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Padi Watch


Padi Watch
Photo Information
Copyright: Rabani HMA (rabani) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 1 N: 3159] (9147)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-02-12
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-02-16 4:35
Viewed: 810
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In a few weeks, it will be padi harvesting season in some areas in Sabah, especially in Kota Belud. From here on in, the young and budding padi ears is very very vulnerable to pests, especially pipits.

To minimize collateral damages to their harvest by this avian pest, padi farmers erect makeshift watchtower overlooking their plot with a family member, manning it. From this watchtower, the guard chases or shoos away any marauding pipits coming to land.

Padi farmers also erect scarescrows and clothed stick figures, in an attempt to frighten away the pipits, but usually this is futile. There are times, you can see tens of pipits sitting on the arms of a scarescrow, on a show of defiance to the farmer.

The third device in the farmer's bag of trick is the "fluttering plastic bag" trick. The farmer stretches long strings radiating from the watchtower to the edges of his plot. Along this string, he ties plastic bags and sound producing objects. Either when he shakes the string or the wind does it for him, it is enough to bother the pipits away.

In the photo, a padi farmer and his two children watchdogging from a thatched watchtower, overlooking his padi fields.
apache, chaity, kclai, keanfan has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To kclai: 85mm Vs 420mmrabani 2 02-16 22:59
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Critiques [Translate]

Bani,thank you for sharing the rural Malaysian way of living with us.It reminds us of how simple life can be but necessarily easy! Well captured!

Hi Rabani,
The green in this picture is really enticing. The surroundings look very similar to that in my native Kerala. The shed at the left nicely balances the shot and is a nice addition to the darker background.
Nice shot
Ranjith

  • Great 
  • kamRi (0)
  • [2006-02-16 11:55]

really miss my hometown...

  • Great 
  • chaity Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 437 W: 16 N: 332] (1534)
  • [2006-02-16 19:10]

Hi Rabani, such a lovely grren photo you have here. Useful note and even better than the textbook I learned in school about padi field. 8-)

  • Great 
  • kclai Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 38 N: 506] (2259)
  • [2006-02-16 20:30]
  • [+]

Hi Rabani
Well, something mother's nature creates live to bring joy and wonders but something her creation brings damages to certain individuals, like the paddy farmers in Kota Belud.
A well captured image with cool and vivid green colors.
I noticed that you are using the compact DC for this shot which give the exposure value at f/4.5 against 1/80s. Why not your Rebel?
It will give a better image in terms of clarity and sharpness.
Cheers.
Eric Lai

Very good 'in action' shot, Rabani. You have given a very common landscape in Malaysia a unique perspective - well done. :)

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