Sulu huts on stilts Photo

Photographer’s Note

East side of Maiga island, looking south. The Suluks built their wooden huts in the sea on stilts, and use boats as mode of transport. After arrival later afternoon, I took a stroll around the island's beach. This shot was taken around 4.30pm and it was sunny sky on the east side while the west side of island was cloudy and gloomy.

The sea Bajau originated from south Philippines islands in 1972, but later the Suluks came in 1980. Basically they live a nomadic way. Most of the islanders are now living at both sides of southern part of island. (An article and study was made, titled A Giant Sandbox in the Sun.) The way of life here is simply difficult for us to understand, but the islanders are happy people for the true sense of the word.

Thank you for viewing. Regards, Bill

How to get here?

Fly from KL or Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, take the road to Semporna, hire a boat to any islands of your choice and stay 2 nights, plenty of rooms available in resorts or homestays at Mabul or Kapalai islands.

Angshu, TopGeo, wishlist, lilimih33, lucasgalodoido, jusninasirun, crckt, snunney, saylan-cb, jlbrthnn, Gerrit, delkoo, capthaddock has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Miha2ou7 (4913) 2008-03-17 9:49

Hey Bill,

What can one say. Beside being utterly envious, to the fact that you live in a land with so many wonders, A supreme tropical motive. Beautifully composed, the wide angle is just right for this shot, giving a sense of .. wideness. :) Great colors, the palms add a lot to the ambient.

See you around.

TopGeo (21811) 2008-03-17 10:04

Hi Bill! excellent shot!I admire your beautiful picture! I like to the composition the background with the clouds the strange houses in water and the palms that give a natural beauty.
Geo

saigon (5497) 2008-03-17 10:25

bonjour BILL.
jolie petite plage que tout nous presente la!
j'aime beaucoup les bunwgalows sous pilotis!
amitiés....aldo.

wishlist (4133) 2008-03-17 13:26

Hello Bill,
beautiful shot well balanced and composed, with the palm trees on the right and the house in the water on the left; the branches in the fg added a good depth and all of the elements seem to be in the right place. I really like the beautiful atmosphere you brought in.
Thanks for sharing it.
Regards,

Igor

lilimih33 (9874) 2008-03-17 13:50

Hello Bill!
Nice and calm place!
Good point of view and beautiful colours!
Well done!
Best regards!
Lili

lucasgalodoido (16603) 2008-03-17 13:52

Hi Bill,
beautifuk view of this place and interesting this upper houses. I´d like of the colors in photo and quality. Great work my friend.
Congratulations anf Hug!

skippy007 (7053) 2008-03-17 16:49

Hi Bill,
A beautiful well composed shot. great colours, the houses on stilts, the reflections, clouds & palms come together to make it a peaceful atmosphere. Interesting note.
Well done.
Regards
Santo

crckt (7076) 2008-03-17 19:24

Hi Bill,
This is quite a spectacular view, you've shot it wonderuflly. Love the colors and the little huts.
Well done,
Shaeri

jusninasirun (10205) 2008-03-18 0:24

Hello Bill. I can see that you have picked up some wonderful tips from Mr R on the Sea Bajau which is very signatory in his gallery. I can see that you have done a lot of calculation before taking the shot from your note about the sky situation. You have become more analytical and the engineer's blood in you have been transfered to the ingenuity of photography. The shot is flawless in every sense. The detail is pristine and the whole composition is so dreamy. I can just tie a hammock between those two palms and laze about the whole day not doing anything. Really well done Bill and please allow me to add this to my favorite's and personal theme. Best regards. Jusni
p/s: My wife takes pictures and mostly snapshots :-)

mehmetemin (7217) 2008-03-18 1:03

Hi Bill
A very beautiful view and the composition wonderful colours,lighting
regards
Mehmet Emin

snunney (34914) 2008-03-18 1:53

Hello Bill,
A well chosen point of view for this peaceful tropical scene. The beach makes a very good lead-line towards the little huts and the soaring palm trees. Very good colours and clarity.

molla (6883) 2008-03-18 3:42

hej Bill,
The frame suit this image better than the Icon island one, I never made it out to this Island when I was ther, but I spend time out on an Island called "Bangi" (which is a long story ). the houses here almost looks like giant insects, and it's hard to belive any one would live in them when the sea gets ruff.
Anders

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-03-18 4:27

Hi Bill
Very nice place!Great POV and soft colours,well done.
TFS/Regards

jlbrthnn (38011) 2008-03-18 4:55

Hello Bill,
They are superb these typical huts, with thousand legs. The palm trees add to the exotic decoration. Excel work very quite carried out in a soft light.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Rosa (4591) 2008-03-18 5:23

Hello Bill,
Belle vue sur ces maisons sur pilotis et ces environs verdoyantes comme ces palmiers, un ciel majestueux,
Tres beau POV,
merci pour le partage ,
Amitiés,
Rosa.

gracious (20017) 2008-03-18 17:37

Hello Lau,
From the postings I know that you had a wonderful trip!
Lovely scene from Semporna well captured here with a good pov to show the main subject with sharpness, nice colouration and details
thanks for the notes too
well done
Tony

Karmenu (1384) 2008-03-21 4:58

Hi Bill
What a romantic and cool atmosphere here. A realu nice exotic beach. Very nice colours.
Really beutiful.
Best regards
Charles

Angshu (33665) 2008-03-22 0:45

Hello Bill
A beautiful place as it appears. Well captured using the diagonal of the beach as perspective, leading us to those huts on stilts with nice reflections. Keeping the green grass stretch & the trees on the right creates good balance here. Good work!
Regards
Angshu

Gerrit (35733) 2008-03-23 14:51

Hi Bill,
fantastic subject and taken in an outstanding way. The composition is perfect and the light is well controlled.
Regards< gerrit

delkoo (34296) 2008-03-24 1:07

hi bill
You were there at the right moment to get this surprising tropical seascape, with that lovely houses On piles.

best regards
didier

Bluejeans (32335) 2008-03-24 12:19

Ola Bill,
Que bela praia tropical , com palmeiras a beira mar , muito bonitas as casas dentro de agua , gostei dos reflexos , o céu ficou fantástico , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Waylim (10817) 2008-03-27 18:55

Bill,
this looks like a very Relaxing vacation spot. Beuatifully captured with great detail and sharpness. Colors and light is very well balanced. Good composition too and good note.
Way

capthaddock (28640) 2008-03-28 20:25

Wonderful, peaceful and authentic place, I like the how to get there note, very informative.

I would crop a little from the right and from the top, to make the houses more prominent, that much sky and that many coconuts aren't that important in this case and in my opinion.

foozi (4719) 2009-02-14 19:51

Hi Bill,
I always like the Sabah scenes you capture. they are indeed beautiful.Excellent clarity and composition.
i was thinking when will I be taking this beautiful scenic beach and people's life.
Well composed shot.

regards,
foozi