In The Fast Lane!, a photo from Kavaje, South

Photographer's Note

Donkey/Mule/Horse drawn carts are proving very difficult to remove from the roads of Albania despite the considerable increase in car ownership. Whilst the lack of cash is always the main reason for this other important reasons are relevant. E.g. Most of villagers were given land at the end of the communist regime but that's it what does one do with a piece of land 2-5 miles away, no money, no tools no good roads. In these conditions riding a donkey drawn cart to and fro from your land is vital. Another less important reason is that older people have passed the age where they can be bothered learing to drive a car.

papagolf21, daddo, Kofman, tyro, pajaran, adores, CLODO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (76973) 2012-05-15 1:39

Bonjour, Aleks,
L'image est belle et triste à la fois. L'image reflète parfaitement la note d'accompagnement.
Félicitations pour avoir su saisir un moment étonnant.
Une réalisation de qualité.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

chrisvek (5645) 2012-05-15 2:34

Hello Aleks

Wow.Perfect shoot.Great details and so unique atmosphere.Perfect lightning and POV.Well done.

Have a superb day
Chris

daddo (18629) 2012-05-15 2:51

Hi Aleks. This image begs the question where were you when you took this shot and how did you manage to keep your lens dry. A scene like this reminds one of how uncomfortable it was without an enclosed space with its aircon and heating, music and upholstered seats. For the romantics the passing of the horse and buggy is something to lament, but when one thinks of rain, hail, snow...and the need to get from here to there, I wonder if a car is such a bad thing. Regards. Klaudio.

joso (2405) 2012-05-15 3:09

hi Aleks,
thats great! I'm already wet, from the much rain
perfectly captured, with the blurred raindrops
regards
jános

sabermonajati (7685) 2012-05-15 5:32

hi
unique moment you captured in excellent frame.
regard
saber

Oceania (2371) 2012-05-15 6:00

Like the Hollywood movie scene...

Jeppo (17623) 2012-05-15 12:15

great composition full of details and life.
a well managed documentary shot
tfs
silvio

holmertz (27198) 2012-05-15 12:21

Hello Aleks,
Now, this was a rainy day! But it's a great shot, certainly one of your best, and like someone already said it looks like it's from a movie. The POV is so perfect, so is the light and the rain falls like from one of those huge cranes they have in Hollywood. But I'm sure the director was a European.
Thanks for sharing,
Gert

CanmoreKevin (2111) 2012-05-15 16:48

Aleks,
Wonderful capture - love how the details show through in spite of the difficult conditions.
Kevin

tyro (13579) 2012-05-16 9:11

Hello Aleks,

A very interesting note! And I can imagine that a donkey cart will be more reliable than a car in cases of steep hills, bad roads and deep mud!

I was interested also in your reply to Klaudio (daddo) - what a good idea to crouch down and shelter your camera and lens from the heavy rain. But I bet you were soaked, weren't you?

I'd love to know what shutter speed you used for this one - whatever settings you used, they were perfect to show the rain teeming down and the darkness as well as the reflections on the very wet road.

Lighting, exposure, colours and sharpness all perfect! And perfect mood too!

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

pajaran (36868) 2012-05-16 23:11

Pozdrav.
Dobar tekst ...
Dobar trenutak sa kisom i strasnim oblacima, dobra kompozicija.
Dobar trenutak snimka i prikaz lepim bojama, moje cestitke na ulovljenom trenutku.
magarac je dobar radnik i sluga coveku.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Google.

Greetings.
Good article ...
Good time with rain and clouds, passionate, good composition.
Good time recording and display of beautiful colors caught my congratulations to the point.
the donkey was a good worker and a man servant.
All the best.
Paja.

GREGG (8293) 2012-05-17 21:24

Hi Aleks,
very nice artistic composition, as a picture of the old era, painted with
cart pulled by a donkey
Painting colors of light and shadows,
unique atmosphere
best regards,
Greg

adores (28536) 2012-05-20 15:17

Hi Aleks!
Almost unreal! I like it a lot!- the effect of the heavy rain falling, the pose of the man on the cart, the grey sky. The result is really good! And I'm also happy you're showing more of Albania - we don't see so many photos of this country here!

Juzo (4238) 2012-05-27 2:10

Hi Aleks,
The processing feels heavy but undeniably it is effective and this shot has such an action to it, a sense of drama from the everyday, thanks to your great angle and the intense weather.
Cheers
Justin

bayno (16407) 2012-06-01 0:08

Ciao Aleks,
great shot, looks like a painting, excellent job PP, a scene that takes me back in time, I really like the tones...have a good day...
Valter

CLODO (24894) 2012-06-01 1:40

Hi Aleks

great shot!
the low POV enhances the height of the man on the carriage. The donkey is not appreciating the pourring rain, but you do!
Congratulations
CLODO