Preparing for winter Photo

Photographer’s Note

We visited a place hidden between the rocks, where a Buddhist temple had been. There was only a ruin left, but people still came here to pray apparently, judging by all the blue scarfs. It was a very peaceful and quiet spot.

These people were there to collect the dead leaves as food for their camels in winter. To me, that was proof of how tough life is in the Gobi, in winter there is hardly anything to eat for the livestock. You can't really say that dead leaves are nutricious, yet they need it.

After I had taken this picture, I heard them laugh out loud, apparently while getting off his camel, the man fell. Reason enough for a good laugh, I agreed with them.

robiuk, Rockyboy, spence, cgrindahl, bertolucci, jhm, sn00zie, nwoehnl, premels, pamastro, kaud, Hanssie, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robiuk (10763) 2005-02-17 16:41

Hey Rinie,
this is a great one!
Good compo, good colours, but most of all, lots of good vibes!
Have a great day,
Robi

Rockyboy (20582) 2005-02-17 16:48

Indeed, the action of falling is often funny but here it's a very nice picture of those camels with this man. Well seen, Rinie!

spence (1679) 2005-02-17 17:08

This is funny, Rinie - camels are such amazing creatures and it's so easy to ascribe human attributes to them. The one in front looks like a terrible snob, and the other one doesn't look very bright! Anyway, I like the composition and the inclusion of the rocks and bare ground and the people. Interesting note too.

cgrindahl (6109) 2005-02-17 18:30

I guess when you are in Mongolia camels become a large part of one's life, both as a mode of transportation and as a source of wealth in a rather barren land. So you've made friends with a few of them I note. I've heard it rumored that they are obnoxious and smelly creatures, but you seem to have survived... ;-)

I want this cropped tighter Rinie. Since you know me so well, you will understand that I had to do a workshop to explore my thoughts on the matter. See what you think. Color and detail are fine, but the image seems to drain away in the open space on the right. I want us to observe the man and camels, of course, but lets not forget the two folks entering the composition from the upper left. That is a very nice touch.

[workshop] [compare] +

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-02-17 19:43

great work here, I like the daily life pic, great subjects and also the composition is nice too

kdien (9261) 2005-02-18 2:55

Beautiful and splendid, full contrast picture. Cool colours. Congratulations

bertolucci (11994) 2005-02-18 3:52

Mogge Rinie een fijn etnografisch werk! Qua object erg interessant en als compositie zeker ook door de curve die door de mensen en de kamelen gemaakt wordt. De kleuren en het harde contrast werken fijn. Door de curve is de campo IMHO wel in balans via de resulterende yin-yan gevormde vlakverdeling. (Hee ik heb deze crit in het Nl geschreven - kennelik nog niet helemaal wakker). Erg mooi werk.

sn00zie (2384) 2005-02-18 10:18

a really nice picture Rinie.. but i wish, i wishhh you had a picture of the man falling.. nice colors and the atmosphere looks great.. hard to believe there's hardly a thing to eat in winters-it actually, is quite a scary thought.

nwoehnl (120) 2005-02-18 14:52

Charming and interesting daily life moment, Rinie. A vividly colorful scene with the camels and the people traversing the landscape. I like how your framing gives the "caravan" space to move into. Very nice one.

avigur_11 (21301) 2005-02-18 17:24

Riding a double-hump camel is much safer than riding a single-hump one, Rinie. When riding these camel you seat between the humps, but if you ever tried to ride a desert camel (single hump), you seat on top of the hump, and it is very high and very scary. Especially if the camel runs..
Anyway, a very good shot again, Rinie.

RGatward (19749) 2005-02-19 16:45

Another fine shot in the series, nothing new to add to the above.

premels (2400) 2005-02-21 15:13

These camels seems very heavy to me, are they specially strong ? The man on the camel back seems very pleased with him self. I would certainly not guess he is about to fall. I read the critiques and I agree with some remarks about the balance of the picture. However the rocks on the right are too good to be cropped out. If I could I would pick the women in red and place her on the other side of the green guy. That would do it :)

pamastro (7213) 2005-02-22 0:41

From the modern lines of the Minsk Station to this ancient type of station of sorts. I love the necks of these camels, especially the one laying down. It seems so fluid and so detached from the body. I really like the barren feel from this tight view and the way the camels blend in but the blue clothing stands out so vividly. Nicely done again with another Mongolia shot.

everlasting (10940) 2005-02-23 5:12

Hi Rinie, good composition and rich colours. The two people approaching adds a nice touch too. A nice glimpse of the gobi nomads.

kaud (1838) 2005-02-23 7:40

You captured their daily life using your camera.
Good compo, color and life.

danielswalsh (13330) 2005-02-24 18:38

Nice shot Rinnie;

I really like the expression on the camel at right. With his head upturned towards the sky, he looks as though he's sunbathing.

Well done,
- Dan

Hanssie (9133) 2005-03-01 16:14

Nice to see this scene with the "details" of Mongolia as well as the different colours and the light is good too. A "far-away-picture" from you, a good one !