just a plain old photograph, a photo from Ha Noi, Red River Delta

Photographer's Note

i'm taking a break from documentary photographs , for a short while, especially my black and white photographs as they are starting to give some people a headache :)
this was the only scan that i could find at the moment. this has been taken in front of the ho chi minh mausoleum the mausoleum as you can see paved paths in the background . in the evenings this place is filled with local people who come here for walks and to generally spend their evenings.

michel_r, jackwp, hispic, shutterbug, ChrisJ, Riz, eleparc, ale, Curioso, tomauer oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

sengir (4956) 2004-11-13 15:31 [Comment]

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everlasting (19680) 2004-11-13 15:35

Sohrab, not just plain photo...I like the POV and did a WS for you to emphasize the POV.

[workshop] [compare] +

maciekda (19895) 2004-11-13 15:37

wow, a nice one, probably at 17mm... really a great effect of the wide angle, in fact incredoble, great smiles.. nice to see some colors too ;) very original!

jubi (164) 2004-11-13 15:44

One of the best uses for super-wide angle lens I saw to date. Great idea, well executed.

michel_r (1118) 2004-11-13 16:09

a plain old photograph but a very nice one sohrab! what focal length? below 20 at least i assume. And these evening colors are just so nice

kozerog (1288) 2004-11-13 16:16

So many emotions, so live. Interesting foreshortening. Great capture!

jhe00 (271) 2004-11-13 16:16

incredible perspective and depth. wonderful movement and emotion.

TakiKO (115) 2004-11-13 16:18

Very very funny, I like the idea of using this wide obiective for this shot.
This angle increases the atmosphere of joy. And such childhood should be.
Very well done, Sohrab. It keeps me smiling :)

RandomCameraGuy (3071) 2004-11-13 18:02

A very nice happy photo. Excellent expressions captured here, and the from above view works. The path provides a good diagonal element too. I would like a bit more space to the left though. Cheers!

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-11-13 18:10

very natural shot, good work with the focus because I know kids move fast, well done

jackwp (519) 2004-11-13 18:22

It does my heart good to see happiness in that area of our world. We need more happiness and less terror and suffering. This is a very well captured scene. Clarity and composition is very good. Well presented.

[3]

alimo3 (6854) 2004-11-13 18:33

hi Sohrab,
nice happy picture,
unusual (using color for you ) and point of view
I like the :4 children ,4 diferent attitudes.
great balance between sun and the background light.
Bravo young man !

Tom

[2]

kinginexile (2598) 2004-11-14 0:58

Plain old? you are being modest. This is another shot that bursts out of its frame, and you have masterfully shot them, catching them together at the most exciting moment, with a perfect angle and composition.
I do hope to make plain old photos like this on my next trip!!!

[2]

ChrisJ (171172) 2004-11-14 5:13

Hi Sohrab

Splendid pov & a great catch of these infectiously smiling kids. Good selective focus, & a great note. Well done!

Spoony (3539) 2004-11-14 5:36

I love your B&W photos, sohrab! ;)
This one is fine too. But I prefer your genuine stile...
Well done.

[2] +

pridel (233) 2004-11-14 7:25

Sohrab
very good pov, the child seem to radiate with this beautiful light
I like much the compo with the alley which slips by towards the background.
that makes a "projectible" photograph
congrats
Pascal

clodreno (0) 2004-11-14 8:23

Interesting angle, mostly due to the use of the wide angle..
And also I must say those cute faces..
Well done Sorhab..

[2]

MKING (3054) 2004-11-14 9:16

More surprises up your sleeve; if this is just something lying around...

This is excellent but it'd be absolutely complete with the addition of the actual masoleum building in the background (this is a field of view wider than most will ever work with so I'm surprised the background isn't as strong as it could be). Perhaps the angle of the lighting and the kids' patience didn't allow for it...

I just think that extra addition would just give it that professional, dilligent 'touch'. Of course, it's the interaction you've quickly established with the kids that's so pure here. Remarkable portrait. You're making me lust after the 17-35mm's cheaper, predecessor-- the 20-35mm f/2.8 :)

eleparc (24063) 2004-11-14 11:38

i wish you told us which lens you used for that one sohrab, for i love this POV! you certainly caught a moment of joy in this group of 4. i like especially the first girl on the right and the second who compose the photo in a very dynamic and nice way... greta DOF too! bravo my friend!

ale (1819) 2004-11-14 15:37

Hi Sohrab,
I love this perspective, avery joyful shot with a beautiful light, very well done!

ineoo (0) 2004-11-14 15:42

hi sohrab
nice pic with 4 children with different attitude
perspective is good and i like the light on the face of the children
well done

Yves

flydragon (0) 2004-11-14 16:17

hello Sohrab ,o)
a master piece here
a great composition and pov
i like all childrens expression
so cool ,o)
good to see some smile
well done mister Sohrab
take care
simon

christina (2040) 2004-11-14 19:40

The wide angle works for me! the shot is colorful and full of life. Nice change!

Curioso (9271) 2004-11-15 15:04

Excellent picture Sohrab !

First, I love the light which is so warm.

Then, I love the angle which includes a lot of elements but enhances the presence of these funny faces.

Last, I love tte composition. It seems to me that each face reproduces the same pattern as the paths leading to the background temple. I find it absolutely marvelous. Was it on purpose ? The tallest one would be the temple while each others would represent one of the different path... To wisdom surely ;)

Looks 3D in fact, not "plain" at all ;) Hey, Sohrab.... Good to see that you also master color !!!

Luko (14000) 2004-11-15 15:36

I have often written that I didn't like photos with bunch of kids doing nothing except looking right into the lens, however i must admit this one provides a certain charm, coming from the unusual 17mm and angle used.

For any other persons than kids it would have been a humiliating experience to get their face or body transformed this way, but kids still have the virtue that anything that chnage them is always either fun or sweet, never silly looking (look at how the leg of the foreground kid has been transformed to a chicken leg).

Thanks first to your compo placing the group very near to the bottom area, there's another strong feature in this image which is the lovely color opposition between flesh orangy color and the dark green fo the grass. For this I think it would be important to crop out the upper part which yellow acid color doesn't match to the warm tones...however I wouldn't be as radical as everlasting's WS : I'd suggest to leave the perpendicular path going to the left side frame because it helps leading our reading from the UL corner to the children faces.

RGatward (20108) 2004-11-16 6:48

:-))) well this is a very happy shot, but still has your stamp on it. Very original PoV for a child group portrait, and works well, especially witht he path leading away.

scalerman (26900) 2004-11-16 11:12

cool fish-eye effect and some nice color from you for a change.

manny (22032) 2004-11-18 0:41

Excellent colors. I can see them jumping out of my computer monitor. Good angle, spot-on DOF, an dthe lines of the pavement is so much a part of the compo.

gioy (425) 2004-11-18 9:30

WOW! This is a happy happy picture!
Very good framing!

jmdaoudal (82) 2004-11-23 5:24

This is a great one, focussed with perfection.
Like the attitude of this young persons, so similar to all the children in the world.
Compliments
Jean Michel

sn00zie (2384) 2004-11-24 7:21

this is one of your best imo Sohrab. i love the expressions and the angle you took it in. really nice..

Dinyar (704) 2004-12-06 3:09

This is a beautiful shot.
Went straight into my favourites with just 1 look.
Really neat shot. I love the expressions on their faces.
So much fun, innocence and mischief.

wilche (415) 2005-01-12 8:58

Photos of people can be very impressive taken "up - down" Very good - Maybe croop a little more ( top )
Henrik

AndrewGarn (10) 2005-01-19 12:05

This picture jumped out at me from the front page of TrekEarth literally from the effect it produces. Well Done

tongapup (0) 2005-03-19 0:35

This is what I was talking about earlier, about seeing something quintessentially Sohrabian but somehow totally different. This photo has a few of your trademarks and yet it's a) joyful, without any social commentary b) in colour, and c) of children.

And you know what? I love it.

aravind_phd (237) 2005-06-23 13:11

This is a wonderful picture Sohrab.

Great expression and great colours.. and 17mm for people photography rocks .

Aravind

fiedziu (1764) 2005-07-26 7:51

super extra great portrait :o)
thanks for sharing
regards

tomauer (316) 2007-04-06 6:55

Thanks for sharing, this Picture still makes me smile whenever i see it :)

kiks (12805) 2011-01-20 3:52

The innocent happy eyes of children are just so awsome.
Best regadrs
KIKS