! don't forget to laugh ! Photo

Photographer’s Note

(The scan of an old print from a slide, part of the Chinese opera in the streets of Malaysia series).

At the end of my 10 months assignment in Malaysia as a tour guide, there was in Septembre the Chinese festival of the "Hungry Ghosts", when traditional opera is performed on makeshift stages everywhere in the streets.

My tourists were quickly tired of these performances which were accompanied by exotic music that is often ear-splitting, really very different from what we are used to...

... But I was totally subjugated and during one of my rare free times in KL, I dared following (without being really invited) the leading actor backstage and asked if I could take some more photos.

Nobody could speak English but with signs, it was possible to understand each other and we laughed together while he was getting rid of his heavy costume. My favorite photo is this one, that has inspired me since then as it is in my kitchen, a reminder not to forget to laugh everyday : the best for our health !

quillo, sevy, mursaloglu, Vasa, AiresSantos, trekks, Sne011, PixelTerror has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

quillo (7286) 2008-11-13 15:21

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Hello Catherine, an entertaining and nice photo, perhaps the light of the flash exaggerates the contrasts, but nevertheless it is a good reportage for the photo and for the note .... that I am grateful to you.

Congratulations friend for the good humor.

Un saludo y buenas noches.

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aadilj (17950) 2008-11-13 21:59

Thats well shot Cath and with superb clarity as well. I like the heus and that expression which surely seems to be hiding a veneer of sadness

Stepan (27175) 2008-11-13 23:07

Quelle surprise de voir un tel sujet chez toi. C'était à l'ambassade de Malaisie à Istanbul ?
Le cadrage est très sympa, avec le décentrage et le bokeh. Cela fonctionne très très bien. Belles et surprenantes teintes roses et blanches également.
Stéphane

sevy (13952) 2008-11-14 1:44

Bonjour Catherine,

Tu nous montres bien comme il peut etre interessant de retourner farfouiller dans ses archives de temps en temps. Cette photo meritait bien un post et je vois avec la date que ta pratique du portrait n est pas recente. Je comprends maintenant pourquoi tes portraits son souvent reussis alors que ce n est pas une pratique tres facile.
Tres beau travail de scan avec une belle restitution avant plan clair et fond plus sombre qui met en valeur cet homme. Seul point a ameliorer le rendu des cheveux trop dense. Je pense qu il y aurait moyen d extraire un peu plus de texture dans cette partie.

Yves.

mursaloglu (5218) 2008-11-14 4:17

hello Caty
What a stunning portrait work great details and really well done. You captured also a fantastic moment of smile. BRavo ihsan

rbcy1974 (20746) 2008-11-14 4:52

Bonjour Catherine:
Tres jolie portrait double. Jaime beacoup le flou deriere et aussi l expression et le teint rose dans la visage de l'acteur.
tres bien fait
A+
Daniel

hgupta (1321) 2008-11-14 7:34

Wow.....very powerful shot. Kinda funny, kinda scary, kinda wiered.....but definitely a very very powerful capture.
well done.
regards,

Hemant

MarcT (21103) 2008-11-14 10:33

Salut Cath,
Je l'ai déjà vu sur ton site, je pense. Ce qui me semble évident, c'est tes progrès en PP.
Amitiés
Marc

Vasa (6274) 2008-11-14 11:15

Bonsoir Catherine,

un choix bien interessant qui me de ce que tu as fait il y dix ans. Ah, les souvenirs!

Moi pour ma sante je prend un verre de Noborders tous les jours une dose et ca me va tres bien. En plus, avec j'apprends des choses du monde entier sans bouger de mon bercail. Merci amie,

Branko

toto (18755) 2008-11-14 14:47

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ce portrait d' homme maquillé de fort jolie façon.
Jolies couleurs, bonne netteté, bons détails de ce maquillage bien pris ou les couleurs ressortent bien, pas trop fort, pas trop doucement.

Amitiés Thomas

AiresSantos (42826) 2008-11-14 23:42

Hi Catherine
Fine portrait with excellent colours and details.
Very well captured the big smile.
Thanks for sharing and have a nice weekend
Aires

trekks (14334) 2008-11-15 12:22

hello Cath

Very well described Note to inspire and motivate. The photo is a good portrait of painted face but with your objective, it becomes well deserved image to serve a lasting purpose.

Behind the painted face is written a lot of life experience and wisdom. I used to watch mime and found it so powerful, especially one performance by Marcel Marceau. This reminds me of those days.

Well done.

tfs, bill

marietom (32076) 2008-11-16 6:09

salut Cath,

Ils sont toujours impressionnants, les regards de ces clowns si blancs. Belle expression, pour ce beau portrait.
Bises
Marie

Polonaise (5638) 2008-11-16 8:17

It's a one hell of a kabuki face in there, Cathy !
Going to this kind of shows in the far east Asia must be nothing short of fun - I guess ? :-))))

Oh, well... Those ancient Greeks theatrical masks ?
What's the difference ?
those African shaman's masks ?
What's the difference ?
Those European heavy makeup masks ?
What's the difference?

As long as you cover your real face ?

Amilcament, Katarzyna

g
............

Sne011 (3103) 2008-11-18 7:21

Hello Catherine,
Great portrait, scary and funny at the same time :) Before reading your note I thought it was a burlesque of a geisha :) Now I know how the hungry ghost look like :)
Regards,
Sneza

PixelTerror (86797) 2008-11-21 2:12

Selamat Pagi Cath,
ah pour une vieille photo elle a du potentiel celle ci, un personnage haut en couleur qui ressort bien par la lumiere plus que par la profondeur de champ ici, LOL de voir que tu as plaque tes gringos pour aller faire des photos ;-)))
Bonne journee jY