The Photograph
First encounters with the French Manouch (or gypsy)18 total reviews
Comment from dragonpoet
Welcome, Charlotte. What a way to start, winning a contest with your first post. Congrats.
This is a well told story about how you got the photo you wrote about. It shows how you work towards trust and how patience gets you what you want. I like the single lines which emphasize the steps you took to get your perfect picture.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Happy Holidays.
Joan
reply by the author on 01-Dec-2022
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Welcome, Charlotte. What a way to start, winning a contest with your first post. Congrats.
This is a well told story about how you got the photo you wrote about. It shows how you work towards trust and how patience gets you what you want. I like the single lines which emphasize the steps you took to get your perfect picture.
Keep writing and stay healthy
Happy Holidays.
Joan
Comment Written 30-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 01-Dec-2022
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Thank you so much Joan, I really appreciate your review and kind words.
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Don't mention it, Charlotte.
Joan
Comment from Marienkiefer
A beautiful story of trust building, culture and clan relationships.
Sparkling in your story: beauty you saw in the weathered and worn and how your camera found the right angle.
-Sometimes, when in search of the perfect photograph, we miss the moment. How fortunate though that it was possible to get their cooperation and trust. In some of my experiences I have found the same generosity and openness, other cultures though in some parts of the world have refused photographs as camera is viewed as stealing their soul.
-It could have been interesting, perhaps to know the first reactions when they viewed their photographs.
A truly lovely story. I enjoyed reading and reviewing your work. All the best.
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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A beautiful story of trust building, culture and clan relationships.
Sparkling in your story: beauty you saw in the weathered and worn and how your camera found the right angle.
-Sometimes, when in search of the perfect photograph, we miss the moment. How fortunate though that it was possible to get their cooperation and trust. In some of my experiences I have found the same generosity and openness, other cultures though in some parts of the world have refused photographs as camera is viewed as stealing their soul.
-It could have been interesting, perhaps to know the first reactions when they viewed their photographs.
A truly lovely story. I enjoyed reading and reviewing your work. All the best.
Comment Written 20-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2022
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Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful review.
I do love how a camera can open up many barriers, but yes you're right, some cultures won't allow the invasion.
I think when I have a bit more time, I will write some more about them, their kindness to me, their fascinating peculiarities, their way of life and yes, their reactions to the photos.
Thank you again,
Charlotte
Comment from Wendy G
What a beautiful true story. I am so glad firstly that you had te opportunity to photograph them, and secondly to form a life-long enduring friendship with them, thus proving the point that one should never judge by appearances. Congratulations on a wonderful post - and also for winning the contest! I know there were some exceptional entries, so it shows how outstanding yours was. (I just waited till I had a new supply of six stars, as yours definitely merited six.
Wendy
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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What a beautiful true story. I am so glad firstly that you had te opportunity to photograph them, and secondly to form a life-long enduring friendship with them, thus proving the point that one should never judge by appearances. Congratulations on a wonderful post - and also for winning the contest! I know there were some exceptional entries, so it shows how outstanding yours was. (I just waited till I had a new supply of six stars, as yours definitely merited six.
Wendy
Comment Written 20-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Hi Wendy, and wow, thank you for your amazing review and for waiting for your stars!
Strange isn?t it, people?s judgements of others, I felt proud and truly honoured to be accepted and welcomed by them.
Comment from BOO ghost
This people were traveling gypsies that originated from India?
Reading...you took a few bags of clothes to the children? This is in France? Oh, then they disappeared like ghosts. Like that.
Reading...Sitting beside his caravan was a young man weaving a basket, the thin willow stems splaying like a float of dancers from his working hands. Intriguing.
Interesting true story! Oh, congratulations on winning this True Story Contest.
Count your lucky stars! BOO makes #15.
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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This people were traveling gypsies that originated from India?
Reading...you took a few bags of clothes to the children? This is in France? Oh, then they disappeared like ghosts. Like that.
Reading...Sitting beside his caravan was a young man weaving a basket, the thin willow stems splaying like a float of dancers from his working hands. Intriguing.
Interesting true story! Oh, congratulations on winning this True Story Contest.
Count your lucky stars! BOO makes #15.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2022
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Hi Boo,
Yes, all the true Romany Gypsies originated from India.
Yep, thought it was a good ?way in?. Yes France and yes, or so it seemed.
Ha ha yes, I was quite pleased with that simile.
Thank you. And thank you.
Shame, better luck next time.
:-)
Comment from lyenochka
Loved how you contrasted the "mouse" and the "artist" within. It was wonderful that you were able to capture those photos. I wonder if she really did want a picture taken. It's good you made friends with the children first. Great description of the plight of the Roma people.
Congratulations on the win!!
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Loved how you contrasted the "mouse" and the "artist" within. It was wonderful that you were able to capture those photos. I wonder if she really did want a picture taken. It's good you made friends with the children first. Great description of the plight of the Roma people.
Congratulations on the win!!
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Hi Helen, and thank you for your lovely review and for taking the time to come back to me, I really appreciate it.
Yes, she really did want her photo taken, they all did!
It was before mobile phones were widely available, and none of them could afford cameras, so it was their only opportunity. They particularly wanted photos of their children and would clean them up, put smart clothes on them, then stand them in a row - ha ha not at all the photos I wanted!
A year later every caravan wall within a 60 mile radius was plastered with my photos, it was really quite extraordinary.
Ah the good old days. . .
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You should add that to the post or the notes. It's wonderful that you gave them the pictures!!
Comment from RodG
This Milestone is a worthy contest winner! I really loved your story about the Gypsies and HOW you told it. You set the scene so well, telling us how you slowly got to know them through waving at the children. You then introduce us to the basket weaver and then the woman, VIVIDLY describing each. I especially like how you punctuate your narrative with brief sentences describing YOUR reactions. I am looking forward to reading future postings. Rod
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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This Milestone is a worthy contest winner! I really loved your story about the Gypsies and HOW you told it. You set the scene so well, telling us how you slowly got to know them through waving at the children. You then introduce us to the basket weaver and then the woman, VIVIDLY describing each. I especially like how you punctuate your narrative with brief sentences describing YOUR reactions. I am looking forward to reading future postings. Rod
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Oh my, no pressure then! (Just kidding).
Thank you so much Rod, for your amazing review and the 6 stars! I?m so pleased you enjoyed reading this.
I?ve been writing for less than a year, so my confidence is still pretty wobbly, but when I receive a review like this one of yours it gives me such a boost and really encourages me to keep on trying. So a particularly special thank you for that.
Charlotte
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I am pleased my review gave you a boost and encouragement to keep trying. You have talent. That?s for sure! Rod
Comment from Contests
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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 A contest winning entry! A seven star rating from the Contest Committee for posting the winning contest entry. |
Comment Written 19-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2022
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Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!
Comment from Mary Shifman
This is a lovely story. It saddened me in places but by the end, I felt uplifted. Your bravery and persistence opened at door to a world that so many of us never see. I didn't know that the Romany Gypsies originated in India. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.
reply by the author on 10-Nov-2022
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This is a lovely story. It saddened me in places but by the end, I felt uplifted. Your bravery and persistence opened at door to a world that so many of us never see. I didn't know that the Romany Gypsies originated in India. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.
Comment Written 09-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 10-Nov-2022
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Yes, I feel very honoured to have been accepted, then trusted and eventually befriended by them.
Thank you so much for for your lovely review, I really appreciate it.
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I can only imagine.
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Wow! I am impressed with not only your subject matter but with your writing skills! This story had me on the edge of my seat! I love to learn about other cultures as I am an amateur anthropologist and I love the way you addressed the children first and then the young man and finally the old crone who actually came out of her caravan to have her photograph taken!
You have captured the spirit of a photographer and the gypsies all in one!
Jesse
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2022
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Wow! I am impressed with not only your subject matter but with your writing skills! This story had me on the edge of my seat! I love to learn about other cultures as I am an amateur anthropologist and I love the way you addressed the children first and then the young man and finally the old crone who actually came out of her caravan to have her photograph taken!
You have captured the spirit of a photographer and the gypsies all in one!
Jesse
Comment Written 07-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2022
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Hi Jesse,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It means so much when someone really understands me and can see beyond the usual distain for these wonderful people, as you evidently did. We are a rare breed.
?Amateur anthropologist? - what a great description! I?d never thought to put a name to my interest of ?different? people, but that really sums it up! May I borrow it? For my entire life I have been drawn to people who don?t fit the norm, and have always found them so much more interesting than those who do.
I must also thank you for the 6 stars, which normally I?d be so excited about, but reading your review, I think I?m more excited to find a fellow amateur anthropologist! Thank you.
Charlotte
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I am happy and proud to know a fellow amateur anthropologist! Welcome to the club. Just kidding, there is no official club that I am aware of.
Have a wonderful day!
Jesse
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Huh well we need to start one then! Two can be a club can?t they? We can be the founder members - ha ha probably best not to call it AA though!
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We will have to come up with a more clever name for our club. Got any ideas?
Jesse
Comment from royowen
Welcome to fanstory, this is a terrific first post. I'm afraid people are the same no matter what social position, we all want, and really deserve to be considered equal but really just loved, the general judgement is unfortunately the same, people trying to be of higher than they are, but it's all illusion, no one is better than someone else. All have aspirations and hopes. Beautifully written, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2022
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Welcome to fanstory, this is a terrific first post. I'm afraid people are the same no matter what social position, we all want, and really deserve to be considered equal but really just loved, the general judgement is unfortunately the same, people trying to be of higher than they are, but it's all illusion, no one is better than someone else. All have aspirations and hopes. Beautifully written, blessings Roy
Comment Written 07-Nov-2022
reply by the author on 08-Nov-2022
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Hi Roy,
Thank you so much for your lovely review and for understanding these wonderful people. No, they are no different from any of us, they have the same dreams and aspirations, but more than anything they share the same need for love and acceptance as any one of us do.
Thank you Charlotte
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Well done