlos, the Zebra and Joseph

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Pierre Pageau 2 years ago

félicitations .

ed nadel 2 years ago

another great portrait, a tighter crop might be a useful additional image

Andre du Plessis Thanks Ed. I played around with a smaller crop - in fact I wanted to single them out more, but it simply 'did not do' it for me.
The tones became easier to manage, though. Cheers! Andre

ed nadel I was thinking of just cropping some of the pictures (horizontally) off the top to create stronger focus on the people. They are strong images and tend to get lost in the complexity. I would not crop the people separately.

Andre du Plessis Good thinking Ed. Now that I am lookin at this more closely I can see that that back top row of frames can be lost, without changing the feel of this. Thanks for that objective look. I actually feel that I shall do that when I print them out for delivery to these two chaps. ....and hopefully for me when I eventually get my A3 printer to work.

ed nadel it will enhance the natural strengths, which are the people. An evocative portrait, by the way, I wish I could do such things.

Andre du Plessis You can! Many thanks for the assistance with this one. I am going to act on your suggestion.

Monique 2 years ago

oh please Andre don't tell me that this is a real zebra!
i mean that she is still alive!
Gorgeous shot!

Andre du Plessis Maybe alive 3 months ago - now probably dead by this time I reply. No don'y worry Monique - it is a sfuffed (ex-alive) one, and only weights a few KG's. I was surprised how light it is - just skin and polystyrene probably. Bye, Andre

Petitelfe petitelfe 2 years ago

A beautiful photo. She is very busy, not an inch of freedom in this photo. But two stand out head and a zebra. Work on the details. An excellent black and white. In this photo full of stories are represented. I'm admiring. Petitelfe. /

Une magnifique photo . Elle est très chargée , pas un centimètre de libre dans cette photo . Pourtant se détachent deux personnes et une tête de zèbre . Un travail sur les détails. Un noir et blanc excellent . Sur cette photo pleins d'histoires sont représentées. Je suis admirative. Petitelfe.

Andre du Plessis Je suis allée pour une décote ce soir à mon village local ici à Londres, et vous devriez voir shop de mon Barbier - totalement bourrée avec photos signés - haphazerdly tous disposés. Également de miroirs sur plafond qui duplique tout. Regardez donc de Carlos, Joseph et leur Zebra est comme regarder un endroit minimaliste comparé à Barbier shop Saint-Pierre. Avoir à y aller et filmer des images de lui à sa place salissante. Merci pour les commentaires, André

I went for a haircut tonight at my local village here in London, and you should see my barber's shop - totally crammed with signed pictures - all haphazerdly arranged. Also mirrors on ceiling that duplicates everything. So looking at Carlos, Joseph and their Zebra is like looking at a minimalist place compared to Peter's barber shop. Have to go there and shoot pictures of him in his messy place. Thanks for the feedback, Andre

Sounak Sinha 2 years ago

well very nice light, there are lots of things your eye to rove around... nice black and white tone... it seems you are B/W expert.

Andre du Plessis Hi Sounak....not so sure about the 'expert' bit, but I do like B&W. Frankly - I think I see in mono:)
Maybe one day I shall drum up the courage to submit a colour picture. However I'll probably immediately regret that
and think that 'it would have looked better in mono:)' Best wishes, Andre

dorothée rapp 2 years ago

wonder-full of things to look at and smile about, great image!

toothpilot 2 years ago

I like the eggs in the foreground.
So much detail.
Nice.

latoday 2 years ago

That´s soo good! Love it! :)

Andre du Plessis Hi Anja....apologies for this very late reply. Thanks!. ...and I hope that you are well. You have been quiet lately...Andre

Bernard Frey 2 years ago

I love this image, Andre. It just makes me look again and again.

Codrin Lupei 2 years ago

Perfect! Hard to say something, thanks for sharing these pieces of these worlds with us, a pleasure to travel with the help of such magical images!

Andre du Plessis Yep - it is fun down there, and sometimes one can still shoot images of something different and more difficlt to find here in the fast worlds. To use Rui's way - here I think contents: 8 - 0, technics: 4 - 8 :)

enzo penna 2 years ago

good andre......good work

storytaylor 2 years ago

excellent Andre, excellent. poor zebra (it´s the head of a real one? I don´t think so).

Andre du Plessis :):) ...no, it is a stuffed animal. I am waiting to get more information on the zebra's life, and death, so that I can tell you all. Taken at my favourite 2nd hand store in the neighbouring village.

Anders Å 2 years ago

Stunning B&W. Overloaded with interesting details but not in a disturbing way, in a way that draws you into the picture and makes you stay there for a long time. Great sidelight and tones. A favourite for sure!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks for taking your time on this one Anders

Zivko Risteski 2 years ago

fantastic Andre, like all your pictures !

Andre du Plessis Nice to hear Zivko! Thank you very much

Tshuvi Kuba 2 years ago

this portrait is fantastic! Im watching and learning.
excellent! well excution of the local story.

Andre du Plessis Aren't we all. Every day such amazing images. This site, and the challenges that it presents has been my best learning tool. Regards

Cesar Bermudez 2 years ago

Excellent work, flawless execution. Congratulations

Andre du Plessis Estoy agradecido Cesar. I had, and still have a bit of a problem with the quality, especially the tonal rendering, however, for the time being - this will have to stand:) Regards, Andre

John Roshka 2 years ago

Amazing. Those images on the wall look great in black and white.. :) Great capture.

Andre du Plessis I sure hope that they do:) For after working on each and every individual one, I am glad that you noticed it. Now I can sleep peacefully:)

Hotrats 2 years ago

again a wonderful photo
1/5 sec, really great
grtz, Nico

Andre du Plessis Hi Nico. 6/10 of my pics usually suffer from motion artifacts. So fed up with people not keeping still :)

FourHandsPhoto 2 years ago

Nice one!-10000000000*

Andre du Plessis Many thanks 4HP:)

sensorfleck 2 years ago

outstanding portrait.

Andre du Plessis Hi Nina. I wish that I had such a versatile eye as you. Your namibia shots are awesome. Many thanks, Andre

gokhanozcan 2 years ago

richness of detail ... excellent black-and-white

Andre du Plessis Many thanks gokhanozcan

Kim Ayres 2 years ago

Surely there must be a story to accompany this most wonderful of photographs!

Andre du Plessis Hi Kim. After reading your comment I emailed Carlos to send me some info on Mr. Zebra, which I shall attach below the pic.

Kim Ayres I look forward to it :)

Stefania Cruceru 2 years ago

As I was reading the picture, I couldn't help notice that there is a sign with "employees" and "tips" and I wonder...Is the zebra an employee...? :) I really hope you are a good tipper as that zebra is the most charismatic employee I ever saw...:)

Jokes aside, a great photo as usual, a wondeful full and crowded image, that suggest to me a little shop in the middle of nowhere, where you can find anything...

Stefania

Andre du Plessis Quite true Stefania - a shop that sells everything, including stuffed animal heads:) I lifted the 'Tips' writing a bit, and if you can make it out - see the tips box. Every employee has his own slot, closed with a huge lock...or so it seems to me.

Claudio Solera 2 years ago

Superb b/w! Ciao,Claudio.

Andre du Plessis Grazie Claudio.

Rui Pires 2 years ago

Another great and exotic moment in beautiful monochrome, Andre !! :)

Andre du Plessis Thank you Rui. That candle for Maria is burning. Regards, Andre

Raphael Guarino 2 years ago

grandios !

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Raphael

Laurence Garçon 2 years ago

"Carlos, the Zebra and Joseph"... and that mysterious place. Strong feeling of interrogation... I love it mostly for that reason.

Andre du Plessis Hi Laurence. Interesting that you say this. I look at it again and try to see that. Will that he because of the stark expressions, essentially with them in a line - a posed portrait. I wish to get into your mind and learn how you see this - so let me know please. Regards, Andre:)

Laurence Garçon No mystery for you as you know the place... but for me ! It is like an "Ali baba cavern"... I wish I could "visit" that photograph in a larger size, I could spend a looong time to "analyse" that particular "room":-) (let say also that I love antics :).

Andre du Plessis Even better to see this place in real life. The wife of Carlos has a section only for books, and he has a passion for antique wooden furniture. Yes - Ali Baba's cave. His son is into building up very old Landrovers - so maybe that will be my next portrait there. I have to find out more about Joseph...

Laurence Garçon A novel universe... Thanks Andre.

Stephen Edds 2 years ago

Simply wonderful Andre...no other word for it !

Andre du Plessis Hi Stephen. I am not really given to hunting, stuffed aminals and those things. I think that my Army stint put a stop to that. However, always impressive when you see these 'once live' decorations in the Karroo farm houses. You would have experienced this during your time South, I am sure. Could not resist this one, for when again will I have to pleasure..

Anna Hurtig 2 years ago

Is that a real Zebra? Creepy in a way if thats so but at the same time an awesome photograph. I envy your way of find the locations and people, that you photograph.

Andre du Plessis Hi Anna. No, it has finished it's life. I have emailed Carlos the proprietor to shed some light on the Zebra's story, and if there is anything interesting, I shall add it below the pic. Thanks:)

Luc 2 years ago

Again a stunning picture-congrats!

Greetings,
Luc

Andre du Plessis Thanks Luc:)

Piet Flour 2 years ago

cheeee ... your world is realy captivating
Piet

Andre du Plessis True Piet - a place of many contrasts, and a joy to visit with a camera.

Murat TUNCER 2 years ago

Super light again.with love.

Andre du Plessis Super thanks Murat:)

gerard sexton 2 years ago

Well done again Andre an image that has so much interest & to think I stuttered over it in screening ;-)' (only because I knew it was one of yours). Brilliant indeed & another wonderful insight into another world I & many more would never see but for your shutter finger!

Andre du Plessis Honesty does not become you Gerard:) I shall turn a blind eye this time, but this time only! Regards, and we meet up for a drink and photo chat before December is out, eh? How about a walk-about on a weekend to do some street?

gerard sexton You are on my friend!

Andre du Plessis Sure on! - I shall OE mail you

Yavuz Sariyildiz 2 years ago

great ....how did you find these stuff...excelent...

Andre du Plessis Hi Yavuz. You can find anything in this shop, except a damn medium telephoto lens 70 - 200 for my camera. Have to speak to Carlos about that oversight of them...

Tommy Str 2 years ago

Just wish I could see this blown up the size of a wall to take in all the little details. I don't know how you do it, this constant flow of stunning photos, but it's one of the main reasons I drop by 1x so often

Andre du Plessis :)...that retainer is up for renewal soon, eh? Thanks Tommy - that's sweet to say....and wholly unjustified :)

Timor Tom 2 years ago

Superb ! extremely rich pic !

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Timor

Judy W 2 years ago

Holy smokes!! That is unbelievable. Is that a head of a zebra or a live animal?

Andre du Plessis :):) - unfortunately only the stuffed head. I am going to contact Carlos to get the zebra's story....

Robert 2 years ago

You got it right as always! Really good!

Robert

Andre du Plessis Thanks Robert. I really struggled with this, and prepared variant after variant. Image was very 'thin' and although I specifically wanted strong natural side lighting, I could just not get it right. Maybe I should have bracketed, even though I shoot RAW. However, the contents of this images really spurred me on.

Nicolas Marino 2 years ago

hahah i'm speechless! what an extraordinary shot..

Andre du Plessis Glad that you enjoyed it Nicolas

Phyllis Clarke 2 years ago

Andre..Shelby Lee Adams..has arrived in SA! Of course this could be London, but then I cannot explain the Zebra. This picture belongs on the wall behind them! :) The details in this shot require looking for longer than I have time at the moment..but I have to say - this is cultural portrait. The two men look majestic with very dignified faces. I can only hope this - that someday Andre..you will get an exhibit in London. I am going to keep on your case until it happens :))))) My best Phyllis

Andre du Plessis Hello Phyllis. I always visit Carlos's store when I go to SA, again on this occasion one month ago. They had moved the counters around, and that was when I spotted Mr. Zebra, and some other of his friends up against the wall. So I went back the following week, and they kindly brought Zebra down with the ladder, and that was it. For the rest of your comment - well - I shall drink a toast to that tonight:) Best wishes, Andre

Milla Andre, I'm all with Phyllis about your exhibit. If you ever going to get one in London do not forget to let me know, I live close enough not to forgive myself if I would've miss it! :-)
I also agree with all the praise over this shot here, awesome detail!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Milla. ......should that ever become a reality, I shall be very happy to have you there. That is, should it ever happen:)

Milla :) Would be neat!

Chris Dixon 2 years ago

Where do you get these from....It is excellent

Cheers Chris

Andre du Plessis Hi Chris. This is my favourite shop to visit when I go back - family-run 2nd hand store in the neighbouring town, and what you don't find there, you usually do not need anyhow:)

Chris Dixon ..are you going back soon, or do you still have a good batch of shots from the last visit :-)

Andre du Plessis You read my thoughts. I managed 4 photo trips in the 9 days I was there - each approximately 2 - 3hrs. So now running out of upload possibilities, but shall still try a few more. However, so far have exeeded my expectations. Thanks.

Chris Dixon I know the feeling. I still have one in screening from London...either way it's back to the drawing board to get some more

Cheers Chris