English translation: with his trademark discretion
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15:42 Jul 11, 2011
French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Photography/Imaging (& Graphic Arts)
French term or phrase:qui lui ressemblent
I really just wanted to check the meaning of this in the following phrase (the text is talking about photographer Chema Madoz:
Avec une constance rare, sans esbroufe aucune, avec une discrétion et une conviction qui lui ressemblent, il visualise ses idées et ses points de vue sur le monde. Il se comporte en photographe en utilisant ce matériau pour ce qu’il a de spécifique dans son apparent réalisme et, par de simples décalages, il ne cesse de questionner aujourd’hui et de nous questionner.
I understand it to be saying that the discretion and conviction which come across in his photos match his own qualities - is that how other people would interpret it?
Hmm, language can indeed be a subtle thing. I would not, personally, have chosen "trademark" on the grounds that this is generally something more easily perceptible than a "characteristic"; for example Chagall's goat or Dali's moustache would both be trademarks. On the other hand, Paul Dirac's excruciating shyness or Renoir's fondness for young girls would be defining characteristics, but not trademarks. Here "discretion and conviction" are both very abstract, and not immediately obvious, at least to a casual observer.
@Torrentz
I chose Torrentz' suggestion in the end as the most appropriate term for this translation. If you'd like to post it as an answer, I'll give you the kudoz points!
Since I don't know Chema Madoz personally (though I do like many of his images) I can't comment on whether or not he possesses the discretion and conviction which are "characteristic" of him. Par contre, no-one could accuse Salvador Dali (for example) of "discretion", though I would like to hope that all artists possess conviction.
I think you've got the essence of this spot on. I think I would say something like: "with a genuine discretion and sincerity"... to get the meaning across.
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Answers
38 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
with characteristic discretion etc
Explanation: These may, or may not, be defining characteristics of the man, but his photographs are truly remarkable. I hadn't come across him before, so thanks for the entrée to his work.
chris collister France Local time: 15:13 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 27
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +3
