Gayageum Players Photo

Photographer’s Note

The 'gayageum' is a type of 12 stringed zither, a unique variety of a Korean musical instrument. Shot at the Suwon University, south of Seoul. These ladies were part of the foreign teachers welcoming committee.

tcht, david, jhm, avigur_11, Angshu, Izobretenik, riclopes, spence, berek has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tcht (7298) 2006-07-02 11:28

Hi Chris,
This is a nice documentary of the Korean culture and you've got the good colours and interesting B&W background. But I think this shot isn't dynamic enough since lighting is nearly flat, and it wouldn't help if the player furthest right is cut off through her arm. anyway, TFS.
CheukHin

david (3972) 2006-07-02 11:32

i agree that this is a good shot, but needs some cropping. mostly on the right and possibly the bottom. the shadows are a little strong from the flash.

i would have liked to see a closer shot of the girl on the left. you could have focused on only her, closer up, with her nice hanbok (dress) contrasting against the black backdrop.

Cormac (26449) 2006-07-02 12:00

Nice to see some cultural shots from Korea. The colour here is very rich and vibrant, which is amazing since it was taken indoors. I like the way you included all 3 of them, getting a kind of repetition of the look. Great work!

carper (64484) 2006-07-02 12:45

the shot is well taken Chris,
I think a crop on the right side was useful here, to keep only the three girls, on the well taken composition, good light, good job.
gr. jaap

jhm (82185) 2006-07-02 12:45

Hi Chris,
Who is who, almost a triplets, everything the same attire, the same hair and the same instruments, you did very nice taking this musicians, very well done!
Best regards,
John

avigur_11 (21271) 2006-07-02 22:33

Well catured indoor shot, Chris, you used the flash gently. I like the two-colors BG wall, which maks the human repetition much interesting.

Angshu (33533) 2006-07-03 1:20

Namaste Chris
Excellent documentary shot of Korean culture...I like the contrast with the BG..I agree with the cropping which David & Rafal has said...but your photo is good anyway
Regards
Angshu

Izobretenik (1264) 2006-07-03 3:09

Nice koto view Chris. That's funny for I thought it was a Japanese koto. I would not be able to make the difference. Is there actually a difference ?

The colors are a bit fade to me, not so brilliant nor explosive, but the composition is ok. This ugly background is the kind of I have seen many times here while assisting koto concerts. We should make something about that.

Izo

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2006-07-03 3:12

Hi Chris, nice to see some korea shots from you, just read your intro, you're going to take your time in Korea, nice!
Nice shot, and I am wondering how it sounds, this instrument. I would have cropped just a little bit more on the right, just behind the third girl.

riclopes (32951) 2006-07-03 3:50

Hi Chris,
Good portrait of these girls playing these curious musical instruments. The composition is good, although I would have cut the arm at right. I like the soft tones and the contrast with the b/w background, as well as the framing of the wood stripe of the stage in foreground. A good one for TE.
Ricardo

PixelTerror (86038) 2006-07-03 5:09

Hi Chris,
Maybe some minor technical issues but it's a nice scene presenting this traditional korean instrument and definitely fitting to the TE aims. This is an opportunity for me to mention I find interesting that as a newcomer to Korea you present such scenes while the established Korea members like Rafal have long gone away from them !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

spence (1679) 2006-07-03 8:55

Hi Chris. What I really like about this one is the mood of calmness and concentration. The colours are not too strong and seem to suit the mood of the shot. I agree about cropping a bit from the bottom and much more tightly from the right, and it may be worth rotating so that the division in the wall is vertical. Lovely scene, I like it.

jinju (14265) 2006-07-03 10:14

Hey Chris,

good shot, but I would like to see this from a bit of a different angle so as to get less of the emptyness on the left and maybe all of the woman from the right. Im not a fan of flash photography and here it left the shadows a bit strong.

Are you free next weekend? Im going to Incheon with Dave for Saturday and Sunday, the aim is to go to the port where the fishing boats come and shoot around sunrise.

berek (28838) 2006-07-04 0:40

Hi Chris,
I haven't seen Gayageum . thanks for this. very good traditional view my friend. have a nice day.
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-))
Framing :-))
Idea :-))

Jeppe (18623) 2006-07-09 14:54

Hi Chris
Indeed a fine group you present here - good to see shot from your latest journeys - I like the composition and the concentrated looks at their faces - indeed one for that theme.
Jeppe