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Fatigue


Fatigue
Photo Information
Copyright: Thomas Roach (sigint) Silver Note Writer [C: 3 W: 0 N: 34] (352)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 1960
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Nikon F, Nikkor 105mm
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Sato: À la recherche du temps perdu (past & retro) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-31 6:32
Viewed: 1588
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took a series of pictures of people who worked in the bars near Misawa Air Base between 1959 and 1964 when I was stationed at Misawa Air Base in Northern Honshu, Japan.

In this picture the lady was having a last cup of tea and a smoke before wandering off to her job in one of the bars. I was amazed at how people who didn't even know me let me in their homes where I photographed them in the ordinary segments of their life. Since I was a foreigner, or "gaijin" as the Japanese called non-Japanese, the ordinary rules did not apply to me and I took advantage of this.

I still photograph these days with a Nikon D70 but for a while on this Forum I will take you back to a time that has vanished into history - Cold War Japan.

Technically these pictures aren't all that good. I usually developed the film in a broom closet at the end of the hallway in the barracks where I lived on base. Still, I have been able to get decent shots of pictures that might once have taken days to print in a chemical darkroom through the use of the Nikon ED-8000 scanner and Photoshop CS2 or its predecessors.
Galeota, ckent, maleentjeh, jmdaoudal, Pioforsky has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To KiwiRob: Latest worksigint 1 07-18 19:01
To goc: My picturessigint 1 06-01 10:57
To konovalova: Reply in Frenchsigint 3 06-01 10:35
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Thomas,
This is beautiful.. the expession is strong; really tired.. deep in thought..
Composition is great, depth also..
Congrats!
..Calayan

Very interesting photograph and note. I do like the way you portrayed this woman and your management of a shallow depth of field. Her eyes and expression translate into a feeling of "fatigue" or abandon, and we can't look at this image without wanting to know more about her life. Good range of tones. Looking forward to see more.

Excellent expression. The cigarette adds a nice touch too. Great b&w. JP

Nice shot The DOF is good and you have caught her expression well.

  • Great 
  • Bubs Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 43 W: 0 N: 39] (363)
  • [2005-05-31 10:34]

Great image - very powerful. Like very much the grain in the photo... Super composition.

  •      
  • ckent Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 56 W: 12 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-05-31 11:07]

Splendid portrait !!!
I like all in your photograph : the lost glance of the woman, the fold of his face, the cigarette smoke, the blur foreground.
it is a photograph which emerges from the past, it brings much emotion to us.
Compliments and tfs.
C.K.

Your idea is really good, to show which do not reveal the immediatity of the present, but owns already to the past. Your could not suffer any comment. There's nothing else to say that: Thank you. Sorry for the poverty of my english. I cannot tell you what i feel. If you understand french, i'll retry.

  • Great 
  • goc Gold Star Critiquer [C: 321 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-05-31 16:31]
  • [+]

the note and the photo are excellent,
i'm speachless man

peace and hope more fantastic things from you

thanks again

  • Great 
  • Gilles (0)
  • [2005-06-03 16:12]

Wonderful powerful shot !

C'est très beau.

hi Thomas, I don't have any words. It is just so beautiful and captivating

Marleen

Excellent photo, it's magic, love the way you've captured her. This is an excellent portrait, well done, I would love to see some of you latest work.

Thomas,
I spend a little time to watch the whole serie of Japans 60' shots.
This is a great work, realistic and talentously made.
Can't write a critique on all these excellent compositions but be sure this was a great moment for me on TE.
Compliments
Jean Michel

Hi Thomas. Fabulous photograph. I agree totally with all that has been said by the others so far. This is classic documentary style photography at its best. Yours, Andrew.

Superbe photo
Peut être que tu aurais du faire ton point sur le visage qui est légèrement flou. Mais l'image à tellement de force que c'est un détail.

Bravo.

Excellent work!! i like the composition. strong expression with those eyes looking to her memories. I still use B&W film, i just like it.

Bravo Thomas!
A perfect photo.
Un saludo
Edén

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