This is Noel, a ferronnier (craftsman in wrought iron) who has his workshop on Place du Petit Port in Menton. I was taking a photo of an empty wine bottle hanging on a wrought iron hook outside his door. Seemed to me strange - why a bottle and not a sign? Then he appeared and one hour later I left!Noel is 83 years old and still works in fer forgé. He showed me inside his workshop. He proudly showed me a programme of a 1950 exhibition where his work was displayed alongside that of Pablo Picasso. And then he pulled out a fat bunch of photographs of all his work and that's why one hour later I left...
It's amazing the characters one meets just wandering around and all with a story to tell.
I have enjoyed all week, Jilly, but this is the absolute bestest!!
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky, Jilly that "chance" makes you meet one an other. Certainly, an interesting character who deserved an hour listening to his glorious past.
ReplyDeleteSeems like an interesting hour that you spent with Noel. Great to see that he is still going strong at 83!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are lucky, it is obviously something you have as a way with people. And the luck maybe of finding interesting ones...
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and a salute to Noel le ferronnier.
Storytellers are the keepers of our history and are to be treasured. It's a gift and he gave you a gift of his time. Lovely photo and it must have been lovely to meet him.
ReplyDeleteI'll add to the words of Kate that YOU gave him the gift of YOUR time.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing the characters one meets just wandering around and all with a story to tell.
I like these words. They are so wise, we need to meet other persons to discover from each other, and I'm sure that Picasso even learnt from this man who is an true artist as well....
Oh Jilly, I love this portrait. His eyes are riveting! And his hands. I hope you got his hands!!! Yes, if we take the time, we can learn so much from these "strangers" we meet!
ReplyDeleteV
Indeed. There are charachters everywhere. We have to learn to see not just keep our eyes open. We have to listen not just hear. We have to ask and not just listen to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHis hands tell it all... Wonderful
ReplyDeleteWe learn so much when we take time...to listen!
PS: Can't help but seeing that it would change his life and make him 20 years younger if he had a cataract surgery..
Love it!
ReplyDelete-Rick
manhattan beach, calif
What a wonderful photo! But I am still curious: Why the wine bottle out front? I often noticed plastic bottles of water tethered near front doors on the Rue Longue but I was never sure what they were used for.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I never did find out why he had a hanging wine bottle. He just laughed when I mentioned it.
ReplyDeleteI can explain the water bottles to you tho. These are left outside houses as a deterrent to dogs peeing. Apparently the light reflects off the bottle and they don't like it and so pee elsewhere - so goes the theory!
A portrait that is fascinating and leaves a mark ...
ReplyDeleteA picture of exceptional beauty...
Congratulations
:-)
His eyes are incredible:) Great capture!
ReplyDeleteHe is a treasure. So glad you were there to appreciate his stories! My fav is the small photo.
ReplyDeleteDid you ask if he got to meet Picasso at that exhibition in 1950?
ReplyDeleteClueless, I didn't ask him. I assumed he was there but if he wasn't, then I didn't want to spoil his story! In fact, Noel never stopped talking...
ReplyDeleteJilly this portrait is a gem.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe.
And then the story that goes with it... how much better does it get?
A striking character portrait... and what a fortunate chance(?) meeting...
ReplyDeleteJilly,
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the photo of the old man again. Such a powerful photo. The one on the inset seems to have a slight grain on it. What did you do to make it look like that? I think you said you use digital cameras, but you have achieved a very nice FILM-like look making the photo look so much richer. Curious if you manipulated it in your computer, and if so, what you used so I can try it sometime!
-Rick
manhattan beach, calif
Rick
ReplyDeleteIn fact that smaller photograph was very over-exposed. So all I did was fiddle with the different settings in iPhoto - changingthe shadows and highlights settings - that's all.
The grain on it is really a fault I suppose but anyway I'm glad you like it! Not me being clever tho, me just trying to save an over-exposed photo!
The camera is a kind of currency, it can open doors to so many stories. I hope we see more of this one.
ReplyDeletesuch a great shot!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - like your lovely old woman with the gnarled hands, watching the village wedding. Such character and patina!
ReplyDelete