Sootjevisch Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Sootjevisch

What a remarkable surprise it was when I was at the World Port Days this year and was confronted with some real Dutch maritime folklore as it almost shouted me in the face: the Viswijvenkoor Sootjevisch (Sootjevisch=a bunch of fish in old Dutch) women’s choir. Musically they fall in the shanty tradition but they added this with authentic folkloristic detail – they wear outfits from 12 (former) fishing villages in the Netherlands. A nice touch is that they of course sing traditional songs about the old days but also write themselves and this injects their repertoire with some (70s) women’s lib. So the themes covered go from the hard life of the fisherman to not taking adultery any more and starting a women’s cooperation. I was with two American friends from Boston and it was interesting to discuss Dutch culture and history after on the fly translating some of the lyrics.

Another picture of members of the choir is here

The process: I was inspired by the distribution of the light and I took the PP-ing from there.
The PCS3 work flow: I altered the saturation, contrast, curves and levels for the whole pic and some elements separately, using different layers, enhanced the edges, USM-ed, added a frame and resized and did a gentle USM (1,0px, 22%) again on a 28 % transparent layer.

exif data
Camera Manufacturer : Canon
Camera Model : Canon EOS 30D
Exposure time [s] : 1/400
F-Number : 5.6
ISO speed ratings : 200
Date taken : 2008:09:06 15:12:08
Exposure bias value : -2/3
Metering mode : Evaluative, Multi-segment (5)
Exposure mode : Av-priority
Focal length [mm] : 140 mm (35 mm equiv)
Colour space : sRGB

Gerrit, jhm, Floydian, josevescovi, alvaraalto, danos, UlfE, lucasgalodoido, Tue, Dpbours, azaf1, Vames, thea0211, vascao, isabela_sor has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

batalay (21193) 2008-10-08 9:21

Hello Bert,

I love this image of the choir, very reminiscent of the paintings of Jan Steen (1625-1679), frequently comic faces, deeply absorbed in one passion or another. Being in Holland, you must know about Jan Steen a very fine artist from the Dutch Golden Age, not quite Rembrandt, nor Vermeer, but working in a very entertaining genre. (I am a professor of physics, but also an artist, hence my knowledge.)

Warm regards,

Bulent

Floydian (30970) 2008-10-08 9:45

Hoi Bert,
Mooi man...viswijven doen het altijd goed ;-)
Het is vooral de timing die het hem doet hier. De monden vol open, gezongen met veel passie en vuur, er diep op ingaand en bovendien nog in mooie klederdracht...typisch Hollands. Maar juist daarom kan ik dat zeer waarderen...prima plaat in lekkere vette kleuren.
Fijne avond, Henk

josevescovi (1660) 2008-10-08 10:25

As expressões das pessoas, captadas nesta foto, estão muito interessantes. Bom olho para a fotografia de pessoas. Trabalho muito competente.

Visite minha página. Fotos interessantes.

MiguelP (14336) 2008-10-08 10:51

Where is Rinie? she should be among this ladies! hehehehehehe... Good timing in this photo, maybe it hasnt the poetry of some other of your photos, but it got sense of humour. Take care!
Miguel

alvaraalto (5303) 2008-10-08 11:31

Hallo Bert,

Zoals ze er bij staan doen ze hun naam eer aan. Jammer dat je er geen YouTube filmpje bij hebt. Ik had ze wel ff willen horen.

groet Rob

fanni (8879) 2008-10-09 2:39

Hi Bert,
very funny and interesting moment captured :) Excellent POV! The ladies' facial expressions and their looks are so different!
greetings from Moscow,
Elena

jhm (83328) 2008-10-09 3:07

Dag Bert,

Ik hoor de klanken tot hier, die vrouwen kunnen wat decibels produceren nietwaar!
Bert, de traditionele kledij, daar heb ik steeds interesse voor, ik zie mijn grootmoeder, een Zweeuwse, met het tradioneel hoedje of post zoals zij dit noemde, nog zo voor mijn ogen.
Mijn moeder kwam naar België en heeft dit nooit gedragen.
Ik vind uw foto mooi, exellent scherp, en zeker een extra bijdrage tot het cultureel erfgoed op TE.
ook uw nota laat niets te wensen over. Bedankt.

Groeten uit met 1/8 bewolkte hemel 15.8° C, mooie namiddag geweest. PDF gelezen?
John.

carper (65646) 2008-10-09 3:38

het straalt ervan af Bert,
maar als je had gezegd Rotterdam had ik je niet geloofd,
een ongebruikelijke foto voor jou, maar zeker wel leuk.
prettige dag verder.
groet Jaap

danos (33272) 2008-10-09 7:50

Hello Bert,
nice the snapshot of these women’s choir.I like the traditional customs of a nation and especially when younger follow the tradition.As i see the women take part in the choir with dynamism.Well done.

Have a nice afternoon,Danos

horatiuTT (4566) 2008-10-09 9:54

Hi Bert,
superb photo,wonderful frozen moment with this expressive
ladies.Beautiful catch.Regards.
Horatiu

UlfE (9168) 2008-10-09 10:12

Hi Bert,

A fantastically expressful shot. You could almost hear these ladies in their wonderful outfits sing. Excellent colours and sharpness. TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

lucasgalodoido (16789) 2008-10-09 12:01

Hi Bert,
interesting shot and expressions in face of womens. Good sharpen too. Great work my friend.
Parabéns e Abraço

Tue (25608) 2008-10-09 13:27

Hi Bert,
Heel mooie foto van deze zingende dames, erg leuk ze in actie te zien met hun mond wijd open en bovendien zijn de verschillende soorten klederdracht erg leuk. Ook het licht was prettig. Zijn ze erg bekend? Hun naam komt me zo bekend voor, misschien dat ze een keer op tv zijn geweest.
Groeten,
Lars

Stepan (27175) 2008-10-09 23:01

A little unreal and so far from the news of these days... The real life still exists and there is no crack in it. And that's charming then... Great realization.
Stéphane

Dpbours (220) 2008-10-10 0:03

Hoi Bert,

Echte viswijven! Prachtig.
Leuk om te horen hoe deze viswijven de traditie met oude liedjes in ere houden. Leuke plaat!

Groeten,
Dennis

Vames (4356) 2008-10-10 9:23

hi Brt,very nice moment and good portrait!

thea0211 (1355) 2008-10-10 10:24

hi bert,
really lovely moment ;o), would be perfect if we could hear them aswell.
i checked the link you gave (ok, 'my' dutch consists mainly of 2 or 3 words ... but i really looked and still couldn't find any audio file ... pity)
anyway, the looks on their faces while performing are very well captured, they look like professionals in what they're doing (and more then likely they are)
good use of light, good colors - very well done, i like it a lot!
dora

vascao (192) 2008-10-16 17:09

Hi, Bert
I can almost hear the ladies. An interesting collection of faces, with great colors and a masterful compo.
[]'s
Sergio

brevbrev14 (372) 2008-10-17 10:40

Ciao Bert!
ah!!look here!! great expressions captured!!!!
it seems to be in a movie!!!
BRAVO!

and..................H A V E A G R E A T W.E. !!! :))))))))))
ciao!
valeria

isabela_sor (42471) 2008-10-17 10:57 [Comment]

Show Comment

Gerrit (36269) 2008-11-02 5:22

Hilarische foto, Bert.
De expressie van de zingende dames is fabuleus.
Mooi in het frame gezet ook in prachtige kleuren.
Groeten gerrit

bebel (7355) 2009-10-12 12:48

hello Bert
nice picture, it needs just some sounds now
I like the blue tonality fresh
bonne soirée
Pierrot