Devotion in the Time of SARS -V-, a photo from Taipei, North

Photographer's Note

I guess by now people are starting to know me as "That guy who takes photos of people in masks praying". I don't know why, but the dichotomy of prayer and caution is just interesting to me. I don't know the exact day this was taken, as it is a roll which was in my camera bag that I discovered I didn't have processed. Taken sometime in May. I wish I was a little better in Photoshop, as her black shirt shows quite a few details in my print, but not that I could get to show here. This was Taken in Lungshan Temple here in Taipei.

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Critiques | Translate

evilren (1395) 2003-06-09 10:14

another work of art to u'r "Devotion in the Time of SARS " series. a beautiful scene,the look on her eyes straight to the incense with the smoke drifting away,lovely.
the only technical issue is her right hand I suppose maybe u should play with the contrast a bit.

Luko (14000) 2003-06-09 10:18

Yep, there's the blurry guy (fil), the superneat no-not-the-monks-again gal (cedar), the tricky objects dude (Olli), the BW Leica freak (guess someday, I'll start getting red pimples marked Leica)...you're the smooth skin/praying mask chief, didn't you know? ;D

Interesting analysis "dichotomy of praying and caution", I guess this is sometimes redundant (eg. doesn't "hassidim" mean fearing god in hebrew?), the question is what's generating what...

Back to the pic, that's a nicely composed shot, not up to your initial posts which were truly striking I'd say, but the interesting thing is we can here clearly see her eyes, unfortunately the smoke is slightly blurring the most interesting part, her face.

Maybe something of interest, browsing the net on my favorite website (after TE, of course) www.magnum.com, take a look in "features", there's a photo report of Chieng Chi Mai on SARS in Taiwan.
(To Philip, there's also a John Vink's essay on Tonle Sap)

[2]

gringofil (0) 2003-06-09 10:35

This is a great shot, Darren. One of the better ones in the series. Actually I like the smoke around her head, adds to the mystery generated when praying. Her posture is amazing and again I love the smoothness in the shot. Very nicely done.

Yup, I think you nailed the subject. You're doing a wonderful job with it. If you have more, keep them coming.

[2]

CedarBough (74) 2003-06-21 22:50

looks good. nice composition, focus works. think this is one of the better in the series for sure. you are doing better at filling the frame with your subjects than when you first started taking people shots. i do like it closer... maybe cause my eyes suck!