The Parasol Maker Photo

Photographer’s Note

Sabine asked for more shots of the parasol makers - Sabine this is for you and welcome back!
-----------------------------
I had the pleasure to meet and have a carefully prepared lunch with this family. They make traditional paper parasols, an art that is being lost as cheap nylon umbrellas are gaining favour.
Needless to say that I left their house not only with fond memories to cherish but one of the parasold that you see in the background.
I must say that soemtimes I feel, being invited into the houses of these strangers, very humble.
-------------------------------------------
The traditional parasol is made from Tin-wah bamboo and oiled Mulberry paper. The raw materials are locally produced. The bamboo is soaked for some time in foul water, to prevent it from the danger of insects later. The paper is coated with oil to help repel both sunshine and rain. The head and sliding hub of the parasol are made of teak, manufactured by using a simple turning lathe. The other important parts the framework are, the cover or leave, the rib, the trigger, the handle and the shaft. The measurments of each part have to be so accurate. Putting the covering (leaves) on the frame is the most difficult, to be mastered only after about three years' experience. This is performed by the father, the inticate work of folding was done by the mother, while the daughter makes the crown

See The Parasols

Original version converted from RAW in WS

wodigori, tinamunk3, Bien, Albrecht ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

tinamunk3 (6382) 2006-09-06 13:24

Well, if nobody else will leave a comment - I will!!! I like this one for the simple composition - the woman and her work. The sharpness on the woman is good and so is the light (that you again control so good) - that smile is so real and contagious. Pleasant colours and a good view of the parasol. The only thing I would have done was to clone away the thing in the bottom right corner and the white thing on the top middle (which I think is the light on one of the pillars). Beside that I can't see anything that can disturb the eye.

I wrote that you want to delete this image - do ONLY do that if you don't like it yourself!!

:) Tina

Furachan (0) 2006-09-06 22:01

Let me comment as succinctly as I can, Elaine. It's a decent enough compo, the woman sitting well inside the frame, parasols in the bokeh zone beyond. There are some problems though, possibly solvable through PP:
1.) The parasols are too indistinct to play their proper role.
2.) The woman's smile is if anything TOO BRIGHT, well...not too bright for a Colgate ad but too bright for the other tonal values here.
COnclusion: something awkward emerges from the whole experience whereas your original intention was to show off this lady in her context in the best possible light.
I do not want to hurt your feelings dear friend, but you asked for my frank opinion and...there we are.
Best,
Francis

[2] +

Bien (4729) 2006-09-07 1:37

Dear Elaine, That is very sweet of you, I so much appreciate it and it makes my day, so thank you very much. Well, I like these umbrellas a lot also in this shot and it's a mystery to me why so few people leave their comments. I don't agree with Francis when he says that the parasols are to indistinct to play they proper role; I think you attributed them the best of roles. I think the colour tones are beautiful here too. If anything needs to be said, I personally feel it is perhaps a little too sharp (the woman's face), but I see from the original shot that you haven't changed anything to the sharpness in pp, that's how you shot it. I read quickly through the words you exchanged with Tina; and honestly; I see a difference indeed in your work since you shoot RAW, but I what I see is an improvement. You are an excellent photographer to me and I have learnt a lot from your photos. Where composition and atmosphere has always been present in your photos, I think now technically they have become better too. But that's only my humble opinion. I must say that since seeing your shots, I decided to go RAW myself; I do see the difference (have taken a few photographs for work lately and take both RAW and JPG, I feel there is a world of difference and will stick to it - feel sorry now I didn't do it for Burma). Anyway, before this is getting too long! - I very much enjoy this image and not in the least because of its genuine warmth it conveys. It so much shows that this woman is having a great time in your company as much as you had. THAT is what makes this photo more worth than any TE points. Sabine

Albrecht (11163) 2006-09-08 11:14

Hi Elaine
Lovelu woman smiling there and nice POV with the parasols in the background.
* take care, Albrecht *