"Traditional Sumo" Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Sumo hall of Ryogoku in Tokyo, Japan.

Two Sumo wrestlers (Rikishi) enter the ring (Dhoyo) for their impending battle. Sumo is a very ancient Japanese sport; even in this modern day the sport is steeped in tradition such as the use of salt for purification (as seen being thrown by the Rikishi on the left.
The referee or Gyoji is the man in the traditional green silk outfit.

I'll try to post a few more shots in the coming days.

All the best,
- Dan

pauloog, Wanda1, leo61, BelCan75 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pauloog (6963) 2009-04-05 8:51

Hello Dan,
Mainly seen on television, but you well captured the atmosphere with the crowd, the salt, the champions, the referee... A really fine composition with the people in the foreground matching the curve of the circle.
And good light and colours too.
Well done.
regards,
Paul

Wanda1 (11015) 2009-04-05 21:12

Hi Dan,
A great mood here not only in the ring but surrounding it as well. Very good clarity and exposure to get all the fine details in this indoor enviroment. Really cool that we can see some of the tradition still being done and I love the grains of salt that are clearly visisble. A very well documented shot.
Regards
Wanda

leo61 (43830) 2009-04-05 21:30

Hi Dan!
Sometimes I watch it at Eurosport and I wish i mcan take part in such an event some day,as a spectator of course.....
Your POV is excellent here and you had a good timing to catch the salt in the air.Sharpness and colors are great.
Regards,leo

BelCan75 (2420) 2009-04-09 11:25

Hi Dan,

Very interesting shot! I like how you capture the motion of the salt thrown by one of the wrestlers. Great POV of the wrestling rink with great colours and details. I like your info as well. Great work, Dan!

Greetings,
Ann

Manamo (3474) 2009-04-09 12:55

hey Dan,
I would like to assist to sumo wrestling.
Is it still taken very seriously tradition-wise, or is it just a show, a way to make money?
Do the sumo train at all? That would be interesting to see too!
I like to see hte difference of size between the sumo (Rikishi??) and the referee(???) and also the ones who brooms behind the athletes.
I think this would look even better if the bottom was cropped to the ring, keeping the crowd int he bg...but that wold require a slightly higher pov to eliminates those heads...anyway, I'm just rambling now.
see you,
Marc