Once again it's Theme Day in the CDP community and today's theme is 'wood.'Meet Henri, who couldn't walk without his wooden walking stick. Henri is the last remaining member of the oldest family in Gorbio, the medieval village just above Menton. Henri can trace his family back hundreds and hundreds of years.
Note: Lest you should think that Henri is in need of a square meal and a bed for the night, rest assured - he is one of the biggest landowners in the village.
To see how City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world have interpreted today's theme please click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
It's very nice to meet Henri. This is a fine portrait.
ReplyDeleteThis is a superb portrait, Jilly. Both are glorious, but I feel immense affection for the way you have framed Henri in the first portrait.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like Henri - a lot!
ReplyDeleteOh Jilly, this MUST be your most wonderful portrait to date. I want to come to Menton just to meet this marvelous man. You did a superb job on this one and I've not seen other entries, but this has my vote for best! I want to go take mine down now.
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!
V
What a wonderfully handsome gentleman. What a delightful choice for your theme day entry. Two excellent images here with perfect comments from you, Jilly.
ReplyDeleteWHat a great post (literally)!
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a character. Beautiful photography. Great stuff!
Great photo and creative interpretation of the wood theme. I am glad you told us the rest of the story and not to worry about his finances.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of Gordie Hormel, heir to the Hormel meat packing fortune. He was a billionaire. He owned the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix, which was converted into a very elegant place for dinner, brunch, etc. As an elderly man, he had long gray hair and a long beard. For Sunday brunch, he would play the piano. Some people had no idea that he was who he was and thought he was a rather eccentric looking musician, unaware that they were being entertained by a billionaire.
excellent portrait for theme day. a great story and a great smile from Henri
ReplyDeleteVery nice theme day contribution. Henri looks like a wonderful fellow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great anima he has. And thanks for the heads-up on his status. You just never know about people.
ReplyDeleteA poignant image, very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThese are stunning images! All the more amazing is that he seems so approachable and yet such a large land owner in the area. Please give Henri my best regards an tell him I would very much like to meet him if I get to his town. Piacere, signore!
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing us to such a fascinating man! Beautiful portraits, Jilly and a wonderful choice for the theme.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jilly
ReplyDeleteJilly, this is one of your best portrait posts. The fact that Henri is the last in his family line made me so sad. He's has a very kind face.
ReplyDeleteOh, he is so 'beautiful'! He looks like a 'santon' that I have!
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice for 'wood'.
portrait magnifique, il nous marque quand on le voit. je l'aurais bien vu en b&w
ReplyDeleteun beau portrait
ReplyDeletereally great portrait !
ReplyDeleteThe first portrait is a magnificently human illustration of today's theme but what makes it even better is the second one - the way he smiles at you shows that this is no stolen photo. The friendly relationship that appears to have developed between the photographer and her model is priceless.
ReplyDeleteDespite his difficulties to walk, he seems to be a happy man! That it what I see from your wonderful portraits! Of course meeting you may be the best reason for his charming smile!
ReplyDeleteThis is really a very very great post, Jilly. Glad I could see it on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteIt is a superb portrait. You must charm all your subjects, Jilly, to enable you to get so much personal information from them. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos!
ReplyDeleteVery nice indeed Jilly!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful portrait. He has a friendly, welcoming face.
ReplyDeleteWonderful portrait here.
ReplyDeleteLook at his smile! Wonderful portraits, Jilly.
ReplyDeleteExcellent portrait, I'm glad that Henri posed for you in so a natural way. Nice cane, perfect for the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your nice comment, dear Jilly. I love nature and animals. I was made to live in the country. I live on the 7th storey of a concrete highrise for the moment. It is so frustrating. Well, I am lucky and happy to have been able to adapt to my environment (but I hope it is not my definitive one :-)))
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant face he has! Great post.
ReplyDeleteFantastique, this disappearing world...
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great photo!
ReplyDeleteYou know what? I think I have met him, when I went for a day trip to Gorbio 2 years ago! As I had much time left before the bus came to take me down to Menton, I walked around. There was a sign which said that there was a little chapel somewhere at the end of the village. While I was walking, an old man came towards me. A fascinating old man! He asked me something which I understood as "where are you going?". Think it was in the dialect of the village. So I told him that I was going for a walk... I wish I would have talked more to him, but I was afraid I wouldn't understand him, so I walked on. And I wished, too, to have taken a photo of him, but I didn't dare...
Maybe one day you can show us a picture of that old chapel, Jilly. It was not possible to get very close to it. It was somehow like in the fairy tale of the "Sleeping Beauty", if you know what I mean. Overgrown with weeds and as fascinating as the old man! Give him my regards!
Barbara from Germany
Wow. What an amazing photo.
ReplyDeleteThe cobblestone street is also a character in this photo.
By the number of comments here, I think others agree some of your best work is when you capture people.
I rank this up there as a favorite next to the old man at the port.
-Rick
manhattan beach, california
Barbara, I have featured that chapel before. It's called Chapelle St. Lazare.
ReplyDeleteYou'll find it at this link
http://menton-daily-photo.blogspot.com/2007/07/walk-to-chapel-saint-lazare-7.html
and yes, Henri has a very local accent and isn't easy to understand.
Barbara, You might also be talking about this place...
ReplyDeletehttp://menton-daily-photo.blogspot.com/2007/07/walk-to-chapel-saint-lazare-3.html
...this is really hidden behind weeds etc.
magnificent photo. great shot. Between his character and the setting, you got a terrific one. congratulations.
ReplyDeleteKC Photog Blog
He looks like straight out of a Jean de Florette kind of movie.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and touching, Jilly, truly good.
ReplyDeleteJilly, a model for the Santons de Provence. That's my first thought.
ReplyDeleteYour first picture, Jilly, has no time. It could have been taken at the beginning of the previous century.
Say hi to Henri.
ReplyDeleteTell him someone all the way from Singapore sends his greetings! :-)
Wonderful post charged with humanity and emotion, I guess his wooden stick is one of its most inseparable possessions!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post and story!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to read that Henri is the end of the line for that family.
Wonderful photos Jilly!!! He certainly presents as a "character" and your story about him certainly adds depth to an already interesting set of photos...
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Henri seems to be VIP - a very interesting person!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for the link of the chapel!
ReplyDeleteBarbara / Germany
A wonderful and unique post!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, and now I love henri too... so poignant.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this story, I have seen Henri walking many time around the city for YEARS, never knew his name though!
ReplyDelete