School's In Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Sometimes, it's nice going back to old stuff and the basics. As I'm refurbishing my pbase BW gallery I'm into a vast operation of scanning and processing what's to be included, starting from the beginnings. I realize I've completely forgotten some images and didn't even consider them at the time I edited my negs, though some may appear quite pleasant (or maybe am I softening too much...).

Winogrand was right : you have to leave some time before you view what was actually recorded on the film. 8 years is enough for me.

Even though I forgot about the image, I won't then select any exposure/aperture values, I didn't forget the moments I spent at Penimbawan stilt village on Borneo. The teacher came out to salute and introduce us to the classroom. Fortunately, the photographer friend, I had made the trip with, was a highschool teacher... I left them comparing scholarships, I didn't want to bother too.

------------------------------------------------

Maaan, after initial doubts, I'm finally a self satisfied man. I looked in depth at this particular neg to see where I could find some quality pics, tucked within 36 odd frames. I came up with this one, and this, also this image, and forgot frame 36 : not bad altogether on one neg, eh? ... Maybe I'm not just a writer... ;)

luisafonso, faubry, AmiBe, designsoul, AnimeshRay, tcht, sidstakes, eleparc, kajspice, bfly, KevRyan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

partha (13667) 2007-06-20 9:48

Hi,
Great shot. very good perspective and the expression of the boy at the middle is so interesting. Excellent angle and B&W is a very good choice.
Regards.
partha

luisafonso (858) 2007-06-20 10:19

Thanks for the ride in time with frame 36. 2003! Wow! It's a terrific good photo and it was cool to see the reviewers at that time (Adam included...). I can see that your pp has changed (for better I think) but the ability for writing great notes has remained. Let's see if I linger all this time and - above all - if I can go back all this time and still find good unposted pictures. This reminds me the photos of Simon. Although not the same refined quality nor the same b&w tones, the subject are very much to the liking of Simon. I like your compo, the way you includes in the story, staring by the door. That smile and look of the center kid is key here. A good shot!

Furachan (0) 2007-06-20 12:36

There you go - another fine R5 shot from way back when. Really crisp and tightly composed this one - a kind of Malaysian "Grand Meaulnes" atmosphere...
If I followed the Winogrand precept, I don't think there would be any pictures left to show ;D

AmiBe (6042) 2007-06-20 12:39

Hello Luko,
dommage de l'avoir laissé de côté si longtemps.
Le PP a bien évolué en 4 ans :)
Bien cadré, le regard parcours cette classe de l'entré jusque vers les cancres du fond.
Je suis aussi ravi que tu te décides enfin à mettre plus de photos sur pbase, par contre il me faudrait un certain password :) please :)
a+

designsoul (21394) 2007-06-20 13:01

Hello Luko. To me there's a definite HCB quality to this one, the bright face of the boy is lovely as it emerges in the shadowy room; the whole composition is a wonderful play of light and dark. Love the bw choice here. I have a slight reservation about the pink cast of your other scanned shots, though No. 36 just fills me with softness...
sasa

nerve (10212) 2007-06-20 15:27

nice, kind of "s" shape.. but too many 'cute' kids you know, so? ;)) Cheers.
(joking)

Ps. oh, just read your comment to sasha now after the shape comment. oh well..

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-06-20 17:03

Luko,
A superb image! The technical quality is astounding, fit for an example to teach from in a course in photography...the detail and constrast are marvelous, extending from the foreground to the end without being unduly harsh. The lens has rendered a very Summilux like softness and luminosity. The back wall visible through the glass pane is just fantastic, as is the subtle highlight on the hair of the children. Compositional elements are flawless...details are wonderful, such as the expression on the face of the standing boy, the water jug beside him, or the arithmetic on the wall outside the class room speak volumes about the character of the subjects and the place.

This is really multiple pleasures, because of all the other links that you provided. It was a goldmine of a day for you it seems.

I am so awed by your photographic skill that I am intrigued to learn of your writing, hoping that it is not in French?
Regards,
Animesh

PS: Now I see the S...my monitor is small so I need to move the frame up and down to see the full length...ard to recognize it first in such a handicap but once alerted to it I see its elegant form. Very nice indeed!

tcht (7298) 2007-06-20 17:19

Hi Luko
what a timeless masterpiece,so much expression and happiness from the classroom, especially the smiling face of the boy on the nearest table.
also it seems to me that those students outside're trying to get into the room, and u clicked it at perfect timing, capturing the moment that they're trying to get in but not yet inside...
Regards
CheukHin

sidstakes (770) 2007-06-21 3:21

Hi Luko,
Wonderful candid moment of interruption..a welcome break for the young students I reckon....and those expressions are lovely(that expression on the kid's face in the forefront is really cute...the tiny arrangement of onlooking kids..nicee!! :))
..the 'peeping' composition ..
I am curious about those kids in the window/door looking into the classroom, are they not as priviledged to go to school?
happens all over I guess..
Good one really..
Regards,
Siddhartha

vapours (7913) 2007-06-21 7:41

A great shot Luko, for somebody like me who has only been in this game for 3 years or so, I have to respect you for teh amount of time you've been shooting.

Ive made a couple of comments now on your photos which put us in the seat of one of the locals and being included, and thats what this image does. Beautiful work.

faubry (32417) 2007-06-21 11:14

hello Luko, une photo que tu avais laisse de côté.... elle est superbe de vie avec l enfant du milieu qui fait le pitre.. et les autres à la porte qui attendent pour entrer, ton BW est chouette, mais pas besoin de te le dire, tu le sais avant moi... merci pour cette bouffée de joie
a bientôt
francine

eleparc (24059) 2007-06-22 12:39

slt Luko, tu nous sors qq petits tresors de tes archives, je vois... j'aime bien le coté intimiste de l'image ainsi que le fait de nous placer derrière ces enfants du premier rang. Tu nous forces à entrer dans l'image...et aurions presque l'impression que ce sourire nous est destiné.
Eric

ls7902 (6362) 2007-06-23 0:55

Hi Luko,
Compulsory school going age in Malaysia is seven. Those kids outside are probably seeing their brothers & sisters attending the beginning of the school year. I think they are below the age of seven. Children in that age group can go to kindergartens in the more populated areas but the kindergartens are mostly privately run & thus much more expensive. Government schools on the other hand are free, except for uniforms, books, and minimal annual school fee that most parents can afford. If they can't & if they are resourceful enough they could always get full state assistance. It's a pity that some are not aware of the resources available to them. The problem may well be the bureaucratic red tape involved in the process. I like your photo of this classroom with the boy looking out & smiling at the onlookers in the foreground. This photo reminds me of the classroom my mother used to teach in the early sixties. Although I don't shoot anything near you I greatly admire your album ... full of unique & interesting photos with great wits & humors. Regards. Latiff.

PS: I know someone who is purposefully jobless but not very poor. He managed to secure a scholarship & financial assistance to each of his many children! He used to help others who were eligible to get loan & financial assistance for a fee. I'm glad he is now putting his talent in real estates.

markoci (3917) 2007-06-23 1:03

yeah, a cool s shape, more visible on the thumb indeed.. reminds me somewhat of your myanmar monks on the stairs, this one though much less spectacular (you just can't beat myanmar monks, i do miss them).. interesting here how some students seem to be engulfed in the teachers explanations while others are totally ignoring it aware of your presence... a nice sea classroom photo overall...

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-06-27 6:09

Hi Luko, SUPERB!!!
my eye goes directly to the expression of the little boy!

the composition is great as usual..
excellent result! :))))....no doubts.......
ciao!
Valeria

kajspice (4534) 2007-06-28 13:08

Well, there are pictures of cute kids, and there are pictures of cute kids by people like you, mr. Lukoship. I think I can handle these quite happily. Lets be honest, these are not just a bunch of cute kids are they..

My favourite is the young man in the middle who looks like he is throwing a tantrum. brilliant.

KevRyan (22418) 2007-06-28 13:09

You are certainly not just a writer ....I wonder who could have thought such a thing ;-))?

I've come back and looked at this one a few times now - the connections of the kids to each other and to you - the great depth of field - the almost casual sense of the framing which de-formalises and adds a nice dynamic element - the high quality scan and treatment ....we don't have to go to the others in your note to know you are a photographer........

bw Kev

stiginthedump (1823) 2007-07-16 7:59

Nice capture this Luko. I guess it's the 'traditional' shot of a poor school - kids flocking around the johnny foreigner, cheeky kid smiling at the camera etc. Just wondering if you were able to take some other shots in the school of a less cliched subject?

dijjac (1569) 2007-08-25 13:50

Salut luko
Un p'tit air de Doisneau dans cette image !
C'est sympa, bien composé, un NB d'enfer comme d'habitude !
Bravo
A+
Jacques