Photographer's Note
You can say it in English, Spanish, German or Greek.
Everytime has the same meaning.
I was in Syros. The day before I had arrived to the island. That day I wake up very soon and I began to walk around the city.
First I went to the main square with its beautiful and neoclassical city hall. Also I search the bar “Peyote” where that night there was a concert. A singer from Peru but who lives in Syros sang typicall songs of the Spanish culture. It was nice and the day before a greek girl who speaks Spanish and who had lived in Barcelona talk to me about it. The name of that pretty girl is Rosa and also he worked in that bar.
I found the bar and I continued my long walk.
My goal was the beautiful chora and the catholic cathedral. I was so impressed with all those white houses and narrow streets. That was amazing. And no one of theme was equal. Besides they were tilted cause the hill.
Well, finally, after a long walk and after a few cats I arrived to the cathedral. It was a pity: there were scaffoldings everywhere.
However I prepare the tripod and the long lens and I shot and shot... but not to the cathedral.
But then, someone came to me and ask me something. He was behind me and I didn’t see him at the beginning.
He spoke Greek.
I turned back and I saw him. He was an old man and I said to him in English that I don’t speak Greek.
Then he said to me: “Tu, capito italiano?” (I’m sorry if this is not correct) and I answer him “Io capito un poo italiano” (I spoke with the accent of Michael Corleone because I’ve seen too times the Godfather).
He spoke about his live.
He spoke about his youth.
He spoke about how he learnt italian.
He spoke about the fascist italian in the island and how they became free.
Finally he said to me had to go. His wife was waiting him in his house (it was time to lunch).
But before, I asked him if I could take one photo and he agreed.
Sometimes, if you want to learnt about life and about people you can travel but you should avoid that kind of turism where you don’t see real people.
And, at least but not less important: sometimes, if you want to be free, you have to fight.
PD: that day, at the evening, I went to Anno Syros, later I was in a performance close the “Bohème” and finally I was in that concert where I met very nice people, especially people from Argentina and Spain who live in the island
PD (2): (added today because I wrote yesterday the note) also I want to dedicate this picture to Polonaise, who would have done it in a very different way... whereever you are, good luck!!!
bema, g_panakia, vasilpro, dip, portmanndominic, mikeo, feather, Emile, angie-barcelona, azaf1, syrus_persia, elendim, Nessie, Charo, riclopes marcou esta nota como útil
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bema
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 28 N: 3985]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(26591) 2008-12-18 0:44
Hi Carlos,
a great story and note, and a wonderful portrait of this old men..
Have a fine time, regards Bernd
g_panakia
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 70 N: 729]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(4031) 2008-12-18 1:26
goodmorning carlos!
what counts to a journey, apart from the picturesque landscapes, is to come in contact with local people, to listen to their stories, to see their attitude towards life and why not spend some time -or more- with them...
your note is really precious and touching and the portrait of this old man a perfect "attachment" to your description!
whatever this man lived in his life he seems to be an honest and open-hearted person!
bravo
georgia
barrufeto_77
(28888) 2008-12-18 2:04
El abuelito es simpático... Una cara entrañable.
Llegarás tu a ser así o directamente no llegarás????
Aleee
vasilpro
(41801) 2008-12-18 2:15
Good morning Carlos,
Nice portrait of this old man who talked as a familiar to you. Syros is a very nice island to visit the summer.
Regards, Vasilis.
dip
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3265 W: 0 N: 2971]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(23892) 2008-12-18 3:07
Hi Carlos,
beautiful portrait of the old man and very interesting note!
well done,
Dimitris.
portmanndominic
(2400) 2008-12-18 5:37
Hola Carlos
great portrait from Syro an island you like , a portrait is always a story upside the technical realisation
TFS
Filika
Dominic
mikeo
(12129) 2008-12-18 5:43
Hi Carlos,
Superb portrait...and great story!
Amazing quality of the photo, excellent colours...
I love it!
Greetings
Mikeo
feather
(51130) 2008-12-18 6:17
Very good portrait of the old man. He has had a very interesting life. Good choice of DOF, as even though we can recognise the buildings of the town below, they are sufficiently blurred so they do not distract from the man.
Kath
quillo
(11858) 2008-12-18 7:15
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Hola Carlos . . . . un buen encuadre,
buen contraste del retrato con el fondo borroso,
me gusta el resultado.
Un saludo.
-
Emile
(20352) 2008-12-18 7:30
Hola Carlos.
Un excelente retrato con la simpática cara y sonrisa del viejo, muy buena iluminacion y colores, el DOF esta muy bueno con la vista borrosa de la ciudad, creo y es mi humilde opinión que le hubiera clonado la parte oscura sobre su cabeza. Me gusta mucho tu nota, es muy buena descripción de tu día en Syros.
Un fuerte abrazo amigo.
Angelillo
(9374) 2008-12-18 9:10
Hola Carlos,
De acuerdo con tu nota, interesante y útil. Un buen retrato también, bien "montado", dejando en evidencia un rostro intenso y vivido... Buena foto!
Un saludo,
Angel.
angie-barcelona
(2784) 2008-12-18 14:51
Hola Carlos,
me quedo con la nota que nos explicas, además que son siempre my entretenidas, me ayudas con el inglés... que es mi asignatura pendiente!
Buen retrato.
Felices fiestas!
Un besote,
Gemma
PD: Hoy ya no pongo ningún WS... me voy a portar bien...
azaf1
(15929) 2008-12-19 1:40
Geia sou Carlos
Indeed the face of a candid and sincere old man that looks straight into the lens. The people, together with the very young ones, that we must treasure and protect.
Best wishes and season's greetings
Argiris
cherryripe
(21033) 2008-12-19 16:04
Hola Carlos
Con todo el tiempo que pases en tu pueblo con nada a hacer, podrias aprender el griego.
Vale, puedo imaginarte viejo como este tio ?
Pues, no nos veremos lunes y no tendremos tiempo desviar de nuestro camino cuando vamos a Galicia.
Un saludo
Nikki
syrus_persia
(2270) 2008-12-20 0:28
Salam carlos
beautiful portrait of the old man , with good contrast and colors.Amazing quality of the photo.
well done,
cyrus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 163 W: 84 N: 191]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
Nessie
(918) 2008-12-20 9:55
Hello Carlos! Nice shot of that familiar old man and excellent story-notes!
You should make a travelogue of your holidays in Syros since you had such a wonderful time!
Come back someday!
Best Regards,
Nessie
Charo
(51290) 2008-12-21 17:23
Hola Carlos,
Buen retrato de este anciano y con un buen desenfoque detrás de lo que se supone...una ciudad.
En cuanto al texto...demasiado extenso para leerlo en inglés...mucho esfuerzo para mis neuronas...
un abrazo,
Charo
Cretense
(68709) 2008-12-22 5:43
Hola Carlos!
Muy buen retrato, amigo, se ve en esta cara tan interesante que tienes muchisimas historias de contar. Muy buena expresion del tio!
Un saludo,
Hercules
siusan
![Silver Star Critiquer [C: 28 W: 0 N: 6]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(244) 2008-12-23 2:22
Hola Coco,
Genial la expresión del abuelete... Me gusta mucho.
... y si... conozco al Sr.Barrufeto .... y no veas lo duro que es ... jajajajaj :P
Un saludote
Siusan
riclopes
(35577) 2008-12-30 0:27
Hola Carlos, loved your long story of visit to Syros, the white narrow streets and the cats. Being the title resistance and a dedication to polonaise, you should had it to the theme "waiting for polonaise". Anyway, this is a very nice portrait of the local man and I can see that he's happy to pose for you. Excellent WSs to complement the whole story of your visit to the cathedral with scaffoldings.
un abrazo e Boas Festas,
ricardo
archimatica
(20648) 2009-01-20 14:04
Great work, literary, historical, photographic.
I like it, it'is much more of a simple post...
Regards
Renzo
Photo Information
-
Copyright: carlos serrano (coco)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5177 W: 140 N: 6388]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(30439) - Genre: Pessoas
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2008-05-17
- Categories: Vida Diária
- Camera: Nikon D 80, Sigma 70-300 f 4-5.6 APO DG macro
- Exposição: f/7.1, 1/800 segundos
- More Photo Info: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2008-12-18 0:21
Discussions
- To barrufeto_77: (2)
by coco, last updated 2008-12-19 03:01 - To Emile: (3)
by coco, last updated 2008-12-18 12:05
