The Harp player

[RBSinTo]

Taken yesterday during a photography club outing to the St. Lawrence Market here in downtown Toronto.
In addition to a wide array of fresh food stalls, the market is also home to a number of musicians who play for donations from their audience of shoppers. While strolling around looking for suitable subjects I came upon a countrified guitarist, who was busy playing a song on his harmonica. I pointed my camera at him and motioned for permission to shoot. He nodded and I grabbed this shot.
Nikon D3
zoom-Nikkor 24~70 2.8 ED AF-S G
2.8 @ 1/250th ISO 3,200

[Rent]

The title does not coincide with what I see
Roy

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Robert,

Would you like the thread title amended to "The Harmonica Player"?

You could change title of the first post - but don't bother - as it won't change the thread title - one of life's quirks

Dave

[davidedric]

Good portrait, captures the mood for me.

Yes, it's a harmonica, also known as a mouth harp, at least among blues musicians.

Dave

[RBSinTo]

The title does not coincide with what I see
Roy

I'm a little unclear on the purpose of such a comment.
I hope for constructive comments or criticisms of the images I post, so of course when I get statements like this I'm incredibly disappointed.
Robert

[RBSinTo]

Hi Robert,

Would you like the thread title amended to "The Harmonica Player"?

You could change title of the first post - but don't bother - as it won't change the thread title - one of life's quirks

Dave

David,
No thanks. I'm just fine with the original title.
Robert

[RBSinTo]

Good portrait, captures the mood for me.

Yes, it's a harmonica, also known as a mouth harp, at least among blues musicians.

Dave

Dave,
Thank you for commenting. It's a relief to see that someone here knows what a mouth harp is.
Robert

[FootLoose]

Well, I know it as a blues harp.

Good shot, Robert. I like the touch of blur in his left hand. I think you need to tame the whites in the upper right corner, though.

[RBSinTo]

Well, I know it as a blues harp.

Good shot, Robert. I like the touch of blur in his left hand. I think you need to tame the whites in the upper right corner, though.

Thanks Greg.
That's been pointed out elsewhere and I agree. However, I'm having a bit of trouble selectively doing that. I'll have to speak to my Lightroom (ugh!) guru photobud and figure it out.
Robert

[Rent]

Robert When I am asked to criticize a photograph, I take into account the title, the photograph and the way it's presented.
I was purely commenting on the title which to me had nothing to do with a harmonica player. I have no criticism of the photo other than the white top right corner needs toning down
Sorry to have upset you
Roy

[DanK]

so of course when I get statements like this I'm incredibly disappointed.

I think it's no more than a difference in idioms. In the US, "blues harp" and "mouth harp" are common expressions. Probably not on the other side of the pond.

That's been pointed out elsewhere and I agree. However, I'm having a bit of trouble selectively doing that. I'll have to speak to my Lightroom (ugh!) guru photobud and figure it out.

Won't be easy. That area appears to be blown out, so simply darkening won't work. It's a complex enough area that cloning in something like Photoshop would be difficult, at least for someone with my skills. And it's positioned so that you can't crop it out.

As realtors say, "location, location, location."

However, you might be able to lessen the problem by imposing a vignette to darken the corners and then selectively brightening the front of the man to draw the eye that way.

[Dave Humphries]

Robert,

I've never heard the term "mouth harp".

To me (and I suspect most folks resident this side of the pond), a harp is stringed instrument.

However, since "harp" and "harmonica" begin with the same letter, I thought perhaps you had subconsciously erred, but I should have known better.

Just trying to be helpful (especially if you had tried and failed to amend the thread title),
Dave

PS
So what do you folks (on that side of the pond) call a stringed harp?
e.g. as played by say, Amy Turk (listen to her on Youtube)

Just wondering?

[Ken MT]

Google
"The Jew's harp, also known as the jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp or juice harp, is a lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame"

[xpatUSA]

Robert,

I've never heard the term "mouth harp".

I grew up in Sarf-East London, where we called them "maafawgans". Back in those days, Hohner engraved the name of each model on one of the tin plates and I vaguely remember the word "harp" appearing on one or two of them.

Found some:

Blues Harp: features a doussie comb and mouthpiece surface and stainless steel covers.
Big River Harp: this model has a plastic comb and streamlined covers with side vents.
Pro Harp: black ABS comb and black coated mouthpiece surface. Particularly popular amongst rock musicians.

https://theharmonicacompany.com/hohner-harmonicas/
.

[DanK]

So what do you folks (on that side of the pond) call a stringed harp?

A harp. Have to sort it out by context, I guess.

"The Jew's harp, also known as the jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp or juice harp, is a lamellophone instrument, consisting of a flexible metal or bamboo tongue or reed attached to a frame"

A jaw harp is nothing like a harmonica (a blues harp). It's a metal frame with a single metal strip in the middle. Look at images when if you google it. I don't know why it is sometimes called a Jew's harp, because it has nothing whatsoever to do with Judaism and is not used in any form of Jewish music. I've seen them a few times, but only as a novelty.

[DanK]

I tried darkening the area at the top right, but as I thought, some of it was blown out. I also lightened the person. See what you think.

[davidedric]

Also referred to as a "harpoon" (Me and Bobby McGee - Kris Kristofferson). I wonder which came first? Not that this has anything to do with Robert's picture.

Dave

[DanK]

Also referred to as a "harpoon" (Me and Bobby McGee - Kris Kristofferson). I wonder which came first? Not that this has anything to do with Robert's picture.

Dave

I don't think so. I think that was just a play on "harp". At least, I have never heard the term "harpoon" used that way.

But again, this doesn't help with Robert's photo....