Clearer Photo?

[Dan Morton]

This is one of those often published photos of the First War. Can anybody give me a clearer image? I found this on-line and it is somewhat fuzzy. I tried Photoshoping it but my skills are pretty limited. Help!

All the best,
Dan

 

[housecarl]

I don't know if this is any better Dan?
Carl.

 

[captnenglish]

Yours is about as clear as I have ever seen this image Dan. BTW, I always though this would make a great figure.

 

[Dan Morton]

Yes, Carl that's a good bit better. How'd you do that?

What do you think - If you were facing the Poilu, does he have a pipe on the left side of his mouth? Again, facing the Poilu, clearly there is a bandage on his left hand. Is there also a large bandage on his right leg? Or could that be a cut up loaf of bread? Is he a Chasseur aux Pied, a reservist? Wearing some kind of leather or canvas leggings or gaiters, not putties?

Matthew - Yes, I imagine many have thought the same thing, including moi. You may remember my penchant for taking vignettes from famous photos. A few months back I bought a 1/16th scale Del Prado 1888 Cross Frame Safety Bicycle model and have been considering what to do with it. I also have the Berthier carbine - actually a couple of them. As well as a starting point for the light or whatever the columnar dingus is - the 1/16th scale Verlinden lamp pole.

Anybody got an idea about what the top of the dingus looks like? Might it look like the top of the Verlinden lamp pole? A gas lamp, isn't it?

All the best,
Dan

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Dan, try this file. Zoom in and you will now see that what appears to be a pipe, is in fact, the end of his tash and his collar.
Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[kagemusha]

With regard to his left leg, it appears to be something tucked into the top of the lower legging, as it is covering his left hand and throws a definite shadow over the area of the knee and hand. It is not a bandage or bread as it has a dish shape to it and has a metallic reflection.

Ron

 

[Dan Morton]

Thank you, Ron! Most helpful! Yes, I agree now - whatever is leaning against the right leg isn't a loaf of bread. Can't begin to guess what kind of metallic dish he could have been carrying around rural France on a bike or why he would have one. I don't necessarily disagree with you about it being a metallic dish. The reflection could just be an artifact of the film. A wrapped paper package would make more sense in the context of the scene but the shape looks wrong for that. I can see that he doesn't have a pipe in is mouth now. Probably both hands are together looking at the angle of the right sleeve. The loose part of the gaiters - no ideas.

Do you know if someone has previously done a vignette of this fella?

All the best,
Dan

 

[Ulrich]

Hi Dan. Some years ago Markus Eckmann had done a 75 mm vignette for me of that soldier. Then we decide to make copies from the master and the master "vanished". Some years later I got a copy of the soldier and some other things. I start to make the fountain and I am searching for a good bicycle. But that will be then a "single off"

that the photo that I have found in the web. I think I have somewhere some photos but I must look. Here on pf the thread of Markus is online, but without photos

 

[housecarl]

I did it with Picasa Dan.
Glad it helped,
Carl.

 

[Dan Morton]

Ulrich - Sorry - don't know of any bikes in that scale. Good luck with the vignette! I know you'll do a great job. Since I have not started on a 1/16th scale version, I'll put it aside. There are no shortage of good ideas!!

Carl - Excellent! Again, many thanks!

All the best,
Dan

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Dan, have spent a couple of hours on pic and increased resolution so you can zoom in a lot further. Have another look and, see if you agree that he is holding something with a lid as it appears to have a handle. It still looks metal to me tho.
Hope it helps.

Cheers,

Ron

 

[Dan Morton]

Ron - Gee, that's the best of all - you can see lots more detail. Respectfully, I'm going to disagree with you. What I see is the Poilu's bandaged hand holding a knife which is blade deep in a large loaf of bread. He's holding the bottom part of the loaf with the other hand. I can clearly see the fingers under the loaf of bread. So I kinda go back to my original idea...he's resting somewhere in an evacuated village behind the lines, sitting on the raised lip of a very ornate gas light stand. He has his canteen (water bottle) next to him. He's possibly eaten whatever was in his metal mess tin already. Just resting prior to bicycling somewhere else. I also think he is a reservist Chasseur aux Pied based on what I can see on the collar. I freely admit I may be 'seeing' more than is actually in the photo, but it's amusing and interesting to try to puzzle such things out, isn't it?

Hope all this helps you create your vignette, Ulrich!

All the best,
Dan

 

[kagemusha]

No worries Dan. We all see things differently, and interpretation is all part of the fun. Glad to have been of help with pic.

Cheers

Ron

 

[Ulrich]

He has a bandaged hand and is holding a knife to cut off a piece of bread. That is what Markus and I decided as he made the figure. (too late, didn´t seen your post, Dan)

@ Dan: Why not another figure in 1/16? I think the scene is good enough for "two"

 

[kagemusha]

Have had another look Dan, I have to say I think you are right. Nice one.

Ron