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Native American Flutist


Native American Flutist
Photo Information
Copyright: Stan Obert (scobert) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1637 W: 16 N: 1866] (5321)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1998-09
Categories: Event
Camera: Nikon F-100, Fuji Sensia 100
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-04-12 21:37
Viewed: 736
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am back to my Native Amercian theme again. I have a few more posts to make about the March Denver Pow Wow. The Pow Wow is a huge event and the history of Native Americans goes back 25,000 years (that we know of), so I feel compelled not to cut my series too short. This Native American flutist was kind enough to play in front of the red rocks geological formations in the background that are particular to the Morrison, Colorado area (Morrison is about 20 miles southwest of Denver at the base of the Colorado foothills). We both had to be careful not to run into any rattlesnakes who like to sun themselves on these rocks (some of these snakes get up to six feet long and are VERY poisonous). Rattlesnakes are usually quite shy and avoid people. Most rattlesnake bites occur when stupid people try to handle these creatures or keep them as "pets". This portrait was taken late in the afternoon. The plants in the foreground are the yucca cactus plants.

The particular event that this gentleman was participating in was at the famous Fort Restaurant Annual Rendezvous in Morrison. The Fort features authentic "Mountain Man Cusine" and the architectual design was based on historic Bent's Old Fort in La Junta, CO. The Fort was founded by the late chef and historian Sam Arnold and his daughter Holly manages the restaurant now. This Native American flutist is playing the "Flute Solo in A Major or the Lone Wolf Concerto" composed by Stan Obert and Fulvio Ferraris (fulvio52) and is available from Renegade Recording Studios (joke). We are both proud renegades and individualists and we will proudly play our own music whether anyone is listening or not. The critics can pick at us all day long and we will calmly ignore them and do our thing, like this talented Native American is.

crckt, Valerka, isabela_sor, asiivalceni, markogts, jhm, feather, Dyerco, jwmunro, Wandering_Dan, fulvio52, gunbud, Gerrit, JPlumb, plimrn, japiey has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To zmey: Harsh Lightingscobert 4 04-14 08:10
To fulvio52: I meant to mention CottomouthsWandering_Dan 2 04-13 11:10
To Wandering_Dan: Native American Flutistscobert 2 04-13 11:02
To jwmunro: Underrated Photosscobert 1 04-13 08:24
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • crckt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1402 W: 68 N: 1315] (6815)
  • [2008-04-12 22:09]

Hi Stan,
A wonderful post! I love his expression and his surrounding. It must have been fascinating for you to see this.
Regards,
Shaeri

Hi, Stan,
Interesting image of a man doing his best to tame this flute.
Nice light.
TFS
Valerka:)

Visiting a well know resort here in Romania,I met one Indian band singing in the bug Square of that city ....Superb sounds,lovely music,and I have their CD all the time in my car listening when I need to relax :)
The costume of this man is great,black is not an usual color for their costumes,if I remember well.
Hugs

Hallo Stan..
Sher schones Bilder..
Toll ghemacht!
L.G.
ELla

To be picky, one could ask for more space on the right of the subject, given he is looking in that direction. Another minor note is about the dark dress of the flutist, which maybe would have gained by a slight overexposure. However, this are really minor and questionable points: the overall work is great, fantastic saturation and details. I like your choice of DOF, with cactuses and flautist in focus, and the background just a little blurred, to add depth, but without spoiling detail.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12725 W: 272 N: 16979] (67962)
  • [2008-04-13 0:44]

Hello Stan,

Exactly or this man is a Indian, strong posture together with different symbols from the old time.
You placed this man lovely middle of the picture, the light blur background make you portrait very nice.
Very well done.

Have a nice sunday,
John.

Is there no end to your talents?! Master photographer, astronomer and now composer. There should be a link so we can listen to the music while viewing this image. Do you play an instrument?
This is another well-worked scan of good quality. I like the way you posed him among the yuccas. Your slightly upward POV gives him more prominence and shows off his pride. I can imagine being there would send shivers down your spine and bring a lump to your throat. Well done
Kath

Hi Stan
A very pleasing portrait of this Native American in his finery. I like this lower POV. I see you like music. I recently acquired a CD by Jeff Ball a Native American flutist. It's worth a listen.
Phil

Damn Stan, another under rated image! Shot on film and the colors and textures rendered perfectly to digital. I can just here the sounds of the Indian flute on the air of this warm summer evening. The gentle breezes blowing off the rocks, the warm glow of late afternoon, and the clouds highlighting the sky what a time of the day to take pictures at Red Rocks. Well done!

Thank for sharing.

John

Hi, Stan -

Great composition and good POV. I'd be interested to see how it would like if you had stood a little to the left so that the two tall grasses were positioned a little less suggestively. ;-) I like the diagonals in the OOF rocks behind him. The sunlight on his face looks a little blown out; a little color brushing might help.

One thought on rattlesnakes: Unless they bite in a vital area, victims generally survive, though it means a hospital stay; the venom includes digestive acids. I am nervous in rattlesnake country, but not to the same degree I was in parts of Africa with their cobras and mambas. (One fellow Peace Corps volunteer once walked into his room and saw a cobra coiled on the bed! He was moved out the next day.)

I should also point out to others reading this that snakes generally avoid people if possible; they don't want to waste their venom on something too big to eat. Ordinary caution is generally enough; most snakebites come from people's stupidity. And in 45 years, no Peace Corps volunteer has ever died from snakebite anywhere in the world. Or so we were told.

Best,
Dan

Hi there, my dear friend.
Proud to have my name included in your outstanding note, and PROUD to be called a RENEGADE!
Now, it most certainly looks like you just produced the Modern Quintessential Native American picture... as simple as that.
All the pride and all the spirituality are right here on display.
The posture, expression and amazing attire of the flutist (Chief Black Eagle!) speak volumes, so do your skills in capturing this wonderful, mystical moment.
One more thing : 1998 and... Fuji film! Do I need to say more? Yeah, we'll keep playing OUR OWN music!
GREAT JOB! Truly GREAT!
Fulvio.

Ps. I had several close encounters of the worst kind with rattlers, but they never deliberately attempted to bite me. What really worries me are those Cottonmouths downsouth... that's the kinda territorial snake that gives no warning and will attack you as soon as you "trespass"... They are fearless, and they come after you...

  • Great 
  • gunbud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4477 W: 4 N: 3997] (18137)
  • [2008-04-13 18:44]

Hi Stan,
This one shows your signature of brilliant colors and exacting details. The Native America appears in deep concentration as he applies his music while keep a sharp eye and ear for the iconic serpent. The muted wester background is the perfect backdrop for this historic photo. We have rattle snakes in NY mostly found in state legistaure in Albany. All kidding aside they are found in the mountains that surround Lake George.
Regards, Tom

  • Great 
  • Gerrit Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4305 W: 88 N: 5304] (25642)
  • [2008-04-14 1:10]

Hi Stan,
proud and firm who he is standing there, his feet planted almost in the earth. Good portrait in great light.
Regards, gerrit

  • Great 
  • zmey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1307 W: 101 N: 1337] (5180)
  • [2008-04-14 7:11]
  • [+]

hello stan

just noticed, you've been busy over the weekend here :)) an interesting 'attitude' post, lol, with your subject clearly displaying pride in what he is doing. on a nitpicky note though: i feel, the light on the right side of HIS face is a tad harsh while the detail is fading on the left side (in the shadow). i supposed it was hard light to manage. i like the composition though.

with warm regards,
kristaps

Hi Stan, I like the more informal (outside of the arena) shot of this guy playing the flute. Having him stand in the grass, with that great red rock as a backdrop really helps make the shot.

I like the natural side light in this one, so part of him is lit up, along with the flute, and part in shadow. I also had a look at Dan's workshop and he has found a way to enhance things even further. I continue to learn.

Colours are great, very excellent PP and great presentation all around.

And watch out for the rattlers. I'm told we have all kinds of nasty snakes down here. Keep knocking on wood, I haven't seen one outside of a large terrarium yet, and hope to keep it that way.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3755 W: 232 N: 5047] (15955)
  • [2008-04-23 7:13]

Hi Stan,
I'd love to hear the Lone Wolf Concerto, but for now I'll enjoy seeing this Lone Wolf playing to the mountains as recorded by another lone wolf. The setting you chose is perfect and as others have commented the POV works well as does the low angle of the light.
HLJ, Pat

  • Great 
  • japiey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1822 W: 331 N: 2577] (9337)
  • [2008-04-26 14:26]

Dear Stan,

The man and the artist...
Both has been given a sensible image concept in this presentation.
It's a lesson the way you placed him in frame, that gives the feel of his identity a perfect reason, and his artistic nature well to add in. EXCELLENT COMPOSITION.

All the best, dear Stan :)

jp

  • Great 
  • jmcl Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2589 W: 146 N: 3421] (11904)
  • [2008-05-23 21:19]

Hi Stan,

Hope you are well .. I really like the way sharpness and focus works across this. Love the way the colors work across the layers as well. Very nice. Take care, John

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