The quintessential Vietnam photo, a photo from Ho Chi Minh, South East

Photographer's Note

I guess this is the image that most people have about VN, a woman in the traditional áo dŕi and nón lá. Bizzarely, this is the only picture that I have that contains both elements.

This picture was taken in HCM city where I happenned to run accross a photography class learning about portrait. The woman is the model. Not letting the chance escaped, I sheepishly asked the teacher if I can take some shots. He agreed so here it is.

The light was quite harsh around 9:15AM (really)so I could not prevent parts of the photo from being blown out, sorry.

longpt, hispic, huynt, peter1892, nofer, sikor102, gramma oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

gringofil (0) 2003-07-02 11:00

Well, Thien, you're right. This is what Vietnam is all about. I like the composition, the DOF and the colors. The only thing I don't like is the watch...maybe you could have asked the pretty lady to take it off? :-) Well done, Thien.

AHA! Maybe a bit of cropping off the top would be a good thing...with shot like this the tighter the frame the better.

[3]

AdrianW (2274) 2003-07-02 11:00

Nice shot! I think I'd probably crop a little off the top of the image and sharpen it a little myself, you've judged the exposure well, but it's a shame the top of the hat has blown out... Still I like it :-D

[3]

Jitterbug (177) 2003-07-02 11:05

What a beautiful woman and a beautiful photo. Do you think the teacher brought the class out at that time specifically to see how they deal with the sun? I think it works well in this photo - concentrating the image on the woman's face instead of the clothing. I can't say enough how well the background works with this, busy near the top where she is most detailed, and simple near the bottom. Works great Thien!

[3]

Aegean (2571) 2003-07-02 11:07

That's a great portrait Thien...I only wish if she had remove her watch...Very well done!

Porteplume (4036) 2003-07-02 12:33

Lovely portrait Thien!
The soft colours are, as always, very natural & attractive.
But they are right... Crop the top off.

yuricle (936) 2003-07-02 14:42

I agree with Fil, Adrian and Vivian: here's too much space on the top. Also I'd crop a bit from the right.

Removing the watch will make this shot not linked with age (only by makeup maybe), but I like it as it is. :)

dominique (11414) 2003-07-02 15:49

Charming, taken really well in photograph, (the cut arm I find that that made a little strange, it is right my opinion) if not it is perfect.

Luko (14000) 2003-07-02 16:40

Yes indeed, quintessence of VN... gimme the same on a bike, please. That's the first vision I have in mind remembering Vietnam : graceful Saigon girls in ao dais. (I'll check in a month whether it has changed from my memories.)
Blown out hat : doesn't bother me, it recalls the whiteness of her ao dai.
Crop upper part : don't mind either, your blurred pastel color background is really nice and even matches her make up, ok maybe till we only see green color on the upper part, but not too much, this portrait must have air to breathe into.

sam (897) 2003-07-02 18:38

Nice pose and good DOF, but shaded areas (face) look a bit dark, and I am bothered by the totally blown out hat.

htremblay (1666) 2003-07-02 20:06

Very well done

mdchachi (1612) 2003-07-03 13:42

I like it -- modern girl in traditional attire. Great pose & good use of DOF to eliminate background clutter.

ideziojr (94) 2003-07-04 23:47

Very good portrait, nice lightning, colors and composition. Thanks for your comments.

vbourrut (32482) 2003-07-08 14:12

Great portrait, nice woman, very good DOF, only the overexposed hut prevent this to be perfect

darque_rain (30) 2003-07-10 12:44

beautiful woman and a beautiful photo indeed!

forlife (892) 2003-07-19 12:16

just went again over your photos and this one is just so beautifull!DOF,colours,girl,all just perfect Thien!

Giando (80) 2003-08-14 11:53

nice photo
have u got her phone number ? :P

goerhal (781) 2003-10-17 2:42

A very good portrait, maybee the background should be less colourful, a little darker.

danb (0) 2004-02-23 18:19

Lovely shot thien -great prortait, her expression is lovely, and she looks so immaculate - what was the special occasion???... Just trim the top a little

Gbutler (772) 2004-02-23 23:08

Very nice photo...only thing I might have done differently would have used to use a fill flash...or bracket the photo if you had time. Do you remember if you metered on her or her hat? It is composed very well-with the background colorful enough to make me wonder what was happening ;o)

hojper (2832) 2004-02-24 3:24

I am glad she is a professional model. My first impression was: How can you not look at the camera and still convey so much to the viewer? Well, professional models can. Lovely shot of a lovely lady

amitai (879) 2004-02-27 19:08

nice woman, nice portrait, too posed to my taste.

gmsanchez (0) 2004-03-08 20:21

Very nice picture Thien. I was in your country in Novemeber and I can say is one of the best places to take pictures of people. They are very friendly and I felt happy. The model is very nice and the lines and elegance are very well shown in your photo. Excelent !!!.

neonemesis (0) 2004-05-14 0:16

Love this shot, u got a verry beatifull woman and great colors!!

iamxa (3103) 2004-06-18 7:16

A beatiful woman and a very nice portrait. Nice with the light and very well with the pose.

DaveLarson (798) 2004-07-17 10:20

Wonderful. Brings back memories of my visit there. Of course, it would have been even more "authentic" (in a modern sense as well) if she'd been on a motorcyle and wearing long-sleeved gloves!

Dave

Xalkida (11744) 2004-08-08 15:56

Lovely shot, excellent DOF!

naxius (16685) 2004-09-17 3:54

Great portrait, indeed. The DOF is excellent of the small apperture you used is excellent.
I like the colors and the expression of the beautiful lady.
Well don Thien.

Alexandre

dolin (7369) 2005-02-07 9:42

beatiful woman and very nice photo... GOOD SHOT !

huynt (5081) 2005-05-13 22:32

Hi Thien
I think that a Vietnamese woman in the traditional is including "Tóc dŕi long hair, áo dŕi vŕ nón lá". All is in your wonderful shot. Very nice and meaningful.
Best regards

davide7755 (4) 2005-05-31 5:15

Very very fine !!!
very good composition, exposure and details...
good work !!! ^_?

peter1892 (1681) 2005-12-31 12:37

It's a great image, despite the harsh light. Your use of a large f/2 aperture gives a very effective DOF concentrating on the main subject (the woman). Nice shot :)

gramma (3519) 2006-08-06 3:25

Really beautiful portrait. The blur and the colors of the fill marvelously emphasize the face of this woman. The exposure is superb.
Congratulations !

Christophe

savask (1891) 2006-08-21 2:24

nice portrait.

alita (477) 2006-08-21 2:45

Hi Thien,
very beautifil shot, the colors and the model as well :)
I have rtied something similar here
http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Europe/Bulgaria/photo148605.htm
greetings!

sangttran (170) 2008-09-24 16:36

I love this picture. It has the characteristic of Vietnam and what it used to be.

envisage (207) 2008-11-25 6:25

Thein, this is too good... perfect shot!

bernardec (2241) 2009-06-15 2:08

Hello Thien,

I will be in vietnam next month for one month in Nha Trang !
Your capture is fantastic, you got the beauty, the tradition, the light ,
the good place at the good moment!
bravo et bien vu
bernard

sabermonajati (11537) 2009-08-11 5:28

hi thien
you choosed belle for photoghraphy.
regard