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Boy With Pot


Boy With Pot
Photo Information
Copyright: Darren Melrose (Darren) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1561 W: 120 N: 1061] (6795)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-25
Categories: Daily Life, Food
Camera: Pentax *ist D, Pentax 50mm, f1.7
Exposure: f/4, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2004-12-01 0:00
Viewed: 1559
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is both within and without the spirit of TE I think. I will freely admit, this is somewhat of a posed shot. We were in a very small village, visiting this family. This photo was taken inside the hut in which they did their cooking. There was really great sunlight streaming in from the one door. We had taken some shots of this boy and his sister in the light, but they were kind of incomplete. Philip Coggan took control of the situation and found props for the boy to hold. The pot was lying on the floor nearby and put to immediate use. I might show other props in later shots.

This family raises sugar palm trees and uses the sap to make Jagari (a total guess on the spelling), which reminds me very much of maple sugar. For those not familiar with either, it is a very high sugar content candy. A little sweet for my tastes, but in small doses really quite delicious. The bowl the boy is holding is used to collect the sap when the tree is drained. It makes an attractive addition to the photo as well I think.

Although not wealthy, this family could not have been more friendly or gracious, the time in their home was one of the real highlights of the trip for me.

ISO 400, handheld, very little post processing on this, uncropped.
arnabchat, Luko, Rhiannon, rich, Miks, michel_r, elihesamian, sengir, Liekje has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Luko: The white (and other) lightDarren 1 12-01 03:21
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Critiques [Translate]

Like a painting from the Renecanse. Beautiful light and very good composition

Wonderful portrait, done with great lightmetering, and great composition

A stuning photograph, pure and simple a work of art, within which I can not find anything to critique.
The lighting is stunning and the boy's posture and demeanor fantastic and Phillip's prop just wonderful

I like much this set of shades and lights ; the colors, development well, advantageously emphasize the face of the child ; but more, i like much the light blue of the flame on the line.

(was the photo made on the sharp one or did you required posing of the child ?)

like your prtrait. light is fine. good DOF and composition.

  • Great 
  • Luko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2702 W: 503 N: 2854] (13473)
  • [2004-12-01 3:12]
  • [2] [+]

Great to see care about light in a child portrait...usually it's the "take it in your face and buy it" way...

As I wrote to someone recently, photography is about light, good light means a good chance about a fine photo.

Something i really don't understand is the white light at the right side, even though it could be understandable reading you caption... it still doesn't connect when looking at your pic.. I like that things get in place into a photo, it doesn't to me then it appears like a flaw: just crop it out and that would make a more than satisfying shot.

Posed or not its a very good portrait primerily - as people have already ppointed out - due to the subtle light illuminating the young felows face. Like Luko I find the bright hard light spot a major distraction. The oh-so-soft illumination of his face deserve, I think, all the attention. Cloning is one option. I'll post a workshop with another.

I don't care if he is posing or not, either way he is a real person in his real environment and I think this tells us about him and his world.
A really good portrait with beautiful light and colours. His skin glows in golden and bronze tones.
The use of light is wonderful here.
The quiet bold, off centered composition works perfectly. Good contrasts and details.
I love it!

  • Great 
  • rich Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 2 N: 224] (1199)
  • [2004-12-01 4:15]

Excellent use of light and texture - and a very honest and informative note about how the photo came to be. My only complaint - when compared to the simplicity of the left side the right of the picture seems a little messy - the light plus some other spots of colour.

i like this portrait very much, be it within or not the TE spirit...hahaha! my only complaint would be this little light on the right.. i believe the shot would have been far more impactful without it and with a black right BG overall... like he was coming out of the dark... nice shot!

  • Great 
  • naxius Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 96 N: 2335] (16627)
  • [2004-12-01 9:26]

Darren, this shot is really excellent. The light is greatly managed and this the most interesting part of the composition.
Compliments.
Alexandre

beautifully captured Darren.
The light , the way you composed it..
A superb image.

Very nice darren, with a gorgeous light. I went through your answer to Luko and i guess i can understand your dislike about cropping. However i believe this excellent shot may deserve to make an exception.
regarsd, michel.

Masterpiece! The lighting is marvelous!

  • Great 
  • Kicka Gold Star Critiquer [C: 141 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2004-12-02 16:07]

The light is just excellent managed in this nice composed picture. Good work.

I like this image a lot! I think the light is simply beautiful and makes this image special. Great Job!

Well play with light,perfectlly captured with a fine composition,very well managed the light with reaching the warm tones in a black B.G,with a nice spotted on his pose and face,full of hope,working,innocence and life.
very impressive and sinsitive,too,I like it very much,Darren.
Nicely done.
Sincerely
Mohammad

  • Great 
  • sengir Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 51 N: 496] (4911)
  • [2004-12-06 11:53]

yes, the light, interesting pose.. not just another typical "smiling kid" shot, good work!

the light does this shot, wonderful. nice compo too, with the boy on the side. this white spot is distracting a bit, but it is a minor issue. definitely a nice work

Great light and good composition.

rich light, maybe one of your best from Burma. This is a really expertly exposed and framed shot. looking forward to more...

Oh lovely light! And an interesting expression too, well done. The only thing I'd change is possibly crop a touch onthe right to remove the bright flare in the upper right corner

Hi Darren,

Having a closer look at your gallery I had to stop here.....the light is GORGEOUS!!! A nice and quiet atmosphere and a simple composition makes this a fantastic shot!!

:) Tina

Posed or not, a great shot is a great shot.

I like the way the kid stands in 'the limelight'. Just a pity of some of the shiny reflections of stuff in the background though.

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