In the streets of Bobo, a photo from Hauts-Bassins, West

Photographer's Note

Three very simple photos today from Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city of Burkina Faso, taken in January 1982.

After a couple of weeks in the very nice but unglamourous capital Ouagadougou I proceeded by train southwest to Bobo-Dioulasso, usually simply referred to as "Bobo", just like most people would call the capital just "Ouaga". I didn't expect to find any glamour here either, and there was none, but I found a pleasant city where most streets, even in the very center, where lined with trees providing nice shade. I remember some of the major streets were like slightly dusty orchards, with long lines of mango trees on both sides.

Today Bobo-Dioulasso has a population of more than half a million, in 1982 it was considerably smaller, maybe 100,000. The city's name is derived from the two main languages of the region, Bobo and Dioula (also spelled Dyula or Jula).

I discovered today's main photo when searching my West African archive a few weeks ago. I had completely forgotten it, having probably not seen it for 35 years. Again, it's a technically far from perfect photo, but I like the light and the atmosphere among the women and children, and a hen, in this unpaved street. I should point out that it was not one of the main streets.

Two more views from Bobo-Dioulasso can be seen in the workshop. All photos were scanned from Kodachrome slides.

I will remain here for a while. I have only posted one photo from this city before, more than 12 years ago. This time I found several photos that I liked so much that I can't deny you the pleasure of seeing them. ;-) And most of them will even be technically quite acceptable. ;-)

tyro, Fis2, pajaran, ikeharel, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, PaulVDV, jhm, jean113, papagolf21, alvaraalto, adramad, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ifege (27117) 2020-05-21 23:55

Hi Gert
More good ones from years ago in Burkina Faso. Good scans, good subject matter of town life.
cheers
Ian

Silvio1953 (200212) 2020-05-22 0:26

Ciao Gert, nice scene, lovely composition full of life, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

tyro (30513) 2020-05-22 0:45

Hello Gert,

Three wonderful photographs and a fine note from Bobo which looks to have been quite a delightful place to visit.

I can understand how the trees lining the roadway in your main photograph could make this a more pleasant place to stay outdoors than was the case with Ouagadougou and, of course, we see a group of people on the left seated in the shade complete with young children and a chicken. Interesting too is the fact that a lady appears to be riding her motorcycle in your direction, something which I am sure would not happen in more strict Islamic cultures.

I think your photograph of a more central or main street in the city is actually very nice: the trees are more dense and meet overhead and make a fine shade for this wide metalled roadway. Not so many people to watch in that photograph but your second workshop picture of the Marché spilling out into the street makes up for it with lots of activity going on - there are obviously some red items (possibly fruits or vegetables) on a stall in the background but I'm intrigued to know what the two people in the foreground with the two white enamelled bowls are doing or selling - those ones seated between the fellow carrying a table or small cupboard on his head and the fellow with the red bobble hat.

Three brilliant photographs, each well taken and packed with interest and of good quality too.

Wonderful!

Take care and stay safe.

Kind Regards,

John.

Fis2 (150818) 2020-05-22 0:46

Witaj Gert!
The next photos create an interesting report.
Thanks to you, I watch places I will never reach.
Good frames and colors.
Excellent scene from daily life.
Warm regrads my friend.
Krzysztof

pajaran (98567) 2020-05-22 0:48

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepa ulica sa zelenim drvecem.
Lepo poakzano sa fotografijom u radionici, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Lepa fotografija i secanje.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.

emka (147839) 2020-05-22 3:15

Hello Gert,
This picture should be seen in the larger format, then we can see a curious scene in the left corner. These trees could be mango trees, they look similar.
I was very curious about your pictures from Bobo. Your photos are of much much better quality than the Grazyna photos but I find her "content" more interesting. Also, I like more your old picture shown here in 2008 with the mud mosque. But I love mosques of all kinds, so it is the reason. I still have in mind the streets in Senegal so for me personally this one is not especially interesting. Just the unpaved street with some people. I prefer to see some "architecture".
I like this sign Marche in the Workshop and the colourful crowd.
The quality is very good for me - nice composition, good colours and fine sharpness.

Have a nice day

MAlgo

Royaldevon (70471) 2020-05-22 3:44

Hello Gert,

Your scans have come out well, providing clear details of the state of the streets in this city! Though it may be a city, it has the appearance of rural town, with unmade roads which are inhabited by pedestrians more than vehicles.
It's a well composed photograph with f/g interest and a good lead line , where trees and figures create a fine sense of perspective. Trees give shade and suggest a reasonable water supply.
I'm fascinated, were the mango trees wild, for anyone to collect the fruits?

I love the market scene, too.
There is so much activity to peruse, so many contrasts with what I consider a typical local market!

Have a lovely day and keep safe,
Bev :-)

pierrefonds (99530) 2020-05-22 4:47

Hi Gert,

You have captured well a daily life scene. The point of view is showing the activities done by the persons. The light has a good effect on the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

lousat (126583) 2020-05-22 6:55

Hi Gert,3 beautiful pics from Bobo,thr name of this village is like of the name of my parrot..ehehe...it's possible to see every kinds of daily life moments,from the walk to the small business,the quality id truly excellent. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Tue (78374) 2020-05-22 7:38

Hej Gert,
Et udmærket gadebillede med en meget inbydende og afslappet atmosfære under de store træer, der danner en meget god kontrast med de lave brune huse ved vejen. De forskellige mennesker der går, kører eller sidder i billedet samt nogle høns giver liv til det hele.
Lars

jmdias (98482) 2020-05-22 9:51

gert

I liked these three images, in some aspects looks like the images of european painters did during 19th century in brazil. the mango trees looks so sad in the streets, I presume it is a very dry place and mangoes like more rain.marvelous personages lost in each image.

outside we have a big storm at this moment to celebrate the 28th anniversary of our tornado.

take care

jorge

PaulVDV (51556) 2020-05-22 10:18

Hello Gert,
The many trees provide a much more charming view and of course more coolness in this warm city.
Now I know the origin of the name of the place.
I have heard of this city before but did not know what the meaning of the name was. However, it sounded very exotic.
Bobo sounds more like you're home there :)
The three photos let us know Bobo a little better and the most beautiful is clearly your first choice.
Best regards, Paul

jhm (198661) 2020-05-22 10:36

Hello Gert,

Your old pictures stand out because of little traffic.
If child had we almost the same street but without this type trees.
Also sand and horses of the farmers.
Create nice depth and perspective.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Miguel82 (43912) 2020-05-22 11:50

Gert, the wheel of the motorbike and the red seat are real. The three rewarding photos show the atmosphere in this city during the 80's. The big trees create shadow and an aesthetic lane. Some steeets aren t tarmaced, so the traffic produces many dust. Lively market scene with many details : customers, vendors, a cart, a passerby, waste, cardboards. Fine colors, good sharpness, interesting photo note, regards.

jean113 (19545) 2020-05-22 13:31

Hello Gert, three very interesting pictures from Bobo.
How pleasant it must have been to have the trees to walk beneath, and mangos! Were you allowed to pick them?
I like the workshop picture of the market, two people sat in the middle of the space with large bowls, what were they doing? And a boy carrying a stool on his head!
There is always plenty to study in your pictures.
Very good quality.
Kind regards, Jean.

papagolf21 (149777) 2020-05-23 0:51

Bonjour, cher Gert,
A voir ces photos, nous sommes dans un monde à part. Une vie différente. L'histoire se rattachant aux lieux est intéressante et nous fait partager une époque (qui doit être en pleine évolution aujourd'hui).
Amitiés.
Philippe

ikeharel (103411) 2020-05-23 1:58

Hello Gert,
daily life with street action from an older era, would be very interesting to see the same place if it had evolved to a more mod4ern place.
Those kids playing in front of their homes must be now 40+ years of age, wonder how their life if ever changed since.
A fine picture documentary from back than and there.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

SteveH (7506) 2020-05-23 21:56

Hi Gert, great series of interesting shots from this little visited corner of Africa. Together they convey a good sense of what street live in the town would have been like. Cheers, Steve

alvaraalto (40696) 2020-05-24 0:55

Hello Gert,
Three captivating photos that give a good overview of everyday life in this place in Burkina Faso.
What is striking is that everything looks so relaxed and peaceful.
I am curious about the following pictures of Bobo.
Have a good Sunday.
Be careful and stay safe, groet Rob

adramad (64936) 2020-05-24 10:15

Hi Gert.
Very interesting photos of this unknown place, the truth is that the large groves on all the streets make them more pleasant, because we see few buildings, that if many people, especially children and women, everything looks quite poor.
A great photo, with very good color, very well managed both lighting and sharpness.
Well done. I like.
May you enjoy Sunday.
All the best, be careful and stay safe.
Luis

GyurMaster (19296) 2020-05-25 4:38

Dear Gert,

All three photos are nice (WS2 is a classic nothing special), but if I had to chose, I would have made the same decision too. I like the play of lights and shadows on the main upload. And of course the plenty details to be observed just like the chicken stepping on to the road.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

ChrisJ (156713) 2020-05-25 6:37

Hi Gert

Strange to see the avenue of mango trees without even a single blade of green grass at ground level. Mango trees grow well here in south east Queensland. Good sharpness and some nice daily life scenes such as the chicken, cyclist and pot of water? atop someone's head. Tfs!

COSTANTINO (99894) 2020-05-25 22:26

Hello dear Gert and have a nice
day
I like photos of this kind
and generally I liked your
description about the city
where most streets were lined
with trees providing nice shade
with long lines of mango trees...
the photo from Luxembourg is not
very old,it is from December when
I visited my daughter who lives there...
But I made a practice for the photo
learning more about uploading and I
forgot to change the date...
thanks a lot
regards
Costantino

PiotrF (49444) 2020-06-05 11:53

Hello Gert
An interesting series of photos from the street in Bobo in Burkina Faso. Great quality these pictures are 40 years old!
Thank you for Interesting notes.
Good work.
Regards
Piotr

Ilonka1974 (8609) 2020-06-14 13:18

Hi Gert,
Beautiful daily life picture from Bobo,
Lovely composition and very good presentation.
Perfect quality.
Best regards
Janusz