Monsters of Tibetan darkness Photo

Photographer’s Note

If you are going to visit the Pelkor Chöde monastery in Gyantse, don't forget to enter the "Protector Chapel". This is a small room that you can find on the left side of the entrance of the main assembly hall, just after you passed the statues of the Four Guardian Kings.

You can enter the room via a small door (mind your head!). The room used to be completely dark, but when we visited this place a small lightbulb was hanging on the wall, which gave a bit of light. On one side of the room, a very large statue of a protector demon is placed. Its frightening head is covered by cloths, which saves us from bad dreams, but is still effective against evil forces. Other objects that can be found in this room are lots of scary masks that are put on horizontal beams, like you can see on the picture.

Taking pictures was obviously quite difficult. I did not carry a tripod, so had to look for other ways of support. I ended up leaning against a vertical column in this room, which worked out pretty okay.

picardo, Rinie_Hoff, robiuk, nwoehnl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

picardo (2298) 2006-02-27 13:13

Really intresting picture!. Good details and colors

Rinie_Hoff (9334) 2006-02-27 17:04

Yo Gannink, trying to give me bad dreams?
Very nice light, Michael, it all makes it extra scary and spooky. I was actually a little bit surprised about the stories that I heard in Erdene Zuu, the big Mongolian monastery, much more viloent stories than I had ever expected in Buddhism.
You got a steady hand!

flydragon (0) 2006-02-27 17:29

woww amazing
welcome to my nightmare
i love this pics Michael
and congrat for this shot
with no tripod ;o)
regards
••simon••

robiuk (10763) 2006-02-27 18:26

Hi Michael,
first Frederic (Eltschinger), now you with these masks - is this because of the carnival time or just to scare me to death!?
lol
This small lightbulb was obviously enough to create a fine sidelight on these masks and provoke you to take a photo which is, btw, very successful!
I like the huge black BG accentuated with the black framing and golden-red elements of the subjects almost scattered across the frame.
A really tasty one!
Are you going to be having doughnuts or pancakes tomorrow?
Robi

PeterC (2242) 2006-02-28 1:37

Michael,
Very dramtic shot really bringg out the worst (best) of the beast. Very impressive in difficult light.
Great shot
Cheers
Peter

Kenny10pin (19301) 2006-02-28 7:26

very dark demonic features here, good composition and shadow, well done

hdl (6737) 2006-02-28 7:52

Interesting shot. Looks like you had a great time over there. The masks come out very good considering you had no tripod. And to be honest; I think in the dark like you show them is the best way to take them. Well done

nwoehnl (120) 2006-02-28 16:42

Very interesting photo, Michael. Well worth bumping up the ISO to get this one more or less hand-held, and the resulting quality is nice and renders fine detail in these carvings as they are outlined by the subtle light. I like it.

I saw in the forum that you will come to the Rotterdam meeting, it will be nice to meet you there.

Galmeida (12559) 2006-02-28 18:28

Hi Michael,
I think that I don't sleep very well with these monsters in my mind so I will expect to see nice monsters at May ;-))) Sincereally I like your approach, moment and excelent capture you did so well and is CARNIVAL and MASCARAS that are as you know theather and Ceremony.

Very well taken and a spelndid composition that fits so well with this time report and post. Very well seen and done. Congratulations and see you later.

Fernando