My 600th: looking towards the future, a photo from Hadramawt, East

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken walking along the seaside in the city of Mukhala on the Arabian Sea.
It was a very pleasant walk, the corniche was full of men drinking tea, smoking and playing backgamon.
I really liked how this man seemed to look thoughtfully towards the horizon.

This is my 600th photo on trekearth. I guess it is quite a milestone. I first joined Trekearth in February 2004, but i became active one year later.
When I joined Trekearth, the site was a mystery to me: There were so many amazing photographers: Clodreno, Manny, Maciekda, Nygus, Captnhaddok to name a few. I felt very humbled by their work and I learned a lot from them and many others. As time went by TE became quite addictive. It was the possibility of making that social connection which kept it going for me. Over a period of two years I exchanged comments, critiques and messages with many people who I became familiar with. Trekearth even led to several live meetings. Within the last three years, I have attended two large meetings in Switzerland and one in Paris where I met over 100 fellow trekearthers between the three of them. Otherwise I have had small trekearth meetings with people in Canada, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, Paris, Lyon and London. I have hosted one trekearther at my house in Toulouse, I have travelled with one fellow tekearther to Yemen, and met sometimes by chance, sometimes by planning fellow trekearthers while traveling.

Trekearth is changing, complaints are still being posted about points, cliques, censorship and other stuff. Many great people and photographers have left. Other photosites with different aims have opened to compete for our virtual time. A lot of the people who I really had a connection with have left. I have been fortunate to have found them in other places and sometimes I feel like a stranger in the site as compared to two years ago.

However, I have a strong connection to this site. I have learned a lot because of it, and I have become a better photographer and person thanks to my participation here. My photography has improved tremendosly even if I don't think I have reached the levels of some of the more talented people in here. So right now I feel like this old man in the picture: looking at the horizon pondering about possibilities. A part of me wishes to give up the boring corporate treadmill and become a full-time photojournalist, but since up until now I have not sold or published a single photo, the fear remains. I wish I had theself-confidence of other people here who are very inspiring to me and have left their lifes to dedicate themselves to their art, but I guess at this stage I don't feel I am good enough or safe enough to do it.

So I will keep looking towards the horizon until I feel that I am ready to jump into the sea.

Thanks to all of you for all your support in the last few years.

pelin, dkeus31, ChrisJ, pastadog, gary91, fabio_ts, bibiweb, scalerman, feather, robiuk, Tue, avene, Vato_Law, jurgen, Mateja, euryan, riclopes, rigoletto, xavshot, Yffic, bostankorkulugu, Emile, tamatree oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

PixelTerror (0) 2008-02-29 1:29

Salut Daniel,
Felicitations pour ta 600eme !
C'est plutot symbolique de voir ce gars regarder vers le futur de ta gallerie. Je suis d'accord avec toi que ce site change et que des gens partent, d'autres arrivent aussi, mais le but reste le meme et c'est toujours une formidable source de decouverte. Ca me gonfle aussi certains toujours en train de raler, feraient mueux de la fermer et d'aller faire des photos... comme toi notre infatigable world & meeting trekker !
Belle image que tu as choisie ici, ca colle pile poil a l'evenement.
Bonne journee JY

dkeus31 (27739) 2008-02-29 1:36

bonjour Daniel, et félicitations pour ce cap.
oui, TE change peutętre certains partent d'autres arrivent et il est plus difficile d'ętre connu ŕ ses débuts plutôt qu'ŕ son départ...
heureux de t'avoir rencontré, et ce sera peut-'etre partie remise prochinement?
bonne journée et bonne continuation ici
didier

ChrisJ (171220) 2008-02-29 1:52

Hi daniel

Congratulations on your 600th! Wonderful colour & sharpness, with the fg man adding a nice human element. A nice colour contrast between the amber & blue. Merci. Tfs!

pastadog (13111) 2008-02-29 2:02

Hi Daniel, a pretty view of the illuminated city and an appropriate scene to support your note. Nice angle to compose, including the strong diagonal. Thanks for sharing your dilemmas. Regards, Daniel

gary91 (15348) 2008-02-29 2:43

Salut Daniel,
Tout d'abord toutes mes félicitations pour ce 600čme post. Une étape qui t'emmčne tout naturellement vers le chiffre magique des 1000...
Je comprends bien ton discours et les changements du site que nous ressentons tous, avec quelques fois une pointe de lassitude... mais le virus est lŕ qui nous tient et nous permet de repartir de nouveau :o)
Une trčs belle image pour l'occasion avec une technique parfaite et qui est un bon exemple de la belle progression que tu as effectué depuis tes premiers posts.
En tout cas, tu fais partie des photographes qui comptent et qui animent le site de leur trouvailles et de leur esprit, et c'est vraiment celŕ l'important pour moi !
En espérant avoir le plaisir de te rencontrer de nouveau bientôt.
Passe un bon week-end.
Amicalement, Christian

jhm (211734) 2008-02-29 3:52

Hello Daniël,

Congratulations to your 600th picture on TE.
This is a very difficult picture for take, but you did very well.
You placed the man nice in the corner, we can see the city in background.
I like the enlightenment of the buildings as contrasted against the dark sky.
Very well composition and nice presentation.
Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

fabio_ts (13696) 2008-02-29 4:59

Happy 600th Daniel!!!

WOW!!! 600 pics!! what a wonderful image for celebrate this event,
it's a pleasure for me watch your gallery and see day after day a new great work,
I wish you 6000 more!!

thanks,
Fabio.

bwiti (402) 2008-02-29 5:47

Félicitations pour ce 600čme post męme si, ŕ dire vrai, je n'accroche pas trop sur celle-ci... Je ne trouve pas que ta gestion de la lumičre soit idéale et c'est dommage...
En tout cas félicitations pour ta belle galerie voyageuse Daniel...
A plus...

bibiweb (8) 2008-02-29 6:39

Hello Daniel,
Je viens de parcourir ta note et je dois dire que je suis 100% d'accord avec toi en ce qui concerne l'évolution de TE. Mais comme toi, c'est tout de męme ici que je me sens bien et j'aime toujours autant l'esprit de base de TE qui est "Learn About The World Through Photography" que d'autres sites n'offrent pas forcément.
Je me souviens de notre premier meeting ŕ Genčve et j'espčre que nous aurons l'occasion de nous voir dans trois mois ŕ Lille. En attendant, je trouve que tu as trčs bien choisi ta photo pour illustrer ce nouveau milestone atteint sur TE.
Bon weekend.
Bibi

scalerman (26900) 2008-02-29 9:02

Dan: actually, a bit trippy. I'm going to read your note later, as I'm out the door. But great glare - this is something a bit novel from your stuff - which is getter better all the time. cheers, c OK - just finished the note. Yeah, I know what you mean. I usually keep pretty quiet on this site but it's nice to read something from a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. best, c

ElAprendiz (30) 2008-02-29 17:25

Hola Daniel

Un elegante punto de vista, y una envidia de la buena sobre el protagonista. Me gusta mucho la composición, reflejando de nuevo un escenario maravilloso, vistoso, de gran manejo de la luz y de la sombra. Excelente, mas que un 10!!!

Felicidades por tu foto 600!!!!

John

marietom (34611) 2008-03-01 0:29

Salut daniel,

Jolie 600e, symbolique, bravo ! On attend donc les 600 suivantes.
J'aime bien la position de ton personnage, jolie composition.
Marie

feather (51130) 2008-03-01 3:05

Congratultions on reaching a major TE milestone. As well as your 600 photos I see your excellent notes have been marked as useful 13,249 times, you have done 10,573 critiques and 134 WSs. Definitely a "fully-paid-up" member of TE.
You chose an excellent image to illustrate your reflective note and to indicate you are possibly at a turning point in your life. Just keep posting!
Kath

robiuk (10807) 2008-03-01 14:53

Oh, dear Daniel - for your 600th photo I have to tell you
that I loved your note, actually I think many of us can
recognise ourselves in your words (at least in what you write
about being a TE member for several years, developing
yourself, witnessing numerous changes, even being tempted
to leave...), but please don't question your self-confidence.
If you want something really badly and you
put all your time & effort into something, the results
will come and you will recognise that 'moment for a take
off'.
Besides, there's no other place like TE.
Well, congratulations on your 600th and wish you at least that
many before you decide to leave us for something different!
;-)
This photo really goes well with your note - in fact, it
could've been you sitting there, enjoying warm breeze and
closeness of water, looking at these shimmering lights and
pondering your future as a photographer (I mean, a professional
one!). Love the well lit town in the BG, and a very busy
foreground with that wall going from one side of the
frame to another.
Have a relaxing Sunday,
Robi

toto (0) 2008-03-02 3:59

Belle photo pour votre 600eme, jolies couleurs, bonne netteté, jolie prise de cet endroit ou cet homme a tout le loisir de contempler ce port au mille reflets et cette ville bien illuminée.
Fameuse explosion pour votre 600eme photo, un vrai feu d' artifice de fętes.

Amitiés Thomas
Je reviens

Tue (91564) 2008-03-02 12:57

Hi Daniel,
Congratulations on your 600th post! Indeed a milestone!
Great photo, this really looks like a great place for some thoughts on a beautiful evening with the view of the golden city on the other side of the water. The slight blur represents and brings out nicely this thoughtful mood and a kind of dreamy atmosphere. Very well done and thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

avene (12675) 2008-03-02 13:18

hi Daniel, and congratulations on reaching this milestone! may the gods of photography bestow their blessings upon you, as they have done up until now :) I like a lot your work, and I think you'd do very well as a full-time photojournalist, but only you know when to take that leap of faith. I wish you courage and luck, when you do just that :)
but back to the photo - I really like the effect on the light, it's something you can see when you narrow your eyes as if looking towards distant horizons, I find the shot fits the title and your note perfectly. as aways, impeccable details and sharpness.
with kind regards,
Kristine

MarcT (20964) 2008-03-03 9:22

Salut Daniel,
Félicitation pour la numero 600. Une vraie prestation couronée par cette image qui respire la quiétude.
Bon voyage, ainsi
Marc

Vato_Law (12732) 2008-03-03 13:46

Hello Daniel,
Tremendous amount of photos on TE you reached, and many of them with interest and based on the aim of this site to learn more about the World through photography.
Your work, notes and the way you've participated on this site, are the reasons for the congratulations I give you today.
About the note, I won't tell you to leave, even if I saw your work outside, I indeed, understand and agree that the site changed, many great photographers left or were almost 'invited' to do it, but nevertheless this site is still appealing.
I also had the temptation to leave specially because of some coments made on forums about the work of those who have more points on the site, but then a questions raised: why leave? this would give them reason, and strength to their foolish words.
So, I refreshed my mind, and changed pace, nowadays I still participate on the site, hardly more than one photo per week (it's true), and I mostly enjoy the work of those who I like, just as I did since the beginning.
About tbe photo, it fits perfectly your note and is a very nice piece of reflection through this man's look into the horizon.
Cheers.
Paulo

jurgen (2074) 2008-03-04 12:44

ĄQué buena foto Daniel!
Primero que nada, żcómo logras ese efecto de 'rayas' que salen de las luces de la ciudad? El contraste de colores es muy bueno entre al amarillo de la ciudad (por la iluminación a base de vapor de sodio) y los colores azules de la baranda y de las ropas de la persona. A parte que son amarillo y azul colores negativos y eso llama la atención. Creo que por eso mismo cuando uno toma fotos de la ciudad iluminada con el cielo aun azul --pero entrando a la noche-- llaman más la atención.

Por otro lado, lo que cuentas de TE es cierto. Yo también me he dado cuenta que varios de los primeros grandes "Trekearthers" de cuando entré a este site (enero de 2004) ya no están. Leo en los foros que se queján mucho de fotos robadas, o que no deberían recibir más críticas, o simplemente se aburrieron. Yo por varias épocas no pude poner fotos en TE. No tenía acceso a mi scanner de slides y aun no tenía cámara digital, pero igual siempre veía lo que la gente ponía. Y pensar que entré a este sitio porque un amigo brasileńo, a quien conocí viajando, me lo recomendó, y en menos de 10 minutos ya me había inscrito. No sé que será de él ahora, pero espero alguna vez ubicarlo. Si alguna vez cambia TE, que cambie para mejor. Mal no me parece que esté, y es fácil de navegar y encontrar lo que se busca. Al menos eso creo yo.

Si alguna vez quieres entrar al negocio de la fotografía, lee www.danheller.com. Tiene libros gratis online que son muy buenos y muy analíticos sobre el negocio de la fotografía y con lo que se puede relacionar. Algo interesante que él comenta es que si uno quiere vender una foto, no tiene que ser "buena", ya que en este negocio todo se puede vende, y bien, si se sabe como. De paso yo nunca he vendido las mías, pero sí las he regalado. Incluso una vez en Ilemanu expuse 11 fotos mías por unos 3 meses en un Club (o pub/café), pero nunca traté de vender ninguna de ellas. Era sólo por mostrarles a los alemanes cómo era Sudamérica.

Así que larga vida a Trekearth. Y a seguir aprendiendo sobre el mundo y la gente que vive en él.
Saludos desde Munich,
Jürgen

Mateja (434) 2008-03-04 12:46

Hi Daniel,

I am kind of a new person on TE and your note is very inspiring for me. The photo seems like a great reflextion of your thoughts and it is beautiful, to say it in a word. I love the framing, the lights and the familiarity of the place you are presenting...

Regards,

Mateja

euryan (8442) 2008-03-04 23:02

I have not been here as long, posted as many pictures, or met as many members as you have, but I feel like I can relate to many of the things you said in your note: Feeling like a stranger here, or seeing people you like leave, and the fear of following your dream. One thing that really shocked me was that you have not sold or published a single photo? I just took a long look back through your gallery and you have an impressive body of work. I guess National Geographic doesn't come looking for photos here at TE, and there must not be a large market for your type of photos elsewhere. One thing is for sure, your photos are high quality and definitely should be published. I'm sure it will happen someday soon. I was shocked to learn that other of my favorite photographers have not been published either. This has nothing to do with talent though. You have the talent and I think you could get a job as a photojournalist and do very well. Im tired and I dont know if anything I just wrote makes any sense. My point is, you are one of the best photographers on TE and you have great potential. Congrats on 600 suburb photos!

riclopes (35577) 2008-03-05 2:02

Olá Daniel, 600 posts is quite impressive and I congratulate you for reaching that number. Reading your note, I also envy the connections you had made with other members so far. I also loved to read your thoughts, specially because at the time, I'm in a meditative phase...Anyway, this picture reflects well that meditative mood. I like very much the effect of the lights in the background and the man is very well framed. Excellent night shot.
Regards,
ricardo

noborders (1010) 2008-03-05 11:46

Interesting and meaningful choice for your 600th ! Bon, je viens de me souvenir que tu connaissais aussi le français - mais ta note en anglais est trčs intéressante, j'espčre arriver ŕ ton niveau quand j'atteindrai le męme chiffre, en attendant j'admire tes photos et celle-ci a une ambiance bien spéciale, une trčs belle lumičre ŕ mon avis (et un trčs beau titre aussi). Tu as ramené de trčs belles photos du Yemen !
Bravo et meilleurs voeux pour les prochaines 600, - męme si beaucoup de tes amis sont partis, restes nous je t'en prie !
Cath.

rigoletto (34279) 2008-03-05 23:33

Hahaha!
Do you feel yourself like this man looking to the horizon?
I had the laugh :))
Well, i also sometimes think of selling my photos, or trying to do something more commercial, but the lack of self confidence always remains in me. But then i lean back and look into my PC, namely, turn back to my work. Of course TE makes a lot of sense, can give you a lot of self confidence about quitting everything and becoming a photojournalist. Why not? That's life, anything is possible!
I am planning to earn money from this bussiness one day, but not so soon. Maybe, if i can arrange my real job and photography in parallel, i could start doing this professionally. But i have no hurry. I got my camera only 1,5 years ago, i have many things to learn and many lenses to purchase before becoming a profi.
I think, you may start with participating some contests. Success may increase your self-confidence, and i belive that you can be successfull.
Cheers,
Deniz

xavshot (69835) 2008-03-06 14:35

Bonsoir Daniel
félicitations pour cette 600čme photos. Une superbe galerie variée au niveau des destinations et des sujets. Je te souhaite également de regarder vers le futur et de nous ramener encore de nombreuses photos. Bravo et bonne continuation.
Xavier

wautersw (3647) 2008-03-08 0:37

Bonjour Daniel,

Une note plutôt philosophique pour cette belle vue de la ville en contaste avec l'homme qui ręve au bord de l'eau.
TFS et felicitations pour ta 600eme !

Amicalement,

Wolf

Yffic (6106) 2008-03-08 10:42

Bonsoir Daniel,

Bravo pour cette 600eme publication.
Tout comme toi, je reproches certains points ŕ TE, mais c'est comme une drogue, on y revient inlassablement.
Ce que j'y apprecies particuličrement, c'est cette facilité ŕ découvrir de nouveaux lieux, de nouvelles ambiances comme le fait ta photo.

Amicalement.

Yves

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-03-08 23:35

600 shots?... incredible!... you have a beautiful gallery with many striking shots, it is always a pleasure to see your new ones daniel... is it true that you are coming to turkey?... we will meet for sure than... all the best to you and keep amazing us with the next 600...

cheers

korkut

dilane (861) 2008-03-12 4:21

Bonjour Daniel,
wouah, je suis impressionné par toutes tes belles photos du Yemen, j'ai si peu de temps en ce moment ŕ consacrer ŕ TE que je me rends compte de tout ce que j'ai pu louper. et ça m'énerve ! j'ai fait un tour rapide et je m'y attarderai trčs volontiers prochainement.
Aujourd'hui, je voulais te féliciter pour le 600čme post et ta belle galerie. Peut-ętre aurons nous l'occasion de discutter ensemble du Yemen et autre...sous peu !
Dis moi, as tu fait exprčs de mettre de la couleur violette sur la rambarde, couleur assortie ŕ la futa de ton personnage...je plaisante bien sur ! Chouette ambiance paisible d'une soirée qui s'écoule doucement ŕ admirer les lumičres de la ville - bravo
bien amicalement
daniel

Rosa (0) 2008-03-19 15:15

Bonsoir Daniel,
Félicitation pour ton 600éme post !
Je découvre ta galerie, lus ta note aussi je suis d'accord avec tes dires, ce site change et beaucoup d'autres partent, d'autre se font jeter, beaucoup râle pour un rien , d'autre ne sont la que pour ne faire que des points = sourires.
pour ma part faires des photos doit resté un plaisir avant tout et non des points.
Trčs belle progression que tu as effectué depuis tes premiers posts, une belle réussite cette image de cet homme qui regarde droit devant lui.
Je te souhaite de regarder vers le futur et de nous ramener de jolie photo ! aux 600 autres :)
Amitiés de Belgique,
Rosa.

Emile (20352) 2008-04-22 12:13

Hola Daniel.
Mis mas sinceras felicitaciones por tu foto numero 600 en TE, espero que pongas muchas mas y que podamos disfrutar como hasta ahora tus bellas fotos y tu interesantes criticas constructivas.
Magnifica foto nocturna con la presencia de la ciudad iluminada con un color anaranjado y el seńor en primer plano captado con muy buena claridad, veo que la tomaste el 24 de Diciembre, un buen día para disfrutar de tanta belleza.
Un fuerte abrazo.