Eyes that see far Photo

Photographer’s Note

Long-neck Karen (Padaung) woman in her mid-twenties. Taken in Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand.

The Padaung, the famous "long-neck" people whose women traditionary wear many tight bronze rings around their necks, are one of the many Karen Hilltribe sub-groups. They are an exceptionally warm, friendly, and gentle people.

Shot at Iso400 with a bit of fillflash. Normal workflow.

Kenny10pin, christina, dmitriy55 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

wilche (415) 2005-01-08 5:39

A very strange tradition - isn't so they can't remove the rings without hurting their neck. Well done and verý interesting.
Henrik

maciekda (19599) 2005-01-08 5:50

another beautiful portrait Robert, excellent technique - great use of flash, great clarity. no suggestions here, or maybe a bit shallower DOF to blur the bamboo behind her more a bit. good stuff

RGatward (19751) 2005-01-08 8:00

Very nicely executed portrait. Excellent exposure and detail, I guess if you didn't notice th bamboo until afterwards, not much to be done. As Henrik says, this does seem a particularly strange tradition, especiialy now that Thialand is so fast turning into a mdern industrialised country, though it's rather charming that these traditions are being preserved at a time of rapid change. Is there much of a debate about these issues in the region.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-01-08 8:28

nice pic, she looks like she is in a lot of pain, but I know in other cultures that this means beauty, well done

Skarrlette (96) 2005-01-08 19:00 [Comment]

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kinginexile (2440) 2005-01-10 7:02

I think this is one of the nicest, most emphatic portrait of a long neck woman, who are so often photographed in row in a very impersonal way. I think you aimed at shooting the woman, the person, not just the peculiar object of custom, and it shows.

flydragon (0) 2005-01-12 3:52

Hello Robert
i am suprised yuo took this picture
in Mae salong, i ve been there many time
i never seen this hilltribe long neck.
i am also sad because i heard people make
money with the Long neck like a show.
but yes i am sure they are surely nice and friendly people
regards
••simon••

sorry green later

Praetzer (1657) 2005-01-22 9:56

Excellent DOF and spot-on focus.
I like the little twinkle in the eyes very much