Kid from Bafut

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Kid from Bafut
Photo Information
Copyright: Steven Le Vourc'h (Curioso) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 586 W: 292 N: 1495] (8882)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-10
Categories: Festivals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 17-40/4L USM, Digital RAW, Hama UV 77 mm
Exposure: f/4, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Kids from the World Part VI [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-12 6:04
Viewed: 616
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 13
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We had a three-day weekend and took this opportunity to go back to the North-west of Cameroon and visit the Fon palace of Bafut, one of the largest traditionnal palace in the country close to Bamenda.

We first visited the local museum displaying various statues, clothes, pieces of furnitures the past Fons (kind of Emperor ruling a large area) had. This museum was surprisingly well set and we learnt many things about the Bafut people. These people came from Tikari in the Adamawa province 400 years ago and progressively conquested the area of Bafut and the people around. They were involved in the slave trading in the 19th century.

Then, we had a look at the drum house, the courtyard and the palace called "Achum". That palace is the highest building in the compound and is only accessible to the Fon and the old people from the village. Today, about 300 people are living in the palace, mainly Queens (about 30) of the Fon, Prince and Princesses. Behind the palace, there is a large sacred forest with which the Fon is communicating.

Few times a year, large ceremonies take place in the palace, gathering people for traditionnal events. In the museum, I could see photographies taken by the German in the early 20th century with the Fon surrounded by his Queens on the steps of the "Achum". There were also additional picture from a ceremony in tribute to the father of the actuel Fon which took place in 1968. Queens from the Fon were gathering toward the dead Fon for a large ceremony.

We met that girl just before entering the palace yard.

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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To indoka28: What do I say ?Curioso 2 02-12 09:31
To brandstaetter: Adult handsCurioso 1 02-12 08:45
To enigma32: RightCurioso 1 02-12 07:24
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice portrait of a kid, don`t you think it could look better in square without the right side?

beautiful portrait, with soft light.
The greenish background is perfect to enhance the subject.
Stefano

Hello Steven,

wonderful expressions caught on lens by you here..!! very good DoF and nice soft light...good composition even though i feel she should have been place on the right side of the shot...what do you say..!!???

Regards
Indro

Hi Steven,
a nice portrait with a perfect background (light and colour). The face could be sharper. The girls has hands of an adult, maybe due to work, which makes the portrait even more impressive and remarkable.
Cheers Chris

Steven: as you might discern from my tastes in portraits, this one falls right in line. Background colors work flawlessly. Great bokeh too. regards, c

  • Great 
  • Cormac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3199 W: 55 N: 5874] (24503)
  • [2008-02-12 13:47]

Great shot! I like the expression and pose, and of course the lighting is good too. I also like the sparse background, which is slightly blurred, making the person in the foreground look more sharp by contrast. Nice piece of work!

Nice portrait and great smile you captured. I like the placement of the girl in the shot. The color of the walls complements the beautiful skin of the girl. Regards, Yvonne

beautiful portrait, great soft light and lovely colours.

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