The man in number thirteen

[RBSinTo]

There is a lovely, elderly gentleman who lives with his wife in the Kensington Market area in a house with the very rare address number thirteen.
Because he has serious health issues I often see him sitting on his porch with his oxygen tank and watching the world go by, and we often chat briefly when I pass.
On this particular day he happened to be looking out the front door window, and I asked him if I could take an informal portrait as he stood there.
He was kind enough to say yes and I got this shot.
Converted to black and white in Photoshop.
Cosina Voigtlander R2S Bessa
Nikon 35 1.8 in Nikon S mount manual focus
Fuji 100 ISO colour slide
2.8 @ 1/500th

[Donald]

Apart from suggesting a bit of dodging on the gentleman's face to lighten it up and throw more attention on to it (with which no-one else might agree!), I think that's a beauty.

[Damers]

Hi Robert,

I agree with Donald, the man's face gets a bit "lost". Otherwise, it looks very nice to me.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[george013]

Hi Robert,

I agree with Donald, the man's face gets a bit "lost". Otherwise, it looks very nice to me.

I think that symbolises his situation.
To me it's ok.

George

[Sergio M.]

I like it, Robert. I find it very emotive.

Sergio

[moopy goops]

my first thought was that his face was a bit dark too. With so much white in the frame I feel just a slight levels adjustment on his face would improve it. It is regardless a marvelous shot

[IzzieK]

I feel it is good composition, Robert. I agree with Donald about lightening the face a little bit...just a bit.

[RBSinTo]

I appreciate all the comments
and in response to a number of them regarding increasing the light on the subject's face, I made a slight adjustment to it in Photoshop, which I'll post later when I'm home.
Robert

[Manfred M]

Let me be the one that offers a different opinion here. I find that this image works quite well for me, just because of the white curtains that draw the viewer's eyes into the frame. No amount of face lightening is going to ever be able to counter the bright curtains in the window.

I rather like what you have done here. The window provides the frame, the curtains draw us in and then, only on closer inspection, do we notice the man and finally looking at him, we see the oxygen tubes running into his nostrils.

[Urbanflyer]

Love the shot! Agree with Manfred's comment. My only contribution is that the #13, while part of the story, doesn't seem to contribute much to the image. If cropped out, the focus of the image is strengthened for me.

Nice job!

[Adzman808]

FWIW...

I'm undecided about lightening his face... On the one hand it could be a little more prominent, but on the other the overall tones of the shot really suit the image

The image itself is full of soul, makes the viewer think of a story and has character! Perfect on those counts!

[RBSinTo]

Again,
Thanks all for the comments.
I really like this shot and am pleased that it is getting so much positive feedback.
Often I'll post something that I think should get me lifted up on everyone's shoulders and showered with gifts and accolades only to discover that I must run for my life to keep from being tarred and feathered. So much for my ability to predict the reactions of others to my pictures.
Judith,
The house number was included in the composition for two reasons:
First, just because it is virtually unheard of to see any property here with the address number thirteen, (and as an aside I can't even remember ever seeing a thirteenth floor in any building residential or commercial here in Toronto either), and
second, I feel it balances nicely against the mail slot below the window and as well, tends to anchor the image at the top.
Robert

[Urbanflyer]

It is important to stay true to your vision. Technical issues are one thing, what you want to convey is another. Look forward to seeing more or your shots.

[IzzieK]

Again,
Thanks all for the comments.
I really like this shot and am pleased that it is getting so much positive feedback.
Often I'll post something that I think should get me lifted up on everyone's shoulders and showered with gifts and accolades only to discover that I must run for my life to keep from being tarred and feathered. So much for my ability to predict the reactions of others to my pictures.
Judith,
The house number was included in the composition for two reasons:
First, just because it is virtually unheard of to see any property here with the address number thirteen, (and as an aside I can't even remember ever seeing a thirteenth floor in any building residential or commercial here in Toronto either), and
second, I feel it balances nicely against the mail slot below the window and as well, tends to anchor the image at the top.
Robert

Robert...the explanation of #13 (1+3=4) or apartment, floor level #4 came with the Chinese belief that the sound of #4 is the same sound in their culture as 'death', because when one dies, the body, lined on the right side, and the two lines of the left side represents the hand put on top of the body. I hope you understand my feeble attempt to explain this. #4 also means 'stupid'.

[george013]

Robert...the explanation of #13 (1+3=4) or apartment, floor level #4 came with the Chinese belief that the sound of #4 is the same sound in their culture as 'death', because when one dies, the body, lined on the right side, and the two lines of the left side represents the hand put on top of the body. I hope you understand my feeble attempt to explain this. #4 also means 'stupid'.

There're a lot of explanations of the unlucky number 13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_%28number%29

I'm happy with it.

There's more in the picture that wonders me. Not on the technical site, but what it registrated.
Small letterbox. In Holland they're much bigger.
The man is either very small or is sitting. But sitting en face there seem little space left between him and the door for his legs.
I see 2 locks in his door, placed in different ways.

George
The number 13 is painted over a non flat surface, making it difficult to paint it.

[RBSinTo]

Robert...the explanation of #13 (1+3=4) or apartment, floor level #4 came with the Chinese belief that the sound of #4 is the same sound in their culture as 'death', because when one dies, the body, lined on the right side, and the two lines of the left side represents the hand put on top of the body. I hope you understand my feeble attempt to explain this. #4 also means 'stupid'.

Thanks Izzie,
Or should I have said Xièxiè ?
I think that the unlucky aspect of the number thirteen in this case is based on Christian principles rather than on the Chinese, because this area of the city existed before the influx of Asians who live in it now.
Besides it is a city-wide phenomenon seen where absolutely no Chinese live.

[RBSinTo]

There're a lot of explanations of the unlucky number 13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_%28number%29

I'm happy with it.

There's more in the picture that wonders me. Not on the technical site, but what it registrated.
Small letterbox. In Holland they're much bigger.
The man is either very small or is sitting. But sitting en face there seem little space left between him and the door for his legs.
I see 2 locks in his door, placed in different ways.

George
The number 13 is painted over a non flat surface, making it difficult to paint it.

George,
The man is quite short.
And the number 13 was not painted, but rather consists of individual cast metal letters which were screwed or nailed to the door.
Robert