Meet Rosalinda Bernales, a cigarette vendor in downtown Iloilo, my home city here in the Philippines. When I saw her 3 days ago, I had the urge to get off the jeepney and photograph her. Problem was, I didn't have my camera. So the next day (yesterday), with my camera on hand, I set off to my little expedition. What followed were over 70 pictures of her...from the time that she hadn't noticed me to the time that I forged a genuine friendship with her. Such a character. So much stories that went along with every line in her face.
I was and am so grateful she allowed me to take pictures of her very "rich" and "beautiful" face.
After the Challenge:
Thank you so much everyone for such kind words. I am bringing all the "adulation" back to Rosalinda, my "model". Manang Linda welcomed me very amiably two days ago when I went back to take more pictures of her. I also interviewed her (and her relatives - she's deaf) because I am planning to show this picture arund some magazine. I can't guide you as yet to other pictures of her...very soon, I promise.
And if anyone happen to pass by Iloilo City, Philippines, look for her in downtown, Iloilo. Ask any sidewalk vendor about her and you will surely find her. And she will be more than willing to pose for you.:)
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 311 Avg (all users): 8.2000 Avg (commenters): 9.4651 Avg (participants): 8.0566 Avg (non-participants): 8.4815 Views since voting: 48728 Views during voting: 476 Votes: 160 Comments: 188 Favorites: 386 (view)
Going through the older textures challenges I did not expect to see something like this. Such clarity and details. This must be one of the best shots I have seen in DPC. This is inspiring for beginners like me. Thank you!
Love the portrait especially since it's B&W. You could do so much with this picture. Use it as one shot, or just the face, or just the hands. There's so much character in the face and hands that you can use any portion of the photo.
Who ever voted below a 5 on this image was just trying to better their own results because if you can't see the beauty and exactness capturing light shadows tones etc in this picture then you must be blind. This image is Photography. psart. Ok I'm done lol
Wow life magazine cover quality here. This is a timeless image that I'll always carry in my mind. You should submit to various black and white magazines for publication. I'd use it. Again Wow. You got talent... psart
Shivers! The depth of this picture goes beyond what you see. It really is a book in a picture, every pixel is a chapter! Congratulations on your encounter and thank you for bringing it to us.. As they say in your language, Salamat!
WOW!!! Fantastic portrait!!! The colors, sharpness and her expression!
Looks like a National Geographic's shot!
Congratulations on the deserved ribbon!
To be perfectly honest, I've become very tired of the same old Pretty-girl-in-scarf Librodo portrait. This, however, blows all of those shots away. I don't think I'm overstating it when I say that this could hang in a museum. Congratulations on a truly beautiful photo.
What a beautiful photo and story. I won a ribbon for Living On Faith about a street lady. This reminds me of her. Thank you for entering this one. It truly is Blue Ribbon material !
ive just discovered this site today, and must say, photos like this beautiful one, will keep me visiting for a lobng time to come. thank-you for sharing ~ clear
This one's the best!It is really something!It's got so much to say among the famous portraiture shots in the history of photography,though the technique and the lighting's not something creative!
Manny, I stand in awe. Not only a great photo capture, but you capture her life, her personality, and her past so well, too. Stunning. Deserving of its 8.2 score!
I think 'Eyes' was the best picture on this web before. Now that you've posted this masterpiece that combines a compelling story and great technique it no longer is.
Congratulations of being the author of the best picture of DPC, again.
That is just an incredible photo. A ten if I voted and, worth the number 1 spot for sure and just made it to my favorites list. Great job and congrats..!
Brilliant and very different from you usual framing and lighting style for portraits. Congrats on the blue with this shot that IMHO is so different from your preferred techniques.
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I can't believe I never saw this one when voting (damned slow dial-up really makes voting on all images impossible). Congratulations on a well deserved blue. This shot is fantastic even by your high standards.
You've certainly raised the bar on this one!!! Pekesty and I were having a private betting session during voting on this taking the blue! Great great portrait - your best yet.
I gotta say that I was a little bummed out not ribboning with a 7.15 but seeing this shot win was a great consolation. First time seeing it too as I never vote on challenges I enter but even though I do that not to vote lower, I feel very confident that i still would have given this a 10 and of course added it to my favorites wich I just did.
Love everything about it and I think this is your best work as of this date. AWESOME! Could see this on the cover of National Geographic or Times or something like that. Keep up the good work Manny, I know you are extremely good but you have proven time and time again that you can be better, two thumbs up :)
Manny, you have no idea how much of an impact this portrait has had on me... truly its magical in every sense of the word magical!! She is wonderful and what you have captured within her .. amazing.. thank you so much for taking the time to introduce us to such a wonderful, powerful soul.. i'd love to see the rest of the images you took..
2 1´s and 4 3´s?
These people should be banned for life for not seeing quality.
You nailed it, and you deserve it...
But after this terrific blue and the 8+, what will be your new goals for this year? Getting an 7+ avg votes recieved ???
Congrats again, and now go bring the lady the good news!
Congratulations on a runaway winner Manny. It was always going to be this one. This is without question one of the finest images ever entered to a dpc. Can't praise it enough. Lawrence
I must say this is one of the best photographs I have ever seen. It is a wonderful black and white image, I am not sure I would have liked it in color, I think it would have lost too much of the contrast that makes it so outstanding.
What I like best about this photo is if you were to crop it anywhere, be it just the hands, the bottom half of her face, just her eyes.. it is still powerful and spellbinding in its rich detail. Very few images I've seen can so easily become multiple mini-masterpieces when broken up that way. Amazing detail, amazing woman, amazing talent.
Amazing ispiration is an understatement for the work that I get the chance to see from you. Thanks. Maybe some day I can capture such fabulous portraits. Soon, because of you, I want to begin trying shots with different types of veils. Hope thats cool because the idea definetly came from you. Keep up the good work, I know you will. Congrats.
Truly an incredible shot. It stood out so clearly when I saw the thumbnail and immediately gave it a 10. Congratulations. A very well deserved 8.0+ score.
I predict a strong finish... wrinkled faces always do well in these challenges. However, you got a rather unique shot here. Her face is kind of scary. The zillion rings really calls for some attention too. This balance the photo really well; kinds of share the centre of interest with here face.
I cannot imagine this not getting a ribbon...the smoothness of the jewelry contrasted against the coarseness of her skin is wonderful...the wisdom of her years just oozes from her pores...she has this "power" about her, an aura of strength...fabulous work.
I almost didnt get to this one as I just remembered that I needed to finish out voting this category. Glad I did because this one knocked my socks off. In fact - I am going to bump it up again. Great shot. My only 10.
Your photograph shows very good contrast in textures (rough skin, smooth jewelry, glassy eyes, sheer shawl). A little creepy, but overall an excellent photograph.
Stunning photograph! Quite a daring composition, yet very effective. Your choice of subject here is of course, awesome. Years and years of texture there to study. I love the processing of the image. Very fitting is an understatement. Wow, the longer I look, the more and more I like. An amazing photo, well done, indeed :-)
IMO, This is for sure the first place winner in this challenge... Congratulations! It's an awesome shot. It's a photo that you can just stare at and keep finding new features the longer you look. Very interesting and I love the tones and contrast.
I have a hunch this might be a manny shot.. different choice of model but just as striking.. my only 10 so far in this challenge absolutely brilliant image. -10-
Congratulations on your blue ribbon, this is really a work of art. Going immediately into my favourites. Only one person can do work like this, right Manny :)
This better get blue or i'll be annoyed for you hehe. THis is an mazing shot. 10.
I do have a few questions though:
1-how did you edit this shot?
2- did you ask permission to take that ladie's photo and if so, was she more than happy to "pose"? I have this great fear of taking candid shots and i'm always affraid that people won't like it if i take pictures of them etc.
Ladies and Gentlemen we have the blue right here. AMAZING! In every single way. I'm honored to even be in the same challenge as this work of art. Beautiful, simply beautiful.
And finally, we have our blue ribbon winner....
By far the best of the 100% I have rated. I will go out on a limb and say I am 99% sure this will take the big one :) Great in every way.
OMG!
This is perhaps one of the most powerful portraits I have ever seen here!
I commend you, not only on a magnificent image, but the perfection in your post-processing.
An instant favorite, and I expect to see this on the home page!!
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