Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: francofit on November 18, 2005, 03:23:53 am
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IMHO every image I have seen so far from Michael's expedition in China is enchanting, but this one titled "Net casting" is simply... breathtaking!
I have no better word to describe the emotion this picture gives to me.
Thank you very much Michael for sharing some of your art.
"Net Casting. Guilin, China " from the article < The Classic Chinese Landscape (http://luminous-landscape.com/locations/classic-chinese.shtml)>
(http://luminous-landscape.com/images39-china/netting-1013.jpg)
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I do love that shot. My first thought when it popped up and I was looking at it through blury eyes was, "what the heck is he doing posting a picture with a selection (the marching ants)?" Too much time in front of PS? The net also approximmates the continental US.
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Just to give you a context for the shot...
We asked the fisherman to cast the net many times, and with his boat at varying distances from us. This one was the best of about a dozen exposures.
I was very eager to make this happen as fast as possible, because the sun was rising out of the mist very quickly, and the shot would flare badly when it did, and lose its atmospheric charm.
Michael
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I agree with the other comments, Michael. You have done very nice work with your work in China.
I have been especialy impressed with you use of backlighting and shadows to give silhouettes to your subjects.
Excellent work!
Mitch
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Just to give you a context for the shot...
We asked the fisherman to cast the net many times, and with his boat at varying distances from us. This one was the best of about a dozen exposures.
I was very eager to make this happen as fast as possible, because the sun was rising out of the mist very quickly, and the shot would flare badly when it did, and lose its atmospheric charm.
Michael
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My first reaction on seeing the new China photos was: I sure hope Michael is going to do a book about China! They are all stunning. I keep going back to the article just to look at the images. And once again you show us that good results depend on hard work and careful planning and not simply good luck or even experience.
Nice work, Michael!
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These China images are some of the most stunning I've seen on your site in a long time. The "moonlight fishing" one and the ridge poking out of the fog are both beautiful! The comments on traveling and photographing in China are appreciated, too; if you feel you have more to say on the subject, I'd be delighted to hear it.
Lisa
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My first reaction on seeing the new China photos was: I sure hope Michael is going to do a book about China! They are all stunning. I keep going back to the article just to look at the images. And once again you show us that good results depend on hard work and careful planning and not simply good luck or even experience.
Nice work, Michael!
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I'll second that, Michael - a book of your China photos would seem mandatory now!
Regards
Alan
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So how long before we see the China trip in the VJ?
I can't wait to see how they would look in the new digital format on my tv.
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Thanks all.
There will be another China article early next week, this time on street shooting.
China won't make the next issue, but maybe if enough people pester Chris it can be in the one due in the Spring.
Michael
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Thanks all.
There will be another China article early next week, this time on street shooting.
China won't make the next issue, but maybe if enough people pester Chris it can be in the one due in the Spring.
Michael
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Hey Chris -
Pester, pester, pester
Is that enough or do we have to do more?
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Michael,
One of my favourite shots of yours ... just brilliant. The other China images are fine, fine images. Would love to see them printed in large format.
After I first saw the fisherman with the net I found myself wondering (as I was strolling back from lunch) how many times you had asked the fisherman to cast the net! Not many images are strong enough to pervade my subconscious as such!
Stephen
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Hey Chris -
Pester, pester, pester
Is that enough or do we have to do more?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=51662\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Ditto, ditto, ditto!
Eric
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The China photos are truly excellent--a consistently fine body of work. I look forward to the next article and to the China segment on the Video Journal. I hope the next article will include permanent links to the photos that have appeared on the home page, so those will remain easily accessible in the future.
I also enjoyed the write up about the China trip. It was very readable and anticipated a few of the questions I had, such as whether the shots of the fishermen were staged. I had assumed those shots were probably arranged in some respects (which doesn't trouble me) and I commend Michael for making a full disclosure of the circumstances.
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Just finished reading the article and came in here to post the exact same comment that led this thread off... Michael I cannot add anything other than to repeat what has already been said -- your Net Casting image is stunning; simply phenomenal.
My compliments,
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Loved this shot. I've often wondered how you approach your subjects and do you "reward" them for assisting you in getting that special shot. It may be an interesting subject to explore with regard to travel photography on some of the cultural considerations and interacting with the local population, the use of guides etc, that make these shots so interesting and powerful.
Once again brilliant shot!
Kevin
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Don't know, I found the Bangladesh pictures more groundbreaking and interesting to my taste. Maybe I've seen too many pics of those sites, including those by your guides. I'm having to restrain myself from ordering your book and am in a very losing battle, hey what difference is a small amount of money when you're spending a fortune on opening a portrait studio and incidently buying the 5D + 24-105 + grip + 580ex + focus screens + RRS L bracket, after a large lull in photography due to an operation? (I walked the first time today in 2 months without crutches, damn it feels so good!).
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Hello Michael,
I have to echo all the acolades that have preceded this post and add my own. Those images I have seen so far are extraordinary! I have already received notice that my Bangledesh book has shipped and I am waiting anxiously for its arrival. But, as nice as the images are on my screen and I anticipate they shall be in your book, I am even more anxiously looking forward to your next gallery show.
I so wanted to make the trip to Toronto for the Pikto Gallery Show you had but alas, a prior obligation intervened and I was unable to make the the trip. I can only imagine what glories would await us if you were to do it again with the China images. Is there any chance of a China showing or another opportunity to see the Bangledesh Show? Maybe even down here in the States a bit closer to West Virginia?
Bill Evans in WV
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I also enjoy the China photos very much, they convey the mood of what seems to be a very special place. However, I was disappointed to read that some of the shots were “staged”, and not spontaneous. No doubt the characters were just portraying their normal daily activities.
But I just wonder how many times did that guy had to cast the net just so that a bunch of photographers could get a better shot? I was not there, and I don’t mean to be unfair. Still, travel photography to me means spontaneity, serendipity, and yes, chance.
I know that planning a trip half-way across the globe is not easy, and you do your best to get the shot you have envisaged; but paying local villagers so that they can stage the shots for you, I can not agree with that. Now, when I look at the images, some of the “magic” is gone. I am sure they were happy to do it, because the money was easy and more than their usual daily income, which is a bit sad, really.
Again, I don’t want to come across as being more papist than the Pope, it is just my opinion.
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Paul,
I understand your attitude.
Of the many hundreds of photographs taken on the trip the ones of the fisherman were the only ones "staged". But, as I wrote in the article, it's the only way to get a photograph of these architypal fisherman, because otherwise they work at night.
Think of it more as a "portrait" rather than a documentary photograph.
By the way (and not to burst your ballon) but if you look at many of the famous "documentary" photographs throughout history - raising the flag on Iwa Jima, the sailor kissing the girl in Times Square on VJ Day, the couple kissing as they walk on a Paris street – all were "staged".
Similarly with much of the "documentary" work that one has seen for the past 100 years on the pages of National Geographic. Tis the nature of the beast.
Michael
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Bill,
I have a show planned at the Pikto gallery again this coming March. Details to come early in the new year.
It will contain my work from China as well as Antartica (coming up next week),
Michael
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Bill,
I have a show planned at the Pikto gallery again this coming March. Details to come early in the new year.
It will contain my work from China as well as Antartica (coming up next week),
Michael
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Michael,
So far, I am only tied up on the first weekend in March, but it involves a trip to Ohio which might make for a closer jumping off point than down here in WV. Either way, I'm blocking off the rest of March until I see the dates of your show.
Thanks for the reply.
Bill Evans in WV
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I also think this is an excellent photograph. I went to Yangshao in 2001 and I don't have any pictures of the fishermen as good as this!
pbizarro - to reiterate Michaels point, much of travel (and dicumentary) photography is not about spontenaity at all....many more shots are "set up" than most people realise. Waiting for the moment is fine for a hobbyist on holiday, but for working pros they set up shots all the time. That's just how you make sure you get the shot.
As with Kevin, I would be curious to understand people's thoughts about this kind of thing...and how they have gone about it themselves.
Julian
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............paying local villagers so that they can stage the shots for you, I can not agree with that. ...........
Pbizarro - you can stage the event but you can't stage the photograph. Just look at the timing, the composition, the lighting and the exposure. It really couldn't be better. Apart from the fact that all kinds of images are "managed" in different ways for different purposes at different stages of the creative process and nobody complains, put eight photographers in front of the same thing and you will get eight different photos, some better than others. What counts is the artistic value of the result.
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Exactly my take on the shot. So sorry to hear that the sailor and the girl were a set up but there you go ...
I am looking forward to the China trip showing up on the VJ!
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Interestingly, a friend of mine was in the same place around the same time. Looking at her results, it is notable how different photographers approach things in different ways:
http://homepage.mac.com/alex.photo/PhotoAlbum112.html (http://homepage.mac.com/alex.photo/PhotoAlbum112.html)
(or indeed TOTALLY different ways, if you're into that sort of thing:
http://homepage.mac.com/alex.photo/PhotoAlbum110.html) (http://homepage.mac.com/alex.photo/PhotoAlbum110.html))