The boatmen Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Mekong River
The Mekong is one of the world’s major rivers. It is the 11th-longest river in the world, and the 12th-largest by volume (discharging 475 km³/114 cu mi of water annually). Its estimated length is 4,880 km (3,032 mi), and it drains an area of 810,000 km² (313,000 sq mi).From the Tibetan Plateau it runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. All except China and Burma belong to the Mekong River Commission. A south Asian regional association, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation is named after this river. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls have made navigation extremely difficult.
The river's source, and therefore its exact length, is uncertain, due to the existence of several tributaries in an inaccessible environment. According to the China Science Exploration Association survey, the source is the Lasagongma spring, at an altitude of 5,224 metres (17,139 ft). This spring is located on Mount Guozongmucha, and forms the Zayaqu, which has been identified by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the headwaters of the Mekong, within northwestern China's Qinghai Province.
For more details you can see here

I was on a moving boat as the two fellows were also on the move.

Waylim, AiresSantos, dip, steliosk, Jakab, Tue, syd1946, riclopes, clio, realimis, paura, parbo, azaf1, evanrizo, Vames, josepmarin, kpav, bertolucci, Silvio1953, plimrn, jafadabret, Cricri, saylan-cb, stego, gunbud, salvator, pierrefonds, photovolos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Waylim (10717) 2008-03-30 1:26

The peoples in Laos really don't really have much, but are generally very relaxed and happy people, the evidence as you have captured here. Good job on this image. Good sharpness consider you’re are most likely on a moving boat and you subject are also on the move. Composition I think would a little bit better if you crop a little more on the left so the boys are not so centered. Color and light are well balanced.

Budapestman (41086) 2008-03-30 1:48

Hi Danos,
Excellent daily life shot with attractive horizontal composition, the POV is spectacular. Very fine atmosphere, Very well done! Have a nice Sunday
George

AiresSantos (41468) 2008-03-30 1:51

Hi Danos
Nice capture of the boys on the boat. Very well balanced the colours and light. I like your POV and note
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

dip (12412) 2008-03-30 2:00

Geia sou Dano,
oraia i skini apo to potami,ypotheto oti to kano ekei einai meson metaforas kai oxi psuxagogias opos s'emas,vlepo na gelane kai na xaironte pou vrethikan mprosta ston fako sou :)
Xairetismous,
Dimitris.

steliosk (4784) 2008-03-30 4:17

Allh mia Lamerph apeikonish. De mporw na katalabw pws sou bghke toso fysiko to kafe-sokolati 8a tolmousa na pw, xwris na epphreastoun ta ypoloipa xrwmata sth skhnh sou.
Swsto to cropping dinontas mia panoramikothta estiazontas pio kala sto 8ema.

Xairetw file mou
Stelios

mesutilgim (36337) 2008-03-30 5:01

Hi dear Danos,
My neighbour today !
Very nice capture from Mekong. Good pov and nice fromat.
Very nice notes as well.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Chris3 (511) 2008-03-30 7:17

Γεια σου Δάνο,

Πολύ καλό το σημείο λήψης της φωτογραφίας και φαντάζομαι ότι σου ήταν πολύ δύσκολο εκείνη τη στιγμή να βγάλεις φωτογραφία.Η προσπάθεια ανταμοίβεται και έτσι,το αποτέλεσμα είναι πολύ καλό.Τα χρώματα είναι επίσης πολύ ωραία.

Χαιρετώ,
Χρήστος

Jakab (3408) 2008-03-30 7:34

Hello Danos,
well, we could probably discuss on details (the central position of the figures, not optimal background around the faces etc.) but all these details are of limited importance when compared with the joy to be seen on the faces - despite the sorrowful facts known from this country. (Not to mention the difficulties of photographing when sitting on a tilting boat.)
Have a nice Sunday!
Laszlo

Tue (25608) 2008-03-30 8:29

Hi Danos,
Great capture of the two boys who clearly have a good time in the boat on the water. I like the wide composition. Very well captured and interesting daily life photo, thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

ifanik (20464) 2008-03-30 8:38

Poly omorfh stigmh epiases edw
Moy aresei to xamogelo toys
Poly kalh doyleia
Xairetw
Nikos

syd1946 (17825) 2008-03-30 9:15

Γεια σου Δάνο,
Επιασες πολυ ωραια την στιγμη με τους κωπηλατες,που απο οτι βλεπω το απολαμβανουν ιδιαιτερα.Βρίσκω πολυ ωραια και την μακροστενη βαρκα πισω καθως και το κατατοπιστικο σημειωμα!

πολλους χαιρετιμσους,
Θωμάς

riclopes (32869) 2008-03-30 9:30

Olá Danos, this one brings me good memories. I have many similar photos also taken from a moving boat ;-) The speed of shooting with shallow dof is essential. Excellent result here: it's a good close approach from the front and we can see well that they are both smilling while rowing, which gives a good mood. I like the panoramic format, but I would consider to crop a bit on the left, to make them more off center, even if loosing the boat in the background. I think it would make a stronger composition. I think the place Louangphabank might not be right (Luang Prabang?)
Have a nice end of weekend,
ricardo

clio (22438) 2008-03-30 11:09

Geia sou Dano,
Very beautiful faces with these big smiles which please to see.
A boat with which I shall not cross the Atlantic Ocean but which must be adapted to the Mekong river!
Beautiful scene of the everyday life.
Filka
Diane

pablominto (40056) 2008-03-30 11:55

Hello Danos,
This is a fine daily life documentary!
It is hard to imagine the importance of the river for the people living in the Mekong delta, from birth to old age...
I like the compoosition, good colours & details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

realimis (820) 2008-03-30 16:11

Γεια σου Δάνε,
η φωτογραφία σου σε συνδυασμό με το σημείωμά σου μας κάνει να "γνωρίσουμε" τις καθημερινές συνήθειες των ανθρώπων γύρω από τον ποταμό Μεκονγκ!Χθες διάβαζα για 1 ψηφ. περιβάλλον [Mekong e-Sim]που υλοποιεί αυθεντική μάθηση(learning from real-life data)& εχει ως κεντρική ιδέα αυτόν τον ποταμό! Ηταν ευχάριστη έκπληξη για μένα η φωτογραφία σου καθώς λειτούργησε και "δαφωτιστικά"!Συγχαρητήρια για την λήψη σου!Οι 2 χαμογελαστοί κωπηλάτες κλέβουν τις εντυπώσεις! Ωραίοι γήινοι χρωματισμοί!
Ευχαριστούμε!
Rene

paura (37896) 2008-03-30 16:26

Danos,
Interesting compo, with excellent DEP. Very interesting composition indeed.

regards

Paulo

parbo (10964) 2008-03-30 18:28

Hello Danos,

You captured a difficult frame while you and target objects are moving. The color of water and especially the colors of biggest boat at background reminds me boat colors here. Excellent focus while creating depth with minimal subjects. Congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

evanrizo (456) 2008-03-31 4:52

Χαρούμενοι, τρισευτυχισμένοι κωπηλάτες!
Γειά σου Δάνο,
Πολύ ωραίο-ειδυλλιακό σκηνικό.
Το καδράρισμα της ταιριάζει πολύ.
Καλό απόγευμα
Βαγγέλης

barrufeto_77 (25619) 2008-03-31 5:12

Hi Danos.

Maybe too bit centered? Im not sure about this point. Anyway, a "fresh" image and that boys looking at you are great!

Rgs, Oscar

Vames (4356) 2008-03-31 6:22

γεια σου Δάνο,υπέροχη λήψη με την δραστηριότητα της νεολέας στην χώρα του Λάος.όμορφο τοπίο διαφορετικό για εμάς αλλά μου αρέσει αυτή η κουλτούρα της περιοχής !

Miha2ou7 (4887) 2008-03-31 7:06

Hey Danos,

Thats a nice photo, very well composed, focused and cropped. It also features very nice colors and sharpness. The spirit of the country I guess. Well done.

See you around.

josepmarin (33611) 2008-03-31 8:10

Hi Danos,
There is many action in this capture, is a composition dynamic and well realized in spite of the movement.
I like how you have caught the looks and the smiles of both fellows in the boat, with a good environment, and the graphical result that you have obtained.
Good POV and good broad landscape format.
Best regards,
Josep

mursaloglu (5068) 2008-03-31 8:30

Γεια σου Δάνο
I've been last year in the same place and I liked so much this marvelous country. Your picture is great because there is a great balancing effect one diagonal other horizontal, between the 2 boats here and great light on them. Bravo ihsan

UnTrained (0) 2008-03-31 8:50

Kalimera Danos,
I like the composition in this format, those two moving to us and the bank is far away. Friendly faces and an explaining note.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

kpav (5023) 2008-03-31 10:08

Γεια σου Δάνο, πολύ επιτυχημένη λήψη δεδομένων και των δύσκολων συνθηκών. Προσωπικά σπάνια καταφέρνω να βγάλω καλή φωτογραφία από βάρκα, στη πλειοψηφία τους βγαίνουν στραβές ή κουνημένες ή και τα δύο. Τα χαμόγελα των δύο κοπηλατών είναι το δυνατό σημείο εδώ. Μου αρέσει πολύ και η ιδιαίτερη μακρόστενη βάρκα πίσω. Πολύ καλό και περιεκτικό το συνοδευτικό σημείωμα. Σε χαιρετώ,
Κώστας.

bertolucci (11976) 2008-03-31 12:01

Kalispera Dano, the low PoV paid off really nice here - the cheerfulness of the boys in the boat is caught directly and effectively. A very nice, and due to the pano format also a cinematic, slice of Mekong river life!
Have a fine week,
Bert

plimrn (19558) 2008-03-31 15:22

Hi Danos,
These cheerful paddlers popped up in random and I couldn't resist them. I like the triangle that the two boats make as well. Very interesting note as well.
HLj, Pat

lexan (843) 2008-03-31 16:31

Poli oreo stigmiotipo pou se taxideuei se meri makrina eidika otan den mporeis na pas!

Alexandros

azaf1 (15541) 2008-04-01 0:41

Kalimera Dane
Para poli kali kai h simerini poli zontani kai afthormiti me poli kaalo POV kai xromata. Poli kali douleia me tin ipografi tou kallitexni anexitili.
filika
Argiris

jafadabret (39033) 2008-04-01 1:38

Hi Danos.
C'est une photo qui fait plaisir à voir avec les sourires de ces enfants qui sont heureux sur leur embarcation.
Bonne photo reportage.
Jacques

Silvio1953 (40933) 2008-04-01 5:50

Hi Danos, lovely composition with two child on boat, beautiful colors, great view of splendid river, very well done, ciao Silvio

Angshu (33346) 2008-04-03 0:25

Hello Danos
A couple of very happy boatmen (or boat boys?) rowing towards you. Like the longboat in the BG as well as the small cultivations on the far bank. From the pano format it does appear that you cropped height wise. Maybe a little crop on the left as well to keep the subjects off-centre?! But I also like the way it is now. Well done!
Regards
Angshu

Cricri (42894) 2008-04-03 8:58

Hi Danos,
C'est un beau pays que vous avez visiter..
une belle scéne de ses deux enfants sur la riviére s'amenant vers vous, des couleurs belles et naturels, compliment
Best regards
cricri

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-04-04 2:30

Kalimera Danos,
Very nice capture,great image and good light,colours,POV is very good.
TFS/Regards

stego (22340) 2008-04-06 16:55

Hi Danos,
A vivid scene, nicely composed and exposed. Maybe I would prefer that the boys were even more off centred.
Regards, José.

gunbud (27585) 2008-04-13 18:50

Hi Danos,
Great capture of these happy paddlers seen smiling brighly as they paddle towards your lens. Very clear colors with excating details and sharpness to this fine river shot.
Regards, Tom

salvator (18759) 2008-04-18 1:46

Yasu Danos,
Nice capture of these boatmen. The pov, their expressions, and the dark colors look very nice.
Se xereto. Salvator.

pierrefonds (25953) 2008-04-28 15:07

Hi Danos,

A good capture of a daily life activity, people crossing the Mekong river on a small boat. The point of view is showing the happiness of the persons. The subject is well framed. The light brings out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

photovolos (931) 2008-05-27 9:18

Καλησπέρα φίλε.Όμορφη σκηνή με έντονη και ζεστή την ανθρώπινη παρουσία να δεσπόζει.Τα χρώματα συμπαθητικά .Σχετικά με τη σύνθεση ;Υποθέτω ίσως οτι μάλλον
"ξαφνιάστηκες" και τοποθέτησες τα παιδιά εντελώς στο κέντρο...
Χαιρετώ γιάννης.