- Kung Fu - Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Went to see a Kung Fu show while staying in Beijing, and I was lucky to get a seat where I could fit the whole stage in my 50 mm 1,4. Thanks to the aperture, I was able to take this photo...

minor crop and sharpening.

eleparc has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

scalerman (25787) 2004-03-12 11:41

Great shot. Of course, when a picture is this saturated with one color, it creates a whole different mood.

mitternacht (1836) 2004-03-12 13:32

Great shot Terje. I really like those shows. The red light is really nice. Your composition is good, you have a lot of space and chose a good moment to take this with the V-formation and all.

Luko (13902) 2004-03-12 13:40

Mmmh... reminds me the 70's hit, Carl Douglas "Ev'r'body wuz Kuuungfuuu Fight-eii-eiing".

As Caleb mentioned a moody picture with the color that goes well along with theatrical Kungfu.
Good use of negative space on the top of the image but the left hand side is a bit empty to me as a start of the reading (crop it or not?).
I think you hit the shutterspeed limit for adequate sharpness, it's gives a disturbing sense of sharp but not really (or is it the lens that appears not contrasty enough at max 1,4 aperture?).

jmaddocks (563) 2004-03-12 16:03

Hi Terje. I really love this shot, but agree that it would look better with some of the space on the left removed. I also think removing some from the bottom would improve the over all look. I have done a workshop to illustrate what I mean.

You have captured these kung fu performers very well. I love the red lighting, and the posotion they were in when you snapped the shot. Very well taken!

[workshop] [compare]

PeterDF (298) 2004-03-12 20:03

Tremendous photo! It's as if you entered some temple long ago and this demonstration was taking place, which is what the set designers might have had in mind. It is very nicely photographed...you caught them all in a perfect position.

pascalbene (1730) 2004-03-18 15:10

I like a lot this image because movements are dancing again and again.

eleparc (24059) 2004-03-18 17:49

I guess i missed that one; excllent shot terje! and difficult in the dark...

gringofil (0) 2004-03-25 21:43

I will have to check this out next time I'm in Beijing (that is if they still perform the show or not). Look interesting.

Now for the shot. What I like here is the redness throughout, gives a real China feeling to the whole scene. Compo is outstanding, really incredible. I like how you captured the whole scene in one go. Many details too look at here...like a still from a kung-fu movie or something. Wonderful!