Washing day Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

August 21 2005 was a Sunday.

Wandering around Luang Prabang and the many temples (most people here will know that Luang Prabang has the greatest density of temples in the whole of Laos) I spotted many saffron robes hanging out in the sun.

I later spoke to a novice and questioned him about the robes -- as it turns out Sunday is washing day and one of the very few days that novice monks get to spend time to themselves. During the six day week the hours are long and there is little time left after all of the chores, lessons, personal study and prayer are over. A hard but fulfilling life.

BrittanyS, pilpel-adom has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

BrittanyS (227) 2006-02-20 2:55

I just looked through most of your photos from southeast Asia, and I must say, very inspiring and excellent work.
This image is no exception to your wonderful photographic work, with the bright colours and useful information provided.

Zepi (22848) 2006-02-20 3:23

Hello Lewis,
Une scène typiquement Thaï.
J’aime bien ce orange qui semble égailler tous les temples thaïlandais !
Une belle prise de vue, soudaine, et bien mise en valeur.
Beau travail
Merci pour le partage
Amicalement,
Sébastien

Darren (6817) 2006-02-20 3:33

Hi Lewis. I am writing this from a net cafe, so I might be wrong, but I do wish the monk was a little more brightly lit. Perhaps you could do some dodging or work with curves to brighten him? Again, it might just be the monitor I am working on. I realy like pretty much everything else about the photos. Monks' robes always add such great colors to photos. I really like how he has one hand on the wall and one tucked behind him; it seems such a characteristic pose for a young monk. Nice shot.

pilpel-adom (3016) 2006-02-20 6:01

A nice and simple picture, Lewis! I like the composition very much, the connection between the monk and his simple and modest clothes, the colors vivid as their life is...Good note too!
TFS
Chen

atus (15452) 2006-02-20 7:40

Hi Lewis,
nicely framed and very well composed shot with an excellent contrast between the orange robes and the rest.Congrats!
Attila

markoci (3917) 2006-02-20 9:53

a really well composed shot, i like how you included the wall to frame it. colours look good, i like the textures, especially the bamboo. the monk doesn't look too dark to me (at least not on my monitor) and after all he is apparently in the shadow, i think it'd be unnatural to "lighten" him up. he's a nice contrast to the beautiful orange robe.

xavshot (62419) 2006-02-20 13:03

Bonsoir Lewis,
j'aime beaucoup ta compo bine équilibrée avec des couleurs extras. La présence de ce novice est bien vue. C'est très bien fait
Bravo
Xavier

rbcy1974 (20742) 2006-02-20 17:29

Hello Lewis
Nice daily life scene
very colourful, I think you should use higlighst/shadows to decrease the shadow on the monk
A+
Daniel

jinju (14265) 2006-02-21 3:31

Nicely distributed elements in the frame. You also got the monk unaware, giving this shot a natural, unforced feel. A bit dark in the left where the monk is, a bit of a pity. But compo is first class.

besir1 (2470) 2006-03-04 7:43