Daily Life II Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a shot of the same monks as "Daily Life"

about the monks:

When the pre-dawn darkness is dispelled by morning light, the monks leave the monastery grounds to begin their pindapata, their food-gathering rounds. They walk silently, eyes downcast, barefoot, along the lanes and streets of the adjacent neighbourhood. They carry their alms bowl, often suspended by a sling across one shoulder. They stop only when they are respectfully and quietly addressed by a layperson waiting at the side of the road to place food offerings in his bowl.

It is an important part of Buddhist belief that one earns merit by providing food (and other necessities) to the monks. Laypersons offer the monks ready-to-eat food of the best quality, such as: fragrant rice or sticky rice, barbecued chicken, pork, fish, curries, soups, as well as cartons of milk, fruit juices, hard-boiled eggs, cakes, cookies, fruits and candies. Some layperson offer food, sometimes along with flowers, every morning. Some do so only on special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries of the deaths of close relatives or loved ones.

By 7.30 a.m. the monks have usually completed their rounds. They return to the monastery with (usually) full bowls. Always food is shared with the dek wat, the temple boys who live at the monastery and assist the monks in their housekeeping, in care of the grounds and in running errands. And food is shared with the temple dogs and cats, as well as with anybody else who happens to be around at meal-time.

(from 'The Monastic Life' by Gerald Roscoe, published by Asia Books.)

Hope you like..
regards,
Skye

Yamada, ngythanh, t0mmm1, jafadabret, david has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

abasgul (124) 2005-08-15 15:12

nice colours.If monks looked us it would be better.I felt the photo had been turned back to me.Diagonal line is good.

kevinos (6927) 2005-08-15 15:22

This is a nice picture. I suppose that people will never tire of taking pictures of bindebaht in Luang Prabang, but you have found a nice location and a nice PoV. Your note is very good too, full of interesting and acurate information.You are one of the few to take the trouble to understand what you see. Thanks, Kevin

AndyGr1er (281) 2005-08-15 15:30

Lovely shot, brings me back. Nice perspective lines and composition. would have looked great for the last monk to have looked around somewhat

Yamada (2309) 2005-08-15 15:46

I like the way the monks are turned away from us. Gives some kind of harmony to the shot. Great composition. Beautyfull colors. Great job.

Ina (2681) 2005-08-15 15:50

Fine composition and colors... I like all this monks warking away fro us... TFS...Ina...

Timmok (800) 2005-08-15 16:17

Hi Skye,

Nice picture with good colours. These monks recall me of the dwarves in "Snow white and the seven dwarves". It feels like they are singing "hey ho, hey ho, we're on the back home" ;o)

Thanks for sharing ;o)

ngythanh (8496) 2005-08-15 21:26

Skye:
Another great picture of this topic. I like the PoV that shows the photographer doing the journalist's task: walking behind the line of monks while kept shooting... It's a challenge task, isn't it?

Your note is too good. I think I must "steal" it for my next posting.

Andrew thought it "would have looked great for the last monk to have looked around somewhat". I don't have the last one, but one picture with the first in line to look back. Will post tomorrow to co-ordinate with you.

Regards,

bliard (1116) 2005-08-15 21:51

Akways fascinating to see those monks following each other. It's always graphical how they are located in the space. Really well done!

Thank!

pnphan (3900) 2005-08-15 21:54

great shot Skye
the orange stands out from the surrounding. very interesting look on this daily life shot.

ste (866) 2005-08-16 3:25

couleurs magnifiques; on pourrait croire, sans vouloir choquer personne, qu'ils se rendent à un festival!

t0mmm1 (5434) 2005-08-16 12:40

Hi Skye,
I like this picture very much. The composition in this diagonal way is nice, colours are great and POV is also good. And the fact the monks are turned away from us underlines your note... the part of returning and bringing in the monastery the food for other monks. This way I can feel better the returning process. Yes, this is very good.

sharkattack (268) 2005-09-02 7:56

its amazing balance and lovely captured......colors are speachless

schapman (0) 2005-09-02 17:01

Hi, such an interesting image with a great composition and a most informative note.
Thank you for sharing,
Shelly.

gantzt (484) 2005-09-09 14:16

Wow. This is a great shot. This composition of the monks all in a line and the colors are great. That line draws your eye into the photo.

Regards,

Tom

jafadabret (40315) 2005-10-07 2:17

Excellente composition avec cette voie qui traverse la photo en diagonale. La répétition des tenues orange des moines donne de la vie. Je suis en admiration devant ce cliché qui dégage beaucoup de sérénité.

david (3978) 2005-12-23 18:47

great photo ... the monks are a popular subject, but you've got them in a unique perspective, walking away from the camera.

i like how they're moving diagonally across the shot, which is very nice for leading my eye across the photo. and the orange is a nice contrast with the greens.

it's interesting how they are walking into the trees and are obscured from view by the overhanging foliage.

if you'd tried a lower angle, maybe kneeling down closer to the road, it would have given you a very interesting pov. you could have framed out those leaves and seen more monks, enhancing the orange diagonal line of monks in your shot ...

just a thought, it's a great shot as it is! well done!!