Return, a photo from Mopti, South

Photographer's Note

These kids are walking home to their village. They have been out gathering dried cow droppings, which are burnt to produce heat for cooking.

picture taken from the riverside, as we travelled the Bani river by pirogue, somewhere between Mopti and Djenné

cropped and scanned

Dpbours, Prisley, erdna, avene, zmey, Wanda1, BitterMoon, lilimih33, noborders, Waylim, hispic oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

saxo042 (38078) 2008-04-23 12:19

Hi Benny,
A simple yet very striking picture of these young ones in the desert. Very good colours, indeed a good scan! The line of trees in the background provides a perfect frame.
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

ryno (6863) 2008-04-23 12:28

Great photo, Benny. There's quite a contrast between their colourful shorts and the shocking dusty barrenness that is north Africa. A sharp, visually interesting image. Good work!
Regards,
Ryno

padang (126) 2008-04-23 12:51

nice color and composition...

good job benny!

sonkai (1105) 2008-04-23 13:05

Hello Benny.
A very good shot.I find the scene very natural.Soft colours give the feeling of day end.I also like the out of focus surrounding the kids.About the composition I find it suitable,maybe a little more crop on left,but anyway I find it a great shot.Congratulations.
Regards,
Sonsoles.

Dpbours (222) 2008-04-23 13:07

Hi Benny,

The power of analog... Wonderful.
What kind of lense did you use? The way they walk does not show that they are very close to water, so I'm assuming a bit longer focal length. But very nice it is!!
This does deserve much more attention!!

Greetings, Dennis

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-04-23 13:16

Hi Benny,
a wonderful scene with a wonderful depth of field. I also like the rhythm of the kids corresponding to the rhythm of the trees in the background. Great one !
Cheers Christian

Prisley (1485) 2008-04-23 13:19

Beautiful post! I was about to ask the same question as Dennis about the long focal. I wouldn't have guessed you took it from a river! appreciated note then;o)
The composition is well balanced and I particularly like that you have all kids under the horizon line.
Great job,
Pris.

erdna (5713) 2008-04-23 13:50

This photo is nicely composed within its frame. It seems to emphasize the parched land and landscape. If you got in closer to the faces of the boys it would have been fantastic!

Andre'

avene (12675) 2008-04-24 3:53

hello Benny,
I don't mind the empty space on the left, I don't mind that the kids are quite far - all these things actually contribute to the sense of movement, at least ar far as I'm concerned. beautiful colours too - soft pastel of the soil, saturated tones of the clothes and clean whites. excellent work, I like it a lot.

with best regards,
Kristine

zmey (7335) 2008-04-24 4:39

hello benny

a nice, authentic real-life illustration from bali. love the colors and light. but, um... why leave that empty space on the left side of the frame?

warm regards,
kristaps

Wanda1 (15142) 2008-04-24 22:53

Hi Benny,
Great quality scan for this daily life scene. I like the contrast between the kids (life) and the arid harsh landscape that surrounds them. Lovely natural colours. Hope you dont mind if I add it to my theme of group shots.
Regards
Wanda

BitterMoon (2776) 2008-04-28 2:23

Hello Benny

I`ve seen on NG a documentary about making heat with dried cow droppings.Interesting.I never thought that could be so useful.

A really great photograph,a great scanned image,the colors and the good point of view,the depth of field,the good contrast,that I like the most...in one word...beautiful.
Thanks.

My kind regards

mafegan (8626) 2008-04-28 7:11

Hi Benny
A well composed photo. The fact you haven't centred the photo makes it more interesting. The heat of the day is apparent and I like the blue elephant on the bowl.
TFS, Marlene

wolf38 (30) 2008-04-29 0:24

Hello Benny. A beautiful and photo worth seeing. It is composed exemplary and works very well. Light, colors etc. are in the best way. A good shot. Best regards, Wolfgang.
tomorrow

jmdias (114170) 2008-05-02 7:23

benny

the nude landscape, the trees peeking and the group of worker children are very nice shown, it is a image full of meaning, sending us across of a soul of a country. Very nice pov and colors

hugs

jorge

sebinho342 (19329) 2008-05-07 14:54

Hi Benny, this is a tremendous shot and believe me i'm sincere, i'm surprised not to see green star on this one but nevermind .. I do love the framing a little bit panoramic and the DOF used, the association of those kids and the trees, around as many, is perfect, that IS photography as i DO love
Excellent

lilimih33 (9918) 2008-05-07 15:29

Hello Benny!
What a nice scene and what a beautiful composition!
Excellent focus!
Wonderful colours!
Best regards!
Lili

noborders (1010) 2008-05-14 2:43

J'aime beaucoup cette photo vue de loin, on a un sens de la distance et de la longue marche qu'ils ont dű faire, pas d'eau ŕ l'horizon !
De plus, les images scannées ont une valeur spéciale ŕ mes yeux de par le travail supplémentaire fourni et aussi comme document d'une autre čre photographique.
TFS,
Compliments,
Cath.

foozi (7101) 2008-06-19 17:09

Hello Benny,
a very brilliant composition. It is really wonderful to see these beautifully positioned children with their coourful shorts, great sandy backgorund and blurred trees at the back. The combination gives a very good impact to the beauty of this shot.
Really great picture.

Regards,
Foozi

NB: Thanks for liking my country and its beauty. Do inform me when you are coming. This a real Malaysian welcome.

Waylim (25436) 2008-08-04 14:00

Benny,
What a great shot, love everything about it. Composition is perfect, The depiction of daily life that is heart breaking. The color look like old photo which is for this image, the noise level is also a bit high but yet again make it image even more valuable. Thanks for this wondeful shot. A unique and specail moment. The less fortunate children, forced to grow up much faster. Definitely worth more than just two points.
Way

hispic (9658) 2008-10-02 2:12

Hi Benny,
Boys seem to be walking with tributes on their heads toward you. Very well composed in not overlapping each other. Perspective that the boys and the distant soft focus trees make is also excellent.
Have a nice day, Hisashi

agjika (3177) 2009-11-18 4:16

Another amaizing shot. So simple, barefooted and working it is so Africa!

I do not see the reason for not cropping the picture on the left?

Thanks for sharing

Aleks

westcoastgirl1 (666) 2009-12-07 5:33

Hi Benny

Great shot of these kids in an almost barren landscape
Pretty good clarity despite being a scan
Marvellous colours displayed
Interesting write up

Thanks,
Tosca

devimeuxbe (58557) 2010-02-12 7:52

Hi Benny
Cette une trčs belle image qui illustre le travail des enfants. Un des points qui m'a le plus impressionné lŕ bas. L'effet de groupe est sympa.
C'est magnifique
amicalement
Bertraned