To finish the first run of the “Portraits on the fly” series, I coud not omitt a portrait with our best friends. I rarely ask for a photo in the street, but in this case I did. The gentleman permitted, but I can read some apprehension on his face, as if he was wondering if I will respect him and his dog. To me, this is a beautiful example of a friendship between sentient beings.
“Just friends” – Grant Green
This is a portrait stolen while drinking a cold coffee in a bar overlooking the beach, off Cap 3000, on the outskirts of Nice. I only had a couple of seconds available, and luckily nobody paid much attention to my 90mm lens.
“From This Moment On” – Mel Torme’
This lady is one of the daughters of Blandine, who runs one of my favourite cafe’s in Nice: “Les Causeries de Blandine”. If all goes well, I will make a small exhibitions of photographs about Nice there next month.
When I saw her seated in the tight corner with a big lamp right behind, I wasn’t very confident about a possibility of making a decent portrait, but luckily, she got distracted for a moment, and the wonderful 65/4 lens of Bronica RF at 1/15th and wide open made the rest of the miracle.
BTW – this is a post nr.200
“Daydream” – The Lovin’ Spoonful
This gentleman also visited us briefly in the office, and we’ve had a nice conversation. He did not deny posing for a few shots, as this is in practice his everyday bread. I tried a new 120/2.8 lens adapted for Pentax 67, wide open here, and it has really been borderline for the light, DOF and shutter speed.
Julien came with a magnificent and shiny crocodile briefcase. When I noticed the object, I asked him to fondle it a bit to find some more spontaneous expressions.
In the end, I changed the cameras and fired off the last few frames left in one of the Leicas equipped with the C Sonnar 50/1.5. Although the grain is visible, this lens never disappoints in portraiture – this was shot at f 2.0, – would have been even better at f 2.8, but for this another version of this lens would have been necessary, and I did not have it at hand at that moment.
“Easy To Love” – Patricia Barber
The inevitable case of having a frame or two left on the roll of film that you want to develop quickly. If you are wandering what lens sits atop the Hasselblad, it is the Distagon F 50/2.8.
“Photograph” – Mark Murphy
This lady visited us for half an hour in the office. When I asked her to take some pictures, she did not want to consent, saying she was turning out ugly in the photographs.
– There are no ugly people, I replied, there are only bad photographers.
“I Feel Pretty” – Annie Ross
I saw this lady in Fred’s bar, close to the port in Nice, on a Photo Meet Up get together. I was a bit distracted and did not have my camera ready when entering. A pity, because for a moment she lit a cigarette, and the small flame of the lighter brightened the contour of her face against the window.
“Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” – The Isley Brothers
Today, I decided to open a new category of posts: Portraits on the fly. It is very unusual for me to have a possibility of setting up a regular portrait session. My interest in human figure has therefore limit itself to the brief opportunities when I steal a few shots in the street, inside a cafe’ or in my office, when a chance presents itself.
The series opens with portraits of a newly met friend: Frank Iodice. An Italian writer of Neapolitan origins, who after some years of world meanderings has settled to live in Nice. He is also linked to the culture of South America, and his recent writings have been influenced by a long travel to Uruguay. If you speak Italian. you might enjoy reading his recent book: “Le Api Di Ghiaccio” and find out more about him from his blog.
“Queremos Paz” – Gotan Project
“You And The Night And The Music” – Eliane Elias
“Five O’Clock In The Morning” – Dusko Goykovich