Monk in Mottled Light, a photo from Ayeyarwady, South

Photographer's Note

While we were doing this shoot, at Shinbinthalyaung Temple, we were using more than just the one monk. This guy was here posing as well, although not always at the same time. While he was not doing his pose, he was standing at the entrace, and I noticed the really great, dappled light hitting him.

Other than the obvious importance monks have in Myanmar, this is another shot that is probably somewhat borderline for the TE ethos. However, my friends are here, and I would like to hear what you have to say. This is not so much a staged shot as just one I noticed waiting to be taken.

Handheld, ISO 400, normal post processing, uncropped.

I will upload two alternative takes to this as well. I would love to know which you prefer.

SophieL, Homerhomer, eleparc, touristdidi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

naxius (16685) 2004-12-10 8:09

Superb atmosphere Darren. I appreciate this light from the left and the effect on the guy. This is excellent.
Really nice composition. I like it a lot.
Alexandre

SophieL (6042) 2004-12-10 8:26

These are incredible portraits. I'm not sure you are so much out of TE's scope, I've never been there and never met any monk but I think the expression you caught tells a lot about their life, quietness, slight humour, lots of intelligence in the eyes.
It's hard to choose amongst the three portraits. The light is beautifully managed, the parts in the shadow are always visible, these are very intimate portraits. I think my favorite is the second one, because one eye is in the light, and there's humour and softness in this eye looking downward and an Mona Lisa smile. But I hesitate with the first one, where the face is so softly lighted and the expression in the eyes is very catching. The third one I like less (too much contrast between mouth and eyes), but it is fine in the series. Well done!

bartove (2866) 2004-12-10 8:35

Very good portraits, nice composition,with strong atmosphere. Well done!

KUAN (1502) 2004-12-10 9:13

I like this portrait... light is amazing !! :)

verge (1242) 2004-12-10 9:34

very good composition, the portrait has unique and artistic touch, well done...rgds

verge

clodreno (0) 2004-12-10 9:48

nice image Darren, not as good as you as the other one you already posted..
I am bothered by the skin of this monk. I guess it's stupide, it doesn't have to do with the technical aspect of your shot.

MKING (3054) 2004-12-10 10:26

I don't have much to say about this picture's presentation that is critical-- nothing but praise actually-- but I can dispute the notion of being 'borderline' respective of TE's ethos. Other than the monk why is the picture Myanmar and not anywhere else? The answer, in my mind, is "because."

The correlation between where international borders lie and where societies exist is somewhat arbitrary. Migration and poor border layout means that the two aren't neatly packaged and cultures spill over borders, enriching or causing tension between the two or more. But this sort of ambiguity is, to me, what makes anthropology and sociology most interesting and hence I like learning about societal interactions. To me this is one of the elements of the TE ethos. The fact that TE is structured physically to reflect state boundaries and forces pictures to be pidgeon-holed based on location alone is just as arbitrary as this picture being Myanmar and not Laos or Thailand. The three countries have a history that is intertwined thanks to the meeting of their peoples and any attempt to learn about these or any other countries whilst ignoring social patterns isn't giving a whole picture.

Luko (14000) 2004-12-10 10:31

Hey Darren... you know what's my feeling about close portraits... this kind of shot begins the race with already a 10 meter handicap behind the starting line. No borderline appraisal in it, it's as borderline as the humptieth close portrait we can spot each day connecting to TE...

Ok then I'll forget it's a close portrait and look what's in it : first light... it seems light was your first object of matter here... I will state that IMO you've missed the point... your monk needed a dash of light coming into one of his eyes, unfortunately you've been short of it by an inch... the side light brightens his ear and shoulder (did you figure to shoot a shampoo ad? I guess a bald monk was not the best model for it.) and comes short of it.
Sometimes we're lucky... other times we fail to check the correct lighting... that was your unlucky day. I have to tell either of the two other shots was better I think, even the toothpaste or lipstick ad monk (how do you call a shot where only the mouth is lightened?).

What is really unfair is that I've checked that what I think to be your 2 best shots from Myanmar so far are the lowest rated by other TE members...there's a serious gap between my conception of photo and TE's choice it seems...
Not that I'm worried, but I think it's rather disappointing that when you're trying something else, member habits -rather than genuine tastes- bring you back to what you were doing times ago.

[3] +

pridel (233) 2004-12-10 10:40

Darren
I like this photograph for the dark shades and the calm face of the monk
the construction of the compo is well made with the play of the light
--
I prefer this version with the ws. the second version only gives a female face. this one informs us, this face belongs to a monk.
--
congrats
Pascal

alimo3 (6854) 2004-12-10 13:55

Hi darren,
wow a great image.
of course this light is amazing but your composition as well !
all that makes a very graphic and a unusual portrait .
Bravo.

Tom

eleparc (24063) 2004-12-10 15:03

WOW!! Terrific Darren! this is IMO your best shot in a while... I love this almost wax look that he has,and the progressive light falling on him;-) it is very subtle and you really made his eyes come out of the dark! I love it!

flydragon (0) 2004-12-10 15:24

Hello daren
this is a beautifull portrait
great work with the light
not mutch to say
its perfect :o)
congratulation
晻simon晻

shutterbug (531) 2004-12-10 16:02

Hello Darren
I like the WS that shows only his mouth in light and the eyes only slightly visible in the shadows...it shows more mystery to me. I like this one too with the dappled lighting :D
~Stacey

[2]

maciekda (19895) 2004-12-11 15:02

very nice portrait Darren, great light - it creates a really intimate atmosphere. good compo also. one small flaw is the light and shadow on his ear, it looks like cut off a bit... anyway, it is a fine portrait

dsidwell (9783) 2004-12-12 0:38

This must be a demo about how photography is all about light! It was fun coming across this while browsing. Interesting, unique and lovely, this light works well with this face.

Amandine (1072) 2004-12-12 5:16

You succeded in making a real wonderful shot, the effect of the light is amazing, very well done

philip_coggan (11) 2004-12-12 5:51

Yesterday, in our hotel in Yangon (famous City Star, ah such memories!) I tried to log onto the Sydney Morning Herald to read the nwes - but it was blocked. No explanation. Today I come to Bangkok and find out the erason: the Burmese generals have released another 5000 prisoners. Apparently this is Good for Westerners to read about, but Bad for Burmese. What a country!

I thyink I have a very crappy monitor in this niternet cafe on Khao San Road - this photo looks exactly like a portrait by a certain esteemed Australian artist who painted with a mop dipped in industrial-strength acrylic. I se no detail at all. But I'm pretty certani I've sen this no the laptop we took with us on the Burma trip, and it looked good. It looks good like this too, incidentally - very artisitic. But I'd like to see more of what you actually took, and less of what my monitor is restricting me to...it obviously shares the censorious habits of the Burmese junta.

will-b (236) 2005-01-02 15:55

Superb - this really caught my eye. Perfect exposure, and an excellent portrait composition. Love the light, which suggests sunlight through a rainy window pane perhaps. Great catchlights in the eyes, pulling them out of the darkness. Terrific work!

quillerpl (333) 2005-01-04 0:09

tremendous portrait and transcendental atmosphere. Shades, play of lights and dark background - excellent. I like very much his face half in light and half in the shadow but still visible. well done! BR Jack

hantulaut (3441) 2005-03-06 1:29

amazing light and figure in one frame