Brunch with Battutah
Napoleon and friend
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 8 April 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Main square, Bratislava, Slovakia. Napoleon's artillery bombarded Bratislava, then called Presburg, in 1809. This sculpture of the French emperor leaning on the back of a bench is a comical reminder of the event.
@dpm: Thank you, dpm.
@Koushiro: Thank you, Koushiro.
pLusOne from Cheonan, South Korea
she looks so happy to be a friend of Napoleon. :)
8 Apr 2008 5:53am
@pLusOne: Yes. Doesn't she? Thank you, P1.
Saeed from Tehran, Iran
nice shot. Great composition & Nice lady & Nice Smile . . .
Why do you process the background?
8 Apr 2008 5:56am
@Saeed: It was an experiment to try something different with the background! Thank you, Saeed.
Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom
I like this one, I cant decide if her smile is one of joy or if she's slightly scared! The background is weird- solarised? but it works in the same way that shallow DoF does i.e. your are not distracted by it but simply dawn to the main subjects- nice idea.
8 Apr 2008 6:08am
@Rhys: Yes. The background is box blur. I felt the same way that one wasn't distracted by it and perhaps it added interest. Thanks, Rhys.
@Ana Lúcia: Thank you, Ana Lúcia.
M a d . P h o t o . W o r l d from Copenhagen, Denmark
I have GOT to visited that place. Those statues are some funny!
8 Apr 2008 7:47am
@M a d . P h o t o . W o r l d: Thank you, Bo.
e. from New York, NY, United States
You know, what i find the most interesting about this is the fact that his hat is so far down. Can he even see like that? :-P
8 Apr 2008 8:10am
@e.: Probably not. But he looks cooler that way! Thank you, e.
@Mandy Provan: Thank you, Mandy. I appreciate that.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
I cannot make up my mind: is she charmed by His presence (so close, almost about to whisper in her ear!) OR she just wants to charm YOU?! But...He likes it, look at that thin smile on his lips.....I like this one, too, Michael! It shows how aware you are when you walk the streets (while I'm almost completeley absent)>
8 Apr 2008 8:50am
@Japanalia: Thank you, Gabriela. Napoleon seems to be quite a magnet and this lady was very accommodating in flashing a big smile. A natural model!
@Betty: Aren't they? thank you, Betty!
@Marie: Merci, Marie.
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
A beautiful shot, Michael. Great smile, lovely composition, interesting subject all combined beautifully with a deft touch of processing thrown in for good measure.
8 Apr 2008 10:21am
@Ron: Thank you, Ron. You summed it up nicely. I appreciate that.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Brilliant Michael, it made me smile :) this statue certainly has charisma.
8 Apr 2008 10:56am
@MaryB: Thank you, Mary. Glad you got a smile out of it. Napoleon seems to be quite magnetic.
@sangram: Thank you, Sangram.
@Craig: Thank you, Craig.
@Mike: Thank you, Mike.
givethemhell from Germany
The young lady seems to like the Frenchman, her smile is beautiful.
8 Apr 2008 11:36am
@givethemhell: I agree. thank you, Eva.
@Dimitrios: Thank you, Dimitrios.
MJ from Delaware, United States
shes a natural but he seems to be a bit stiff.... nice shot... seems like a camera can make friends anywhere
8 Apr 2008 11:56am
@MJ: Very true. Thank you, MJ.
@alun lambert: Thank you, Alun.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Another extremely beautiful candid, bravo again :)
8 Apr 2008 11:59am
@Lorraine: Thank you, Lorraine. I appreciate that.
vu@granby - Wolfgang from Granby, Quebec, Canada
You were lucky to find this great model sitting right there! Good work also with the pp....
8 Apr 2008 12:38pm
@vu@granby - Wolfgang: Thank you, Wolfgang. Yes, I was lucky.
@alex centrella: Thank you, Alex.
@Teresa Durães: Thank you.
Peter Miller from Lichfield, United Kingdom
Great candid shot, he sure can still pull the girls
8 Apr 2008 1:50pm
@Peter Miller: I agree. Thank you, Peter.
@yiannis krikis: Thank you, Yiannis.
vu@granby - Gilles M. from Granby, Québec, Canada
Even if Napoléon was a short guy, you've done a great shot!
8 Apr 2008 3:00pm
@vu@granby - Gilles M.: Thank you, Gilles. I guess Napoléon had a complex about his height.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
I think he is tickling the back of her neck.
8 Apr 2008 3:43pm
@Michael Rawluk: Very possibly. Thanks, Michael.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
I know why eveybody loves this statue: its face (at least the visible part) looks like Cary Grant's!
8 Apr 2008 3:57pm
@MadScientist: Of course! So handsome! Thank you, MS.
@pablo: Thank you, Pablo.
Tracey from Baltimore, United States
I like the background, Michael! Different but not detracting. I wonder where those beady little eyes of his are looking underneath that hat... :0p Oh, and did you notice the size of those fingers he has? Holy cow!
8 Apr 2008 4:06pm
@Tracey: Thank you, Tracey. The background is an experiment. Yes, Napoleon here is a kind of monster!
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
nice portrait. Ana as usual, Napoleon shows off…
8 Apr 2008 4:23pm
@Calusarus: You are right. Thank you, Calusarus!
danthro from Suburbia, United States
nice shot. it's a very interesting way to remember such a violent event. i hope that soldier isn't still harrassing her ;)
8 Apr 2008 5:19pm
@danthro: Thank you, Danthro.
@Hoopand: Many thanks, Hoopand.
@michelle: Thank you, Michelle.
Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa
I like the expression on his face... looks quite naughty to me!
8 Apr 2008 6:32pm
@Ina: Definitely a saucy look. Thank you, Ina.
@Justin: Thank you. I appreciate that.
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Beautiful portrait of a fun couple. What a smile!
8 Apr 2008 8:07pm
@standley: Thank you, Standley.
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
It looks like the statue has that "cool guy" stance where he's on the back of the bench and asking the cute girl out sitting down ;)
8 Apr 2008 8:19pm
@Rabbit: Great observation. Thank you, Rabbit.
@zeppelin: Et Merci, zeppelin.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Un bien joli sourire. On pourrait presque imaginer que la statue vient de murmurer quelques mots à l'oreille de cette jeune fille qui semble sous le charme...
8 Apr 2008 9:26pm
@Evelyne Dubos: Merci beaucoup, Evelyne.
Suzanne Labbé from Granby, Canada
Excellente photo ! Composition géniale et le sourire irrésistible.
8 Apr 2008 10:55pm
@Suzanne Labbé: Merci, Suzanne.
Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States
Ha! I like this one better :)
9 Apr 2008 1:47am
@Ken McCoy: Thank you, Ken.
@James: A great observation. thank you, James.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Nicely done, Michael. Such a natural smile on the girl. I must admit I like how they're giving Napleon such a sense of ease.
9 Apr 2008 3:05am
@amy: Many thanks, Amy.
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
I almost missed this one! Lovely fun composition.
9 Apr 2008 9:46pm
@Ronnie 2¢: Fun is the word. thanks, Ronnie.
@Brites: Thank you, Brites.
pedro alexandre from loures, Portugal
napoleon has a nice hat!!! and he's got a new nice friend too.
13 Apr 2008 9:44am
@pedro alexandre: Thank you, Pedro.
