Petti

Some more portraits from Africa. I can't really go back and re-shoot any, so I know that photographically, they leave something to be desired. But I love the beautiful smiles these women live out in their lives and show in these photos.

I have 2312 photos from two weeks spent there. I actually could easily have taken more, but I was actually working as a volunteer, so I didn't have a lot of time to use my camera. :-) Anyway, I thought I'd start with some photos of the women I worked with. The organization is called Amani ya Juu, which in Swahili means, "Higher Peace". It is a reconciliation project, teaching marginalized women to sew so that they can have a trade and thus support themselves and their families.

I didn't have much opportunity to spend time with Petti. She works in the tie dye department. She wore this hat quite often, but didn't have it on when I asked to take her picture. She immediately ran to get the hat and stuck it on her head, and then posed for the shot. I really find it interesting that she wanted the hat on for the photo. :-)

Photographically, how is the exposure of her skin? There don't seem to be any hot spots, like in some of the other images. I also like the DOF - what do you think? Any other thoughts?

I will look forward to hearing from you..... :-)

Any comments or ratings are appreciated! :-)

I like this one, Lou Ann. So this was from Nairobi? I was in Mombasa for a couple of weeks in about 1968. I'll bet it's a lot different now.

 

Sounds like you enjoyed your trip. I hope you enjoy your trip out west as much.

 

Cheers

The beauty of these women shines through in your portraits, what a blessing to have gotten to meet and spend time with them. I like Petti's hat, she must be proud of it for some reason. The DOF is really good on her face, but I wish her hair was a little more in focus because I love the twists and curls of it. You should be somewhere in the Midwest on your journey West by now. Drop me an email when you get settled.

Lou Ann, thanks for your visit ! from the 3 of them photographicaly this it very nicely done, DOF is good, skin tones are very nice no flash felt, sparkles in her eyes, and beautiful model. BUT, I like all of them, as you have brought the faces of the African women, that try to help themselves to grow financialy and be independent. They look great as human being. nice project Lou Ann, photography for me here is second to the beauty of them and your doing there.

Hi Lou Ann!

All this series of portraits makes a nice gallery of smiling women. They are not very polished portraits but their main quality is to be natural and sincere. I am not a specialist in portraits and for me they are perfect as they are and I probably could not do better.

You say you have taken "2312 photos from two weeks spent there" and that you "actually could easily have taken more" ! Well ! I have taken between 600 and 800 photos during three weeks passed in Perigord last july and I think it is really too much. When I had a traditionnal camera (how do you say "argentique" ?) I took twice less in the same time and I already found that it was too much. Digital camera is really inciting to shot and shot and shot again !

Warm regards, and thank you for your visit and comments to my recent uploads

Henri

How are you? I hope you are well. I find your recent African portraits to be intriguing in representing a much different culture from ours. Well done!