The Parasols Photo

Photographer’s Note

We are still in the same house as yesterdays post. (you may recognise the daughter.
The family make traditional paper parasols, an art that is being lost as cheap nylon umbrellas are gaining favour.

The traditional parasol is made from Tin-wah bamboo and oiled Mulberry paper. The raw materials are locally produced. The bamboo is soaked for some time in foul water, to prevent it from the danger of insects later. The paper is coated with oil to help repel both sunshine and rain. The head and sliding hub of the parasol are made of teak, manufactured by using a simple turning lathe. The other important parts the framework are, the cover or leave, the rib, the trigger, the handle and the shaft. The measurments of each part have to be so accurate. Putting the covering (leaves) on the frame is the most difficult, to be mastered only after about three years' experience. This is performed by the father, the inticate work of folding was done by the mother, while the daughter makes the crown.

tinamunk3, Floydian, gary91, ndb1958, oochappan, AmiBe, crhieatt, tcht, Rinie_Hoff, Angshu, waysai, ciec, pady, Bien, andreng, Brian has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tinamunk3 (6380) 2006-08-20 4:09

Hi Elaine,

Nice view of all these parasols. You really know how to control the light here - it looks like it's taken against light from a window. Well composed with the working girl. What a shame that the nylon umbrellas are taking over but no wonder - the process making these paper umbrellas seems very complex.
Have a nice Sunay.
:) Tina

Floydian (30970) 2006-08-20 4:10

Dag Elaine,
I like this one even more than yesterday shot. It has a much stronger composition and the overall colour toning is much better.
Very nice....good work.
Prettige zondag, Henk

gary91 (15305) 2006-08-20 7:12

Hello Elaine,
This is a very nice image with a very good composition and a super lighting. The graphism of these umbrellas / parasols is giving all the originality to the picture.
Is the ground so shiny beacause of the oil they are using ?
Regards. Christian

ndb1958 (9228) 2006-08-20 7:54

Hi Elaine,
a very good perspective with a good view on these parasols. I like how you organized the frame with the position of that young woman doing her work.
Nice lightning and good natural colours,
Nino

oochappan (22433) 2006-08-20 14:39

Very beautiful composition Elaine, these nice parasols with the lady, well balanced to each other, the way the parasols are placed is excellent, a fine maintained warm colortone here with the reflection of the light on the mat enhancing the structure, a beauty.
greetings
Henk
... fixed ... :))

rosaline (0) 2006-08-21 4:03

Hi Elaine
Excellent shot of these parasols. The colour of the parasols cast a lovely light and atmosphere to the room. The location of the daughter in the scene adds some nice balance and human interest to the picture as well. I like the impact derived from photographing so many parasols in one place, all bunged up together. Very good work.
Aubrey

AmiBe (6042) 2006-08-21 13:22

Hi Elaine,
color tones are excellent here with this soft light, the parasols' color go well with the woman t-shirt.
Well composed, I like the big place taken by the parasols.
Well done

crhieatt (4862) 2006-08-21 16:38

Fascintaing note Elaine, and a brilliant composition to illuminate it - or is it the other way around!!
Regards
Colin

tcht (7280) 2006-08-22 6:48

Hi Elaine
Very nice documentary of this family. The compo is so good with the patterns of the umbrellas and the light's well managed. Interesting to see matching colours of her clothe n the umbrellas. Good job
CheukHin

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2006-08-22 17:30

Hi Elaine, I was going to say that I recognize the lady’s clothing, as I had juts been looking at your kitchen shot, but you mentioned it already in your note.
This is a beautiful; shot Elaine. These parasols with their perfect round shapes form such a nice composition in the picture and the daughter is so well placed.
The tones are very very nice and warm, even the piece of cloths she is mending, fits in it. I love it.

parbo (10804) 2006-08-22 18:58

Hi Elaine,

What a great warm scene with great light plays on the ground and on the Parasols. I like your models natural pose. Your shot is more valuable with your very informative note. Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Parbo

devimeuxbe (54043) 2006-08-23 1:51

Hi Elaine
Nice composition around these parasols. The intimist light is nice. It's well managed.
Well done
Bertrand

Angshu (30896) 2006-08-23 3:47

Hello Elaine
This is a very beautiful composition. The parasols kept provides some geometry in assymetry...these paper parasols are found everywhere in SE Asia..am I right? Light is beautiful coming through between the parasols & the working lady. Very nice!
Regards
Angshu

waysai (607) 2006-08-24 21:20

Especially like the lighting here - shining and high-lighting on the main subject. Good compo, color and contract. Also acompanied with super note.

Furachan (0) 2006-08-26 8:34

Spnedid shot, Elaine (sorry for missing out on so many of your Burma pics). I love the composition here, drowning in these lovely parasols they make... One of teh best compositions I've seen in quite a while, really quite arresting.
Congrats!
Francis

RandomCameraGuy (3063) 2006-08-26 15:29

oh man, oh man, that is a fine image! great colour shot where the colours throughout complement each other. nice environmental portait of a parasol maker. I love all the space you gave to the parasols. Strong image Elaine!

alex

ciec (1081) 2006-08-28 10:50

Hello Elaine,
Wonderfull colours, all in the same tone.
Strong composition too.
Bravo.

pady (4800) 2006-08-29 15:26

Nice composition with the girl on the right and all these parasols on the right which make something very graphical.
Well seen
Greetings
Pierre-André

vincz (19031) 2006-09-01 4:39

I like very much the tones of this picture. Pictures of Myanmar comes usually with more bright and staurated colours. You catched here a very special concentrated atmosphere in braun soft tones.

alimo3 (6824) 2006-09-03 18:15

hi Elaine ,
this is one of the picture that i realy like from your last trip.
beautiful + poetic composition ...
you've got a great light and those graphic " flying saucer" ;-)
Bravo

Tom

Bien (4727) 2006-09-04 13:50

Dear Elaine, I simply adore this one. I really enjoy the importance you have given to these umbrellas in your composition. It not only makes a fantastic composition, but it also underlines the importance it has in the life of this family; it's their living. That soft light falling on them is almost divine. Some detail shots of these umbrellas would have been great too. Very creative work! Sabine

PS that's the last one now, I keep the others to comment on for tomorrow!

scalerman (24228) 2006-09-29 17:26

Elaine: not just a good picture, an exceptional one. Only could have been sharper on the lady but you used what light you had. regards, c

Luan (15915) 2006-10-02 10:12

Hello elaine,
such a great composition, I love the way you framed the scene by using the large amount of space for your subjects.
Superb
Luan

andreng (265) 2006-10-31 9:08

Elaine,
A wonderful view of the parasols with the daughter. These wax/oil coated parasols are hard to come by here where I am but you can still find them if you look hard enough. Excellent use of the available lighting. Your exposure is excellent as even the items in the parasol's shadow came out nicely. If a ray of sunshine should suddenly appear and land on the parasol I am sure you will be grinning from ear to ear. TFS Andre

Evolution (261) 2007-07-21 20:13

This is an excellent photo. Looks like you handled the tricky lighting well. this photo gives a nice glimpse of everyday life for this family. Do you have more of this subject / family ?
Brian

chriswhitley (1398) 2009-01-18 8:06

Hello Elaine. A belated Happy New Year to you. I continue to enjoy wandering through your gallery and discovering the many beautifully composed shots. The thumbnail of this one leapt out at me. The prominence of the parasols and the placement of the daughter. Chris