Tak Bat in Luang Prabang Photo

Photographer’s Note

Before the sunrise....

The Tak Bat is a profound expression of generosity, a cardinal virtue for the Lao people, and is a significant source of religious merit for the Buddhist community. It is probably the closest religious interaction between lay people and monks. Whenever it is performed, it is done with a profound sense of beauty and affection, with piety, care, thoughtfulness, and with deep commitment. Most of the Buddhist believers of Luang Prabang practice this ritual every morning. At sunrise, they prepare the offerings by cooking the rice and kneeling on a mat, in silence, waiting for the monks to approach, their heads and feet bare in humility. They quickly and silently place a small amount of rice in the monks’ alms bowl without making eye contact. Sometimes cakes and fruits are offered. They practice this generous act with joy knowing that it will benefit them, their living or departed relatives, and all beings.

For their part, the monks meditate on impermanence and on the meaning of the offerings they receive, which symbolise their intentional poverty, humility, and dependency on the lay community for their material needs. When they return to the monastery, they share the rice, accompanied by other dishes prepared by the community. They eat this first meal of the day in silence.

ilghiz, bullybeef53, BennyV, Jeppo, Floydian, Jardim, leo61, Morac, Dyerco, mikele_pl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ilghiz (476) 2008-04-19 1:57

This is a beautiful perspective.
I like the way it blurs away
and the straight line (not perfectly but almost straight) created by the monks.
The color scheme is just wonderful:
warm and peaceful, neither over- nor undrsaturated.

bullybeef53 (3231) 2008-04-19 1:59

Alain ,
Great DOF and educational note.
Jim

BennyV (4972) 2008-04-19 2:01

Aah...another picture to make us look forward to our next trip to Asia during which we plan to visit Luang Prabang. You captured the atmosphere very well in this simple, but very efficient composition. Not a single note to disturb the feeling. Great!

Benny

Jeppo (12186) 2008-04-19 2:12

Salut Alain,

une note très interessante.
belle perspective et couleurs.

bravo
Silvio

everlasting (10942) 2008-04-19 2:12

Alain, this can only be framed vertically, the line of monks fading into the bokehed zone with your well chosen DOF. Tones give a sombre touch to the image and your women give the added interst and complte the scene. (I just wish she concentrated more on the monks and not on you)

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-19 2:14

Hi Alain,
I saw this on tv last week at a travel program. Looks very interesting and when i go to Laos i would go there. Looks very colourful, but also the whole ritual looks very interesting. Your vertical composition from the back is something new instead of making it in front. Love how the second woman helds her hand in to the basket to spend her donation to the monk and the woman in front looking if there are more to come...wonderful, great eye and timing..!!!
Have a nice weekend, Henk

Hunkar (4982) 2008-04-19 2:24

A nice picture with vivid colors

Jardim (3197) 2008-04-19 2:48

Olá Alain,

Good colors and perspective wich express very well the generosity and relation between lay people and monks.
Júlio Jardim

leo61 (44080) 2008-04-19 3:21

Hi Alain!
Excellent composition,great POV and a well chosen format.Well done with the focus at the women and the last novice in this long row.
Regards,Leo

KLB (18335) 2008-04-19 3:41

Salut Alain

Tes photos de votre tour du monde sont toujours un vrai bonheur.
Une fois encore, tu réussis à nous faire partager un rituel important, presque à le ressentir tellement le moment est superbement figé.
L'expression des deux fidèles est très forte et illustre parfaitement ta note. "ferveur, concentration, sérieux et une grande implication" résonnent encore plus en admirant le regard de ces femmes.
Bravo et merci pour ce reportage quotidien.

Karine

Morac (21099) 2008-04-19 4:26

Bonjour Alain,

Belle composition en deux temps : l'alignement des moines dans leu quête matinale et les les femmes dans leur offrande.

Cette scène est belle.
Amicalement

Marc

Dyerco (9378) 2008-04-19 5:02

Hi Alain
This very well done with the shallow DOF the last monk is nicely focused while the others trail off. You caught the interaction between the young monk and the woman just right. Thanks for the write up.
Phil

vincz (19071) 2008-04-19 12:55

C'est super bien fait. malgre une lumiere un peu difficile (je ne suis jamais arrive a etre staisfait de ces lumieres matinales a Luang Prabang) le resultat est excellent avce ces deux jeunes femmes denat et le chois de DOF. Bravo.

marietom (32266) 2008-04-20 10:22

Salut Alain,

Sympa une fois de plus, ce bout de reportage. La photo, avec cette file orange, et ces deux fidèles à genoux au premier plan est très bien composée. Note intéressante en plus...
Bon we
Marie

tapdur (1912) 2008-04-20 12:17

c'est une quête spirituelle ;-)

Bruno

ricochet (4818) 2008-04-20 15:09

Bonjour Alain
Une superbe composition avec une très belle profondeur/perspective dans l'image et un excellent cadrage!
Bravo à toi c'est toujours un réel plaisir de découvrir tes clichés!
Amicalement
Eric

jjcordier (25412) 2008-04-21 13:54

Alain
Je découvre ta galerie et je me demande comment j'ai pu passer à côté de tant de superbes photos. Trop tard pour tout commenter mais le cœur y est. Très impressionné!
Amicalement
JJ

mikele_pl (2308) 2008-06-17 14:29

Hi Alain,
this is a great daily life photo, very spiritual indeed. I like the perspective, with such a long line of monks. Superb!
Greetings
Michal