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Lost language


Lost language
Photo Information
Copyright: Thien Tran (thien) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 152 N: 205] (2080)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-03
Categories: Artwork
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, EF 50/1,8
Exposure: f/2.8
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Calligraphy, Personal/ Educational [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2003-07-18 14:51
Viewed: 1501
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 17
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The current Vietnamese writing system is based on the Latin alphabets. But in the old days, before the French colonization, Vietnam uses chinese writing letters. This is not surprising since our ancestors comes from the region of Canton in the wee old days. In fact, our formal spoken language still carries the pronounciation of the Cantonese language.

I cut off the right to symbolize that we have lost the ability to speak or write this language. Does it bother you?
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To everyonethien 1 07-18 23:02
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Critiques [Translate]

Thien,very nice photo and thanks foe explanation.yes,i would like it better uncut.

  • Great 
  • Aegean Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1423 W: 14 N: 745] (2559)
  • [2003-07-18 15:13]

This is a great sharp abstract shot Thien...Simply great!

Great capture and work Thien,
I love the way the calligraphy involves such complicated forms to say something in these languages I'm sure each stroke of letters has a meaning in its own right.
yes, I personally would like to see it un cut but the symbolism you explained in your notes makes this image fall into place, thanks for sharing

  • Great 
  • fba Silver Star Critiquer [C: 33 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2003-07-18 17:17]

Very rich texture and colors. Uncut would be better IMO.

  • Good 
  • keir Silver Star Critiquer [C: 48 W: 0 N: 6] (242)
  • [2003-07-18 17:34]
  • [2]

Thien (edited), I suggested you crop further from the right to emphasized the point made in your explanation. Looking again (and again), I like the subtle cut. I still think the characters on the left are crowded however, and that the texture is compromised by being too bright. Nonetheless, good catch and idea.

Nice sharp shot and very interesting explanation. Wonder what that word it means, does anybody know ?

Nice shot! I love the composition, but I think you needed a little more depth of field - the top left hand character appears soft to me. Didn't notice the right hand character being truncated until you mentioned it, so that couldn't be too much of an issue ;-)

  • Good 
  • greg Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 653 W: 310 N: 95] (2827)
  • [2003-07-18 22:50]

wow - superb texture, lovely script, great composition. Yes, it does bother me that you cut off the character. I don't feel the symbolism you suggest at all, sorry.

Sorry for not being original, but I also would like to have seen the full character. Apart from that it's pretty nice, just wonder if a touch too dark? Anyway, good work.

This is a intriquing shot, I want to know more. Possibly playing with the angle of shot will convey your message. Just the same it does give a sense of writing as a very physical element of some cultures past & present.

I didn't know the origin of vietnamese roots, we are chinese in singapore are not so different, immigrations/ migrations tend to distant one from one's origins. Your photostory has a very personal meaning to me. The photo and technique is flawless. Can you describe more to me on what kind of stonetablets were these characters craved on ... "ru jin shu" I would read in mandarin... but the huge letter, I cannot read it...

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