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Hi everyone!!!
This is some picture from http://www.pbase.com/khunchild/papua_new_guinea (http://www.pbase.com/khunchild/papua_new_guinea)
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/tumriddim/A_1242-1.jpg)
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:)
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/tumriddim/Job_1085-1.jpg)
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:)
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/tumriddim/Job_2260-1.jpg)
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:)
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/tumriddim/Job_2437.jpg)
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You can see my full album in http://www.pbase.com/khunchild/papua_new_guinea (http://www.pbase.com/khunchild/papua_new_guinea)
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/tumriddim/Job_2544.jpg)
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Wow. Absolutely superb imagery. Well worth the incredible amount of work it must have taken.
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Very nice, what lighting equipment, modifiers etc. did you use?
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Fantastic work! Thanks for sharing!
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Please tell the story behind the photos, how were you received by the natives, etc.
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So finally got the H4D-60? Nice images.
Regards, K
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Great images in every respect but one - and I know that this is a matter of personal taste: I really do not like that "brighter than ambient daylight" lighting of the subjects. It seems to be the current vogue and I think that it spoils what are otherwise great shots.
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Great images in every respect but one - and I know that this is a matter of personal taste: I really do not like that "brighter than ambient daylight" lighting of the subjects. It seems to be the current vogue and I think that it spoils what are otherwise great shots.
I disagree with the ruin part(1), but it do looks odd and interesting. You mention vogue: Maybe we are going back to the glory days of lab modifications?
If that happen, and the precise reproduction of reality + creative perspective(2) go to an end as the tell all of digital photos, that could be great for the more creative professionals. The work will have obvious(3) qualities that the good enough set will not be able to reproduce by buying a better more "intelligent" cameras.
When I was a boy I used to go to the library and ask for photography books. A lot of the images where heavy post-processed
in the wet LAB. The images were thus separated from reality, but vital and beautiful.
Painting moved from the representation of reality to more abstract forms in a path that resembles a roller-coaster. Similar processes apply to the history of music (instrument focus) and sculpture.
Digital photography is not different. I am more of a realist so to speak. I use as little post processing as I am able to get away with. Not being a professional helps. No need to deal with external pressure. Even so I have this soft bone for more abstract work, maybe from my younger days.
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1. I know is a valid, respectful opinion. This is just my take on it.
2. by perspective I don't mean the technical terms, more the intuitive word that includes angles and lighting etc.
3. Some times you need a good one to recognize a good one. And that's a billing problem.
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Great shots.
I taught in PNG in the early 80's and it was an interesting place, I even taught the now Prime Minister's daughter. The shows there were especially fantastic, I got to Moresby and Lae shows and would have loved to get to the Mount Hagen show. The sing sings were particularly visual.
PNG is tropical and because of this photographing the Papuans is extremely difficult. Basically you have very dark skinned people in a very sunny environment. Nearly all of the successful images of them that I have seen have used some form of artificial light otherwise the dynamic range is a nightmare. You can see my images of the Port Moresby show here:
http://www.tombrown.id.au/classic/png/album/index.html
That's what happens when you shoot in the midday sun.
Cheers,
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Congrats a really nice body of work. And thanks for sharing!
- N.
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Yes, there's nothing wrong with some fill flash to balance daylight. But this is something else. Daylight hasn't been balanced; it's been overwhelmed. It's quite a deliberate thing; the natural world outside isn't good enough so let's "take the studio outside". I understand that some people may like that look. I just don't.
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When first viewing this work I was unsure, powerful images, certainly, but at the same time quite bizarre.
Subsequent viewings and my over-riding feeling is why? Why portray these people in such an un-naturalistic way? Perhaps the intention was to accentuate the fact that the subjects are no longer the people they once were and are being exploited?
I second this feeling. Great quality, but when I saw them I immediately thought they were overdone. I would have preferred no additional lighting other than the sun. ala Steve McCurry.
edit: It almost feels like it was a production with props and actors.
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Jonathan
Did anyone get eaten? If not, it was showbiz.
Mr P?
Rob C
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Sing sings may be a little haphazard but are definitely showbiz.
Maybe a video to give you the idea, it's a bit slow at the start:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcealFUTqb4&feature=related
Or a slide show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ke-t9nmjU&NR=1
Unfortunately PNG has deteriorated over the years, this is what the Australian government advises:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/papua_new_guinea
Actually my first though when I saw the thread was what security did you have taking a Hasselblad H4d-60 to PNG?
Cheers,
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Lucky people in PGN to have some or even many photographers going to photograph them with MF or LF bodies.
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A quote from the travel advisory:
"We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea because of the high levels of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Crime is random and particularly prevalent in urban areas such as Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen. Settlement areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. 'Bush knives' (machetes) and firearms are often used in assaults and thefts. Carjackings, assaults (including sexual assaults), bag snatching and robberies are common. Banks and automatic teller machines are attractive targets for criminals. The crime rate tends to increase leading into the Christmas holiday period."
Not the best place toshow off an expensive bit of kit.
Cheers,
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...and what about the camera?
I have ordered an H4D-60.
Do you use the clever APL focusing function for this type of shot?
Did you try ambient? (Phocus is wonderful for highlights/shadows in hi-contrast scenes).
¿Surly the dark skins of the subjects do not give you more contrast than a typical wedding picture?
You avoided the ISO/camera shake/DOF problem by using flash, but what aperture/lens did you use? I have just received my 300mm.
How does the camera perform at high ISO?
¿and do the native know the difference between a £3,000 camera and a £30,000 camera?
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Nice shots, the sky in the second one bothers me though, There have been other people shooting in PNG with Medium Formats and they havn't been mugged, its all about being smart and not going into dangerous areas, I highly doubt the Natives would even know what a Medium Format is since most probably don't even have a T.V.
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Interesting view, Will.
I'm sure many people living in Somalia are not pirates either, but I don't want to sail there; I know that most families in the western world do have tv access or ownership, particularly in slum cities where it substitutes for living, and that even though the same denizens have no idea about the concept of Medium Format would certainly have the street smarts to understand that you were more worth killing for the MF bauble on your shoulder than if you were carrying a Brownie.
You underestimate eye-appeal. It travels well.
Rob C
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I was more pointing out that travelling to any place like this there is always going to be a risk, its more about being aware of your surroundings etc, Ive been to East Africa with expensive Canon gear and travelled around there quite a bit and never really felt in danger of my gear being stolen, As long as you're with a group of people you trust I don't really see it being an issue, there are a few top Aussie landscape photogs who have been to PNG multiple times with P65+s and I have only read good things about the places they have been (of course being cautious)
Cheers
Will.
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I was more pointing out that travelling to any place like this there is always going to be a risk,
Cheers
Will.
I have been to Africa, India, and Australia... and I think that the farther you are from populated areas, the safer you are.
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...and what about the camera?
I have ordered an H4D-60.
Do you use the clever APL focusing function for this type of shot?
Did you try ambient? (Phocus is wonderful for highlights/shadows in hi-contrast scenes).
¿Surly the dark skins of the subjects do not give you more contrast than a typical wedding picture?
You avoided the ISO/camera shake/DOF problem by using flash, but what aperture/lens did you use? I have just received my 300mm.
How does the camera perform at high ISO?
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I have been to Africa, India, and Australia... and I think that the farther you are from populated areas, the safer you are.
I agree! I think the Native people living how they always have are the least likely to steal your gear, there are places where I live where im more scared for my gear then I was in poor parts of Africa!
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Hi Dick
Yes APL focus is excellent function !!! It is easy and accurate, I use it almost every shot.
APl function work well in high contrast scene,I use mostly 100 mm F2.2
POM
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Hi Dick
Yes APL focus is excellent function !!! It is easy and accurate, I use it almost every shot.
APl function work well in high contrast scene,I use mostly 100 mm F2.2
POM
Thanks...
Auto-focus lock and True Focus (for hand-held shooting) are, I think bigger advantages over the H3D11-50 than the res, especially when shooting 2 people side by side.
For Landscapes, the 60Mpx res will be great, as it will allow be to print 24" wide (Epson Stylus Pro 7900) at 360 original camera pixels per print inch.
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@khunchild: Thanks for sharing hillarious images in terms of colour. What lighting equipment you used?
Since I am onto the visual ecology, do they still live like as shown in their daily life? I do second Klaban if this is not how they are.
zenny
***see http://www.thehumanape.org***