As an amateur photographer in training, I have often expressed my passion for shooting portraits of elderly people.
WP Photo Challenge this week asks us to interpret ‘Admiration’. There are many people I admire and respect, starting from the ones I love, to those I may not even know but get inspiration from.
I have instead chosen to share a recent series of photos made (with consent) from a lovely man, with whom I had a wonderful conversation, whilst shooting the Cherry Blossom Festival which you can see here.
Like me, he was admiring the Cherry Blossom Festival, together with his wife and another couple. He paid attention on what I was doing, and I was equally paying attention on them. All it needed to spark a conversation was to smile at them and after that I even got permission to photograph him.
I enjoy listening to their life stories and perspectives on old and contemporary events of the world. It feels like reading a book; feeding my brain with wise thoughts from people, who have seen so much, and finally learnt what a simple and meaningful life means to each person. That’s what I admire on them, and aspire for whilst aging.
Sights & Insights 
This is a lovely post Lucile, I feel the same way!
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Thanks Debbie, it’s nice to hear that it resonated with you.
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Me too. Aged faces are so full of stories. And so interesting and textured. Love this.
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I could have stayed there talking to him forever. Gorgeous face, with all the wrinkles. Thanks, lovely. Xx
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Me, three. Lovely portraits as usual, Lucile, especially that last one.
janet
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Thanks, Janet. You picked my fave! 😉
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Let’s make it four – very well captured… 🙂
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Thanks, Drake. This man has a face that makes for great photos.
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My history has given me many opportunities to sit in silence and listen to the life stories of those identified as “elderly”… amazing
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Really? That’s very special. Can you share something about it?
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while working with hospice, both as a volunteer and psychotherapist
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Fantastic experience. I studied psychology and later did a MBA and a career in business management. But I started as A clinical psychologist working with autism for three years. I never forgot my last year at the university, as I was a trainee at a psychiatric institute.
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learning to connect with those diagnosed with autism…a real learning experience in interpersonal interactions across a wide spectrum
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That’s been so far my best learning experience on human interaction, one I never forgot.
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Fantastic post!
The images are amazing.
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Thank you so much. So happy you liked it.
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His smile just melts me. Such beautiful portraits, Lucile.
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And he would stop smiling every time I stopped talking to click him, so I had to put the camera down and keep talking and wait for the right moment to steal his smile again, and click it. Thanks, Lois.
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Fabulous!
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Thank you, Susan.
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A wonderful post and a wonderful man. I often think about Candide, the Voltaire one. It really is the little things that matter in the end. A simple life. Sadly enough we usually have to grow old before we realize this.
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Thank you, Leya. Your comment added much value to the post and I’m grateful you did it. It’s indeed very sad.
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Thanks to your interesting post –
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The best reward I can get from whatever I do here, is to read insightful comments like yours and to know that it caused interest. Thanks.
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I agree wholeheartedly.
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Thank you so much.
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This is so You, this humility and this respect that transpires from all those pictures. Beautiful portraits, so full of humanity. They say that the eyes of a great photographer should listen before he sees. Yours exactly! Thanks for this great post X
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And then you say that I’m an ego booster? Look at you! I’m humbled and grateful for your considerate words, Stephanie.
It means a lot to me. 😀😘❤️
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❤ !!!
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And I admire YOU! How wonderful to be able and willing to speak to elderly strangers and learn from them. I think I would be too shy to approach them. Beautiful portraits and sentiments – thank you for sharing.
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Lex, I’m overwhelmed and grateful for your words.
I’m happy that you appreciated the subject I chose and also the photos. I love portraits and particularly of elderly people. It’s so beautiful. Talking to them and featuring them, gives voice to their existence. I’m passionate about it.
Sorry for the late reply.
Cheers!
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Wow, Lucile, what an amazing subject! I so wish our youth-oriented society would take a moment and just listen to our elders.
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It’s a challenging issue, Terri, and you made a very good point on the core of the problem. It’s not easy for them to live in a world that values only the new and misses learning from its past. Mistakes are repeated, and wheels reinvented. The human cost is also huge, as many people are considered obsolete when they still have so much to contribute.
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just when I think I’ve got you trained as to what you can and can’t shoot….you go and shoot this guy. In black and white! Where’s my swatter? Someone’s going to get it next time I’m in town! The guy has a lovely face, doesn’t he? Do you shoot in B&W, or edit it to B&W later?
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Oh no! I must disobey you if you ask me to stop shooting portraits!
Wasn’t he lovely? When you’re in town, we go shooting together!
I edited it to B&W later.
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Yes…he was lovely. Do you have a Love button on your blog? What did you use to edit it to B&W?
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Love button? Not yet! Let’s ask WP! I use silver Efex pro. I bought it last year and now it’s free for all. Buggers. Go and get it.
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is it easier than Lightroom? Do you use Lightroom? I have it, I just don’t have a manual (or time to learn it). And it’s an older version, LR4, I think.
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It’s very easy. Much easier than LR. It’s all black and white and you choose which presets you want to apply to you photo.
After choosing a preset, you can use tools like Dynamic Brightness, Soft Contrast, Amplify Whites, Amplify Blacks, and the advanced Grain Engine.
For example, you can use a preset with high key or low key, etc. it’s all done for you. And you can play with it and change as you want. If you like the results, you don’t have to even make further adjustments.
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I am in love with that face! Beautiful portraits Lucile. And I totally agree with your inspiration for this week’s photo challenge.
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Thank you, Lisa. I’m humbled by your words. ❤️❤️
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This is so lovely. Old people often get forgotten or overlooked but you’re so right they have so much to give and a whole lifetime to tell. Wonderful photos of this elderly gent. The smile at the end tells me all I need to know. 🙂
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Thanks, Marge. Unfortunately it’s true what you say. I for one, love them, and don’t miss any opportunity for interaction. And if they allow me, I make some photos, although they resist, saying that they’re not beautiful! I shoot a few and show to them, and they generally smile and like what they see.
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Ah, that’s so wonderful Lucile. Love that. Bless you. x
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Bless you too!!❤️
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This seems to be a bit of a theme today in my discussions, but I love old faces too. A while back I put together a flickr gallery of portraits of older people: https://www.flickr.com/photos/safarfiertze/galleries/72157632708419935/
If you have any of yours on flickr, I’d be happy to add one to the gallery.
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There is no coincidence. We found a common passion. I’ll go to your gallery. Thanks for the offer. Very kind of you.
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A face always tells a story. Beautiful!
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Each wrinkle representing a period. Thank you, Sandra.
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Absolutely!
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Love the last shot, Lucile – a twinkle in his eye!
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Thank you! Hope all is well with you.
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Yes, all fine here. Thank you for asking 🙂
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You’re most welcome.
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