Dung Chen, Xiahe, Gansu... Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Tibetan Long Horn, or 'Dung Chen' - an integral ceremonial instrument in Tibetan Buddhist ritual. These monks were practicing in Labrang lamasery in Xiahe, Gansu, an enclave of the Yellow Hat Sect, or Gelug branch of Tibetan Buddhism... a burned exposure from the blisteringly bright mountain sunlight.

ISO, 640ASA; focal, 70.00mm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelug

Wanda1, pboehringer, patdeph, eversmile, robiuk, stevev1, leo61 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Wanda1 (10923) 2008-10-12 10:03

Hi Caleb,
I have always found these massive instruments and the way they play them fascinating. I like your angle of view here to get it and the monks in. Even with the harsh light you still have some fine details.
Regards
Wanda

pboehringer (770) 2008-10-12 10:14

Caleb,
quite corageous to get so close while he was blowing the horn ;-)
Nice composition with the monks sitting in the shade and the most right playing the instrument that goes diagonally through the entire image. I wish you would have been able to include the entire horn in the lower portion, but I see that the noise was so strong that you were blown apart from your original POV :-)))
Peter

patdeph (17712) 2008-10-12 11:34

hello Caleb
superb picture!Is it necesary to explain why I like it?I like the beauty of this impressive instrument,and i love the colours beauty of the monk who is playing this horn!Wonderfu!
Best regards
Pascale

emka (21179) 2008-10-12 14:57

Hi Caleb

iot is interesting! I have never seen such an instrument. Nice view of this young monks enjoying sun and playing. Thanks for sharing

Malgorzata

eversmile (5999) 2008-10-12 18:14

Hi Caleb;

I like your low POV very much, the atmosphere of nonchalance and friendliness, rest and intimacy, the humanity shown behind the solemnity of their fonction. Despite the burned exposure the colors are good and, even if the horn fully included in the pic would have been nice, that's effective without it.
Best regards
Marine

bukitgolfb301 (4572) 2008-10-13 2:16

Hello Caleb

This is also great shot.
Very natural but much impact.

Congratulation

Best regards

Takero

SteveH (3885) 2008-10-13 4:53

Hi Caleb, difficult lighting conditions indeed. You did well to retain plenty of detail in the shaded area. Also a difficult subject as there is plenty of interesting detail on the instrument and getting in closer to highlight that would have been good, but then some of the BG would be lost. A dilemma. Cheers, Steve

Gerrit (35593) 2008-10-13 5:00

Hi Caleb,
good daily life photo. Funny how they managed to divide the roles: one working hard (under the sun) and the other three resting and chatting (in the shade).
Good light and colors.
Regards, Gerrit

robiuk (10763) 2008-10-13 6:41

But they're not only rehearsing - they're interracting
with each other at the same time, which is an added bonus
to this pic, Caleb.
Interesting low POV... dung chen is really long instrument
and hard to fit into the frame, isn't it?
Cheers,
Robi

stevev1 (999) 2008-10-13 9:07

Another fine example of travel photography. I love the saturated colors here. Unfortunate the entire horn is not in frame, but this is nitpicking..as it stands it's a wonderfull tribute to Tibetan buddhism

leo61 (43229) 2008-10-13 9:59

Hi Caleb!
I can imagine the noise.
Ypour low POV gives the image a great depth and I like the strong red tones of these robes.
Regards,Leo