This is Nathaniel
If you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks!
Nathaniel's dream is to get closer to God and to make sure his mom is happy.
Nathaniel is currently four years old and carrying wood with his two sisters down a dusty cart-road in an unmarked Amish village somewhere between Allegheny and Tionesta, Pennsylvania. In pauses between talking to me, he looks sideways at his older sisters, who peacefully nod towards him. I tell him that he looks big and strong and then I help him carry the wood to his parents' home, where he lives with his other nine brothers and sisters.
from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com
Comments and faves
splendor-solis, teenage jesus, ≈ ☼ ≈ giamarie≈ ☼ ≈, Forrest Seas, and 748 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Paradise Regained (83 months ago | reply)
pretty amazing trey - really great portrait! very painterly..
s@ndra (83 months ago | reply)
Intense portrait and what a different lifestyle those people have!
Nathaniel looks older than he is, he glances in your lense as if he's lived many years more! Wonderful shot
Durotriges (83 months ago | reply)
A super story and another excellent portrait! :-)
judo_dad1953 (83 months ago | reply)
Great one!!
green_lover (83 months ago | reply)
Fantastic! The story is a great supplement to this beautiful portrait :-))
teenage jesus (83 months ago | reply)
great portrait , trey
is he only 4 years old? his eyes look older...
.ZOT [deleted] (83 months ago | reply)
as usual, a magnificient portrait!
≈ ☼ ≈ giamarie≈ ☼ ≈ (83 months ago | reply)
Thanks for sharing this with us, Trey. Intense...
Nekominn (83 months ago | reply)
The post processing is ace on this fantastic portrait. Killer combination :)
redmann (83 months ago | reply)
What a great portrait! Outstanding.
The World Through My Eyes
/\ltus (83 months ago | reply)
"...other nine brothers and sisters." Wow.
Cryptik (83 months ago | reply)
He looks so old!
Great photo, it looks like something form the 18th or 19th century.
The World Through My Eyes
valentins_k (83 months ago | reply)
Brilliant portrait & great story!
EssjayNZ (83 months ago | reply)
Stunning details, the larger the better I say!
I can see you in his eyes.
Canis Major (83 months ago | reply)
Strong portrait. I like the little part of his environment. The World Through My Eyes
3rd foundation (83 months ago | reply)
Very cool shot Trey. The HDR processing really gives the face a unique look and feel. You've really nail the HDR effect so that it isn't overdone. Your bokeh backdrop is also very nice.
Guided by the light (83 months ago | reply)
Very well done Trey. Thanks for sharing.http://www.flickr.com/groups/the_worl d_through_my_eyes/
suesue2 (83 months ago | reply)
Lovely portrait...well done !
SusanneG (83 months ago | reply)
A great photo and a great story. You're a photojournalist, aren't you? (if not, you should think about ... ;-))
小帽(Hat) (83 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot!!
^___^
Tex Flix (83 months ago | reply)
This is a stunning portrait! Congratulations!
dariuszka (83 months ago | reply)
beautiful portrait and the story. they are very moving. fave
Bigbird3 (83 months ago | reply)
Really love this one
Ahmed caused quite a storm, didn't he!!
Stuck in Customs (83 months ago | reply)
Thank you all :)
This picture has no HDR by the way...
And yes Ahmed did cause quite a little stir eh? But I think that is the way he would want it...
DiSTRaTTaMeNTe iN SoLiTuDiNe (83 months ago | reply)
Nice portrait!
Buddha's Ghost (83 months ago | reply)
Very nice!
maca.foto (83 months ago | reply)
great expression at his face...storytelling indeed.
dingbat2005 (83 months ago | reply)
Very old looking for a 4 year old , somethings is not right
Krogen (83 months ago | reply)
Great - reminds me of the novels by John Steinbeck.
Pink Sherbet Photography (83 months ago | reply)
I have a soft spot for most things Amish, Mennonite, etc...this is such a wonderful pic. I really love the color and the expression on his face. The soft background makes the subject pop! And the way you left him off to the side works so well. What a very hard worker for such a young boy. You can really see it in his face.
inanutshell (83 months ago | reply)
BEautiful portrait...cant believe its not HDR.. it has the feel to it. awesome.
Jonnyfez (83 months ago | reply)
You have come up with some stunning portraits recently and this is one of the best.
niccodeamus (83 months ago | reply)
superb portrait.
a shame his family will never see it and a shame the child has no choice of his own. and what a beautiful hat
susan_r4 (83 months ago | reply)
Great portrait Trey! He looks wise beyond his years! I think it's time to start thinking about another career!
Innamorata Crush (83 months ago | reply)
striking with truth
danydrs72 (83 months ago | reply)
He has a very expressive face! Great portrait!
Valpopando (83 months ago | reply)
Superb my friend .
your technique is always better
Cilest (83 months ago | reply)
A great portrait - and typically Amish. He doesn't look like four at all...
We added this beautiful image to our BEST-PORTRAITS-weblog:
Hope you don't mind...
Thanks for sharing this amazing photo.
And here's the direct link to your shot:
best-portraits.blogspot.com/2006/07/this-is-n athaniel.html
SkipSteuart (83 months ago | reply)
You were lucky to get this. The Amish (as I understand it) normally don't want their pictures taken.
dustdevildiver (meeting myself coming and going) (83 months ago | reply)
Thanks for sharing this with us, the portrait and the story are wonderful!
"M" PEARL (83 months ago | reply)
Interesting expression, sadness mixed with discernment. What a brilliant capture.....his expression is thought provoking. I viewed the larger picture, truly this is beyond brilliant, you have capured the detail in all its equisite beauty, the hat, hair, eyes, eyebrows, dirt on face - everything, colour of shirt.....this is a 10 out of 10 and I don't often remark like that. You should win an award - Absolutely!!
Beefus (83 months ago | reply)
Incredible shot Trey! This would also make a fabulous B&W image!
Crowjay (83 months ago | reply)
so beautiful!
GreyGooseMartini (83 months ago | reply)
Excellent photo! I have been really enjoying this whole set... great
pictures and interesting biographical synopses!
SkyShaper (83 months ago | reply)
!!!!!
Kris Kros (83 months ago | reply)
Excellent composition. Really!!!!!!!!!!
Stuck in Customs (83 months ago | reply)
Thanks all! Here I am, actually helping them with the wood... I have pictures of the other children too that I will upload later. It was a fun day.
ArthurJo (83 months ago | reply)
bravo!!
Beefus (83 months ago | reply)
It's almost chilling to see that you are the only one smiling in this photo. Makes you wonder how the day-to-day life is for these children, and how often they get the opportunity "to just be kids".
ToRtU _ (83 months ago | reply)
expressive portrait...Good technique....