With Open Mouths... Photo

Photographer’s Note

Taken in front of a shopping mall in Diqing, China. I find their posture interesting. With my 70-200 lens, I caught them in their most "engaged" pose. The splash of colors of the Tibetan monk's robe and the background colors create a romantic afternoon glow. Interestingly, the concelaed face of one guy completed the "interesting" theme for this shot. Had he been seen fully, the picture, IMO, won't be as interesting.

Any guess at what they are looking at?

naxius, carper, Fixfocus, erdna, pridel, nwoehnl, arnabchat, alford, Zepi, ChrisJ, jhm, hugolef, mphotographies has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

wisat (408) 2005-02-08 13:16

Ha..ha..ha.. What a moment, Manuel! It's so spontaneuous and humorous.. But, why are these faces seemed too red for me? Too much saturation? Thanks anyway.

naxius (16679) 2005-02-08 13:28

Superb Manny. Excellent DOF and colors.
Very sharp.
They look very concentrated.
Compliments.
Alexandre

Galeota (10334) 2005-02-08 13:30

They're looking at a football match in a tiny tv screen. At least it's the kind of expressions we, european soccer fans, have on our faces when risking an heart attack just before the decisive goal. very nice Manny. Didn't know Zidane had reached Yunnan already.

saigon (5497) 2005-02-08 13:39

hello manny.
exellente composition!
photo tres naturelle.
bravissimo!!
bye....saigon.

carper (64746) 2005-02-08 13:53

very good surprizing shot,
I must think at a advertising shot on television, very good point of view, very good composition, good colours, good work I like the shot

Fixfocus (9377) 2005-02-08 14:03

Good compo and timing with all the guys looking in the same direction.
Nice colors,beautiful bokeh!
A fine picture in your typicall style,Manuel!

Praetzer (1657) 2005-02-08 14:15

Taken at the right moment.
Nice colors; good compo and DOF.

erdna (5348) 2005-02-08 14:34 [Comment]

Show Comment

pridel (233) 2005-02-08 14:54

Manuel
I do not know what they look at thus but the hands which clutch the shoulders of the guy make the photograph
much intensity and beautiful colors
I like it very much
Pascal

nwoehnl (120) 2005-02-08 15:29

Fun shot of the monks gazing at - something (no idea, my initial guess would be something similar like Gal's - some kind of live transmission or a sporting event). Interesting analogy in their expressions, and effective use of DOF to make them stand out against the surroundings. Well done, Manny.

avigur_11 (21273) 2005-02-08 16:33

The expressions are very dramatic, Manny, it's really hard to guess what are they looking at, but it must be something very special. I like the dominant red colors and the excelent DOF. So, will you tell us?

Xalkida (11740) 2005-02-08 17:37

Wow! What expressions! Very fine multi-portrait photo! Excellent lighting and colors! My compliments to you!

dwilkows (20) 2005-02-08 17:43

Great photo! DOF very sharp. The fourth concealed person is very interesting indeed especially since he is gripping the shoulders of the central subject. It makes me believe they will soon erupt in a cheer when the goal is scored as Galeota suggests. Of course they could be watching a re-run of Julia Childs dropping a chicken on the kitchen floor, or an employee putting a bikini on a manekin in the display window, or...

markgong (2840) 2005-02-08 23:24

Haha, I saw this photo and thought nice portrait, I wonder when Manny is going to put up a new one....lo and behold. Another well shot photo. Pretty much what everyone else said, but I wonder if anyone spotted the fourth monk clutching the rob of the one in the middle. It's probably Championship Golf on TV.

/Sarcasm

arnabchat (7036) 2005-02-09 0:30

this shot is indeed a well taken one.
sharpness and DOF, with wonderful colortones have been your trademark.

naret (826) 2005-02-09 4:00

Sawasdee Manny,
Nice picture. I like the feeling on the face of these people. You capture the moment very well.
Thank you for sharing.
Naret

RGatward (19737) 2005-02-09 5:35

Very amusing catch here Manny, with them all having the same curious expression. I'm wondering if it might also have been interesting here to change your normal DoF policy, and go for deep, since it's the common pose of the group which makes this shot. Just a thought.

alford (3897) 2005-02-09 5:45

It must be Yao Ming! Maybe he's at the same mall! Only Yao can command this attention in China :)
Very funny shot, Manny! Another sharp and colorful composition! rgds.

jrj (34779) 2005-02-09 7:10

Sure a kind of special 'posing' in this one. Good tight cropping, fine dof, again a great light and colour setting.

Zepi (22848) 2005-02-09 7:23

Une composition incroyable !
J’adore cette lueur chaude qui accompagne cette photo !
Magnifique cadrage et piqué extraordinaire !
Belle profondeur de champ qui met parfaitement en valeur l’homme du milieu sans vraiment effacer ses 2 compères!
Mais que peuvent-ils bien regarder comme ça ?

Beau travail !
Amicalement - Sébastien

jhm (82421) 2005-02-09 7:52

Hi Manuel,
Maybe a great fight event? Good compo and timing with all the guys looking in the same direction, very sharp and clarity.
Welol seen,
John.

hugolef (4909) 2005-02-09 8:23

Hi Manny,
another good one ... you capture this scene very well. I like the DOF, and the colors.
The expressions of the monks are very interesting.
Thanks for sharing
Regards, Hugues

Graal (57821) 2005-02-09 11:02

Perfect photo, as always with you. Super colours, composition and sharpness. Interesting informations. Good job.

alimo3 (6826) 2005-02-09 17:31

hello Manuel,
very interesting picture,
i like how they all look on the left side,
all faces and expression are different .
i also appreciate the deap tones different from many images on you album and the approch "not perfect beauty"
Great job.

Tom

igorb (752) 2005-02-09 18:55

Excellent moment, full of some wondering, expectation even emotion between them. I wish the guy on the left to leave this scene, it would be more sensitive. Fantastic, bravo

ChrisJ (70165) 2005-02-10 4:03

Hi Manuel

A superb portrait of this interesting trio. Or should that be a quartette? Just read the note, & noticed the lips & hands of the "hidden" 4th member of the troupe. Excellent dof & composition. Good shot!

Mafo (1339) 2005-02-11 7:22

Wonderful photo, Manuel!
Very sharp, beautiful colors!
Compliments!

wilche (415) 2005-02-12 8:24

Hehe very good, must be exiting, good shot of dayly life.

sn00zie (2384) 2005-02-12 10:16

indeed their postures are interesting. i like the lighting in this picture MAnuel.. the colors look so much deeper..

jayita (191) 2005-02-24 3:25

It's a great job, manuel. How do you manage to get this symmetry on their faces? The light and reddish effect
of the dresses are very beautiful.

mitternacht (1836) 2005-02-26 5:31

I agree with you about the fourth guy, him almost hiding from the camera makes this a composition a lot more interesting. Four people had been too much and just three had been simple and good but not as interesting. Their facial expressions are of course priceless.

elena (1054) 2005-03-07 21:25

as always, i look at your photos and wish one day i will get to your level... although in this case i think the contrast is a bit too much... but i don't know if it is too much neat image, too much saturation, too much contrast... i still find this photo much better than anything i could do, but it has an artificial aura i don't know why...
but that's not the reason i'm here....
one month after the date of your post, i come here to ask for the answer: WHAT were they staring at??
If it was in front of a shopping mall, it may be an advertisement, a celebrity, a group of tourists... but the way the hidden guy is clunching to his friend, it may be a giant screen showing... (THE OLYMPICS??) PLEASE tell us!! :)