Hands of the Fisherman II - Catching Bait (B&W)

[FootLoose]

I took this shot a couple of weeks ago an a delightfully miserable day. I asked this guy if I could photograph him catching worms.
"No problems; what do you want me to do," he asked.
"Just do what you doing and ignore me," I said. But that was too much. I kept backing away to get him in the frame, and he kept walking towards and talking to me about the fine art of catching beach worms. Of the 50 or so frames I took, this is about the best focused.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable couple of hours talking to him, and I now know the best sections of the beach to find worms, the best spots to catch fish, and the best times of the day to catch them.


All C&C welcome.

[ShaneS]

Greg, were you talking to my Dad? Wait, he's on a different continent so it's not likely

I like the shot and love all the detail that you captured in his hands. The hairs on his arms literally stand out! Did you try a vertical crop with just his hands and the worms hanging down? I say that because I can't decide if I like part of the rest of his body in the shot or not and thought that I would throw the idea out there if you hadn't already considered it.

[IzzieK]

Greg...must have been funny the moment you gave him permission to do what he does do best -- he talked to you. 50 frames would have told you now not to engage, just take the shots first, talk later.

[gregj1763]

Greg, sounds like you had fun there mate. I love talking to older people, their experiences and knowledge is better than reading a book, all you need is the time and patience. Bet he enjoyed himself too
Hang on, I'm 51 nearly, does that class me as older?
B&W was a great choice for this image. It really works well.
Cheers, the other Greg

[John 2]

.........B&W was a great choice for this image. It really works well.
Cheers, the other Greg

I agree and it's beautifully crisp as well.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Greg,very nice shot.I would also try a vertical crop as Shane suggested though

[FootLoose]

Thank you all for you comments.

Shane, I tried several different crops of this image. My original idea was just to include the hands with the worms, but I didn't think there was enough interest in the frame when I did that. So I extended it to the edge of the shirtsleeve, but I thought it looked a bit odd - two disembodied arms poking out from the side of the frame. I finally opted for this version because the V-shape of his arms is repeated in the V-shape of the worms hanging down, and the diagonals they form is also echoed in the line of the wave, and the tyre tracks on the sand in the background. But I'll include your suggested crop for you and Binnur to see.

Izzie, I usually do shoot first and ask later but he spotted me from about 50m away and just stood there staring at me, as if to say 'now what is that bloke up to'.

Greg, I agree. It is always entertaining talking to older folk; and in saying that I hasten to add I am 61. It seems like, when I turned 60 I joined a huge club of older, grey-haired people who are all quite friendly and ready to talk about anything whenever, wherever you meet them /us.

[Downrigger]

This last crop loses the arms that Shane mentioned and that I like too - they've seen some weather all right and add a lot to the story, which to me, is about those hands and arms, more than the worms, which sort of take over in the second crop.

[IzzieK]

Oh well, Greg...now you are wiser and more knowledgeable about worms by just talking to him. What is over 50 shots for this one good one with all the knowledge you acquired from him. Peanuts. You gained a friend in him too if only for the sake of your art. I admire that very much.

Cheerio....

[NorthernFocus]

Both shots are awesome. I like the second one better. That guy has some serious hair on his arms.

Last year when we travelled down under we talked to a couple of guys that were trying to catch worms on the beach at Merimbula. I used to fish commercially so am always interested in learning about local methods. We watched them for a bit but they didn't catch any while we were there.

[ShaneS]

Greg, I see what you mean about the worms not being defined well as a subject but I do prefer the cropped version ever so slightly because of the detail you captured in the hands and arms.

[IzzieK]

Both shots are awesome. I like the second one better. That guy has some serious hair on his arms.

Last year when we travelled down under we talked to a couple of guys that were trying to catch worms on the beach at Merimbula. I used to fish commercially so am always interested in learning about local methods. We watched them for a bit but they didn't catch any while we were there.

I bet you the had a good time -- good sunshine, a cooler full of beer, the company, what more can they asked for?

[dabhand]

...........
Anyway, it was an enjoyable couple of hours talking to him, and I now know the best sections of the beach to find worms, the best spots to catch fish, and the best times of the day to catch them.

So now you've got the basics of a second pastime which will take up all your spare time and money ;-)

steve

[Rob Ekins]

Greg,

I prefer the first, I think including more of him conveys that he was showing you something important.

I bet he wouldn't have given a young whippersnapper details on his favourite marks.

Robbie.

[NorthernFocus]

I bet you the had a good time -- good sunshine, a cooler full of beer, the company, what more can they asked for?

Indeed

[FootLoose]

Thank you everyone for your comments on this shot. My original idea for it was to show his hands with the worms wrapped around his fingers, but he had only caught the two that you see here. I think that shot would still have worked if there had been more detail on his hands and fingers -- a couple of scars or a few more wrinkles to sustain the viewer's interest.

But I agree with Mark, that in the second crop the worms take attention away from the hands and arms, and everyone has commented on the marvellous texture of those arms.

One alternative would be to cut a bit from the bottom to reduce the presence of the worms, but that is still cutting down on the amount of arm. Maybe I should have asked him pull his shirt sleeve up, out of the way





Steve and Robbie, he did try to persuade me to get into fishing and when I explained that because of physical injuries I couldn't cast a rod, he thought for a minute or two and then told me about a particularly 'whippy' rod that I could use with only one hand. His enthusiasm was certainly inspiring, but I prefer to spend my time and money on photography.