"It's him Again!!", a photo from Bali, Nusa Tenggara

Photographer's Note

We met the Bali Belles on the stairs of the seaside temple, Pura Ponjok Batu. These young ladies were going down from the temple complex down to the sea shore. Wearing udung sarongs & lace upper dresses, they were carrying offerings for the gods and the sea.

This unique seaside temple, the Pura Ponjok Batu is located 25 km east of Singaraja in North Bali, and is perched on a rocky cliff next to a beach. It is a temple where people come to pray for safety and good luck. The Balinese who travel past will always make time to stop at the temple to pray, and to receive blessings for safety during their journey.

The temple is at an elevation and reached by climbing about 20-25 steps from the road, while the beach is a good 30 steps below the road level. There was a ceremony or festival going on in the temple, and I was admitted after being ‘cleansed’ after answering to some questions to their satisfaction & also wearing a sarong & salempot (waist sash).

I looked around in awe at the beautiful ceremony or rather I should say ceremonies, in the temple complex, along the sea beach & right at the lap of the sea next to the edifice of the ship. A really spiritual and amazing experience. Then as I clicked, I saw the girl (she was one of the Bali belles) looking back at me...I hope she was not thinking - "Oh, It's him again!!"

feather, vincz, plimrn, batalay, trekks, ChrisJ, siolaw, emjleclercq, kerim, edytungkal, papagolf21, kiwi_explorer, Graal, riclopes, pierrefonds, jhm, josepmarin, Partha_c, crckt, pboehringer, axiotea has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

feather (51130) 2007-12-18 8:05

How wonderful to have been able to take part in their ceremonies. The girl turning round really makes the composition as I think it would have been less successful had she been looking the other way. The black & white checks on the left are a bit distracting as they catch the eye. I see you cropped it already; maybe you didn't want to make it square with a further crop.
Kath

trekks (14348) 2007-12-18 21:20

Powerful view here, Angshu, in bright warm light, as can be seen by the squinted eyes in the girl facing lens. Captured in moment, the attention given to the old man at center. Well done. TFS

bill

siolaw (38294) 2007-12-18 22:26

Hi Angshu,
I like the scene, and above all, the way she is looking at you! They stand out nicely on the sea BG and are nicely framed by the rocks. Maybe a crop on the left would be an option...
Greetings
Laurent

emjleclercq (15778) 2007-12-18 23:18

Nice group view, with a much more natural posture than if it ad bee a group portrait. Good light and excellent color for the sea.

All the best,

Emmanuel

kerim (550) 2007-12-18 23:22

hi angsnuman,
different but beautiful compozition,
shapness and colours are good,
congratulations

indraajeet (1912) 2007-12-18 23:27

nice details of the sea, not to speak of the nice ladies. excellent composition
indrajit

carper (96) 2007-12-18 23:32

fine shot Angshuman
yes the title says it, the look of the lady is important in the shot, good point of view and fine quality, good photojob, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

edytungkal (4551) 2007-12-18 23:37

I really like this photo Angshu, you have captured on the right moment when the girl standing and look at the camera, it makes a perfect position. And the rock on the right together with the fg together created a perfect frame. Well done my friend, thanks

daniel

vincz (19113) 2007-12-19 0:34

Funny title, great note! I love the colours on your shot with the beautiful sea in the back, the dark rocks and the yellow of the clothes. It was certainly wonderful to be admitted in such a cermony.

papagolf21 (145112) 2007-12-19 0:39

Bonjour, mon ami Angshu,
Très belle photographie comme d'habitude de ces fidèles au bord de la mer et à proximité du temple.
Merveilleuse photographie mon ami.
Excellente composition.
Amitiés.
Philippe

ChrisJ (152428) 2007-12-19 0:42

Hi Angshuman

A good daily life shot from Bali, capturing the chequered b&w cloth, that is common in these parts. Some slight oe in the highlights, but good sharpness, colour & graphism. Tfs!

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-12-19 0:50

Hi Angshuman,
Fascinating scene made interesting by your descriptive note. I guess going to spiritual ceremonies like this makes you feel 'clean' inside ... we all need this ritual from time to time to center ourselves. Wonderfully captured and presented with good image quality. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

Graal (103038) 2007-12-19 1:11

Hi Angshuman,
an interesting scene and informations. Well composed image. Good documental shot. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

pablominto (53746) 2007-12-19 2:07

Hello Angshu,
This is an interesting image, and the rich colours make it eye-catching!
Fine light, and I notice the girl who has spotted the photographer...
A wel lbalanced composition!
Greetings,
Pablo -

riclopes (35577) 2007-12-19 3:10

Olá Angshu, I'm sure that after a while they allways get used to our presence and camera and if they don't say anything in the meanwhile, we have the perfect mood to photograph as we wish. I believe that's what happened here, which must have been a wonderful experience for you. This is another nice shot from this place. Her looking back is obviously a good thing and I love the texture on the water. Crop on the left? No, I think I like it this way. Overexposition on her shirt? As I said before, we shouldn't bother much with those details. Everything else is perfect.
Friendly regards,
ricardo

jhm (191377) 2007-12-19 4:26

Hello Angshu,

Important scene made interesting by your descriptive note, in bright warm light, the lady or maybe young twenty look very nice beside the camera, this give always a good composition.
Very well done, thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

berek (50508) 2007-12-19 5:43

Hi Angshuman ,
nice daily life view with beautiful atmosphere. thanks for your sharing.
Burak Erek

batalay (41261) 2007-12-19 5:53

Hello Mr. B,

A thoroughly enjoyable note accompanying a beautiful image. You've managed to open a window into the ceremony without intruding on the group. The young woman looking in the direction of the camera, however has a different purpose. She serves as the "chorus" in a Greek play, sort of a connection between the ceremony of the viewer.

Warm regards, Angshuman,

Bulent

josepmarin (59383) 2007-12-19 8:33

Hi Angshuman,
Good capture of this scene during the ceremony, is dynamic and has much strenght. The girl who turns her head and looks at you gives a very natural and spontaneous touch to your photo, which in addition has a good light and a very nice color.
It is a great work, as usual.
Best regards,
Josep

Partha_c (2029) 2007-12-19 11:30

Hi Angshu. Your shot does always destress me. Feel relaxed and boozed. Well composed with the rituals on the sea. I am not sure whether "It's him again!", but I would like to see her again -- the girl turning her head with a soft smile smeared on her face. Enjoyed. Regards.
Parthada

clic (22826) 2007-12-19 16:33

Hello Angshuman
Human interest composes the main attraction of this devotion spot near the ship: I can recognize the old priest receiving the offering of a Belle.
The Bali Belle balances well the view of seated people.
Thanks for showing.
Best regards.
Robert

pierrefonds (93579) 2007-12-19 17:17 [Comment]

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crckt (7222) 2007-12-20 9:44

Hi Angshumanda,
I love the colors, but I do find the b/w checks in the left a little distracting. May be you could have zoomed in a bit more and got that out of the frame?
Regards,
Shaeri

pboehringer (770) 2007-12-21 7:39

Angshuman,
a very nice moment of capture with perfect light conditions showing us the intimate moment of offering to the gods. It doesn't look intrusive at all.
Cheers, Peter

markstaples (15670) 2007-12-22 0:52

Morning Angshu
A very natural photo taken in good light. I like the expression of the girl as she comes to realize that you are taking their photo.
Best wishes to you for 2008
Mark

axiotea (21651) 2007-12-27 22:15

Hello Angshu
I've missed this one which you've captured so well! One of the 'belle' is looking at you giving a good addition to the illuminated scene which has nice contrast and colors.
All the best
Marilyn

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-07-30 9:44

Ola Angshuman ,
Lindo destalhes capturados nesta cerimonia de oferta aos deuses , magnifica a expressão das pessoas , gostei muito dos detalhes dos vestidos , bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo