~ IWD ~, a photo from Nusa Tenggara Timur, Nusa Tenggara

Photographer's Note

International Women's Day & Coconuts Galore
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March 8th is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. At the heart of every human experience is the desire to survive, prosper and to live without fear, hunger or suffering. To imagine how life could be better and then have the means to change it, yet everyday millions of people still cannot fulfil their most basic needs, let alone attain their dreams or desires.

This was taken in Bekeh village, a remote seaside village in Riung district on my routine late afternoon photo hunting. The opportunity I cant simply resist, the shaded area filled by the sea of humble coconuts soaked in the late afternoon sun caught my attention. Besides fishing, these rural folks rely on plantation and subsistence farming; coconuts, vanilla, cocoa, cashew nuts and coffee are amongst the major crops.

The tedious work of processing into copra is a significant rural economic activity here where the hard working women and the whole family members are directly engaged, working more than eight hours a day.
Their daily life goes on with all hardships...

My today's upload is dedicated to women of Flores, may they all be a potential contributor in the development of their own family and communities.

Silvio1953, Noel_Byrne, claudeD, papagolf21, jusninasirun, bayno, Cricri, marabu61, adramad, siolaw, delpeoples, ourania, krzychu30, maloutim, macjake, Angshu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (98217) 2013-03-08 6:57

Ciao Abmdsudi, lovely dedication for woman's day, fashinating composition, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Noel_Byrne (7426) 2013-03-08 8:07

Hi Abmdsudi,
This is a great dedication for the day, and a fascinating image too, your composition has made this a really intriguing image. The colours of the pile of coconuts is cool, it looks almost like a pile of sea creatures!
All the best
Noel

siudzi (23939) 2013-03-08 9:05

Hi Abmdsudi,
Excellent shot taken from a well selected POV to present this daily life scene. The composition looks extremely attractive and eye-catching executed with such a strong color contrast. Well seen and done. TFS.

Best,
Gosia

pajaran (36270) 2013-03-08 9:36

Pozdrav.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o mestu i trenutku ...
Lepa fotografija za 8. mart, dan zena.
Dobar trenutak snimka, kontrast, lepe boje.
Sve najbolje za vikend.
Srecno.
Paja.

Greetings.
Very interesting and good article on the place and time ...
Beautiful images for 8 March, Women's Day.
A good time recording, contrast, beautiful color.
All the best for the weekend.
Good luck.
Paja.

claudeD (24173) 2013-03-08 9:49

Hello ,

Very fine picture with a good composition and nice sharpness. Like your note very much. Love the shot very much.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

holmertz (26980) 2013-03-08 10:24

Hello Abmdsudi,
At first this picture puzzled me and I had to look closely to identify the coconuts. It's an original photo and a fine composition nicely held together by the women in opposite corners. I am sure they are well deserved of your dedication. Personally I have been deeply impressed by the brave, strong women of Africa who work hard to keep their families together and their children fed, often under difficult conditions.
Best regards,
Gert

Fis2 (73124) 2013-03-08 10:32

Witaj Abmdsudi!
A very i8nteresting scene.
I like frame and colors.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof

carlo62 (12636) 2013-03-08 13:28

Ciao Abmdsudi
bella dedica per questo giorno importante in tutto il mondo, festeggi le donne con una bella immagine che parla dell'importante lavoro che fannpo ogni giorno.
Saluti
Carlo

papagolf21 (76603) 2013-03-08 14:31

Bonsoir, Abmdsudi,
Très belle présentation adaptée pour la journée de la femme.
Sujet fort bien réalisé à tous points de vue.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jusninasirun (17138) 2013-03-08 17:09

Salam Bro.
I must say wow.... and another wow.....
I was thinking what is this picture about from the thumbnail. Those white flesh provides dynamic graphism in this fantastic image. Excellent dedication from a fine work from very good photographer's eyes.
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend.
Jusni

bayno (16213) 2013-03-08 20:58

Ciao Abmdsudi,
From the thumbnail I did not understand what it was, but to my surprise after opening the image, I found this beautiful scene and this beautiful dedication to women, i like how your framing and the POV from the back, also good managed of the difficult light, perfect exposure with only 100 iso....EXCELLENT SHOT AND WORK....
have a good WE...
Valter

jemaflor (69011) 2013-03-09 0:23

Hi A,
A well composed photo with people in the corner, originla with all these coconuts, good light management, tfs.

npecanhuk (53913) 2013-03-09 5:15

Hello Abmdsudi!
Very interesting daily life picture!
Highlights here are the chosen pov, composition, colors and exposure!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Cricri (86501) 2013-03-09 5:26

Hi Abmdsudi
Impressionnant toutes ces noix de coco avec les dames autour d'elles, bon POV, intéressante image et note
Belle journée
cricri

marabu61 (3938) 2013-03-09 15:17

Hello Abmdsudi
Very fitting subject as a contribution to the international womens day.
Interesting sight with all those coconuts. I imagine that this is quite a ardous work to cut and clean them all.
have a good sunday
Daniel

adramad (27556) 2013-03-10 9:47

Hello Abmdsudi.
A stunning and very original composition, I is the first time I see this show with this huge amount of coconuts open to sunlight, those women who are doing their jobs with the same, put a note of vitality to the image.
The range of soft colors in this range is gorgeous.
The brightness is perfect, just as the good sharpness.
Enjoy a good nigth.
Best wishes.
Luis.

siolaw (37568) 2013-03-11 6:44

Hi Abmdsudi
A nice view with all the coconuts on the way to become coprah and oil.... The late afternoon light on the scene gave it a special, intimate mood.
Cool shot
Laurent

sevy (13273) 2013-03-11 8:26

Very funny and graphic subject. A carpet of coconuts, it is not so usual and make the interest of this shot.
It was worth to do shots of that.
I feel you would have been more confortable with a bit wider angle view lens :-)

Yves.

delpeoples (45006) 2013-03-12 0:58

Dear Abmdsudi

What a wonderful way to celebrate IWD. These hard working ladies deserve it more than most. This is such an unusual shot, where your human subject is turned away from the camera, tending those precious coconuts. They make a wonderful graphism and their sheer numbers are something to behold. Thanks for your note, it's fascinating and my heart goes out to these ladies who work so hard for their money.

Warm regards
Lisa

ourania (12427) 2013-03-12 14:06

Hello Abmdsudi,
this picture has an effective composition that conveys a lot about the daily life of women in this place. We see little of them in the foreground and close to the right border of the frame. As it's almost evening and they 've been working all day, they look very tired. The "sea of coconuts" in front of them fills the frame with vibrant contrasting tones and patterns but also symbolizes, in my opinion, the multitude of chores, tasks, duties and loads they have to deal with every day. They deserve respect and a better future too. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely day,
Ourania

krzychu30 (8897) 2013-03-17 14:50

Hello Abmdsudi,
very nice contribution to honour all women,especially these from Flores-like in this shot.
It´s a great documentary photo showing us these women at work-daily struggle with all hardships.
Technically the image is flaweless-it has above all magnificent light,with so nicely captured play of light&shade,whichhelps to create so unique mood of this scene.

Kind regards
Krzysztof

macjake (39235) 2013-03-23 2:13

Hi Abmdsudi
a very thoughtful dedication here, and well deserved.
looking through your gallery, as i've said before, its hard to pick only 1 of your shots :)
I chose this one because of the unique POV and the large # of coconuts that gave the scene a really smart look.
very well done, and the written note shows the time and effort you put into it.
cheers
craig

Angshu (51174) 2013-03-26 3:52

Salam Abmdsudi
This is quite an amazing shot...I have never seen coconuts being sold like this, spread out like a carpet, even though coconuts grow aplenty in my country! The mellow light creates a fine mood. Your POV standing behind the lady seller allows us to have a 'first person' view of the scene. Fine work & a fine contribution dedicated to the women
Best Regards
Angshu