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Chief cook?


Chief cook?
Photo Information
Copyright: Michael Gan (Michael_Gan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 578 W: 75 N: 693] (2759)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-09-05
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 18-70mm DX, JPEG ISO 1600, Hoya Skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/50 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Tibet: to Mount Kailash and back...
Date Submitted: 2005-11-10 1:43
Viewed: 1110
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another picture from the Drepung monastery near Lhasa (the first can be found here). This beautiful old monk was sitting in the very dark kitchen of the monastery, one of the few places where you did not have to pay for taking pictures.

The kitchen was a very beautiful place. Lots of big copper pots and pans and other objects were placed on the walls and a fire was roaring in the centre of the room. It was however very dark and in some areas the smell was ..... well, not very nice (and that's an understatement). As I was not carrying a tripod it was very difficult to take good pictures of the kitchen inventories. But this man was sitting near the single window of the room (if I remember well) and I loved the light coming from the left.

I decided to upload this picture in B&W, as I found the table in front of the monk too present in colour. The colour version is visible in the workshop. I would appreciate to hear your preference: colour or B&W? Thanks in advance!
bertolucci, Fixfocus, Bien, Rinie_Hoff, jrj, ivanhooace has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Rinie_Hoff: Moving tablesMichael_Gan 2 11-10 08:20
To cgrindahl: Noise at ISO 1600Michael_Gan 1 11-10 07:06
To tam3rd: To crop or not to crop...Michael_Gan 1 11-10 07:02
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Bien Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 502 W: 50 N: 952] (4699)
  • [2005-11-10 1:53]

Hoi Michael, I like the portrait of the old monk, he has got a sereen and interesting look on his face. I also like how you framed the image, it flows very well as the eye goes from the table to the monk and then slides towards the cloths hanging behind him, which makes it very pleasant to look at. I prefer the B/W shot.
Well done! Sabine

  • Great 
  • THAR Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 157 W: 0 N: 268] (2600)
  • [2005-11-10 2:05]

Excellent cadrage et bonne mise "en lumière" de cette personne.Choix judicieux du noir & blanc.

great portrait, though i would prefer to crop a little at the top... well just a little. over all it's a good one. i prefer the b&w than the colored one. b&w gives a nostalgic effect

This is a really fine photo Michael, at once sharp and with a lovely tonal range. Black and white is perfect here. The contrast in the two halves of the face, one slightly in shadow, is very fine. I'm surprised at the lack of noise at such high ISO, though perhaps you did a bit of fancy footwork in post processing to remove it. I'm pleased that you composed the image to include the banners and thankas in the background. Excellent work all the way around.

Hee Michael, good morning! To begin with, i think i prefer the B&W, although it's more or less in the same tone as well, but the red table is indeed not very pleasant. Were you not able to re-arrange things a bit more? ;-) Just kidding of course.
Very nice capture, Michael, he's got a tranquil face, and beautiful hands. that's why i ask, couldn't you move the table aside, I love hands.
Hmmm, so the smell wasn't tooo good, huh? We'll try to improve that this weekend, right? Bring my laptop?

  • Great 
  • erdna Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 848 W: 72 N: 997] (4897)
  • [2005-11-10 10:22]

Maaaan, this is a very clean high ISO shot! This is a very good photo of this monk with creases on the forehead that looks like a tree. You are right in presenting this in Black and white. Very well seen.

Andre'

Michael
This portrait works well. The side light is good too, though the man's face is a touch overexposed. The greys are very good too.

Good stuff
Aubrey

  • Great 
  • jrj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5484 W: 506 N: 7209] (32733)
  • [2005-11-16 4:52]

Good portrait presenting this man in a fine light and with an inviting facial expression. Too bad with the table - but maybe difficult to avoid.

Hi Michael,
I think you made a good choice to convert it to B/W.I like the soft light and the selected dof here a lot,great shot but it would be a real masterpiece if his hands were visible on the table.(Just seen that Rinie mentioned it already)
Greetings,
Hermann

Hi Michael, this is a very pleasing picture. Love the tones here. B/W is definitely the way to go here because of the mildly disturbing ton sur ton of the clothing and the table. I also like the expression of this monk, it's serene, intense, maybe a bit brooding. Very nice work.
Have a nice weekend,
Bert

cool portrait Michael! Very dignified looking man, well composed, nice bokeh--I'd try to burn the face a bit though, it seems a bit hot in some places.

Nice one man!

alex

Excellent portrait.

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