Blue-aproned Babushka Photo

Photographer’s Note

Each day during the 5day and 5185km journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and Irkutsk there were 3 or 4 20minute stops. This was sufficient time to stretch our legs, experience the outside temperatures and purchase freshly prepared food from babushkas such as this woman.

I thought this woman was quite a character with her big hat and her bright blue apron over her heavy coat. To highlight her I have left her in colour and turned the train, the platform and the other sellers and purchasers into black and white.

berek, Kielia, ang25, mamcg has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Kielia (8167) 2008-07-20 6:15

Hi Marlene,
I like your idea of highlighting the babushka! She is a character indeed.
You have chosen an excellent POV to demonstrate the situation at the Trans-Siberian-Railway. Outstanding sharpness. Great work, Marlene!
Best regards
Harriet

berek (28750) 2008-07-21 10:36

Hi Marlene,
Nice daily life view from the life. Good composition.
Have a nice Sunday.

lc4giala (2186) 2008-07-25 10:17

Hi Marlene
Very beautiful glance and opposition of colours.
good continuity.
George.

fanni (8711) 2008-07-25 14:10

Hello Marlene,

I like your style of portraying Russia and its inhabitants :)
Harsh reality... I see such "babushkas" every day selling something everywhere about Moscow.
I just wonder what this "blue-aproned babushka" thought of your taking photo of her ;) She looks kinda displeased. This gloomy displeased expression of Russian faces always kills me!

I also like your idea of leaving only the babushka in colour to make an emphasis on the main "hero" :)

best regards and TFS!
Elena

dmarizz (2320) 2008-08-08 3:55

Hi Marlene,
great idea! The selective desaturation sometimes is only a software trick, but sometimes is able to add a certain character to the composition. In this case the result is absolutely noticeable! Good job, Dario.

PS I add the links to two my experiments of selective desaturation (Someone is lucky and Good as Gold), not for points only for sharing.
PS2 Sorry for my English. TE is a good excercise to me, but often it is very tiring to write down not trivial comments and to avoid misunderstanding for English-speaking people.

ilDottore (3978) 2008-08-24 4:24

Hi Marlene,
I don't know that it was necessary to leave this Babushka in colours. She is very characteristic person, so probably she could be a central element of picture even without highlighting.
Anyway - perfect Russian character! :)
Best Regards from Dublin!
Chris