The Godfather

Posted by Tanya Hotchkiss (New York, United States) on 22 November 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.

This is my Uncle Johnny. Or as he likes to have himself called Don Juan. He cut an impressive figure that night when the family all had dinner out on the beach. (Uncle Johnny, the godfather, the family??? For crying out loud. Now it sounds like I'm gonna say that Paulie whacked Sol's kid or somethin. What am I saying? Fuggedouboudit.)

Tout casse, tout passe, tout lasse, excepté le souvenir.Everything breaks, everything passes, everything wearies, except the memory.

Comments (7)

Boogle from Philippines

HAHAHA! Though i didn't understand half the things you said, the other half really made me laugh...for some reason! :) But your Uncle better make up his mind. Either he remains to be an Italian gangster or stick to being this libertine who has dedicated his life to the giving and receiving of pleasure, iow, a heartless seducer. :)

23 Nov 2007 7:34am

TravBoy from West/Wet Coast, United States

Wow the texture you were able to capture in unreal. For some reason I am very drawn to the back of his neck and the ripples in his shirt.

25 Nov 2007 3:52am

@TravBoy: Thanks again for the encouraging comments TravBoy! :-) This time around, I was using a non-digital standard lens which, in my opinion, actually gives me sharper results. And playing with the depth of field made some of the texture details really stand out more. :-) I think I should try using that lens more often.

Laurent from Lyon, France

You probably made the right choises because this picture is incredible. A love so much the atmosphere in it.
this picture fit very well with your description: Don Juan, the godfather

10 Dec 2007 12:25pm

@Laurent: Merci! It was very dark that night and we were all out on the beach, having dinner, exchanging stories. And I was having fun listening to the old folks having fun talking about the good ol' days. And I was content listening to them, staring at Uncle Johnny's raffia hat, when it hit me that the light from that one single light bulb offered me a really good photo op. :-) I'm really happy it turned out well.

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

My goodness! You did something so good, so stunning that I had to stop breathing for a sec! SPLENDID!!!!
Gabriela

10 Dec 2007 2:44pm

@Japanalia: Oh my, I think I'm blushing. I really appreciate your very generous comments... :-)

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

I like this picture a lot. Really good contrast of light. I enjoy the different textures and also the chair that have the same shape that the hat border.

19 Feb 2008 1:39am

@akarui: thanks a bunch! appreciate the comments a lot. my uncle johnny is definitely one of my favorite subjects (he's a funny guy!) and this photo is definitely one of my personal favorites. :-)

Steve from United States

I love this picture. I wish I could handle contrast in B&W so expertly as you have.

3 Apr 2008 9:23pm

@Steve: hmm...i don't know about being an "expert" ...haha. *scratching my head* but i'm glad you loved this photo.. :-D thanks again for the visit!

Garibaldi from Sala al Barro, Italy

Excellent b&w!

7 Apr 2008 9:52am

@Garibaldi: grazie ancora! :-) i used the same manual lens again... nikkor 50mm f/1.8. again, it was taken in almost complete darkness (outside at night), except for a single lightbulb illuminating the hut.

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