The old man and his dog

[RBSinTo]

This shot was made very early one morning at The Beach, a portion of the Lake Ontario shoreline at the eastern end of Toronto. I spied the old man and his dog taking a leisurly stroll along the wooden boardwalk, and sprinted (with about 40 lbs of gear) after them. When I got close enough I paused, watched and when the moment seemed right, grabbed this shot.
motorized Nikon F2AS
Nikkor 300 2.8 ED AIS manual focus+ Nikon TC-14b 1.4 teleconverter
Manfrotto monopod
Fuji 100 ISO colour slide
exposure wide open (effective aperture f4) @ about 1/250th

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Manfred M]

Nice image Robert. Normally I find shooting people from the back tends not to produce a particularly compelling image, but that is not the case here.

The image really is quite melancholy. Old man and dog beside an empty park bench with back lighting (which results in a bright, but hazy foreground). I usually use a polarizer to cut the reflections (like the one off the bench), but here the reflection accentuates the bench which really works well here. Nice and simple, and it works.

I think my inclination would have been to shoot this in vertical format to eliminate the light standard and bench on the right (and simplify the composition a bit more), but I think your approach probably resulted in a stronger composition. This is something I will try to keep in mind when I get into a similar shooting situation.

[Donald]

If only that lamp post/light standard wasn't there. It's good one, there's no doubt in my mind about that. But if you 'see' it without that lamp post in the picture, I think it moves it a several notches on the quality scale. Even if there had been just a bit of space between the edges of the post and the bench, you could have cropped the lamp post out. I think the bench is terrific. Great light reflecting from it.

[RBSinTo]

Thanks guys, for your comments.
Donald, I don't mind the lamp post at all, as I tend to think it anchors the right side of the image. And being out of focus, it doesn't draw the viewer's eyes the way the bench or the subjects do.
When I first saw the pair, they were at least 100 yards west of me, and I chased after them until they were reasonably close (remembering that I had 420mm of lens to work with) at which point I stopped and composed on the fly. The post and bench happened to be there and I liked them as they gave a bit of context to the scene and included them in the shot.
Far more important were the tiny details like the man's right heel being off the ground, and similarly the dog's rear right paw and front left foot. They were the triggers for me to take the shot when I did.
There really wasn't time for much more. In total I got two frames, and immediately after, the pair turned to the right and walked off the boardwalk.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Robert,

I like that they each seem to be in their own world, neither paying attention to what interests the other.

I hadn't noticed the similarity of captured posture, at least, not consciously.

The lamp post doesn't worry me either and does contribute to context.

[bnnrcn]

For me , it is a great image with full of feelings

[JasonMorrowPhoto]

I agree with bnnrcn......it is a great photo with a lot of feelings. It reminds me of an old man in my neighborhood that walked his dog everyday. Brings back really good memories. Thank you for this shot.

[jcuknz]

I agree with Donald ... it is a vertical shot and bench and lamp-post are intrusions. Camera should have been held in portrait mode So easy with film and 3:2 format, more people should do it

[RBSinTo]

I agree with Donald ... it is a vertical shot and bench and lamp-post are intrusions. Camera should have been held in portrait mode So easy with film and 3:2 format, more people should do it

Thanks for commenting.
This wasn't my first rodeo, and I take photos in portrait mode when I decide that the composition warrants it.
In this case I didn't because I liked the way the composition looked in landscape mode.
The bench and post are part of the ambiance of the boardwalk at The Beach, and so they were included.
When I do what you suggest, and crop vertically, the result is too cramped for my liking.
The additional empty space adds to the deserted feeling of the boardwalk early in the morning as I remember it when this shot was taken.

[FootLoose]

Well, I like it. And, not that it matters, but I think the bench is where it is because that is where the lamp post is. ie the bench was located under / next to the light. At least, that is the way it tends to be around here.

[DEAN01]

Very nice slice of life, Robert. I like the bench and lamp post since it allows the eye to see the curve in the boardwalk. Without this the man and dog appear to be walking into a bush.

[Jwkash]

Dear RBSinTo,

This photograph is poignant and beautiful. I came across it because I recently published a short story in The Galway Review entitled The Old Man and His Dog. I'm in the process of building a website to showcase my work and I'm looking for photographs to go along with each of my stories. A Google search led me to your picture. Would you be interested in having your photograph connected with my story? Of course I'll give a proper acknowledgement. (You didn't chase after the old man with 40lbs. of equipment for nothing.) Let me know if you're interested...email me at jwkash37@gmail.com. My story will appear in Google if you type in The Old Man and His Dog JW Kash (my pen name).

[Mike Buckley]

How did I miss this one? I'm really glad Jwkash revived the thread because I can now enjoy this beautiful image even though it's almost a year later than when it was posted.

Relative to comments already made in the thread...

I especially like Manfred's comment about not using a polarizer to eliminate the glare on the bench; exactly my thought when I first saw the image.

Haze is rarely attractive to me but its effect on the background works really well for me.

I like the lamp post and I would like it even more if it you had moved a bit to the left, creating more separation between it and the bench. One reason I like the lamp post is because of its color, which so nicely complements the man's hat. I probably would wish the lamp post was removed if you had converted to monochrome.

Your choice of a horizontal format also works really well for me.

Almost a year has elapsed since you made the image. Did you gain all the weight back that you lost while running to capture the scene?

[dem]

Lovely image. I thought the pole fitted in quite well: good colour match + frame-in-a-frame effect. I like it.

[RBSinTo]

How did I miss this one? I'm really glad Jwkash revived the thread because I can now enjoy this beautiful image even though it's almost a year later than when it was posted.

Relative to comments already made in the thread...

I especially like Manfred's comment about not using a polarizer to eliminate the glare on the bench; exactly my thought when I first saw the image.

Haze is rarely attractive to me but its effect on the background works really well for me.

I like the lamp post and I would like it even more if it you had moved a bit to the left, creating more separation between it and the bench. One reason I like the lamp post is because of its color, which so nicely complements the man's hat. I probably would wish the lamp post was removed if you had converted to monochrome.

Your choice of a horizontal format also works really well for me.

Almost a year has elapsed since you made the image. Did you gain all the weight back that you lost while running to capture the scene?

Thanks Mike.
From schlepping heavy gear for almost 40 years, plus playing hockey (on average three nights a week summer and winter) for the last 55 years, I haven't lost weight, but rather gained a very nice case of Spinal Stenosis, so now I'm blessed with permanent back pain, and weakening of my legs. So I made a concession and don't carry a heavy bag of photography gear any more. I just carry the cameras I need with lots of film in my vest pockets.
But the hockey?
Despite four knee operations and various torn cartilages, ligaments and more bad sprains and bruises than anyone thought possible, I'm still goaltending, often against people vastly younger (the youngest kid I play against is about 20.)
Keeps me young.
Robert

[RBSinTo]

Dear RBSinTo,

This photograph is poignant and beautiful. I came across it because I recently published a short story in The Galway Review entitled The Old Man and His Dog. I'm in the process of building a website to showcase my work and I'm looking for photographs to go along with each of my stories. A Google search led me to your picture. Would you be interested in having your photograph connected with my story? Of course I'll give a proper acknowledgement. (You didn't chase after the old man with 40lbs. of equipment for nothing.) Let me know if you're interested...email me at jwkash37@gmail.com. My story will appear in Google if you type in The Old Man and His Dog JW Kash (my pen name).

J.W.,
Thanks for your interest in my photo “The Old Man and His Dog”.
As someone who has at various times derived income from his photography, through published pictures, magazine ads and event assignments, I do not swap pictures for photo credits, (except in the case of Non-Profit Charities) especially when the proposed end user will likely derive income from their use.
If however you are interested in purchasing one-time use of this image for a reasonable and modest fee, please email me and we can discuss terms.
Otherwise permission to use the shot is not granted, and its use is expressly forbidden.
Regards,
Robert Sadoff

[Sergio M.]

Fantastic image, Robert.

Sergio

[Rob Ekins]

J.W.,
Thanks for your interest in my photo “The Old Man and His Dog”.
As someone who has at various times derived income from his photography, through published pictures, magazine ads and event assignments, I do not swap pictures for photo credits, (except in the case of Non-Profit Charities) especially when the proposed end user will likely derive income from their use.
If however you are interested in purchasing one-time use of this image for a reasonable and modest fee, please email me and we can discuss terms.
Otherwise permission to use the shot is not granted, and its use is expressly forbidden.
Regards,
Robert Sadoff

Agree whole heartedly Robert.

JwKash, kudos to you for having the decency to reach out to the creator of the image and not just stealing the work which is so easy to do.

[LePetomane]

That will be me in 20 years.