Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: luxborealis on March 23, 2019, 02:33:59 pm

Title: Ethiopia photography
Post by: luxborealis on March 23, 2019, 02:33:59 pm
Working off Slobodan’s successes with Adobe Spark, I thought I would give it a try. It certainly takes the finicky work out of setting up a portfolio of photographs, but I’d like just a little more control in areas of text (soft returns when appropriate) and position/relative size of photos in the photo grid. That being said, it was fun to explore.

So, here is Ethiopia 2019 (https://spark.adobe.com/page/PpCFTCqYHAyGZ/) (external link)
C&C&Q welcome.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 23, 2019, 04:18:18 pm
Well done, Terry.

P.S. I see that the iPhone bug bit you too ;)
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: mbaginy on March 23, 2019, 04:37:46 pm
A beautiful Spark presentation, Terry!
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: KLaban on March 23, 2019, 04:54:07 pm
Good stuff, Terry.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: kers on March 23, 2019, 06:31:33 pm
Very nice photos, did make them all with your telephone? very good quality.
I am heading for Ethiopie this year, do you have some photo tips? for me
For instance - can I make photos with a 'big' Nikon you think or would that be impossible- how do people react on camera's?

Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: stevenfr on March 23, 2019, 08:08:42 pm
I agree. Nice work.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 23, 2019, 08:32:53 pm
Truly an excellent presentation, Terry.
Thanks for sharing it.

-Eric
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Tony Jay on March 23, 2019, 11:58:46 pm
I enjoyed every image!
All the while fighting a fair bit of envy...

Nonetheless, Terry you have a wonderful eye for an image!
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: John R on March 24, 2019, 12:59:00 am
I enjoyed every image!
All the while fighting a fair bit of envy...

Nonetheless, Terry you have a wonderful eye for an image!
Just what I was thinking. You certainly seemed to enjoy the food!! All those yum yums.

JR
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: LesPalenik on March 24, 2019, 05:46:33 am
Great photographs, Terry
The quality of those images explains the reasons for the other thread - "Camera Market to Halve in two Years?"  https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=129617.0
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: TippHex on March 24, 2019, 06:12:31 am
Excellent set, and really, viewed on-line, you could not know it was a phone camera unless you noted the usual wide DoF and lack of three dimensionality that a shallower DoF, especially in the portraits, might have benefited from. Time to embrace the phone!
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: RSL on March 24, 2019, 07:09:07 am
Good shooting, Terry.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Alan Klein on March 24, 2019, 07:14:38 am
What, no RAW?  Taken with cell phone.  Very nice set.   
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: stamper on March 24, 2019, 08:20:44 am
First class!
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: luxborealis on March 24, 2019, 11:19:45 am
Thanks for the kind words. Ethiopia is still developing its tourism infrastructure, so in many ways it still does not meet western standards, which for me is part of the attraction.

What, no RAW?  Taken with cell phone.  Very nice set.   

All are raw captures, Alan. That’s the beauty of LrM. It also has hdr-raw which is nothing short of amazing in the harsh lighting of the tropics.

Just what I was thinking. You certainly seemed to enjoy the food!! All those yum yums.
JR

Yes! Very much so. I love the whole concept of Ethiopian eating: using your hand to rip the injera and scoop up the various lentil, veg and meat options. It was Lent, so meals were almost always meatless, which made no difference in taste or satisfaction. Western foods are always an option, but I don’t travel overseas to eat home fare.

Excellent set, and really, viewed on-line, you could not know it was a phone camera unless you noted the usual wide DoF and lack of three dimensionality that a shallower DoF, especially in the portraits, might have benefited from. Time to embrace the phone!

I brought my FF Nikon and tripod, and didn’t end up using them! As it is, I tend to prefer environmental portraits, so you would have seen the same high DoF photographs. I’ll work on shaping the light in Lr to create a better sense of 3D.

Very nice photos, did make them all with your telephone? very good quality.
I am heading for Ethiopie this year, do you have some photo tips? for me
For instance - can I make photos with a 'big' Nikon you think or would that be impossible- how do people react on camera's?

All with Lr Mobile on an iPhone except one: I just realized the lone worshipper at St. George’s in Lalibela was made with my 1” Sony RX-10iii. In fact, many of the shots shown, I also made with the Sony, just in case I need 20mp. I also used the Sony for longer focal length work and may post some of those later.

Photo Tips: Work on convincing your drivers/guides to start early. Earlier than 8-8:30 was a struggle. I don’t think they quite understand the needs of photographers for the early morning light. As I was mostly travelling alone in a Land Cruiser, the drivers were very accommodating for photo stops.
Don’t be afraid to walk the streets/markets to shoot, bút it’s better with your driver or guide as they can explain why you wish to photograph. Many did NOT want their photos taken - respect that and move on because many did not mind, especially if you show them the photo afterwards.
A bigger camera system will definitely be more intimidating for portraits/street. It will also make you an instant target. Being a westerner, ups the chances for theft, but I had no issues as my phone always went back in my front pocket and my Sony always back in my small hip case (one I bought decades ago to hold 4x5 film holders - my have times changed!)

I used ETT - Ethio Travel & Tours (http://www.ethiotravelandtours.com). Sunight was fantastic at organizing. All via email, she put together my two-week itinerary according to my requests, that included all accommodations (w/WiFi and private bathroom), all breakfasts, all internal flights (I had three) and transfers, all drivers and guides, and all entrance fees for USD 1750 - cash, paid on arrival. This kind of payment may scare off some who want the security of having everything booked and paid for ahead of time, but it is Africa, and there are never any guarantees. That being said, everything went off without a hitch. As it is, ETT does most of the work for Erta Ale and the Danakil Depression, if not directly, then subcontracted.
NOTE: If you fly in/out using Ethiopian Airlines (as good as many, better than most), all of your internal flights are significantly cheaper. And flights are the way to get around the country.

Busy season is Dec-Jan for Christian observances and festivals (and into Feb) when up to to 10,000 will be in Lalibela, Aksum and churches. Great opportunity for capturing the mood/feeling, but more expensive and frankly far too many tourists, especially for getting up/down the remote Tigray Churches.

March was ideal as it is the tail end of the main season and was not busy, but still with worshippers for cultural depth to photos. July-Aug is rainy season - more difficult to get around but much greener landscapes.

I did not get to Gondor, Lake Tana / Blue Nile Falls, Simien Mtns or the southern Rift Valley for Oromo cultures, but all are highly recommended - especially trekking in the Simien Mtns - from tourists I spoke to there. Many French, German, Brits, Japanese and Chinese. I met only 1 other Canadian and only 1 American. Clearly, Ethiopia is not on the N American radar (not surprising, though).

Any other Qs, let me know. As I said at the beginning, tourism is just starting, so don’t expect luxury. But it also means there are fewer tourists overall and the ones there are not the coach tour/cruise tourists.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: kers on March 24, 2019, 04:27:12 pm
Many thanks for your tips; Will be going with my girlfriend and she already tries to speak some Amhar ;)
I do not expect luxury; but a more original African country.
I have spend some time in Mali and Burkina Faso when driving through the desert was still possible even with a Renault 4 :)
It was then a country without television and telephone; the Radio days.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: langier on March 25, 2019, 01:23:34 am
Makes me want to go and see Ethiopia and my Oriental Orthodox brethren. Great photography presented well!
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on March 26, 2019, 10:54:39 am
Very good reportage.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: MattBurt on March 26, 2019, 01:09:02 pm
Nicely done. I'd like to spend some time there myself.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Martin Kristiansen on March 27, 2019, 12:02:59 am
Beautiful images.

I spent a month in Ethiopia many years ago. Lovely country. It was unfortunately very dangerous in places. Perhaps time for another visit.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: luxborealis on April 07, 2019, 10:28:01 am
In case you’re interested, I’ve created an video combining video, still, music and ambient sounds from my recent Ethiopia trip. You can watch it here: Ethiopia 2019 Video (https://drive.google.com/a/sjkeagles.com/file/d/1I-LggYGfQFI_2Od7MAnDo2oX2qSb2-VA/view?usp=drivesdk).
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: RSL on April 07, 2019, 10:51:24 am
Great stuff, Terry. I love the guy tinking tones from two hanging rocks as he looks out over the barren land. Ya done good ma fren.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: OmerV on April 07, 2019, 12:00:27 pm
Nicely done video.

The spelling I found: Baheli Tigray, Tigrigna Music Collection 2015
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: Peter McLennan on April 07, 2019, 12:31:46 pm
Great stuff, Terry.  As usual. :) That one can make high quality media like this with a phone is truly astonishing.

Like Russ, I love the guy making music with two rocks.  Well, three if you want to be pedantic. The best in human nature, revealed.
Title: Re: Ethiopia photography
Post by: kers on April 15, 2019, 11:38:33 am
Very good and informative video and ++ good appropriate sound/music...
Many thanks for sharing!