Helpful Posts: I pot this photo with a short story because I still think of this old Viet Cong veteran often. On a village tour near the DMZ in 2001 I asked my interpreter why his uncle had such a prolific smile and this was the answer. "I'm smiling because I don't have to fight anymore, and my children don't have to fight. Even my grandchildren don't have to fight, now they can play instead. I fought for 50 years, and lived in the tunnels. We fought the Chinese, we fought the French, then the Americans and the Cambodians. Now I watch the children plying and don't have to worry about the land mines. That is why I'm always smiling."
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Thread: The Smiling Gentleman
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6th January 2012, 11:50 AM #1
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The Smiling Gentleman
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6th January 2012, 02:43 PM #2
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Wayne,
Congrats on a great shot. His expression perfectly mirrors his story. Perhaps a tighter crop through the crown of his head would minimize the minor distraction of the white object behind his white hair? Love the exposure and pp
Kevin
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6th January 2012, 02:48 PM #3Moderator
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Excellent portrait. Kevin's point re that light area behind is head is well made. Be good to try and do something about that. Migth further improve an already very good image.
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6th January 2012, 07:05 PM #4
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Nice portrait but, there appears to be a diagonal scratch at the top left and also flecks of dirt in the upper part of the picture which just don’t look right and kind of spoils it for me. Maybe you could clone these out?
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6th January 2012, 08:01 PM #5
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
A great capture and a great storyline to go with it. I enjoyed reading that.
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6th January 2012, 09:00 PM #6
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
What a lovely story
and fantastic photo!
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6th January 2012, 09:54 PM #7
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Thanks for your comments. I took this with Velvia (Fuji) 50 ISO slide and just had it scanned last week. I have cropped out some of the glare behind him but will try a tighter crop. I posted the gentleman's wife' portrait a few days ago (Vietnamese elder).
Wayne
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6th January 2012, 10:33 PM #8
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Version 2.) Hows this?
IMG] [ http://i39.tinypic.com/9qz8sz.jpg[/IMG]
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6th January 2012, 10:41 PM #9
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
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7th January 2012, 07:33 PM #10
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
EXCELLENT!!! Well done Wyne! Love it!
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10th January 2012, 12:05 AM #11
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Would should all be so lucky to smile so much. Thank you for sharing this story.
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10th January 2012, 12:10 AM #12
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Re: The Smiling Gentleman
Really nice shot O.o
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