Where warp meets weft, a photo from Nusa Tenggara Timur, Nusa Tenggara

Photographer's Note

Ikat Weaving:
'Ikat' means 'tie' or bind and it is in effect a tie dying process where you wrap threads to block out areas in order to create a pattern in the warp of the fabric. On proceeding with the weaving process, as the weft threads are woven in, the pattern then emerges as the fabric is made. There are plain ikats where just the warp is tie dyed but there are also double ikats where the weft is tie dyed as well to make a much more detailed patterned fabric, and of course, a much more valuable one. The ancient double ikats, of which there are very few surviving are incredibly beautiful and it is hard to believe that the old designers were so precise in their methods with such basic tools. Natural products are used in the dye making such as the blue from the indigo plant, and rust color from the kombu tree. Each color requires a separate tying-and-dying process. This stage requires great skill as the dyer has to work out before the threads are woven exactly which parts of the thread are to receive which color in order to create the pattern of the final cloth.

Bena is a small traditional ethnic Ngada village in Bajawa district secluded on a highland within the thick greenery shaded by Inerie volcano, well-known for its fine traditional Ikat weaving. The 'maestros' here still use the traditional hand spun yarn made out of their own home-grown cotton, as well as local natural dyes. The opportunity to observe all different steps of the Ikat weaving process is fascinating. This young ethnic Ngada woman has been familiar with this tradition, like most young girls in the village, she was able to weave by the time she was 12 years old. This is a family run concern, involving all the women in the family and the designs are traditional which are passed down the generations, no written patterns, all from memory. The process is also very complicated and need high precision in expressing the imagination as a design motif without first described in a pattern but it is directly poured imaginatively which will form a pattern of the target motif.

The loom is in itself a work of art. Traditionally it is thought that women reach maturity when they are able to make ikat weaving. When a man proposes, he will bring a horse and ivory, and in return, she gives him high-quality ikat weaving. Interestingly, each village has its characteristic ikat patterns that set them apart, they are either characters or symbols, often with the shapes of plants and animals that tell the story and philosophy of the people of Flores. Ikats are worn by the locals women and men a like, as part of their everyday dress and customs or religion of every ceremony. It is sewn into a long tube, stepped into, and draped over one shoulder. It looks like a toga or ' sarong' and is very elegant. If the wearer is feeling chilly it is just pulled up around the neck and worn over other clothes.

The women of Flores are just like models but they showcase ikat weaving on the catwalk of life and many of them are maestros from the time they are very young until the day they die.....

WS1: Fruits of the Loom
WS2: Bena village in seclusion

macjake, Angshu, mayjayne, delpeoples, sacimar, geoant68, holmertz, Charo, siamesa, vasilpro, danos, janusz2054, adramad, annjackman, Cricri, jhm, jlbrthnn, Crispilandia, adores, Vasa, kato, kato, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

macjake (39227) 2011-08-01 23:00

Hi Abmdsudi
wow...talk about a perfect composition.
Composition certainly can make or break the photo, and here it certainly makes it!
absolutely love the perspective.
If you had been standing to the side normally, it wouldn't even come close to having the same visual impact and uniqueness.
creative and well executed.
cheers
craig

Bartleby (12741) 2011-08-01 23:59

Hi Abmdsudi,
Love that shot! The composition is excellent with the good use of two strong lines creating depth and perspective and leading the eye towards the subject. But the light is also great, almost as if there was a spot right on the woman's face. Congrats !

Philippe

Angshu (51174) 2011-08-02 0:15

Salam Abmdsudi

Wonderful capture! I especially like the low POV. The bamboo frame being a bit high…knee height I would believe, offered you a fantastic POV, wherein you used the bamboo frame to effectively frame the maestro a work. The completely wide aperture and focus on her face was a good idea…given your idea & the low light!

Interestingly, though the word Ikat is an Indonesian language word, India has a long history of Ikat weaving as well. Another similar printing technique, Batik has been practised in Indonesia & India for long!

Fine capture my friend! Excellent
Best Regards
Angshu

PS : I had taken a few pictures of the weaving maestros in action & had uploaded some of them as well…..like this one taken in Kota, Rajasthan, this also in Kota and this taken in Varanasi

wolf38 (28166) 2011-08-02 0:18

A photo from the world of work. Weaving is an ancient craft. Most women sit at looms. Interesting are the soles of the woman who appears out of nowhere. Overall, a very subtle and beautiful photo. Rgds, Wolfgang.

SnapRJW (18712) 2011-08-02 2:49

Hi Abmdsudi - A creative and well considered composition, your POV is very good. I love the feet! Best regards Rosemary

dkmurphys (36759) 2011-08-02 2:58

Hi Abmdsudi,
Very attractive scene. Images like this one you still can find in some villages of my country where the traditions are sacredly keeped. A true spectacle watching that woman working.
Well done, have a good day.

mayjayne (2792) 2011-08-02 3:13

Dear abmdsudi,

A very informative note accompanying an interesting composition with a well chosen POV. Living in S.E. Asia, I tend to take the ikat for granted sometimes, but some of them are really lovely in their combination of designs and colours.

TFS,
May

delpeoples (44904) 2011-08-02 3:50

Hi Abmdsudi

Wow, what a shot. Likely the best I've seen all month. The perspective and light management are just superior. And your subject matter...well, how unique and fascinating. A moment in history, superbly frozen in time. Thanks for sharing and I wish you a lovely day.

Warm regards
Lisa

sevy (13273) 2011-08-02 4:51

Hello,

Efficient and attractive composition where you used the textile to draw diagonale lines in the frame to make the look reach the woman.
Moreover you also got all these kind of blue tones giving an unity to the shot.

Yves.

Silvio1953 (98093) 2011-08-02 4:54

Ciao Abmdsudi, lovely daily life composition with woman at work, excellent perspective, great clarity, splendid light and colors, I like a lot, ciao Silvio

Bluejeans (64227) 2011-08-02 5:25

Ola Abmdsudi ,
Beleza esta foto de vida diária com esta mulher a trabalhar neste tear , os detalhes ficaram muito bons , interessante como ela trabalha sentada , bom enquadramento da foto ,parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

sacimar (25957) 2011-08-02 8:01

Hello,

this is a good image as well as both of WS, I like the angle you chose to show how this woman works, it's an interesting composition and note, well done,

Best regards,

Sergio

geoant68 (3450) 2011-08-02 8:07

Hi Abmdsudi,
the snapshot from the working woman is fine but her sitting is very strange and tiresome.Difficult her job but the results we see them in the WS. as women of the island who wear them.Informative your note too.

Peter

holmertz (26906) 2011-08-02 12:09

Hello Abmdsudi,
I just love those feet sticking out underneath the warp. You found a great perspective with the blue diagonal going thrugh most of the composition right up to the woman's body. Her face shows her concentr ation on her not so easy task. She is inscribed in a fine triangle, matched by another starting from her feet.
Great work.
Kind regards,
Gert

saxo042 (31794) 2011-08-02 12:10

Hi Abmdsudi,
A fantastic POV, the perspective gives us the weaving girl at a perfect position in the composition. A very interesing picture and a very informative note too. This girl looks very concentrated on her task here!
Kind regards
Gunnar

Charo (51174) 2011-08-02 13:14

Hello Abmdsudi,
Your views on this woman working at the loom, is unique and a wonderful composition.
Excellent light and depth.
Best wishes,
Charo

siamesa (27449) 2011-08-02 19:09

Boa noite Abmdsudi

Very interesting note and a beautiful and attractive photo.This work is difficult, in my opinion. I saw some women doing this.The final result is fantastic. Congratulations for the beautiful composition.
Abraços
maria

vasilpro (40192) 2011-08-02 23:33

Hello Abmdsudi,
Wonderful action composition, beautiful scene, excellent low POV, very nice light management, very good contrast, natural colors.
Have a nice day, Vasilis.

danos (73960) 2011-08-03 0:32

Hello Abmdsudi,
nice the snapshot for us but,i see the job as the sitting and working woman under the loom is very hard.But seeing the hanging wefts in the WS, must admire the strain of these native women.

Regards,Danos

janusz2054 (306) 2011-08-03 6:20

Hi Abmdsudi,

Interesting daily life composition with girl at work.
Your POV is perfect.Very well done.
Best regards
Janusz

adramad (27550) 2011-08-03 9:55

Hi Abmdsudi.
A great composition with this girl at work to her loom, the concentrated expression of his face in the work is relevant, the sharpness of the picture is fantastic and allows you to view in detail all components of the image, fully natural color, and perfect lighting with this beautiful contrast of shadow and light.
As always very good briefing notes, which give us a greater interest in the composition and what it represents.
Have a nice day.
Best regards.
Luis.

annjackman (13183) 2011-08-03 10:08

Hello Abmdsudi,
The POV is superb and you clearly thought carefully about the composition. The woman working is natural and relaxed with you. The brown tones with the more vibrant blue is a lovely colour combination. I found your note and WS very interesting indeed - thankyou.
Best wishes, Ann

Cricri (86391) 2011-08-03 10:49

Hi Abmdsudi
J'aime comme vous avez cadrer la dame en plein travail de tissage, avec ses pieds bien caler, le visage très attentif a son travail, belle lumière et couleurs
Une note très intéressante
Belle soirée
cricri

jhm (122410) 2011-08-04 3:54

Hello Abmdsudi,

This are the same images of 100 year ago here in Belgium, this time is over
Perhaps are these people very contented with this job.
You took also two excellent extra pictures if work shop.
Composition and presentation are pleasant for look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

jlbrthnn (79773) 2011-08-04 6:13

Hello Abmdsudi,
This craft work is skillfully put in image, by placing sensibly the portrait of this young woman, serious and beautiful. I like colors and light. I appreciate the composition and the quality of the photo. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Crispilandia (842) 2011-08-05 9:24

Hi Abmdsudi,

This is a picture from which much can be learned.
You can learn to create a composition that makes the picture special. You can learn to understand that you are showing us and learn to take photos with great quality.

I really love this picture so didactic and awesome!

Have a great weekend,
Cris

eldancer1 (17008) 2011-08-06 9:04

I like your pov and it has a good dof with selective focusing. Great way to frame the lady. Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

adores (28196) 2011-08-08 16:52

Hi Abmdsudi!
A great daily scene! I really like your pov - The threads seem endless leading our eyes to the woman and her feet are surely a great detail. Then I like the focus on the background, where the woman is. Good work!

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2011-08-09 5:49

Hello abmdsudi,

A very impressive composition of this woman weaving. I like the way she is engrossed in her work of art. You have captured her work ingreat details showing her stretched legs. The light is perfect.

Lakshmi

korbee (6297) 2011-08-10 12:27

Ive seen this many times in the village of my wife in Lake Toba,when they make the famous Ulus clothes,you hav e chosen a good corner Ab.

jan

jemaflor (68867) 2011-08-18 4:23

Hi A,
Great choice for this frame with just a small place for the people at work, interesting pov and depth for your view, well managed, tfs.

Vasa (15970) 2011-08-22 16:11

So worth picture dear friend, the true artisan document. Your note is additional to your generous idea. Compliments for your creative position. Warm regards,

Branko

kato (6761) 2011-08-23 5:12

Hi admdsudi,

You're capturing well the spectacle of this hand-woven by a good composition and excellent tone, it's impressive and interesting to see the spectacle from which cloth is made by handling hands and feet. I think work where time and perseverance exist. In this case, blue strings and brown the background harmonizes well in the point of color balance. I know there is a traditionally excellent cloth well in Indonesia.

Regards,
mikio

BennyV (12759) 2011-08-31 0:42

Hello dear Abmdsudi,

Maybe my favourite among the ones you've posted while I was out. Good pov & I love those feet, haha!

Keep travelling.

Benny

yquem46 (32247) 2011-09-06 0:23

Hi Abmdsudi
One thing that I hate when I stay away from TE for awhile is to miss the good shots that my friends keep posting meanwhile. I have to catch up !
I chosed this one as representative of your gallery
Splendid POV and use of the wide angle to focus our eyes towards the face of the working lady
Excellent
Best to you
Patrick

aliabazari (10105) 2012-11-03 9:25

Hi abmdsudi Dear
Very nice portrait with great lighting. Composition is very beautiful and attractive choice. This perspective is very impressive and powerful.
Thank you for registering for this beautiful picture.

Regards, Ali