Posing in front of the dung Photo

Photographer’s Note

Continuing from my last post.

After the giggling girl was photographed, more people wanted to have their picture taken, but at first this lady did not want to go, hiding her mouth behind her hand. But anyway, most of the older people thought that having your picture taken is a serious business, and they will not laugh or smile. I could not persuade her to look to the left or right, just straight into the camera. These are not the portraits I would like so much to take, but the series that I made in this little camp, are special to me.
We drank Yak-tea and wodka. The wodka is very mild, about 20% at the most, and brewed from milk, as almost everything they use is based on milk. I know you can brew booze from all kinds of things, but I had never heard about milk.
The people are very kind and hospitable.

The pile that you see behind the woman, is a pile of dung. They gather the dung to heat the stoves with. It does not last very long, and it does not give much warmth, but they have no choice as there is no wood. Life in and near the Gobi is a tough life.

mugush, efigesta, eleparc, ahmet54, MiguelP, Fixfocus, designsoul, michel_r, tjanze, bertolucci, cengiz, AmiBe, nwoehnl, vagabondtravels, danielswalsh, MLINES, Joffre, jorbe has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mugush (2088) 2006-01-03 16:25

mind blowing photo... i love natural photo,it is the one i wanted to be here on trekearth.
well composed,nice dof.
thanks for sharing
Love
Mugush

quake (22) 2006-01-03 16:26

a great photo ı think. ı like this kind of photos.it reflects the culture of that region.

efigesta (12181) 2006-01-03 16:31

Hi rinnie
another great portrait, the faces are so funny and have a great colors

regards
manuel

Drzoana (1122) 2006-01-03 16:37

The woman seems to be a little ... out of the picture. It is as if you could not make up your mind if you want to make a portrait or a landscape. I think linking the two together did not work out particularly well in this example.
regards,
joanna

eleparc (24059) 2006-01-03 16:38

How could you keep that photo hidden from us so long Rinie?? It is a beautiful portrait! The framing is excellent, and I love the sharpness on the subject..

I love it!
Eric

ptibelo (2974) 2006-01-03 16:48 [Comment]

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ahmet54 (2249) 2006-01-03 16:53

Hi Rinie,
great portrait. I like the composition and the DOF of your picture. Her dress and the expression on her face attract me. Please post more photos of Mongolia, because it will be my destination this summer. TFS.
Kind regards,
Roland

danby1 (3689) 2006-01-03 16:55

DOF is amazing! very well done for that! congrats on the shot good pose too, thanks for sharing, its a very good shot to go in your collection

donluicu (23927) 2006-01-03 17:15

Hello Rinie
this is an excellent portrait, with very good colors..(have you do a little pp on bluring the background?)
Have you built a "yourt", this little typical tent?

thanx for this share.

loic

MiguelP (14336) 2006-01-03 17:32

Yes you shouldnt keep this photo away from us so long time Dear. Such a serenity in her expression, so mature, so powerfull, the composition show us a person, but at the same time a part of her environment. Then you play with the focus-defocus so well... Good mirror where, somehow, we can reflect. Thanks for share, dear.

Ebbe (9571) 2006-01-03 17:52

A relaxed portrait of the lady Rinie and her position in the frame is one of my favorite choices. The short DOF is excellent. A not too big minus for the white stuff and the little structure in the background, these things draws too much attention.

Fixfocus (9377) 2006-01-03 19:40

Hoi Rinie,
A good portrait and it looks great how she stands out against the unsharp background.
Good capture of her natural expression too.
Beste wensen voor 2006!

Hermann

designsoul (21394) 2006-01-03 20:54

Honestly, Rinie, you should mount this series somewhere. They are amazing shots! This one as well, in a different kind of way than the giggly girl before, here we see a more serious yet ever so beautiful woman of Mongolia with her lovely red cheeks (ah, they must be so healthy) and determined gaze. Very beautiful, with the heap of dung behind... a hard life, surely the only life they know of. Very good photo!
sasa

michel_r (1114) 2006-01-03 21:14

thanks for this note & this picture rinnie. i would love to go there and your picture does not help ;). Think her looking right into the lens is fine here. As you mention in your note, this is serious business and this is well rendered, together with an unobtrusive view of the environment.
amicalement, michel

Cormac (26455) 2006-01-03 21:51

Great shot. I like the choice to blur out the background, leaving the emphasis on the woman, but still having enough detail in the background to see the vast open spaces and the pile of dung. Great character in her face, and a wonderful note as well.

tjanze (5674) 2006-01-04 3:12

Hi Rinie!
Fantastic portrait.Very peaceful face without everyday stress.Good depth of field and position of lady on photo.Bravo!

bertolucci (11994) 2006-01-04 3:16

Yo Rinie,
Prachtige foto. Wat een mooie seriueze expressie! En wat vomen de kleuren van haar gezicht een mooie combi met die van haar kleding. De DoF is zeer passend als ook de compo - de leegte in het landschap is weer bijzonder opvallend.
En nogmaals een goed 2006 toegewenst!
Bert

cengiz (3581) 2006-01-04 3:29

Hi my friend
very natural and very beautiful portrait..Background is very colourfull, sharpness is superb compliments
cengiz

Furachan (0) 2006-01-04 4:06

Another stunning Monglian prtrait, dear Rinie. Let me tell you something: I know you're a very technicaly accomplished photog, capable of tackling extremely complex scenes, mixed lighting etc. etc.
But...in the deslate wastes of Mongolia, you have fund something essential and beautifuly simple, and it becoms you well...
I'll sign off now...;o)
Cheers,
Francis

AmiBe (6042) 2006-01-04 8:04

Hi Rinie,
good portrait, the short DOF is good.
I like the colors and the natural woman's expression.
If you have more pictures, please upload them ! ;-)
Well done

nwoehnl (120) 2006-01-04 15:49

Another lovely photo from the friendly group of people you have met there, Rinie. I actually like her elegant and dignified posing, and you framed the shot well with a good use of shallow DOF to provide unique context with the pile of dung. Interesting story about the milk-based vodka, too.

rahul__rahul__ (2250) 2006-01-04 18:26

Hi Rinie,
wonderful portrait, I love the colors and blurred background, her expression is nice. She is also sharp. The contrast is good. Great Job!!
TFS
Rahul

faubry (32417) 2006-01-05 4:41

wow!!! super portrait! i like how you have take tis shot, great place for the landscape, and woman in the right side, more little, like is mOngolia...
bravo
soon....
francine

lestans (15492) 2006-01-15 11:05

What a portrait! I can't understand if she is smiling or not.... she is a Mongolian Monna Lisa :-)))
She looks so quiet, and I like the way you show us her environment, the DOF
Livia

nerve (10212) 2006-01-19 9:36

This is my favourite one among your Mongolia serie Rinie.. Its a beautiful image, her serene look just amazes me here.. great composition too, minimalist and elegant..
Take care.

keribar (42760) 2006-02-11 0:38

Hello Rinnie,

This picture has attracted my attention because the background is so simple, and is still related to the woman who also wears a traditional dress. Very good ! many thanks - Izzet

recepyuksel (17786) 2006-03-09 16:57

great dof
great bg
nice compo with traditional mongol woman
congrats

vagabondtravels (6115) 2006-03-10 3:21

Another great portrait from Mongolia. I hope to see more.

just4iris (792) 2006-03-11 10:57

representative portrait, good sharpness on the subject and colors!
Cheers
daniela

Joffre (527) 2006-08-12 2:40

Hiya Rinie, wonderful clear shot, excellent lighting, natural colours, great DOF and facial detail, her life is etched over her face, wonderful composition and capture!

jorbe (319) 2007-08-10 0:21

Hello Rinie,

Good photo, excellent use of focus and great colors.
Jorbe