The Light of San Cristobal Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hugh (Bombilla) wrote on one of my photos of San Cristobal de Las Casas, ". . . and yet, nothing is softer and more serene than the afternoon light over the mountains around Las Casas. When the sun dips behind the pine-covered peaks and sets the blue sky alight with a glow like simmering gold and the whispy clouds that cross the sky like convection trails are tinted amber and, later, charcoal . . . when the light is like that, sublime and narcotic, over the silent stone city, no place is more soothing and peaceful. Indeed, during those hours, on those days, when a visitor is fortunate enough to be up high on a hill to soak in the long fade of light, there is no place else in the world at all."

I was reminded of this shot. To Hugh...

Galeota, designsoul, bombilla, prantik, KevRyan, ruisc_pt has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Galeota (10334) 2007-03-27 11:06

Colors are awsome as well as the fading light pouring on the facades and the street. I like the predominantly geometric characteristic of the place.

designsoul (21394) 2007-03-27 12:25

Hard to add anything to Hugh's poetic note... a gripping work from San Cristobal de Las Casas again... this reminds me of your previous one, with a bit different feel in colour. What they have in common is that feeling of timeless dreaminess, that heat on the wet stones reflecting the houses... what I also find utterly intriguing is how both you and Prantic seems to catch moments of people turning away, dogs seeming to be stray and wandering at random, silence pouring forth from every pore of the place...
wonderful work, Animesh.
sasa

bombilla (3402) 2007-03-27 13:47

Hi, Animesh. Thank you so much. I am touched by your dedication. And more than you know, because this is such a special place in my heart and mind and memory. Perhaps the core of my entire fascination with Latin America and my lifelong love of traveling and encounters with other cultures can be traced back to this city, which I was fortunate enough to encounter quite early in my life. The impression this city and its surroundings left on me -- an intensely dramatic and exotic impression that wound its way into my bones the very first night I arrived there and walked into the Zócalo from the bus station, an impression that seemed as though it had been waiting there in the mountains for me to arrive to receive it -- has never left me. If only I had had the ability and the focus to take photographs there with some attention and rigor . . . but I am certainly thrilled to have encountered your amazing photos of this special place. Seeing them, it's almost as if I am going there again for the first time. Thanks, again. -Hugh

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scalerman (25787) 2007-03-27 19:20

Animesh: I think Hugh's comments correspond tightly with your vision here. Great refelction of those warm tones on the wet street as well. best, c

Salil_B (737) 2007-03-28 5:04

I think I remember other photos from this batch of yours. You do have a penchant for variations and vagaries of light ... and humans ...
Salil

bantonbuju (48796) 2007-03-29 3:11

man, i do remember your passion for b/w but this one, exploring fc excellently, is not a bit worse than your monochromatic works...strong contrasts, "hard work" on light, and obviously interesting pp on colours - these are the strong points of this image...
looks like you were there with 3 people or so, in that san cristobal place...:-))
bw, j.

prantik (1134) 2007-03-29 22:08

A striking image befitting Hugh's eloquence. I repeat, you should shoot colour more often. Every single element in this picture is invaluable. The woman's white stockings popping up from the cherry red that subtly repeats the red and white palette of the wall, the dog's backlit tail, the red light, the white arrow on the green wall, the green wall, the red light of the car, all together creates a surreal mood. A chromatic dream sequence from a Bergman movie.

Regards
Prantik

Furachan (0) 2007-03-31 9:07

Incredibly rich colors here, Animesh, with a yellowish filtered treatment (in PP?) that I like a lot. Unbelievable sharpness again and a golden feel throughout.
Top shot,
Francis

kensimage (8543) 2007-03-31 22:28

The light is nice, but the dog and the person, each going about their important business headed in opposite directions, are what make this one. Great reflections off the pavement--it looks like it just rained, but the sky is blue. The atmosphere of the place is wonderfully captured (at least I can imagine so, not having been there.) Regards, Ken.

nerve (10212) 2007-04-03 3:06

another great one, but i am not sure of your noise treatment here Animesh,(dunno, but looks like you did something with neatimage, am i wrong? looks to cheesy to me, sorry to say that, lol!maybe it needs less treatment somehow.)

on the other hand, colours, compo, the dog, the passer-by, whole image is very classy..

KevRyan (22422) 2007-04-03 5:15

What a combination - Hugh's words and this fine image - I must say that I think Mexico seems to awaken something different in you......perhaps even more so than India.....a harsh contrasting image but it works so well - both the everyday and beyond - for me a tonal/nagual image!

best wishes Kev

ruisc_pt (6209) 2007-04-03 6:42

Great lite indeed Animesh
It seems the pavement slabs were polished
"Sublime"
TFS
Rui

nicoz (1963) 2007-04-17 11:36

OK, a final one, but I could happily spend hours in your gallery...
I like this one too. I first thought that it lacked a stronger human touch, but then, I saw the photo under a different angle.
The light reflecting on the wet pavement is a delight. And the discret dog and lady running away from you...
I like what you did with the yellowish tones, it gives some warm kinda western movie style.
Quite a emotional photo again!
Well done!
Nicolas

michiels (4170) 2007-04-18 10:22

hello Animesh,

Indeed, what a light. I like it very much, the empty streets with this fascinating light. It's almost unreal ! Great photo
greetings, inn