Head & Shoulder, a photo from Sabah, East

Photographer's Note

My backpack is Deuter AirContact 45+10,German designed and manufactured.You should see the feature list. Only a geek/nerd could love reading the article;
Vari-Quick harness system, Padded hip belt,Top stabilizer straps,Two aluminum stays...

The backpack is also designed with the following in mind;
Volume: 2700-3300 cu. in.
Weight: 4 Lbs. 12 oz.
Use: Climbing, Peak Bagging, Ski
Suspension: Aircontact
Materials: Deuter-MacroTec/
Deuter-Ripstop-Polytex/ Deuter-Duratex
Color: Black/Fire

And I was feeling pretty high technically cool. Until I met this mountain porter. His backpack is Rattan AirContact, natively designed and manufactured. It has Vari-Quick harness, paded, the works just like Deuter's.

It has also one feature Deuter didn't. You could use your head if your shoulder and hip couldn't bear the load. And guess what, this native flimsy looking contraption could hold a 15kg Propane Gas Cylinder, which he has to hustle using his head, up the 6km trail to Laban Rata, the base camp.An average tourist with a lot less load would take 5 to 6 hours to reach Laban Rata. The porter, under 3 hours.

The Rattan backpack design specs;
Volume: 15kg and above.
Weight: Weightless.
Use: Gas Tank Transportation
Suspension: Aircontact (Hip, Shoulder & Head)
Materials: Rattan/Bamboo Strips
Color: Natural

And...don't get me started on the shoes these mountain guides and porters are wearing.

RGatward, Oldtree, shutterbug, sunny, choucas, burdallet, jhm, jiekuan, mafegan oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (20108) 2004-09-21 3:57

Great shot, and fascinating note, a lesson in appropriate technology.

Oldtree (2457) 2004-09-21 6:20

Hi Rabani,
if you wouldn't already be a favorite member of mine I would add you now for that note.
But to be honest an average tourist isn't that well trained (especially the neck muscles) as this man. But anyway great shot, wonderful note. Thanks for posting it.

shutterbug (531) 2004-09-21 9:12

Very nice and informative note along with this photo. Thanks for sharing Rabani...
~Stacey

sunny (3069) 2004-09-21 12:06

Wonderful capture accompanied by fine note Rabani! :-)) Love the sharpness, the crispy colours and the close up of the man and the transmitted physical tension. Great job!

softflower (0) 2004-09-21 12:48

Jolie photo Rabani, j'aime beaucoup, ce doit ętre dur pour ce porteur tout ce poids sur son dos. Je lui souhaite bien du courage.
Bravo, les couleurs sont belles.

ninadev (5377) 2004-09-21 13:01

Everything is there for a perfect TE photo. Technically, the picture is perfect, very sharp, great colors, showing someone in action. But the note really is in the TE spirit, showing an aspect of the world different from what we see at home. And with humor too... Very well done.
--
The Rattan pack seems also to have a removeable waist bag or is it "waste bag" ?

burdallet (0) 2004-09-21 13:22

Working hard for the confort of tourists in mountain/lodges ?
Interesting living capture

[2]

jhm (211734) 2004-09-23 6:04

Great note here, Rabani, very sharp and clear picture, the yellow colours of this gaz cylinder, with the brown colours of this elbow and arm of this man, give a great contrast, the force of this man is great. Well seen!
Thanks for sharing.

jiekuan (332) 2005-01-03 23:43

Sharp and clear picture, I can see the strength of the porter from his muscle. The title " Head and Shoulder" is quite match with this picture. Well done here rabani!

yes, they are strong! I was inspired by them during my trip to Mount Kinabalu!