joyride, a photo from Jawa Barat, Java

Photographer's Note

A young Javanese girl is taking her younger sister on a donkey ride on Pandagan beach.

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PANDAGARAN is a rather large fishing village situated on a narrow isthmus with Pangandaran National Park occupying the entire headland. On both sides of the peninsula are beaches: one side is for tourists, the other side is for fishermen.

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THIS PICTURE was taken on the tourist side of town. It can get pretty busy with lots of local tourists and day trippers. In the background you can see how crowded it can get.

We are not beach lovers and we don't usually go for the obvious tourist places, but when we do, we like to go all the way and go where the locals go. Yes, that's Chinese beaches with only Chinese tourists, Mexican beaches with only Mexicans or - here - Indonesian beaches with only Indonesians. These places can be fun, for a day or two. Just go with the local flow...

holmertz, PaulVDV, Royaldevon, jhm has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102650) 2022-01-24 4:01

Hello Benny,
A nice view of the cute girls in a fine light and strong colours. The background has been sufficiently blurred to make the crowds almost invisible.
I don't bother much about beaches with only locals, but I am strongly in favour of restaurants with only locals. That's almost a guarantee of better food.
Best regards,
Gert

PaulVDV (62880) 2022-01-24 5:09

Hallo Benny,
Grappige foto met de gemaskerde ezel en de blije kinderen.
In de wazige achtergrond kunnen we inderdaad vaststellen hoe druk (en kleurrijk) het er was.
Ik kijk een beetje verrast op maar toch blij dat je Pangandaran omschrijft als een plaats met Indonesische toeristen.
Ik was er in 1990 en toen was het zowat een verplichte stopplaats voor westerlingen die van Bandung naar Jogjakarta reisden. Niet dat het er extreem druk was. De stranden waren heel ruim, zowel die aan het vasteland als die naar het schiereiland toe. In de loop der jaren zou ik een grotere toevloed van westerlingen hebben verwacht maar blijkbaar is dit uitgegroeid tot een bestemming voor Indonesiërs.
De enige moeilijkheid op meer verlaten stranden indertijd was de aanwezigheid van plunderende aapjes.
Vele groeten, Paul

Royaldevon (85896) 2022-01-24 6:06

Hello Benny,

To go where locals go is always a good mantra.

You have used shallow dof at its best, filling the f/g with sharp interesting details, whilst the blurred b/g serves to support sense of place, without distracting.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jhm (211736) 2022-01-24 8:21

Goedenavond Benny,

Het blijkt uit hun gelaatstrekken dat ze beiden niet ongelukkig zijn.
Ze rijden met de smile en de ezel zal dit wel gewoon zijn.
Preachtig foto werk scherp en helder beeld.
mooi gedaan, bedankt.

Prettige avond verder,
John

lousat (139220) 2022-01-24 12:20

Hi Benny,beautiful memory from Java, with the childs smiles on their donkey,a lucky moment for the light, so the result is the top of perfection. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

abmdsudi (95869) 2022-01-24 19:10

Hi Benny
This is a fine absorbing colourful portrait of the duo and the overall infectious smiles is great mixed with curiosity and anxiety. Focusing is spot on where their eyes are vital rendering a good impact and their tenderness shines through with pleasant warm lighting that gives a nice glow against the muted blurry oof bg. A tender moment you have caught it beautifully, Congrats.
Best regards

ifege (48019) 2022-01-24 21:20

Hi Paul
If you hadn't told us we wouldn't have known that this was at a beach. Excellent local scene.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (147076) 2022-01-24 22:59

Hi Benny,
pleasant view with these smiling people on the donkey, nice light of a sunny day, well captured, tfs.

mkamionka (74351) 2022-01-25 5:11

Hi Benny,
Lovely portrait with two children on the donkey. You captured them in a lovely light there. They are clearly enjoying the ride.
People who like to travel usually like to say that they don't like beaches at all. I think it is a very fashionable statement. Sometimes I have heard a person saying that and then I saw a photo of them on the beach or swimming in the ocean. I think it is fashionable to state that we are "above" the crowd and we travel in a special better way.
I see you have found a compromise there saying that you do go to beaches but only those with locals. This is a clever way to admit you enjoy beaches but no traveler can condemn you now ha ha
For me going in recent years for family holidays, a beach is quite important and I always try to find a balance between rest and sightseeing. However for me the key in selecting a beach is its potential beauty rather then if it is full of tourists or locals. I agree though that if selecting a restaurant it is definitely better to choose the one full of locals rather than tourists :)
M

emka (158092) 2022-01-25 18:24

hello Benny, I can say the same as you - I am not a beach lover and if I somewhere, I prefer those with local. without ordered rows of umbrellas and sunbeds. Also, I always prefer restaurants crowded with locals. They know well where to go for a portion of good food. Nice photo of these cute girls. The older one is already wearing the traditional dress. But quite original is the view of the donkey head.

best regrads Malgo