Momentos Rurais

Very nice B/W photo, nice tones, interesting subject. I think that the old woman is not looking to the same direction with the other two and this makes it even more interesting to my eyes. Well done!

Good capture of a great subject matter, and congrats to the photographer for making a truly great use of the 3 profile views, although I still agree (partly) with what Phineas Tarbolde and ReneGM - french chess grand master Rene, could it be you ?!? - wrote above.

 

Imo, the contrast is indeed slightly high, but ok. Looks a bit like a strongly sharpened image that was perhaps originally a little unsharp, but I'm not sure about that : perhaps the photographer can clarify this issue for us ?

 

The only thing that I wish is to see the actual 2x3 framing (camera format ratio), firstly for the sake of the discussion about this POW's composition, and secondly because I don't understand this crop. What I mean is that I find the left edge of the picture a bit too close to the goat, and I wish mostly, there would be more space on the picture's right side, since that's where these 3 heroes - who are turned away from us - are looking...

As a side-note, I really like your entire folder, especially the following pictures in it:

 

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7687707

 

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7737135

 

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7832863

 

or http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7687692

 

And by the way, the last one of these links will take you to a picture from the same man with goat that seems much sharper, and in which I just love the man's expression. That illustrates well why some comments on this page were looking for a front view of the faces, with an engaging expression. That's exactly what I see in this other picture. But then, I of course understand as well why the Elves selected this POW instead of any other picture in the same folder: I'd say that this POW's originality is greater, and its point of view makes it a great and somewhat comical picture of the 3 fellows...:-)

Love this image, and also several photos of your portfolio including those that the previous post mentioned. I applaud your commitment to photographing the classical beauty of these humble people.

 

As to this photograph I am impressed by the line of three subjects, which draws me to their relationship with one another. They are really one. Their faraway looks from the side provide to me the context of their introspective life--perhaps imaginary to me but I suspect it is true for them.

 

A stolen moment--another way to call "a decisive moment"--is one that not only tells us about the subject of the photo but also about what went on in your mind at the time of your clicking the shutter. Among numerous possibilities, why did you choose this composition and why did you choose this moment? Thus I am tempted to speculate on the relation between their introspection and your own. All these define a good photograph for me.

Thanks for posting these photos here.

Animesh

This brings to mind the works of W. Eugene Smith and Paul Strand, more Gene Smith, though, as he was more in tune with his subjects and presented them in their natural habitat, while Strand almost always chose the harsh gaze ahead. Personally, I could have done with less contrat in this image, but the imperfections of the picture somewhat contribute the sense of nostalgia it evokes. The use of film and the almost grimy tone of the image, recalling a simpler time when a photographer sweated out the picture in the darkroom, a thoroughly deserving choice for POW.

I find this to be a very well balanced composition, with great tones & contrast. The expressions and that all three are looking in the same direction adds a lot of interest for me. I think a face-on composition would have looked too posed. This seems like an odd moment in time, well captured by the photographer.

This photograph expresses so much humor that it needs nothing added, removed or changed to achieve that end. No change in contrast, no cropping and from me, nothing but my very best wishes and continued great photography.

 

True to my image, I did examine cropping and can find at least three other great images. 1. crop away that part of the photo from the man's knees down. 2. Crop away the goat. 3. Crop away the woman. All three make interesting photos, but having them all there is still by far the best. Congratulations on being selected for POW. Nice work. I like the contrast as is.

 

Willie the Cropper

I like this as a serious shot, but I have to confess that it is also very funny, even as I try not to laugh--sort of a "Beverly Hillbillies Move to Portugal" sort of shot. (That is one of the elves' categories, I have been told.)

 

In addition to the content (of which the goat is the indisputable star), there is also very good technique manifested in both capturing and post-processing the shot. The composition is very sound, and the tonal range is excellent. Thank you, Rui, for this wonderful shot--and all of your others as well.

 

--Lannie

Man's hands (in focus and the details, shadow/light) adds to the already perfect composition. Great shot! Thanks for sharing.

Lev

I too find it a nice "touch" the goat also is looking in the same direction as the two persons in the photo. It speaks of hardship, frugality and a barren land that only can be worked by hard labour. The scene evokes a lot of feelings for the man and woman...

The composition is fine, maybe a bit more room to the right in the picture would have gone along well with whatever they are looking at.

I find it super you're not able to see exactly what the man and woman are looking at - a picture shall not necessarily show everything. There'es a story within the picture and a story outside the picture. You capture both beautifully.

My congratulations, Rui. You deserve it, no doubt.

This is one of my favourite photos I've seen from your portfolio in Reflexos and Podium sites. As we aren't there anymore is great to be able to see your fine work here at photo.net.

Thanks very very much for all your critiques, it´s very good for me.

This photo was from my actual project "Rural Moments", i spend last weekend from a year in a little village in contryside of Portugal. This one was shooted in March of 2008, and i taken this one when this couple was talking with some friends, is why the both 3, couple and goat is looking for they left. The light comes from sunset at end of the path, at left and the jpeg is not the best, but i have it printed in fine art paper and it´s beautiful. I´m not very good at photoshop.

 

Again, thanks very very much for all crtitiques and very nice words, and thanks to photo.net guys for consider this one as POW !

 

King regards from Portugal, my friends !

 

Rui

Doesn't the title say it? It's a candid but not in the funny meaning. Look at the goat's pose with one leg hanging down, totally belonging and at ease with the community's going ons. The graytones add drama. POW? Deserved!

Great snaps...truly depicts the most important aspect of Life "HOPE"

Very good photo Rui. I love the composition. The goat seems like a dog sitting beside her "family". Wonderful.

 

 

Cumprimentos,

Jorge

Ok, you may not be very good with photoshop, but you are very good at photography! Love this picture very, very much. The lighting is beautiful. Very nice, soft ligth. Black and white is the perfect choice. Like others allready said: Like the fact that the goat is looking in the same direction. Best regards!

Uma foto que transcende em muito a mera qualidade técnica de uma imagem, uma foto que se reveste do sentir de gente humilde que tu retratas de uma forma muito particular e que merece ser reconhecida. Conheço algum de teu trabalho e por isso sei do que falo. Parabéns!

Parabens Rui,

adorei o teu trabalho...Lourdes

Great shot beyond doubt, especially with the goat and the fact that what they are looking at is left to the imagination of the viewer. Just one small hitch in my mind - it lacks a contemporary feel...to me it looks more like a shot by Cartier Bresson or a a still from a neo-realist film.

And ReneGM hits the nail on the head with the two major flaws. We could have closed it down after that, IMHO!

 

1st- Stolen.

Seems to me, and I believe to ReneGM, that stolen means 'taken on the sly'; as folks take real quick images of the subjects before they get seen as they are afraid to be seen taking it- as they did not get permission (do they think it won't be given?). I do believe so.

 

It is not the same as the 'decisive moment'. That is when all of the elements pull together just at the right time to make a more specail photo than one taken just before or after it would have been. This does not seem to be a significant 'gotcha' moment at all, not like the one of a person caught jumping mid-air over the puddle for example by, I believe, Cartier Bresson. Or the one of the boy with the grimacing and angry face pointing the gun directly at 'us', the photographer.

 

Suggestion: most of the time, in a situation like this, I just ask the folks in a polite and friendly way if I can take a photo. 90% of the time they say yes! And I believe seeing them look into the camera, if even it was only the animal, or just one of the people, it would have been stronger. The eyes are the window to the soul and I want souls in my art. I suggest you try this in yours (everyone shooting candids such as this that is) and you will see a great improvement in your art. This image makes me think the 'real photographer' is taking their picture and has their attention, although I do believe we have a better angle for doing so, but we just need to get their attention.

 

2nd- Too contrasty. I agree, seems a bit blown out in the highlights and blocked up in the shadows, but it's the secondary problem to the 'stolen one'.

´Stolen one´ ...

Dear Michael, if you have lose sometime to see my gallery, you will se this 3 people in diferent poses, they are friends of mine and i spend more than a hour to take photos, with complete permission to do that, il allways ask permission to take photos of people, i know very well Portuguese Law, so sugestion about "asking permission" is absolute not necessary. My ahestetic way of making photography in all most cases do not include my presence as photographer, i prefer the moment as i´m not there, so sometimes i speend hours of conversation with people and make some natural fotos during it. For me, this gives more "intemporality" to my photos, i prefer this way but have absolute respect for other diferent ways of working. This is completely diferent of "stolen photo", but, i have nothing against who do "stolen photos" as you named it. Sometimes is the best way of have more "natural" photos, but i agree that is necessary allways prmission from model to use the photo. Thanks for critique, Michael, allways very wellcome.

Now I read that these people are friends of the photographer. From the begining I felt that the old woman is aware of the photographer when photo was taken. If we look carefully at her eye we may see that. Anyway a great photo! Once again bravo!

Rui, I have not read all the comments above, but I did see that one person did not like the vantage point from which you shot it and he did not

like the contrast. The vantage point is great and the fact that the photo is a little heavy in the contrast is such a nitpick and so minor because

your photo has a lot of merit.

 

Your shot is priceless and is up close and personal in the lives of these village people, animal and all. I feel like I'm right there sitting with this

couple. I love it! This is so nice in b/w. Well

done.

 

Regards to you, Maria

PS: On my monitor, your contrast is very good!

Excellent, love it!