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The Old Man and his Bicycle

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Papafrezzo (Frédéric) 2 months ago

wonderful... you can see it takes strength and it goes slowly...

shige 9 months ago

Everything look really "English" here. Brilliantly composed, too.

Anna Golitsyna 2 years ago

I knew it was Lincoln (confirmed below)!!! I too was blown away by this particular view, same street, but my skills or camera did not allow for a remotely decent picture. I lived in Nottingham for one year a long time ago.

Andre du Plessis You recognised the scene....what a blast! This was actually the very first film that I took when I moved to the UK. Sipped away from work during lunch because I simply had to capture the soft light that was on offer. Back in SA the light was harsh! Given the fact that this is the only image (a 8 x 6 print) that I retained, having lost all my other work during a house move (all work that I developed and printed since the age 12 - negs and prints - probably totalling 15 000 negatives - the whole chronology of my life to speak), I was very relieved that this one saw the daylight on 1X, and remains here for me to enjoy. Thanks Anna, and best wishes, Andre

dReyeRd 2 years ago

feel the mood..

studio VS 2 years ago

quite o lot of emotion in this pic.. hard end of life in some way.-

limawhisky 2 years ago

I am admiring how you developt the film! it's so clear and shiny!

FQE 2 years ago

pure black and white!!

Andre du Plessis Glad that you saw this earlier pic of mine. My regards!

joan kocak 2 years ago

beautiful

Andre du Plessis Thank you Joan:)

Chongky 2 years ago

Excellent!

Andre du Plessis Thanks Chongky. ...and congrats on your photo achiements in 2009. Andre

Cheron 2 years ago

Next great photo from you after longer time !

Andre du Plessis Hi Cheron. Thanks for that...and I hope there will me more:) Have to get more photography done this year. Regards, Andre

sasson haviv 2 years ago

i thought a bit more about what i said and i guess that this image has less of your personality projected in it. in your people documentary you are present as much as the people and when going through the portfolio an image of you is formed.
i do love this image and especially the how he holds his body (the part that i feel the emotion through)... but it doesn't match the emotion of people portraiture.
of course i am not objective :)
i am happy you chose people photography...

Andre du Plessis Hello Sasson. Thank you your thoughts on this image. yes, it was some time ago, at a stage when one did not have the luxury to interact with your peers as we do now, and view and learn from their work. It is so that my later work is more up close - I have discovered that the interaction for me is as satisfying as the image capturing. I usually visit the people that I photograph again so establishing rapport and respect is part and parcel of this way. However, given the circumstances of this particular image - I do not know if I would have done anything different had this played off again tomorrow. It was a stolen image and I quietly followed this man for a few steps to get the framing and composition more to my liking. What would have probably transpired, had I to do enjoy a repeat of this tomorrow, is that I would have gone up to him afterwards and share the LCD image with him and sent him a print. Or maybe not - I don't know - it would have depended on the circumstances. But as I mentioned to Jacques below - my considerations were that I felt that this image retained some classical features, which I intended it to have. As far as other older images - I will not be able to as all my work since I started out as a young boy is lost. I shall share this tradegy in an OE mail with you. Wishes, Andre

sasson haviv a classical for sure my friend!!
i will write you...

sasson haviv 2 years ago

nice to see an old image of yours my friend:) i like it as well but you know me and how i love the intimacy you achieve in your more recent images. in this image there is also an emotion and it is a beautiful capture. please share some more older stuff it is good to see the development as well. it encourages me to upload some older images (one year old :)) that have a chance of getting published here but dont represent me anymore. very nice my friend and most important good to see you back!!!

iavor 2 years ago

Beautiful photo! I like the way you present the mood of this street shot.
Masterpiece...

Andre du Plessis Thanks lavor for the positive feedback:)

Kevin Ng 2 years ago

That's some pretty impressive detail given you were using 800. Lovely tones and nicely processing Andre - glad to have you back.

Andre du Plessis Thanks Kevin. It was quite dark and gloomy, but apart from that I usually liked a uprating Tri-X. It was my favourite film by a long shot. Best wishes, Andre

psychodaddy 2 years ago

classic!!like it!

Andre du Plessis How's that for an avatar:) thanks for the comment, Andre

Lev Tsimring 2 years ago

nice shot, Andre! love his hunched back

Andre du Plessis Thanks Lev - yes, that unfortunate hunched back does help here. Regards, Andre

Ralf Stelander 2 years ago

A great story beautifully framed!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Ralf!

José Carlos Gonçalves 2 years ago

Wonderfull Andre

Andre du Plessis Muito Obrigado Jose:)

jalili 2 years ago

Excellent ........

Andre du Plessis Hello jalili. You come from a place that I hear so much about in the news, so it is a real pleasure and privilidge to have a word from someone from there. I wish you the best, and thank you for commenting, Andre

jalili Dear Andre .
Dear I thank you for these good feelings towards me and towards my country.
This noble of you.
Greetings .
Al jalili

Hotrats 2 years ago

wonderful again Andre!
grtz, Nico

Andre du Plessis Hey Nico! So nice to hear from you again. Have you been to the other side of the planet? Thanks, and Cheers!

Hotrats no, still bravely try to publish on this wonderful site

Sven Fennema 2 years ago

Liked this much in screening, especially the composition

Andre du Plessis Thank you Sven. As you will read down below, there were considerations (and motivations) for me submitting this image. Best wishes, Andre

Timmy Gambin 2 years ago

Superb street work.

Andre du Plessis Hi Timmy. I read your blurb, and given the lattitude that digital offers, you are bound to enjoy it.
It is more unforgiving (limited) afa tonal latitude, but the ease makes up for the shorcomings. And things are
evolving so fast. Tomorrow, or very soon, digital will match the quality of digital. Regards, Andre

Andre du Plessis ...sorry...I mean film will match digital:)

Barbara Orienti 2 years ago

Very nice!
B

Andre du Plessis Thank you Barbara.

marius grozea 2 years ago

great!

Andre du Plessis Much appreciated Marius

storytaylor 2 years ago

excellent.

Andre du Plessis Hi ST - Many thanks to you whose work I adore

Colmar Wocke 2 years ago

Andre,

Geluk.

Colmar

Andre du Plessis Groot plesier Colmar

Piet Flour 2 years ago

superb Andre. You perfectly catched the weather, placed the mood in a perfect composition with tremendous depth feeling, and the man on the perfect place and moment for the story.
piet

Andre du Plessis Piet - thanks! I am going to copy your comment and put it above my bathroom mirror so that I can believe in my capabilities every day from now on:):) Thanks my friend, and regards, Andre

jacques philippe 2 years ago

I Andre,

as much as I love your work I am not convinced by this one (not sure if I skipped or voted against). It is a very good picture, very well crafted, as always with you, the kind of one many people would be proud of... But I guess it is too much of a common motif for me... well not sure about that in fact... I am OK with this subject matter but I feel it lacks tension, I don't find it that engaging. What I feel precisely is that all the elements in the shot go into one single direction which could be summarized by "getting old". Now it is probably exactly what you aimed for so it has to be considered successful if so. And it might be for that very reason that I find it unsettling. (it is just me of course).

/j

Andre du Plessis Very insightful comment Jacques. This image predates my 1X time - in fact, it predates even my 1st computer. I fully understand what you are saying, and agree with you. However, I had just arrived in the UK, and was blown away by how old everything in Lincoln Town looked, and this was my attempt to record that initial realisation of the old world. I fished this out from storage during my recent visit back home, and felt quite positive about it's chances, for although it is a worn motif, I felt that it still possessed enough classical considerations to compete. By that I mean the stuff that we learn on the first few pages of how to compose.
Your comment also pleases me in that you are telling me that this is not representative of my more recent work, in that I have moved away from this way of composition. That is good for then I have not stood still.
Your posting gives me the pleasure of referring you to Edmund Fitzpatrick's image in the 1X gallery called Eternity -an image which I still regard as one of my favourites here, along with Jure's amazing kissing in the snow photograph. Ed's image will always stay in my mind - for me the motion and general composition of Eternity is superb. 'Old' jumps at you from that frame, but the mood that it evokes in me is so powerful. I think that Ed is partly to be blamed for me salvaging this one from the attic:)

jacques philippe Indeed, this picture ('Eternity', from Edmund F.) is powerful.... and now I understand your picture much more! i.e. the ascension, to Eternity.

Andre du Plessis I could not have put it concice. Thanks

Helmut Schadt 2 years ago

Probably a retired former participant of the Tour de France:-).
I very much appreciate elderly people still doing physical exercises.
This one could be my age.
If he is 72.
And he has a similar bike as mine;-).
Very fine picture Andre, well worth to be accepted here.

Andre du Plessis Hello Helmut. Well, if he was 72 then he must be over 80 now, and I trust that he is still doing the same. Thanks for the visit, regards, Andre

Stephen Edds 2 years ago

Hey I missed this. Lovely. But not quite Knysna ! Well done !

Andre du Plessis Yes, you are correct - not quite that paradise. Take care Stephen, and glad that the Big Day is finally dawning.

Fabio Giannelli 2 years ago

beautiful photo, Andre, I like it!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Fabio!

Frank Michael Helferich 2 years ago

Hi Andre,

a racing bike and an old man. Wonderful.

Andre du Plessis Hi LandyMan! Trust you to pick up on the modern bike. Thanks, and also for the OE mail in January. Best wishes, Andre

Robert 2 years ago

Beautiful capture!

Robert

Andre du Plessis Thank you Robert. I note that you have been a very busy photographer lately, and a pleasure to view your results. Cheers!

Robert Yes I have been busy taken pictures. And I am happy too for this and that I got back my sense for it! Hope this will continue for a while:-)

Robert

Alex OBrien 2 years ago

Love this Andre, exceptional mood and such a typical sight. I am there.
Beautiful work and good to see you posting again, :)

Andre du Plessis Hi Man in the Black Box. Thank you for your comment. Nice to have a non digital image up here for a change. Regards, Andre

moses stell 2 years ago

very nice captured Andre!

Andre du Plessis Hi Moses. Many thanks meneer, and best wishes, Andre

marco orma 2 years ago

cool shoot!

Andre du Plessis Thanks marco

Jeannette Oerlemans 2 years ago

The mood is great and beautiful captured.

Andre du Plessis Thanks Jeannette. I was lucky with the cathedral in the BG - it did help with the composition. Wishes, Andre

Bogdan Bousca 2 years ago

excellent !

Andre du Plessis Thanks Bogdan!

Vlad Dumitrescu 2 years ago

Superb, Andre....
Congrats!

Andre du Plessis Many thanks Vlad:)

Chris Dixon 2 years ago

Andre, welcome back....but from where??

Cheers Chris

Andre du Plessis Hello Chris. SA and Tanzania. Hot as hell over there and now freezing my butt off. Cheers!

Chris Dixon I know the feeling...recently got back from a short trip to Oz....in the middle of a heatwave :-)

Mihnea Turcu 2 years ago

missed you !!!

Andre du Plessis Hi Mihnea. Drop me an OE mail some time to fill me in on your going-on's. Regards, Andre

Codrin Lupei 2 years ago

A really wonderful image, Andre, perfectly done, really love it! Great photograph!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Codrin. I am very pleased that this picture was accepted, for it holds a very big sentiment for me, as it was the very first picture that I took in the UK. I took up a job just around the corner at Lincoln County Hospital, and slipped away over lunch time on my 1st working day.

Ricky Siegers 2 years ago

I like the mood, beautiful captured Andre.
Welcome back!!!

Andre du Plessis Hi Captain. Thank you for the nice words, and regards - also to Tuk.

Marcus Björkman 2 years ago

Uphill in the rain, on a race bike and at high age was probably too much. It looks heavy and the tall tower on the top amplifies the feeling of height he must conquer. Beautiful everyday life shot that shows the daily struggles.

Andre du Plessis :) I did consider a more aged toning here, but that racer prevented me from doing that. Thank you for the lovely words, Andre

Phyllis Clarke 2 years ago

The spirit of the Brits - biking in the rain at any age! :) Beautifully captured, especially that wet street - rain I guess has its advantages! : Congrats to you - welcome back. My best, Phyllis

Andre du Plessis Thank you dear Phyllis. Yes it is good to be back - I think that this break from photography and the site has done me well.

gerard sexton 2 years ago

Well done Andre! Everday now maybe but a few years ago he may have been riding up the hill! The ravages of time catch up the human spirit but the infrastructure is made to last! Wonderful rural city scene!

Andre du Plessis Yeah Gerry, and unfortunately that applies to us as well. After this capture I practically hopped and skipped up to the cathedral that day, and now will probably hail a taxi to get me up there. This was taken a few years ago. Congratulations with your new equipment.

ris 2 years ago

great mood!

Andre du Plessis Thanks ris!

Lars Klottrup 2 years ago

Depressing mood with impact! :-)

Andre du Plessis True Lars. This man was really hunched over and shuffling, and given the environment and rain, a really depressing scene.
However, not unlike most days here in Dec and January:) Thanks.

Lucian Olteanu 2 years ago

Great!!

Andre du Plessis Thank you Lucian!

Christoph Hessel 2 years ago

What a mood! Wonderful Andre (as alwasy)

Andre du Plessis Thank you Christoph

Nicolas Marino 2 years ago

nice to see you back Andre! i was wondering why it had been so long since I've seen a photo from you published. :)
beautiful film shot!

Andre du Plessis Dear Nicolas - I was back in Africa since mid December, and once there had little opportunity to go online. Also wanted to have a bit of a break from OE to recharge my enthusiasm. However, it is lovely to be back.

Kim Ayres 2 years ago

How to transform a dull, wet and miserable day into something creative and special!

Very nice indeed :)

Andre du Plessis Thanks Kim. This happened rather quickly. I was taking pictures of a shop front when he walked by, so make a quick stolen photo. Fortunately a foggy Lincoln cathedral was in view in the back, which added appeal to this.

Petitelfe petitelfe 2 years ago

A very beautiful photograph. I feel somewhere in the gloom
this picture, but I love him so much./
Une très belle photographie. Je ressens quelque part de la tristesse dans
cette photo , mais je l'aime beaucoup ainsi.

Andre du Plessis Nous vous remercions pour votre commentaire. Oui, c'était une journée misérable et très cold.I senti un peu étrange de fluage place derrière lui pour prendre cette photo. Il a souligné jamais même me.
I hope this makes sense:)

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