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Ngondo


Ngondo
Photo Information
Copyright: Steven Le Vourc'h (Curioso) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 585 W: 287 N: 1498] (8902)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-02
Categories: Festivals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 17-40/4L USM, Digital RAW, Hama UV 77 mm
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-07 13:37
Viewed: 1100
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A great annual festival took place in Douala this week-end. It is called the Ngondo festival and it gathers all the Sawa people (people from the coast).

Many events have been surrounding this animist celebration dedicated to the "Jengu" or "Ondine", the gods from the Wouri river : dances from each tribes of the City, traditional fighting, a traditional Miss election, etc...

The climax of the celebration occured this morning when hundreds of thousand people are gathering to the river banks to watch the elected diver disappear under the water for 5 to 10 minutes (don't ask me how...) to collect the message from the ancestors in a large basket and bring it to the traditional chieves of Douala who will translate it to normal Human Being.

According to the message, we'll know quite soon if 2008 will be a wealthy year or not...

This man was one of the traditionnal chieves of the Ceremony. Behind him, you may see the strong men waiting for the traditionnal race on the Wouri river.

This year, I experienced the festival differently from last year. Instead of running back and forth to take as many pictures as I could, I spent a long time sitting on the shore among several old people listening silently at them, trying to be part of their group. For once, I could get more smiles than begging request from people around me. It made my day.
Aviller, Clairedelune, grantlp, Wanda1 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow! Extraordinary deatails in this picture and nice colors.

Really a fantastic picture and portrait. The area in the background isn't really that picturesque but I think it creates a nice contrast with the traditionally dressed man.

Bonsoir Steven,
Cette photo me plaît beaucoup. Cet arrière-plan presque délavé est en fait tout à fait approprié pour mettre en valeur cet homme haut en couleurs. Il y a une richesse de détails et un bon rendu des couleurs.
J'apprécie beaucoup ta note. Et tout particulièrement ton dernier paragraphe. Je crois que c'est quelque chose que je suis en train d'apprendre. Et tu ne fais que confirmer mon impression.
J'ai aussi une raison toute personnelle pour apprécier tes photos du Cameroon. J'ai eu un oncle qui a enseigné les mathématiques, la chimie et la physique au Cameroon. Et ses lettres emplies de poésie ont enchanté mon enfance. Et maintenant, je vois, par ton biais, des photos de ce pays qui me faisait rêver... Merci!
Claire

Hi Steven,
A very interesting image and note. I like your composition of the translator dominating the frame, along with a good backdrop of the oarsmen waiting patiently in their boat. The contrast in colour tones of the man against the pastel tones in the background, provides nice depth to the shot. Very well done.
Cheers Grant

  • Great 
  • Wanda1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1208 W: 21 N: 1410] (7572)
  • [2007-12-07 20:34]

Hi Steven,
A really great shot, nice and crisp and clear. I like your composition with the chief to one side and the men in white in the boat behind. Nice and expressive telling a story. Great sharp detail. Nice work! Interesting note too.
Regards
Wanda

Steven
J'aime beaucoup la composition de ta belle photo avec ce personnage certainement très important qui domine l'image, effet renforcé par cet arrière plan très pâle.Très bien vu!
Amicalement
JJ

Hi Steven,
thanks for the informative note. The photo is not only a very good portrait, it shows also the contrast between tradition and industrialization in a dramatic way.
Cheers Christian

  •      
  • wolf38 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1981 W: 75 N: 959] (6572)
  • [2007-12-08 10:16]

Hello steven. A wonderful picture. Very worth seeing. Outstanding composes. One of the best pictures, which I saw lately. Very beautifully. Best regards, Wolfgang.

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