Weary Novice Photo

Photographer’s Note

In the Tibetan temple a young novice can't manage to stay awake in spite of the gongs and trumpets.

This was shot in Bodhgaya, the place where Siddhartha sat under the bodhi tree and achieved awareness. All the countries with large Buddhist populations have built temples here in their local styles. It's sort of a Buddhist Epcot Village....

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Updated post Thien's critique....

For those of you who think the photo too dark, I understand. I edited and posted this image in an almost dark room (moonlit). I can see why it would be difficult to see in a brightly lit environment.

For me the image was not about the boy, but about the red and black. I was taken by the softness captured in the two colors.

Cool-ice, Galeota, eleparc has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jstewart (1081) 2004-06-02 19:05

Dramatic, and the red is very striking. But its just a little too dark. Maybe I should try a workshop, but sorry, not enough time at present - someone else?

olspar7 (212) 2004-06-02 19:37

At first I had trouble figuring out what the picture was. Should the black half be cropped? I think you made the right decision to include it. It adds to the mood of the shot and accents the deep red color on the left. I love the lighting.

philip_coggan (11) 2004-06-02 22:10

Charming pic, and I love the light.

thitin (23) 2004-06-03 1:00

It has moody picture and i like light at cloth.

RGatward (19751) 2004-06-03 1:49

Certainly not too dark (the perfectly exposed cheek sets the benchmark), and really good use of dark space. A really great shot.

Cool-ice (5289) 2004-06-03 2:24

I really like your image, Bob !
The texture of the clothes is incredibly well shown and the gentle light gives a special atmosphere of great calm which is perfect here.
Extremely well done, congratulations !

cgrindahl (6109) 2004-06-03 2:59

This is a beautiful image. The red robe feels as though I could reach out and touch the fabric. Those are luscious, soft colors. The face and hands in shadow against the blackened temple are perfect. I know you were working with ambient light, which surely adds to the richness of the image. Fine work Bob.

tami (4) 2004-06-03 3:27

I really think this photo is too dark.
It looks like it has potantial, though.

Galeota (10334) 2004-06-03 7:45

Definitely a superb shot with a perfect exposure, as far as I'm concerned. Very good composition.

thien (2102) 2004-06-03 17:43

Superb exposure control, Bob. Just enough details in the dark to bring out the mood. As a portrait, I would prefer a tighter cropping to remove a bit of the right and bottom, as a "learning to the dark side" conveyed message the framing is perfect. Very well done, Bob.

eleparc (24059) 2004-06-11 14:43

the dark side does not bother me since ihave a good screen at home and i realize the difficulty to shoot in such light conditions;-) this is a pro job bob! bravo!

Porteplume (3257) 2004-07-29 3:12

Very well exposed "clair-obscur" (don't know how to call that in English). The play of colours and shadows is very attractive.
A wonderful, well executed observation Bob...

daninhoc (690) 2004-08-10 3:34

if i darken my room, the picture is bright enought. I think its a good shot with a very soft gradient between black and red!

laurenz (249) 2005-01-10 16:23

the picture looks a bit too dark on my notebook and almost perfect on my other PC.
Unfortunately, monitor gamma never seems to be exactly the same, - despite all efforts to calibrate brightness.

I like the way the face fades into darkness - very fitting considering the subject.
Also, the transition red-brown-black is fascinating.
Putting the face exactly into the center also works for this shot - and enhances the quiet atmosphere.

I visited Bodhgaya a while ago and loved the place - especially the Burmese monastery

faubry (32429) 2005-04-09 5:01

wow!!! very nice picture, i like it!!
warm colors, lighty only on his back, he seems very tired, and are sleeping very well without see you..
francine

paolino (1024) 2005-07-12 18:18

I like very much this picture. Darkeness is not a flaw, but the main feature of your shot. I especially like the lights and the contrast in this image where the young, sleeping novice's hair are confused with the darkness.

Well done Paolo