Guarani, a photo from Asuncion, South

Photographer's Note

A deviation from my usual posts, Now I bring you portraits, please be kind, this would be my first post regarding this matter. Comments are highly appreciated. lol

Story: A brief trip to Paraguay

My group was invited to concertize and sing in the 200th bicentenary celebrations of Paraguay's independence. Given 2 days, luckily I still managed to roam around Asuncion, the largest city and the capital of Paraguay. It is the largest city but It feels like a small-old-like developing city with less modern infrastructures, less progressive. The feel to it is more of a provincial town rather than a busy, progressive city well compared to Manila.

Streets, shops and other tourist stuffs were closed due to the preparation of the celebration so nothing much happened at the city center. As I continued my walk towards the park/plaza in front of the church-a typical spanish colonized town where the church and other important structures are nearby plaza-I spotted this local Indian or should I say a modern Guarani. They were in groups selling their handicrafts, playing music and much more of entertaining the people nearby.

She saw me taking pictures of her. Instead of looking directly at the camera, she looked on the other direction, posed, acted as if she were selling her articles, an action that dictates "I know you won't buy anything from me so go ahead, take lots of pictures"-that defines her underlying smile in this portrait. A seemingly experienced and cooperative model, she even wanted the shot to be candidly manipulated. So I rushed back to her and showed her the images and she responded with a tap at my back. These people are very warm and friendly.

Guarani-may refer to indigenous people from inner South America,-Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina-a dialect, one of the official languages spoken in Paraguay, a type of virtuosic music and the currency of Paraguay.

I don't know but some of you might be interested, here is a link to our performance in Asuncion.

bayno, Sonata11, delpeoples, jusninasirun, TopGeo, CLODO, jjcordier, skippy007, jhm, sacimar, nobuikehonda, adores, lakshmip1949, patdeph, nikkitta, Angshu, axiotea, Cricri, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

npecanhuk (53913) 2012-02-09 17:59

Hi Matt!
Beautiful and lovely portrait!
I love the colors!
Level of sharpness, exposure, vertical format and composition are also excellent!
Very pleasing visual results!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

prasun984 (5590) 2012-02-09 18:15

Hi Matt,
very nice old age lady portrait shot...like her relax smile on her calm face...nice light on her wrinkled face ...
Good color tones, sharpness, clarity and DOF too. Perfectly well done. I like it.
All the best,

Prasun

Yiannis84 (2824) 2012-02-09 18:38

Hi Matt..

Very intersting portrait rich of atmosphere! lovely colors & sharpness..excellent quality and very nice framing and vertical cut! expectant and curious eyes,
I really like and I congratulate you.

Best regards..Yiannis

bayno (16213) 2012-02-09 19:19

Hi Matt,
turns from one side of the planet with extreme ease, very nice portrait of this colorful Guarani, beautiful proud expression, lovely light,
have fun,
Valter

Sonata11 (28375) 2012-02-09 20:15

Hello Matt,
what a wonderful portrait of this old lady. We can see happy face and smile eyes. Great quality of this pic with fantastic splendid colors, sharpness, good contrast, great quality. Her hair are so shiny. Wonderfully executed this image.Perfectly well done. My congratulation !!!!
All the best,
Barbara

SnapRJW (18784) 2012-02-09 21:24

Hello Matt - I commented on this one before but my crit got eaten up in server cyber space! Wonderful warm light on the face suits the sparkle in her eye. Attractive colours make for a vibrant portrait. Warm regards Rosemary
PS. I used to sing in choirs but it was a very long time ago!

delpeoples (45006) 2012-02-09 21:40

Salut cher Matt

I would never have guessed that this was a first attempt at portraiture. It's superb. The colours, skin tones and definition are amazing and you managed to captured some of this proud lady's personality along with it. I couldn't ask for more.

Amities et belle journee
Lisa

ifege (9448) 2012-02-09 21:41

Hi Matt
For your first portrait posting you've bettered many of the portraits on TE. You've captured a slightly dreamy look with just a touch of a smile. Brilliant colour. Keep them coming.
cheers
Ian

emka (58194) 2012-02-09 23:03

Hi Matt,

First try and how successful! Excellent portrait ot this Guarani woman. Nice smiling eyes, pleasant crown of colourful feathers, wonderful light.
Lovely shot!
Warm regrads

Malgo

jusninasirun (17138) 2012-02-09 23:08

Hello Matt,
I like this colorful portrait and well captured expression in the face. The glazing eyes make me wonder what is going on in her head. Good story from Paraguay and thanks for sharing.
Kind regards,
Jusni

wolf38 (28208) 2012-02-09 23:09

Hi Matt. A colorful portrait. Proud and friendly facial expression. The eyes are open and honest. Overall, a striking portrait. Well done. Rgds, Wolfgang.

TopGeo (37994) 2012-02-09 23:33

Hello Matt An amazing portrait and informations you have caught a very spontaneous and fresh scene, in a very special atmosphere. A good quality of image, a great sharpness
Have a nice day.
Best regards,
Georgios

jemaflor (69011) 2012-02-09 23:48

Hi Matt,
Excellent portrait, impressive galnce, perfect colors and sharpness, an very interesting subject and a good result.

CLODO (24734) 2012-02-10 0:05

Hi Matt

Nice smiling portrait full of hope and proudness. The low sun gives a copper hue to the skin, and white dots in th eyes. The colored feathers add alot to the picture.
Congratulations
CLODO

jjcordier (62366) 2012-02-10 1:18

Matt
Un excellent portrait, très coloré, qui met en valeur ce visage enjoué parfaitement éclairé. J'aime aussi l'arrière plan discret mais aux couleurs en harmonie.
Venez-vous chanter en France quelquefois?
Amicalement
JJ

skippy007 (12500) 2012-02-10 2:18

Hello Matt, Nice portrait, sharp, colourful, lovely catchlight in the eyes, I prefer eye contact but realise it,s not always possible unless of course you are in a studio situation. Nice even light & good colour throughout especially skin tones. Well done a beautiful portrait one that this lady would be proud off. Were you one of the voices?
Regards
Santo

cavli (1874) 2012-02-10 4:09

Hello Matt,

Wonderfull colors you have here. very good potrait. very sharp and detailed. tfs
regards..

mursaloglu (8047) 2012-02-10 4:26

hello matt
fantastic portrait work marvelous model and sight with emotionally local dressing. Bravo ihsan

jhm (122474) 2012-02-10 4:45

Hello Matt,

Congratulations for your first portrait on TE.
I am a very great fan of portrait, but a lot people see not gladly portraits, landscape or other pictures have to the people.
Very important are the eyes, it is always lovely when the eye are clear.
I say you, place more portraits.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

sacimar (25957) 2012-02-10 5:12

Hello Matt,

this is a good portrait, you have started this new subject very well, details are interesting, I like the light of the image and the face expression, well done,

Have a nice weekend,

Sergio

taypejka (1298) 2012-02-10 5:29

Hi Matt!

I love your first portrait.The Indian lady is so nice and her eyes are sparkling with joy. The colours are so vivid and warm.Great quality!
my best regards
emilia

nobuikehonda (3846) 2012-02-10 8:41

Hello Matt,

The most welcoming warm light strikes me with a delight! The portrait taken at close distance is full of intriguing details. The feathers, clothing, and even the background are filled with a warm lighting. The facial expression of the subject and how the subject looks into the undefined distance brings into the portrait what is not included in the image. Paraguay is a country in which I have particular interests. I used to know someone from this part of the world. A very intriguing charm surrounds this lady. This is a first rate portrait in my most humble opinion, and takes a lot of courage! It is a very nicely presented image too!! I like her presence very much.

With my very best wishes,
Have a very creative weekend, Matt
Nobu.

[2]

yquem46 (32295) 2012-02-10 8:47

Hi matt
A razor sharp close up portrait, very expressive and colorful
Have a nice WE
Best regards
Patrick

maria-v1981 (10403) 2012-02-10 9:13

Hello Matt,
An impressive potrait your first post has success. The colourful details creates the perfect result. I like the cheerful eyes of lady.
Have a nice weekend,
Cheers,
Maria

adores (28236) 2012-02-10 15:08

Hi Matt!
Your first post? The portrait is very good! I like her expression and the light was just perfect. The colourful feathers are great details! Well done! Waiting for the next ones:)!
And thanks for the link. Your choir is very good:)!

faubry (35335) 2012-02-10 15:48

Very nice woman portrait, wonderful warm colors, i like her enjoy expression; congratulations
francine

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2012-02-10 21:27

Hello Matt,

This is a wonderful portrait from Paraguay. I like those lovely feathes with so many colors. I like her expressive face specially the eyes which are very captivating. Nice smile from this woman. The colors, sharpness and lighting are superb.

Lakshmi

patdeph (35738) 2012-02-11 3:00

hello Matt
for someone who is not used to do portraits, you have perfectly successed to do this one.Perfectly framed, splendid colors,superb warm light, and a beautiful and natural expression.Congratulations.
Regards
Pascale
And thank you for the beautiful link.

fds (5317) 2012-02-11 3:50

very very beautiful portrait for this women and fantastic colors
great schot

jimkil (1664) 2012-02-11 22:32

Hello matt

You done very well, the golden light is impressive, you have caught it so there is not too much warmth happening on the face.
Rich in colour and detail with impressive crop and framing. I think you can be proud of your first upload on this matter.
Regards
Jim

nikkitta (5896) 2012-02-12 18:32

Hola Matt

Nice portrait very colorful and well framed, lets wait for more
Good note, so now I can understand the way she is looking, smiling...
Greetings and TFS

Mria

Great to add the link to YT, I liked the voices and added a video made with my photos from Paraguay

So you also have erased comments?
Same happens to me, people was kind to re comment, estrange indeed

Angshu (51174) 2012-02-14 2:20

Hello Matt
The warm light creates a nice glow on her face...which goes well with her warm smile. Interesting are the feathers ...they are of all coceivable colours...are they feathers of Bird of Paradise?
Hard to believe this is your 1st portrait...a nice & competent one with close frame & crop. Well done (even though I prefer situational portraits) indeed!
Best Regards
Angshu

axiotea (21647) 2012-02-14 2:27

Hi Matt
It is luminous/colourful, the tight framing is working perfectly for this portrait. She looks happy and quite natural (although she was posing)! It is generally well exposed, maybe the face could have been slightly more sharpened, but that's minor :)
Thank you for the link!

Cheers
Marilyn

ChrisJ (86902) 2012-02-14 3:46

Hi Matt,

A superb portrait of the South American Indian with vibrant color & impeccable sharpness. Good lighting on their face with superb shadow detail. Tfs!

Waylim (22357) 2012-02-14 11:52

Hi Matt,

Fantastic portrait of hte tribal woman, something that is rare to see. Even though it is not taken deep in the jungle :) Here feature is really authentic to the tribal people, similar to those that I have seen deep in the Amazon jungle of Ecaudorian Hoarani tribe. Love the golden light that you got that illuminated her face for that golden glow, exposing her facial feature perfectly. Great shot and congrates!...and thanks.
Way

asival (5283) 2012-02-14 21:16

Hi Matt

What a great portrait, colorful and well framed

very good job

Assi

Cricri (86501) 2012-02-15 11:34

Hi Matt
C'est un portrait magnifique, j'aime ces décorations colorées, la lumière sur son visage, le fond qui s'y accorde bien, félicitations
Belle soirée
cricri

ikeharel (37378) 2012-04-04 3:50

Hello Matt,
her face expression collected well on camera, seems to be happy, and maybe greatful to you taking her portrait.
Colors are outstanding, especially her face's skin.
Regards
Ike