The Net Puller Photo

Photographer’s Note

A beach on the south coast of Sri Lanka and fisherman are pulling in a net full of the morning's catch of sardines.

See also my photos The Cigar Smoking Sardine Fisherman and The Net Keeper.

The net you can see here forms a loop several hundred metres long into the sea, so there are two rows of fisherman pulling in each side.

The person in this photo was a bit of a character. He invited me back to his place to drink some local alcohol and smoke something which I suspect was a bit stronger than tobacco (I politely declined). He was pretty jolly, and I wouldn't be suprised if he had been consuming a bit before he went out fishing.

Tech: 3,600 x 2,400 pixel scan from B&W negative. I had a lot of trouble with the high-brightness variation in this shot, as it was shot into the bright ocean and looking into the sun. I should have used fill-flash for the mans face, but I forgot to switch it on.
- Contrast mask
- Dodge tool on face
- Curves: clip off the top and bottom end
- Resize, sharpen

snuggleaphagus, Kenny10pin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ron000 (0) 2004-04-07 2:06

A special moment of interaction with the locals and a good capture.

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2004-04-07 2:59

I really like his hand beckoning you and the viewers in to the photo. The ever present seagulls and the footsteps are great too. I think black and white makes this so timeless and very classy.

gringofil (0) 2004-04-07 4:08

This is very cool. I would think that this qualifies as sort of a Luko shot (cool compo, his fav subject and interaction of the character with the viewer). This is by all means an amazing shot. The way the guy is reaching out makes this an interactive image. I wish I could help him to pull the net...

The only minor downside the the man's face. Too dark and the way you dodged it in PS makes it look a bit strange (as if he smeared ashes on his face). Maybe contrast masking could do the trick as well. Try it.

Again, very cool shot Josh. I like it.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-04-07 12:28

great shot here, obviously he wants something or your help.

I like the setting and the way he is kinda pleading. Well done with the depth of the pic too.

Well done

dgcoene (305) 2004-04-14 0:11

this is truly an astounding shot. You obviously went to Sri Lanka for more than the beaches. The stance is priceless. If I could give you 15 points I would.

Luko (13896) 2004-04-18 9:39

there are good and less good things in that shot. Obviously it was easy to find a backbone in that image with the net line, you enhanced it with the arm move of the guy that almost sucks our reading into the picture.

However this is precisely where I have a problem : your wide angle makes the guy looks like he has been working out his shoulder muscles forgot his legs.
not to speak about his gigantic hand, he seemingly took from another body, making him the local Frankensteinamatara or whatever they may call him locally...