Tuesday 20 July 2010: Except that once

I want to write a story about this man. About how he sits on a hard wooden chair, leaving the chair behind him empty, its cushions melded into the back of someone who is no longer there.

He is surrounded by things that have been used, held, owned, and I wonder how they have ended up on this pavement in Cairo, his for the selling.

There is no one line that holds all his wares together - except that once - they sat in someone else's home.

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Tags

Cairo Egypt Portrait

Comments

1. Such a fantastic image, so much to look at and wonder about, and the colours are beautiful.
   And your text - his chair, I can imagine it straight away from your words. Great blip!

   ~ clarabelfrance

2. I love it. I love everything in this picture from his expressions to everything he has in his antique shop :)

   ~ zahrashah

3. It is an absolutely stunning capture habibti, just amazing!!And your writing exquisite...his demeanor, and the fact he is sitting on the hard wooden chair, leaving the cushioned one empty, perhaps shows his place there, or how he views himself...Amazing journal entry today!!!xxxxx

   ~ Scorpionkiss

4. Very strong

   ~ MrCandid

5. Fantastic image - beautifully composed. I love the way that he is looking directly at you and the way he holds his hand against his head.
   You could stare at the image for hours - there is so much to look at.

   ~ jones

6. A great shot. At first I thought that the chair he is sitting in was a child's chair but looking at the proportions more closely it looks as if the legs have been shortened.

   ~ baldeagle

7. Superbly observed. I see joy in your photography as in your words.

   ~ farsidehues

8. it is absolutley perfect that you have him off centre. your eyes are drawn to him but in doing so you have to look at his stall first. your text is pefect for the shot. love it :-)

   ~ tadpole

9. this is so well spotted and such a great write up about the two chairs! I also love the typical Egyptian color tones! well done!

   ~ IngunnInOslo

10. you want to write his story. and you have....
    
    this man with the eyes. i looked at the picture big, and what i see among all these possessions, all these things, all this brick-a-brack are his eyes. You have set the scene so fantastic. our eyes have a feast! and still i'm drawn to the eyes. the eyes. his pupils. one millimeter of the picture tells the whole story. wow. but it could not do so had you not found him among all his goods....
    
    and the colours. the contrasting shadows. i feel the heat with my eyes.....
    
    lesotho? i tried the search, but could only find another persons journal.....i'm intrigued....
    
    and thanks for kind words. seeing your signature in the comment box always makes me happy! thanks.
    
    - grete

    ~ meandmax

11. A veritable Ali Baba's cave of goodies! I adore flea markets and have blipped a fair few that I've been to. The expression on the man's face is so familiar to me - a mixture of irritation and ennui which can quickly morph into a friendly smile at the slightest inkling of a sale. I really enjoy the painterly quality of your words and images.

    ~ megatonlove

12. I've really enjoyed shopping in Cairo this morning. I'll have the large flowery urn top right please :-)

    ~ ann

13. It's a marvellous scene. Love his stern gaze -- at you? And yes, I had the same thought about how all of this came to be assembled here...

    ~ besideherself

14. What an excellent shot that is enhanced by your writing.

    ~ Roylance

15. Wow! 'stuff' becomes so cool with age! Very atmospheric

    ~ Katherineellis

16. This image brought back a memory of a stay in Luxor a few years ago. We were out one evening for a walk, there was this shopkeeper sitting on his seat [much like yours] As we approached he welcomed us to Luxor and told us he sold only the best crap in all of Luxor. Well after all his honesty we had to buy something, didn't we!
    
    Thank you for the memory and the excellent photograph.

    ~ postie

17. Wow, this is just fantastic.. i see so much details. i can 2feel" walking there and stoping by this man and have a look at the things..you are really so good taking pictures like this..

    ~ nordicangel

18. A visual feast. Superb capture. It isn't a welcoming gaze by any means...maybe that's why he has plenty of inventory. :)
    
    Thank you for your kind comments. Very helpful.

    ~ Ethel

19. perfect shot.

    ~ orcaM

20. The praise has already been sung, but I must add my own.
    Excellent.

    ~ Blob

21. Amidst all the many details in this shot, the one that stands out for me is the way his fingers make an eyebrow arch (in flesh colour) to echo the real visible eyebrow arch (dark black hair colour). Well observed.

    ~ Barrioboy

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