Huoarani Tribal Man Photo

Photographer’s Note

This obviously is not a very great photo quality, but I just want to share this experience of my adventure deep in the Ecuadorian Rainforest Jungle in the Huoarani Tribal village. Going along with them to see them hunting and fishing for perinea with the tribal men is experience of a life time. I will not go back there again. It took us tree days to get there.

in this shot, he is wearing nothing just a string to tied his thing, so it won't bounce around when he run, I guess. He is holding a blow pipe with poison arrows or stick for hunting, wild pigs, turkeys, monkeys, anything goes. he demonstrated how accurate he can shoot by blowing the pipe. I had to wear tripple protected boots, he was running barefoot in this jungle. Amazing how these people survived the way they live.

Through our local guide, he told us that his people used to kill foreigners who ventured into their land, they assure us that it was a long time ago and they don't do that anymore. I made a mistake by asking, “How long was it?” He said about 11 months ago. I looked at my Swiss traveling companion and let out a nervous laugh.

This one was taken with Kodak Gold 200 Film. It’s hard to get everything nice and sharp deep in the jungle with not much light and it’s not like I could just switch to ISO 1600. I was stuck with whatever film I had in the camera, unless I want to change film in the middle of everything, I had not time for that, I did my best with the situation. I was trying to get a candid shot of him, but when he saw me aiming my camera at him, he stopped and smile proudly for the shot. Anyhow, I hope this is good enough to enjoy.

vmukherjee, lrw1966, PaulVDV, crhieatt, holmertz, Deepforest, avene, MarcT, jonathan_hart, pboehringer, belido, hispic, MarianneS, trekks, sevy, mauricet, zmey, zeca, patdeph, Dpbours, Colombiana, mikele_pl, rodgerg, danos, PixelTerror, jhm, MLINES, bakes888, adores, paololg, mark_mk, Wanda1, maloutim, eversmile, Asiulus has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (5162) 2008-08-19 10:40

Hello Way,
This picture is beautiful and interesting because this Huoarani man posed in the rain forest, the place of his daily life.
The composition is very good with the vegetation all around him.
Best regards, Paul

devimeuxbe (55865) 2008-08-19 11:06

Hi Way
I like this very nice picture. It's a very good report. And also the quality is good.
Thanks, this post is interesting
BErtrand

yedirenk (7287) 2008-08-19 11:06

Hi Way,
Extraordinary and intresting photo.great daily life shot.very well done.TFS
Greetings

Cevdet

crhieatt (5143) 2008-08-19 11:15

Way,
I really like this shot and, apart from a few "lines" visible on the man's body there's nothing at all wrong with the quality as presented.
The "out of focus" - short depth of field effect surely adds to the shot - deepening the effect of endless jungle and, perhaps, rain.
Great colours too - and a nice smile! ;)

Regards
Colin

holmertz (9586) 2008-08-19 11:24

Hello Way,
I understand fully well your technical problems. I have tried to take pictures of orangutangs in the Borneo jungle, and that wasn't easy. Considering that, this is an excellent and interesting photo, and I understand what a great experience this was to you.
Best regards,
Gert

Deepforest (8813) 2008-08-19 11:37

Hi Way,
interesting and unusual capture! I know tha light conditions inside rainforest are very, very difficult, so the quality of your photo isn,t bad. The most of my photos from rainforest in Madagascar aren't so good... You have created fantastic atmosphere here, the greenery is everywhere... Nice shot, well done my friend!
Best regards,
Andrzej

MarcT (21097) 2008-08-19 11:40

Hi Way,
That's a great picture. Superb smile in the middle of the deep jungle. Beautiful dark green colours also.
Cheers
Marc

avene (10944) 2008-08-19 11:42

hello Way,
great photo and great note, and I fully agree that this photo deserves to be in "decisive moment" category. I don't see any problems with the photo, just the oposite - there are many things I like. the lush green vegetation, the way you have placed the plants to create a natural frame for the man, the shallow depth of field that actually conveys very well the feeling of deep jungle... love it. great photo, you should be proud.

best,
Kristine

michelloupis (0) 2008-08-19 13:00

Hello,

This is a beauty. The expression of the Huoarani...superb! The way his hand holds the cane or stick or blow-pipe... Great! TFS.

Take care
Nuno

scalerman (25731) 2008-08-19 13:03

Way ne: simply because this region is under-represented on TE would deserve green, but it's a fine image as well. best, c

emka (21261) 2008-08-19 13:25

Wow, I can imagine it was an extraordinary experience to meet Huarani tribal men. I find it fantastic. You survived, so they were not head hunters :)) Wonderful view of the jungle. I was also in selva in Ecuador, in 1999, but not so far and I haven't seen such primitive tribes. Thanks for sharing

Malgorzata

Silversnow (2107) 2008-08-19 17:42

Indeed, quite the exceptional shot from another age.
Great composition and expression on his face, the argentic photography quirks could not be avoided at the time ;)

belido (16357) 2008-08-19 19:35

Hi Way,

I particularly like this shot. This indian is perfectly framed. The dark green leaves work as a nice natural framing and the lighting is really good. There is also a nice story behind it. Image and note make this a true "learning about the world through photography" post. Well done!
Regards,
Carlos

hispic (7399) 2008-08-19 20:13

Hello Way,
Superb portrait in the rainforest jungle, everything is perfect! Rendering of the blur part is also beautiful. Wonderful shot indeed.
Best wishes, Hisashi

MarianneS (14264) 2008-08-20 0:44

Hello Way,
The quality of your shot is not that bad (I see a lot of worst photos on TE ;-)) In fact it is 100% quality if you look at what is behind the photo : the experience you lived, the wonderful expression of this man and a meeting between two worlds.
The blurred foreground makes it unreal... like in a dream.
Thank you for sharing it with us! It was worth.
Cheers,
marianne

jonathan_hart (22570) 2008-08-20 0:46

missed the candid shot ? however, isn't this shot unusual on TE ? and the pose is great... moreover, your note add to understand the situation, he's posing since one second and daily life will continue ;)
that's a great TE contribution even if the quality don't please you, it's no matter IMO, even charming
precious contribution once again
regards
jo

gary91 (15321) 2008-08-20 4:36

Hello Way,
Of course it is more than good enough to enjoy.
This is a fantastic shot, maybe not by its artistic qualities, but certainly by the story and the atmosphere it is transmitting.
I like the attitude of the guy proudly looking at your camera and the big smile he has on his face.
Great documentaty and thanks for this very complete note and its nice story.
Have a nice day.
Best regards, Christian

baba_flies (7969) 2008-08-20 4:50

Hello Way! I am glad that you are still with us :)))) and that you can share this immense experience with our community. What a forgotten world on our planet and it is hard to follow that people still run around how they were born. Coming back from my lunch break where everybody walks around in black business suits, many of them having lost contact to nature in every aspect and the closest they come is an adventure ride on some river organized by a tour operator, this seems all even stranger. For me it is a fantastic post and how he smiles over to you, not sure probably what went on inside your tool, but he trusted you and he liked to make you happy, I am sure. What an experience, even for us. Barbara.

sevy (13310) 2008-08-20 5:04

Hello Way,

As you said not a perfect shot, but what a witness!
I like a lot the atmosphere and ambiance shared by the photo: we are really in the jungle with you. It makes me thinking about some National Geographic shots: perhaps the rendering of the colors.
The use of a narrow deep of field surely forced by the lack of light and the composition are well adapted to the subject.
Thanks to show us this jewel,

Yves.

pboehringer (770) 2008-08-20 8:39

Way,
this is certainly not one of your best shots concerning the photo quality itself. However, the story and your experienced shared in your note is fantastic and makes this shot worth a thousand times other so many other posts here at TE.
Taking into account your limitations I think it is an outstanding photography.
Hmmm, it seems to me that Houarani people have a different sense of time as we westernized people do. 11 months is a long time ago ... ? Oh man, I would not have just laughed nervously.
Peter

zmey (7244) 2008-08-20 14:51

hello way

a wonderful encounter 'of a different kind'. his smile is very natural and i find that you have handled the difficult 'under the canopy' light very well here. as to Huoaranis: are close encounters with them allowed? i would be scared to pass some 'developed world' bug to them that they would have no immunity against.

warm regards,
kristaps

zeca (20026) 2008-08-20 18:30

Hi Way!
Its a great capture! Excellent report! Very nice details! The quality is very good!
Regards,
Zeca

Dpbours (218) 2008-08-21 6:53

Hello Way,

What a wonderful photograph and note.
I did research on rural energy in the Central Amazon region around Manaus - Brazil for about a year. In the beginning, I was also wearing those triple protection boots, mosquito things etc. But later on, the heat was just too bad and I also wore flip-flops, a T-shirt and that's about it.
Haha, good story on the killing of foreigners. 11 months ago. Wonderful.

Greetings,
Dennis

patdeph (17748) 2008-08-21 6:55

hello Way
yes,this is enough to enjoy the picture!Even if the photo is not technically perfect,it can transmit a feeling,an emotion,that yours is doing very well!I like your note that is telling a nice and funny experience,this one that I would have liked to have in the jungles of Borneo but didn't take time enough to have it,that is for me a great regret!But I will go back!On your photo,I like the man and his smile,in the middle of this fantastic vegetation,and the colours are superb!
Regards.
Pascale
tomorrow

Colombiana (2542) 2008-08-21 10:25

Hi Way,

What a fascinating experience and what a fantastic photo!
This photo is not about its technical aspect,
but about its message which is worth more than a thousand words.
TE’s pilot purpose will be to lean about the
world through photography, and we get to learn a lot from this photo. It is unbelievable to
see how many people ignore the fact that in 2008 there is still people in the world who
live like the lived thousands of years ago – they are now more welcoming of course!
Very funny story; it made me laugh that the last foreign killed was 11 months ago. That was hilarious!
Great composition framing the subject with the vegetation
Thanks for the great note!

Maryori :)

Kielia (8401) 2008-08-21 10:33

Hello Way,
a composition in the best spirit of TE, I do not care about the quality, it is the atmosphere that counts! We can see by his expression on the face that he liked you! And I like your note, very exciting! TfS!
Warm regards
Harriet

mikele_pl (2304) 2008-08-21 13:55

Hi Way,
this picture kicks ass! The quality could be better of course, but the f*** cares about it when you see such a great sight. The jungle literally consumes you when you look at it and the man - well, he probably could have eaten you alive... :)

cheers

michal

trekks (14262) 2008-08-22 0:37

hello Way

Lush canopy of rainforest green, this really seems familiar with our Borneo jungle. And the tribesman is not so much different from our tribesman of Borneo from many years ago.

But geography has such an interesting aspect of lifestyle unique to each place, so your travel to this part of the world to share your experience is well appreciated. tfs

bill

rodgerg (23849) 2008-08-22 0:54

Hello Way,

A good idea to post this old photo. This photo is very impressive, very intersting too and full of emotion. The smile of this man is very well collected. I like too the vegetal framing. An anotre good photowork.
Best regardsn
Roger

danos (32264) 2008-08-22 1:52

Hello Way,
really this is an unexpected shot of this native in his environment.I'm impressed from your courage to enter in the Ecuadorian rainforest jungle to capture this splendid portrait of the man.As i see,he is very happy with your presentation and know about the camera,so his pose is so authentic.Well done.

Regard,Danos

PixelTerror (86058) 2008-08-22 2:14

Hi Way,
Well given the dim light conditions it's not that bad actually and it has great learn about the world value so this is why I like it, also you have backed it with a great note.
Have a nice day JY

jhm (82319) 2008-08-23 1:33

I understand fully well your technical problems, it's not easy for take this picture and later with scanning this image to bring.
Through this snap shot get we a nice idea of this man, he smile and is very proud with the photographer.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

dvlazar (6474) 2008-08-23 6:24

Great job - capturing this man in his natural environment! The framing of the leaves is amazing, and he's off centre with the frame which is just perfect.
Great color work.

Dave

MLINES (10870) 2008-08-23 15:05

Hi Way, A very difficult photograph to be in the right position in this remote place, somewhere very few will visit so wonderful to have the chance to see and read about this ancient way of life. He looks very happy indeed. Excellent for TE. TFS. Murray.

bakes888 (18155) 2008-08-24 0:37

Hi Way. Excellent photo. Natural colours and open friendly pose. Well composed with good natural framing also. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

Tobias__Ortmann (2589) 2008-08-25 3:38

Hi way this is a very fine shot great potrait in nice environment
This picture has great contrast and nice colours
very well done my friend
Toba

lrw1966 (1630) 2008-08-26 9:39

Way Hi;
Maravelous Daily life compositons. I like the placement of the man with the natural framing an colors.
Thanks for the educational note, as always
Congratulations, very well done
Larry
USA-tfs

adores (15487) 2008-08-26 17:02

Hi Way!
This is a photo we don't usually see here! In spite of the hard light consitions, you got a nice shot, you framed him very well with those huge leaves. Really funny that he's smiling at the camera. Good idea to show it!

paololg (13643) 2008-08-31 14:09

Ciao Way,
this photo is really rare and exceptional. These men are almost extinct, and your image proposes us a piece of human history. The expression and the smile of this man I like a lot. Compliments, you have done really a good work
Ciao
Paolo

mark_mk (246) 2008-09-01 9:11

Hi Way,
a great shot, that really shows us a lot about the world. The expression on his face is just perfect and having in mind you did this with a film camera it`s even better. In this digital era it would have been much easier, as you said, ISO 1600, some PP to get the noise out and that`s it. So therefore hats off, you did a great job!

Best regards from Florida
Mark

Wanda1 (10923) 2008-09-07 5:47

Hi Way,
You did really well in the low light conditions under the thick canopy of the jungle. He does indeed look very proud and I like the way he is framed by the green foilage. Nicely done showing us these remote people and their way of living. Great story about killing the foreigners.
Regards
Wanda

gildasjan (23666) 2008-09-09 0:35

Bonsoir Way
Un très bon règlage de l'exposition pour cette image de forêt avec un très bon rendu du vert et de la peau de cet habitant du lieu.
Bonne journée
Cordialement
Gildas

OLF (3890) 2008-09-09 13:24

Hi Way,
I don't know in full format but at the TE size the picture render is very well. Now for the picture herself and it subject, it is a very good photo, very well composed. Very good work!
Best regards,
Olivier

maloutim (3943) 2008-09-17 9:13

Hi Way!
It is indeed good enough to enjoy! True, the technical quality is not very good, but the interest of the image definitely makes up for it . And it is understandable that the conditions in the deep jungle are not the best for taking photos!
I understand why you treasure such a souvenir. I envy your experience! It must be great having met people so near nature and so far from modern civilisation!
Thank you so much for sharing this unique experience!
MarieLouise.

brandstaetter (14074) 2008-09-19 7:04

Oh man, what a story. A unique experience, a unique photograph, dispite the focus is not perfect..
Great one, made for TE..
Compliments, chris

vmukherjee (395) 2008-11-03 17:05

Great shot!! The quality is not so good, but still, the framing, natural environment, the subject matter, all make it a wonderful image. And the note, it is very illuminating and it was my pleasure to read it. Thanks for sharing.

sacimar (7381) 2009-05-04 13:15

Hi Way,

It should be a great experience, excellent composition with the man in the middle of the jungle, good colours and details, tfs,

My best regards

Sergio