Street scene and xe loi.., a photo from An Giang, Mekong River Delta

Photographer's Note

This was taken in Chau Doc delta town in early morning and what a better way to enjoy the street view and watched the world go by, but this striking stationary 'xe loi' - a traditional modified bicycle-pulled rickshaw caught my attention. There were dozens of them operating on short runs all over the town probably the cheapset mode of transport particularly popular amongst the housewives and the elderly. It costs only fractions of a dollar but can get really hot and humid and despite the best efforts of local authority to get rid of them, xe lois still survive.

It's hard to believe that the old ways can still survive the onslaught of motor bikes, buses and cars. Xe loi, which first appeared in Vietnam in the 1930s, is one of the rare pedal powered forms of passenger transport left in the country. Unlike the more popular pedicabs, xe loi' s passenger sits on a small carriage towed behind a bicycle. I was told there were some 1000 xe loi riders in the delta but the golden age of xe loi however, has gone due to stiff competition from motor-bike taxis. In the past, xe lois were a familiar sight in all the Delta, but nowadays it remains only in Chau Doc, that's the uniqueness of this town.

So what would be Chau Doc without xe loi? Only time will tell, so till then we can still find riders waiting in front of every hotel in town more than happy to take you around on their old faithful machines...

Thanks for viewing.

holmertz, gildasjan, bayno, Graal, Budapestman, CLODO, maria-v1981, ourania, bukitgolfb301, adramad, delpeoples, pajaran has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (26958) 2012-09-13 10:13

Hello Abmdsudi,
I would rather use a xe loi than travel with my luggage on a motor-bike "taxi", which I unfortunately had to do several times during my visit to the delta a few years ago. I found it rather terrifying. With an exposure time of 1/15 seconds you obtain a sense of great speed even from a pedestrian. This is a plain photo but it has a nice lively atmosphere and fine colours. It makes me feel I'm really there.
Kind regards,
Gert

Waylim (22357) 2012-09-13 10:58

Hi Abmdsudi,

I really enjoy many of your street shot from Vietnam, it is like watching it happen in front of me. Especially with this one the effect of the motion of the passing motorcycle and pedestrians and the stillness of the rickshaw on the bycicle. Excellent perspective and your POV put us right in the middle of it all. I hope to visit one day soon.

Way

gildasjan (38220) 2012-09-13 11:28

Bonjour Abmdsudi Une image très bien composée avec un bon choix de vitesse pour bien rendre ceflou de mouvement.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
gildas

Fis2 (73114) 2012-09-13 12:42

Witaj Abmdsudi!
I like this daily life shot.
Interesting effect (1/15).
Very impressive picture.
Good frame and colors.
Well done.
Greetings from Poland
Krzysztof

carlo62 (12610) 2012-09-13 14:35

Ciao Abmdsudi
bello scatto, la staticità di chi aspetta, circondato dalla dinamicità di coloro che sono in movimento.
Molto belli i colori per una bella idea molto ben realizzata.
Saluti
Carlo

ACL1978 (5783) 2012-09-13 17:29

Looks like it might be a rarity to catch one of these standing still, so you found a nice opportunity here! really perfect shutter speed, and great crispness on the still portions of the shot - at 1/15, I assume you were using a tripod?

The motion blur is a really nice touch, and the wide angle lets us see all the activity in BG; combined, you've created a really nice sense of stillness amid bustle here, an oasis of calm. Nicely done.

Andrew

rbellemare (2087) 2012-09-13 18:56

Quite a picture Abmdsudi,

I think your composition is perfect. This picture is a masterpiece. Your focus is right at the subject the blue diver. I like the movements of the motorbike and that of men in front of it. They are creating a story. Will they hit each other? The colours are beautiful.

Great work

Réjean

chrisvek (5483) 2012-09-13 19:58

Hi Abmdsudi

As i can imagine that was a difficult street shoot.But the result it's so amazing.The POV is also excellent and the framing matches absolutely and makes a very nice contrast.

Have a nice day
Chris

bayno (16209) 2012-09-13 22:59

Hello Abmdsudi,
this is a great example of photographic technique, very nice effect of the movement but with the rickshaw stopped and sharp is even more fascinating, unfortunate that these means of transport should be disappearing, the busy and chaotic life takes over, when I go to jaipur for my work I always try to use the pedal rickshaw but sometimes I give up for the smog breath and use the tuc tuc more faster...
very nice shot and note...
kind regards,
Valter

Graal (88908) 2012-09-13 23:59

Hi Abmdsudi,
well marked movement when time of exposition was extended. Good street reportage and theme about the daily life. Photo I like. Note is interesting, too.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Budapestman (82620) 2012-09-14 1:57

Hi Abmdsudi,
a splendid street photo with full of life atmosphere and splendid composition, great details and the timing is superb. Tfs! Have a nice weekend! Kellemes hétvégét kívánok!
György

CLODO (24726) 2012-09-14 2:01

HI Abmdsudi

Very good framing with the blue bike and perfect moment taken at a low speed to give the movement feeling of the street life.
Congratulations
CLODO

timecapturer (30334) 2012-09-14 3:20

Hi Abmdsudi
a superbly captured shot with a real atmosphere and sense of excitement about it. Your POV and composition are so well chosen and the effect is wonderful. A real sense of movement and the world passing by. Excellent!

Have a splendid weekend - regards Brian.

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-09-14 4:47

Hello,
Another good dynamic street scene. I like the colors and the genuine atmosphere. Well taken.

Daniel

TopGeo (37994) 2012-09-14 4:59

Abmdsudi,

I think your composition is perfect. This picture is a report! Your focus is right at the subject the blue driver with of bikes old faithful of taxi street very impressive photo, very atmospheric, with a beautiful peaceful feeling! . I like the movements of the motorbike and that of men in front of it. The colours are beautiful.
Georgios

maria-v1981 (10403) 2012-09-14 5:47

Hello Abmdsudi,
Excellemnt tecnique and the effect of moving people is wonderful. Also the man who with the bliu elements creates a magnificent composition. Bravo excellent and creative image.
Have a nice evening,
Regards,
Maria

Silvio1953 (98183) 2012-09-14 7:12

Ciao Abmdsudi, lovely scene with original bike, great movie effect, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

eldancer1 (17064) 2012-09-14 9:17

Awesome use of the slow speed to show action on the streets, very creative and original. I like the lighting and it has a good dof with nice details. Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

Bartleby (12741) 2012-09-14 9:49

Hello Abmdsudi,
I like the static/dynamic contrast here and the distortion that brings even more life to the scene. Cool shot!

Philippe

ourania (12397) 2012-09-14 10:32

Hello Abmdsudi,
a wonderful composition, very well considered and effective. I love the way the xe loi seems to follow the curve of the pavement. Depth and perspective are superb, enhanced by the tight framing and the driver's posture and turning of his head. He is observing the street scene just like us. The cyclist next to him and the passer by ahead offer movement and intensity, the few vivid colours are captivating in this ambiance. Lighting is great and the moment captured is delightfully natural and very interesting. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely weekend,
Ourania

marabu61 (3924) 2012-09-14 12:46

Hello Abmdsudi
I wasn't around for two days, but after two 16h shifts at work ...
Nice picture of a street scene. I love the relative slow shutter speed, thus giving the picture a nice dynamise.
have a great weekend
Daniel

ciakgiak (30331) 2012-09-14 15:12

Ciao Abmdsudi,
La bici in primo piano, nitida, e la seconda invece in movimento formano un bel connubio e generano una bella immagine grazie al POV molto efficace ed alla buona qualtà.
Un caro abbraccio
Giorgio

siamesa (27449) 2012-09-14 16:30

Boa noite Abmdsudi

I would like to know how to capture a scene like this. Panning makes a very nice image. Congratulations.
Abraços
maria

Janusz1974 (2275) 2012-09-15 1:31

Hi Abmdsudi,
A wonderful photo, full of life.
Nice composition, the motion of the drivers captured without any disturbance to the subject.
Best regards
Janusz

bukitgolfb301 (30067) 2012-09-15 5:33

Hi dear Abmdsudi YTH

Nice moment you catch by perfectly appropiate slow shutter spped. The blurred bicycle and walker make very good effect to activate this image. Your high skill and inspiration should behighly appareciated.
Thanks for your sharing with finest work and have a good weekend!

Takero tired in Tokyo

adramad (27556) 2012-09-15 8:36

Hello Abmdsudi.
Fabulous capture, which has the great attraction of this strange vehicle show, I had not seen before, knew the rickshaw, but this vehicle is different, it seems that the passenger must go a little lying.
The composition has an original conception, with the effect of motion of the bicycle and pedestrian, a good picture of daily life in this city.
Good management of light and color.
Have a nice weekend.
Best regards.
Luis.

delpeoples (44960) 2012-09-17 3:49

Hello dear Abmdsudi

I really like the dichotomy between the stationery and the moving vehicles. There is such a great contrast. Excellent sharpnes and then the dynamism of the motion blur. You also managed so well with the uneven light conditions, aswell as achieving some beautiful colours. This is daily life so typical of the Asia we know, so busy and dynamic. Excellent job, thanks for sharing.

Warm regards
Lisa

pajaran (36246) 2012-09-17 5:46

Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o triciklu ...
Lep pogled i trenutak.
Dobar ostrina, kontrast i perspektiva, lepe boje.
Dobra kompozicija i trenutak biciklista i coveka u pokretu.
Moje cestitke na ulovljenom trenutku.
Imao sam Nikon FA, mnogo me je dobro sluzio.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Srecno.
Paja.

Good evening.
Very interesting and good text on a tricycle ...
Nice view and the moment.
Good sharpness, contrast and perspective, beautiful colors.
Good composition and timing cyclist and a man on the move.
My congratulations for the captured moment.
I had a Nikon FA, many served me well.
Good evening and all the best in the new week that started.
Good luck.
Paja.

Robert1969 (6238) 2012-09-18 9:49

Hello Abmdsudi,

This is a picture where many people (including
me) can learn from it. Not only the point of
view, the composition and light management are
great, it's also a picture that lives (great
exposer)....goes to my favorites.

Friendly regards,
Robert Alderliefste

kato (6777) 2013-02-28 15:21

Hi Abmdsudi,

You're capturing well this place by a good composition, good focus and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting to see the bicycle-pulled rickshaw and other street scene. It draws out well the different contrast between the stopped target and moving ones by the effect of low shutter speed.

Kind regards,
mikio