Cock-fighting Photo

Photographer’s Note

A game of cock-fighting on Bali in 1976. The men in the middle are provoking their birds to fight each other. The "game" will end with one of them dead, fatally injured by the razor-sharp knife attached to the other cock's leg. It was not a pleasant sight.
The men standing up, facing the audience, are bookmakers. There was a lot of heavy betting going on.
This was scanned from a Kodachrome slide.

noborders, kevinos, axiotea has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

skippy007 (7343) 2008-07-19 1:16

Hello Gert, Every time I look at these shots you have revived & see what a marvelous job you do, I think that I must look at my old photos & see what I have, nothing as good or interesting as you.
Interesting event you have captured here & in good detail, something that is now illegal I think in most countries. Again well done & thank you.
Regards
Santo

nirvana73 (8844) 2008-07-19 5:35

Hello Gert,
another one documentel shot from Bali
i don't know , What are they enjoying
I am being sorry
tfs
regards
Ozhan

Cretense (57010) 2008-07-19 9:33

Hi Gert!

Another great example of photojournalism from your trip to Indonesia! Excellent framing and composition, with the people creating a circle around the "event"! Great light managment and fantastic colour pallete! Congratulations!

Hercules

noborders (14201) 2008-07-19 11:50

As always, a very interesting photo ; something less common in the open nowadays I think, as there are more cockfighting pits (seen recently in the Philippines...
It's maybe a cruel game but I think that observing the behaviour in the (mostly exclusively male) assistance is a good diversion and a great subject of observation.

It seems that scanned photos are easier to handle if there is no sky visible...
You are building a great collection full of interesting documents !
TFS and best regards,
Cath.
(PS : leaving soon for Turkey where I'll go in the east, that's why I'm viewing again my photos taken the last 2 years from that area)

kevinos (6927) 2008-07-20 7:32

You have found a wonderful PoV, Gert and the circle of people makes a tight composition to contain the action.It is a fine documentary shot and one full of drama. regards Kevin

ndb1958 (9249) 2008-07-23 11:05

Hi Gert, till now I didn't see any of these cockfights on Bali and I've been there 4 times. Good documentary of their social skills. Nice job, Nino.

axiotea (16293) 2008-07-26 22:35

Hello Gert
I've seen cock_fighting not in Bali when I was there in 79 but in Philippines! I wish I could have photos from that time!
A well chosen pov allowing to see the audience around the event!
A good quality scan!
Cheers
Marilyn

mafegan (4505) 2009-10-09 4:42

Hello Gert
What an amazing photo - has none of the features of a scan from the past. The cock-fighting subject matter is interesting to see in photo but perhaps not so nice to witness in person. Documentary style photo for sure. Tfs, Marlene