Ravenswood Miner, 1972.
frankmcdonald2 (Premium member) > albums > Frank McDonald - October 2006 Vol 1...
Album Info:
This gentle old chap told me back in 1972, when I took the original photo, how he had returned from WW I in 1919 to begin mining in Ravenswood, North Queensland, Australia. He was happy to stay on when others left as the mining wound down. He was sitting where he'd sat as a child, on the steps of the Ravenswood School of Arts Building. Whilst having survived the perils of war and mining, he's no doubt long gone now. Yet he lives on here in this image, although anonymously, for others to appreciate his contributions. The original neg was caringly restored and has been flipped horizontally and then re-worked in Photoshop for artistic effect.
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71 comments
A true hero is showen in the picture...thanks for sharing the story and the picture Gloria
said kid_herder
Amazing clarity and composition! Keep up the great work!!
said deekum1
Hello and Belated Congratulations on your Beautiful POTD Selection...Hope it was Enjoyable Day!! Ted
said torretab
This is truly a gut wrenching shot. If this doesn't give you pause your heart is frozen. Thanks Frank for a job well done.
said Lizzy0538
I just love this photo! What a reminder of days gone by, and stirs of memories and photographs of my grandparents, and stories of a simpler time and a rougher time of life. Kudos to you on thie one Frank! Thanks for sharing!
said breje
Wonderful work here...Very nice image.
said stargazer111
CONGRATS on this photo I met a old bloke like that about 15 yrs ago when I was around queensland Congrats again Len2836
said len2836
Frank, this picture is great, I really like it. You have some real talent and have shown it here...bravo! dawg
said desertdawg01
č veramente ok
said dmorelli105
This is a superb picture so very typical of life. It has touched my heart. Excellent. Heidi, Johannesburg, South Africa
said herm103
A truly remarkable piece of work. Thank you for sharing. Pam Miller
said pamanne3
Frank, what a beautiful photo and touching story. This man and his story will live forever our hearts, for we also love and miss our long lost home. Thanks! Izabel
said ibuarque
A very touching picture. Nice artistic effect. Tacoma, WA
said Tanner_E
congratulations on POTD!
said gianlutard88
Frank, This is just simply a great photo....the stories he must have had and the life he must have led...somewhere in time. The image is long lasting and enormously moving.... parkerd114
said parkerd114
excellent, I will never forget this photo, it will always be in my mind. I have it on my desktop. Thank you, waaaaaaaaaw
said Salamandra139
what a great picture Frank, congrats on your POTD
said Axcolotl
what a great picture Frank, congrats on your POTD
said Axcolotl
My parents picked cotton in Shaw Mississippi,during the depression. I don`t know if this picture makes me want to smile or cry. JM
said jbaioni
This photo really captured something. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
said dadoodle
cool picture!
said anitamonroe
I wholeheartedly agree with Maxine, I feel like I sat next to him sharing stories, its an AWESOME photo !!!! Bambi
said bambicl
I like this.
said animallover81
This is such a wonderful photo. I love the sentamental touch.
said bluvlvtblond
Frank - this is a great photo! What an image - and capturing with the old gent is priceless. Thanks for sharing
said mvanslam
He looks so tiny... at first I thought he had been added to the picture... Thanks for the memories... and congrat.
said orchid1941
Congratulations Frank, This photo says it all. Cheryl (Tasmania)
said cheryl707
This is such a heart warming picture.It has depth and feeling and really makes me think about the past,present and even the future.Thankyou so much. Shelley
said tdrop
This picture has such warmth and feeling. It shows the depth of the century gone by. I saw such pictures left by my grandparents. MarlyB
said mmcch
Thank You for sharing this photo Frank, Great photographic interpretation, it makes me realise that there were/are things good about the world that mere money cannot buy. Excellent work Thank You for improving my day. Léon F Guyot
said vitesse1963
Thank You for sharing this photo Frank, Great photographic interpretation, it makes me realise that there were/are things good about the world that mere money cannot buy. Excellent work Thank You for improving my day. Léon F Guyot
said vitesse1963
HELLOO. VERY VERY NICE TO REMIND .NICE PHOTO .
said avidaje
As is said - "a picture is worth a thousand words" - and how right that is!! Absolutely beautiful - about to be downloaded for my current screensaver! Sheina in Argentina
said sheinas
Frank - WOW ! What a photograph! Indeed, what a wonderful picture story beautifully told. As a semi-professional storyteller and amateur photographer myself, I am especially moved by this truly outstanding photo. My compliments and congratulations to you.
said judgestoryteller
tis is awesome!!
said neonfish53132
Hi,congrads on being selected on the potd,I allso thought this was west virginia. my dad is aretired cole miner but thankfully a live, he would love this pic.I lived in an old house that was simalar,long time ago when i was a little girl .thanks for sharing, (kay)
said dadee
Congratulations on being POTD. Great photo and great retouch. The image reminds me of John Sayles' "Matewan", an exceptional, although very sad, movie.
said jannetie
How is it possible for one photo to stir so many memories and so many emotione? Congratulations on your POTD It is truly a treasure.
said gojom
Study this photo and remind yourself how fortunate you are. The miner appears to have lived a life of poverty.
said skizzatt
Great story and photo. This a real Photo of the Day.
said bruce_true
I, too, felt that this was West Virginia. My grandfather, too, died of black lung. He knew he would, so he never gave up his roll-your-cigarettes, or his moonshine. As for this house so similar, it was definitely haunted, but by gentle ghosts. As a child, I never felt safer than inside that house. Thanks for the memories.
said emorycarroll
Congratulations on your moving featured photo! Best wishes, Kris :)
said KrisApplegate
Congratulations on your POTD selection, thanks for sharing. Michel
said nttl2k1
Good afternoon Frank and congratulations for having this image chosen as POTD today!!! It really IS an emotion evoker!! You are a true artist using the talents, skills and sensitivity that God has graced you with!!! Thank you for sharing these gifts with us!!!!! May Our Heavenly Father, in all His Glory, continue to bless, guide and protect you and yours Frank!!!!!!!!!! Terry in Sherwood, Oregon.
said trbcowboy
Thank you for sharing this memorable photo - and time. Congratulations on having it chosen to POTD today. Keep remembering ... Judy aka L@dybug, Florida
said ladybug591
Great photo!
said texspitfire
That is real art, emotions and the feeling it invokes in your soul. This is such an image. Even without the touching background story, the picture speaks for it's self. Very wonderful image. I am so thankful you restored it for all to see. Congratulations on a well deserved POTD. Greetings to you from, OKLAHOMA. Susie
said segseven
This is such a great work. So sad and yet so beautiful. I lov everything about it. I love the emotions, that it brings. It makes me think, it makes me remember, it makes me feel... Thank you for this amazing picture.
said nibeeru
Rather than mention the composition and the nice grainy texture, I want to mention my reaction upon seeing this photo. I instantly felt an emotional response grasping for a memory that I don't have but imagine. My Grandfather was from Poland as so was the woman he met here in the USA, where they married and had 8 living children. He was a coal minor and died of black lung about the time my father was born. My father never got to meet the man. My father told me stories of his childhood in a cold drafty house. They toted coal to heat the home and stuffed newspaper between the gaps in the wood to lesson the cold drafts. My Grandmother Johanna worked hard to keep the family together and managed to do so. When I saw this picture I imagined the old house (smaller than this bldg.) and my grandfather sitting on the steps. It pulled my heartstrings for sure. Nice moment and that is what art can do.
said blissfulviolet
CONGRATULATIONS on having the POTD. This is a wonderful shot, and I think we all have a place we can go and think.
said joyce914
The only reason I downloaded this pic was to remind me that not everbody in the West is "rich". There are people who lead hard lives (and are all the more better of for it!).
said zorro3692
I thought this was West Virginia. It reminds be of a time when I was a little girl who her parents toke to the country.
said marshasmith103
Very beautiful creation! And the story going with it so touching! Congratulations for making the front page PoD!!! It is not so often that we get such a treat!!!
said shukun20
I love what you did for this Man. You gave him imortality, and the fact I may not have met him doesnt matter because you did. You passed on his picture and some of his story. Thank you so much for sharing.
said NeelyMargory
Wonderful photo, Frank. There's something about black & white to begin with, to my eye, but this is a great shot, pure and simple.
said misssmudge
Such a bitter sweet photo. I cannot go back in time but this photo takes me there. THANKS.
said redriverbear
BELÍSSIMA! BRAVO,FRANK ! Congratulations, prof. J Bamberg(Brasília-DF-Brasi l)
said profjbamberg
Wonderful image and what an equally wonderful story behind it. Thanks for sharing that as well as the picture itself. It is very touching.
said suzannewi
This auatere pic,helped me remember that our America's been down before,but we American's refuse to accept defeat that easily! Remember to add whatever Good you can each day! Have a frand weekend world! Jilly @ghall 6@rr.com
said ghall6
Congratulations on the POTD. The picture tells a great story. Ken
said ckpiros
Very nice, interesting and nostalgic photo. Thanks for charing. Norisna from Toronto
said normais
This selection is well deserved and well done. When I was a very young boy, I would go with my dad and mom to the house of an old man that was similar to this one and watch boxing or wrestling on a black and white TV every saturday night. This picture took me back there as soon as I saw it. Thanks, Dannywhitedog, NV USA.
said dannywhitedog
This is an interesting, unique photo image. I like to read the background. The man reminds me of my grandpa, John Einar. I feel good when I look at it, and that makes it very nice...to me. Thanks for sharing, Deb, MN, USA
said deb1elvic
i loveverry much that kind of your photos
said paske250
A picture reminder of years and generations gone but never forgotten.
said CharleySunshine
Good Photo... Congrats on POTD, Love the B+W, Thanks for sharing
said JTL86
great photo and very typical
said elgringo67
Congrats on the POTD with this beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from SA, Izebelle.
said izebelle100
Great shot Frank, a well deserved POTD. All the best, Pete.
said magnetron4
Frank; Congratulations on having this wonderful photo selected as the POTD....It is outstanding...I can just imagine the stores that where behind those eyes...Thanks for a great image and a capture in time... Ride Safe Into The Setting Sun... Grizz... Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
said wingnut209
Frank, this is such a heart touching image. It feels to me as if you've captured the final soldier of a world gone by; he's been left behind, but with a sense of contentment, peace, he's truly at home. A truly eternal image, well done! And how wonderful to resurect it from the 70's in order to share it. You truly do turn your images into a work of art; what dedication must have lead to such a mastery in this field. I've found my next desktop image!
said maxineTVL
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