the wild of east java The Wild of East Java#2

Thanks for your reply, Kenvin. Based on what you explained, I

think the garbage at bottom right, which was cloned, could and

should be cloned more accurately, mostly at the edge of the

white cloud of dust. This being said, I was in fact hoping this roof

at the top would be a temple, since there are many such places

difficult to access with a temple as a reward at the end of the

journey, and also because the shape of this roof was indeed

quite similar to some temples: good to read it actually was a

temple, and as such, I strongly believe it should remain.

Regards.

I hardly ever comment on the POW any more, but can't help myself on this one. This is the best POW I've seen on here in quite a while - possibly since I've been a member. Looks to me like some selective sharpening may have been done to accentuate certain objects, but however it was achieved, the result is an image worthy of all the praise it gets. Very nicely done. Best Regards

I also have to disagree with the notion that cropping out the buildings at the top would improve the image-- in fact, such cropping would just render the image as just another ordinary travel photo instead of the superb image it is in the presented format. It is the buildings in the distance that give scale and context to the scene and provide a sweep from the foreground to the background. The composition is excellent as it was presented.

I also disagree with the comments about color balance. It doesn't matter whether the image accurately reflects the color balance of the scene at the time of day in which the image was taken. What matters is whether the image is effective in the color balance presented and that the color balance presented reflects the photographer's intention in presenting the mood and emotion of the scene. I think the image works very well in its present form.

I find it strange that while the dust in the distance diminishes the contrast ratio between high and low lights of the distant ground slopes, it doesn't do so to the people's apparel. Other than that, the POW is impressive. The color, in my opinion, is unnecessary.

I just looked at the rest of the series (should have done that first I guess!) which are in my view far better as single pictures. This photo does contribute to the whole as a photo essay (especially if there were some accompanying words...), but does not really stand up on it's own.

Let me say first that I find this an excellent photo - it had immediate impact when I opened it, and that's what counts. A large part of the appeal is that goes a little beyond the simple documentary 'this is what I saw' mentality - reminiscent of the dream-sequence in Casper Hauser, which incidentally was shot at Bagan, a rather similar place for exotic architecture. (I'd like Kenvin to visit Bagan and see what he makes of it! - it's not so far from where he lives).

 

The other thing is the processing. Processing of photos is inevitable and essential - dodging and burning, cropping, whatever. It's simply bringing out the best of what's in there. The tricky part is to keep a light hand, make it unobtrusive, so that the image remains plausible. This is indeed plausible - but something has surely been done, too. Look at this image from the same portfolio, which must have been taken within seconsd of the featured photo - quite different lighting. This is not a Bad Thing - I'm just intrigued, wondering what was done.

Please God let's not get into the what-is-manipulation argument. I'm far more interested in how it was done, than in whether he should have checked the box.

 

Like I said, this is a fine image, and it manages to pull off its special effects without making them obtrusive (and the photo implausible).

 

The danger with doing this kind of thing is that prettiness lies in wait if you set a single foot wrong. Here's another photo from the same portfolio that I think does fall off the edge - looks as pretty as a painting, which ain't good. (It's titled Mountain Boy).

Kenvin, congratulations on your photo of the week. It's certainly a terrific photo--in black and white it would have the feel of a Salgado. While, as Marc states, this may be a fairly common subject for Asian stock agencies, it's an incredibly strong photo for those of us unaccustomed to seeing photos from this particular place. Great shot!

There are some merits in the composition but quite mediocre in the end like a poorly finished digital art. I think there is a lot of disparity in the density of dust from foreground to background. They seem to be overly manipulated and doesn't convey natural distance attenuation well. It feels like some of the dust is added with a airbrush or un-naturally enhanced.

This is a very interesting shot to be sure.
My first thoughts are how much better would it have been if everything weren't so soft !Certainly the dust ,low light and nessesary depth of field issues make it difficult to get a sharp shot- but then i checked the authors other work and realised he seems to have deliberatly made everything soft.Bad choice...:(
With a little more sharpness-just a little more,this shot would have been bordering on greatness.As it is it's more a waste of an awsome scene

Nice image as far as "digital art" goes, but looks to manipulated for a real photograph.

 

If it really is a genuine unmanipulated photograph, I will eat hat and my light meter !

Looks like I may need a new hat and light meter....

 

Very nice *photograph* !

 

R

I played around with this a little bit to see what it would look like in black and white. I thought it might look better, but I prefer the color version to this one.

looks like one of those fictional movies like lord of the rings...

awesome capture...hats off!!

Been there in a pre-digital era :) Actually took this one with a very very cheap indonesian camera :)

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2045516

Congratulations, Kenvin, on this beautiful photo and on having it named Photo of the Week.

 

I like it in both color and black and white, although I think that they have to be viewed at the same size in order to make a proper comparison.

 

I nonetheless appreciate Robert Brown's smaller posted B&W version, since it allows us to see the curves that are one of the distinguishing features of this photo. The version which I am posting is the same size as the one posted at the top of the page, with absolutely no further manipulation beyond desaturation.

 

--Lannie

Personally, I feel the subtle colors in the original really help the image, and I prefer the color version. Also, someone suggested cropping the upper portion of the frame with distant buildings, and I think that would be a shame. The buildings lend a real scale and context to the image.

 

Overall, this is a stunning piece, thanks for sharing!

The composition is masterly, but the colors and the cheap photoshop job just kill it. It looks

uneven, the clouds are fake, and the colors are not consistent. There is an overall feeling of

cheap artistry and lack of taste.

I really like the subtlety (and simultaneous richness) of the color in this picture. I wonder how you got it to come this way. Congrats.

Great photo, it just it is, if you want to find something wrong, maybe you have choices, not many by the way, it's just a geat photo

I thought that this was a straight forward photo, but I'm seeing all these allegations that the photo was "manipulated". I can't tell. Could somebody confirm whether or not this is a manipulated photo?

If it wasn't manipulated, the allegations would be rather unfair to the photographer.

The photographer says that he adjusted levels and contrast, as well as cloned out some "garbage" (his word) on the rock at lower right.

 

He has said nothing about the clouds, which Michael Hardy-Vallee has said above are "fake." Michael has not offered any evidence to substantiate that claim.

 

--Lannie

It's a most beautyful photo from a most beautyfull place. I recognized the place immediatly. The photo brings over the emotions.

When we visited the place it was early in the morning and very cold. The hotel we had near from that place was one of the worst we ever slept. Returning to Choqchakarta was a real hazzle, since the busdriver stopped for 2 hours on the road to take a sleep, so we didn't catch the next bus. However we have great memories to that unique place.

This picture is awesome, Pictures like this is the reason why I'am learning photography. WOW can't say no more. I like to possiable purchase a copy.