Photographer's Note
Every November, the Sydney Opera House hosts the Homeground Festival, which is a celebration of this country's First Nations Peoples. Over the weekend, numerous dance groups, musical troupes and artists perform. There are arts and crafts stalls and traditional food.
This beautiful young man is from Boigu Island, the most northerly inhabited island of Australia. This remote island separates the Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea. He was the star dancer in the Malu Kiai Mura Buai Dance Troupe. The dance group were wonderful and shared traditional songs and dances based on everyday island life. This beautiful, shy little boy danced with such skill and pride. After he had finished dancing, I asked he and his father if I could take his photo. Whilst he did not speak English and I didn't speak his language, we understood each other perfectly, even for a fleeting moment.
snunney, Royaldevon, abmdsudi, rbassin, rbassin, holmertz, kasianowak, ourania, worldcitizen, adores, COSTANTINO, fritzi007 has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
Gerrit
(62042) 2015-11-30 5:02
Hi lIsa,
wonderful portrait of this boy in his beautiful outfit. He looks quite self-assuered and proud indeed. Great DOF and fine background too.
thanks and regards,
Gerrit
snunney
(130967) 2015-11-30 5:03
Ciao Lisa,
Excellent close-up on this handsome young man with rather mournful eyes. Perfectly exposed with superb colours and clarity.
Royaldevon
(85638) 2015-11-30 5:31
Ciao cara Lisa,
I read your notes with interest.
It occurred to me how wonderful it would be to have traditional songs and dances so closely woven into everyday life. I suppose it was like that here, when country songs were sung during harvesting. As communities get bigger, this shared experience becomes less and music is only enjoyed on a very commercial basis.
Your photograph is exquisite. The shallow dof keeps the boy (sorry, I thought is was a girl until I read your notes) sharp and detailed against a very useful but unobtrusive b/g.
My warm regards,
Bev :-)
Sergiom
(117241) 2015-11-30 5:44
Ciao Lisa,
I saw that beautifull picture on FB this morning and noticed the eyes of the little girl. It shows a really proud warrior and a proud little girl.
Have a nice day
Serge
abmdsudi
(95869) 2015-11-30 5:48
Hi Lisa
Gorgeous shot and so very natural...
That's why I like it! The look of his eyes & depth of feeling, being the most intriguing to me that say so much more, obviously the impact rendered pulls the eyes in. Sharp image with a flavour of local culture, soft lighting & tones along with lovely subtle shadows and use of shallow dof. Top notch portraiture with your delicate touch... Bravo!!
Best wishes
rbassin
(27472) 2015-11-30 5:55
Ciao Lisa
un magnifique portrait, belle netteté et bonne gestion de la profondeur
Amicalement
Roland
willperrett
(14195) 2015-11-30 5:56
Hello Lisa
Lovely story which illustrates and contextualized a brilliantly characterful photograph. For some reason I'm pleased he's not looking at the camera.
Regards
Will
williewhistler
(16606) 2015-11-30 6:37
Hello Lisa,
that extraordinary head dress frames frames the young boy`s head perfectly,his skin tones and features are beautifully displayed in a fine portrait.
The colourful costumes provide an interesting and very suitable background.
Warmest wishes Les.
holmertz
(102042) 2015-11-30 7:10
Hello Lisa,
Immensely cute, and I stick to that even after realizing it's not a little girl ;-). He has a very nice face and looks rightly proud of his marvellous headdress. I like the colourful background too.
Best regards,
Gert
ktanska
(44492) 2015-11-30 8:58
Hi Lisa,
I had no idea that people up on Cape York don't speak English. To quote old joke it would be more probable on a case of Sydney taxi driver...
Maybe the big city made his expression so full of thoughts. Beautiful portrait, exact focus and nice red and yellow colours around.
Kari
serp2000
(47063) 2015-11-30 9:41
Hi, Lisa,
Good title for this outstanding portrait of the young warrior.
Excellent capture of the young face on the dynamic and picturesque background. TFS! Thanks for this interesting note about the celebration.
Best wishes,
Serghei
kasianowak
(17672) 2015-11-30 11:51
Hi Lisa
Excellent portrait of this beautiful boy wearing this lovely traditional costume. You can see the pride on his face and in his eyes.
Sometimes it's not necessary to speak the same language. A kind gesture, a smile is all the communication that's required. I wish people were using those more often.
Best wishes
Kasia
cristina1
(1165) 2015-11-30 12:35
Hello Ilsa,
fantastic portrait of this beautiful Young warrior.
Very good exposure and frame and bright colours.
Well taken his expression.
Well done
Cristina
ourania
(51103) 2015-11-30 13:27
Hello dear Lisa,
I like very much the elegance, the energy and the colours of this spontaneous portrait, the little boy is lovely and seems to be fully aware of the reasons of the celebratiion. I like very much how his interesting and interested eyes are framed by a symbol of his culture. There's a pleasing warmth in the scene. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania
carlo62
(81265) 2015-11-30 14:58
Ciao Lisa
che bel ritratto, i lineamenti sono molto belli, ma quello che colpisce è lo sguardo fiero e gli occhi grandi che sembrano osservare il mondo intero.
Belli i colori dello sfondo, probabilmente dati dai costumi di altre persone.
Ciao ciao
Carlo
lousat
(138655) 2015-12-01 12:18
Ciao Lisa.Qui avresti dovuto andarci con il nostro amico giapponese Takero che diventa matto per queste cose...ehehe...ma anche tu non sei stata da meno nel cogliere un aspetto di questo festival,grande ritratto del piccolo aborigeno,fiero e felice di esserci,colori e dettagli strabilianti! Complimenti e buona giornata,Luciano
worldcitizen
(15960) 2015-12-01 13:39
Hello Lisa,
This is a beautiful portrait. The young boy's eyes are like jewels, and I like the way he is looking off into the distance. The traditional headdress, and the colorful, blurred background are also wonderful. Very nice! :-)
Silvio1953
(220665) 2015-12-03 6:38
Ciao cara Lisa, fantastico ritratto, magnifica espressione intensa e un poco triste, ottimi dettagli, splendida nitidezza, bella luce e magnifici colori, bravissima, un abbraccio Silvio
adores
(46979) 2015-12-05 14:27
Hi Lisa!
It's a wonderful portrait and looking at their costumes I'm sure the event was amazing. This is the kind of things I like, especially when they represent old and original traditions. You captured the boy perfectly, his expression is just great!
COSTANTINO
(115583) 2015-12-09 11:03
Hello dear Lisa and have a nice time
excellent traditonal capture in
beautiful colors very well composed
your notes are really useful
regards
Costantino
fritzi007
(14698) 2015-12-21 9:29
Dear Lisa,
very good comment and Portrait, just super.
First thought of the warrior is female, so a pretty face.
Your photographic work is top notch!
Best wishes and Merry Christmas
wolfgang
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Lisa DP (delpeoples)
(60342)
- Genre: People
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2015-11-00
- Categories: Festivals, Ceremony
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): Indigenous Australia [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2015-11-30 4:40