Penny For Your Thoughts, a photo from New South Wales, East

Photographer's Note

Some weeks back I was invited to venture deep into the Blue Mountains (west of Sydney) to visit some sacred sites of the Gundungurra Nation who were the traditional land owners of the area. We were taken to an old red ochre site which is linked to part of a very powerful Dreamtime Story telling of the creation of the rivers in the area. The legend was first published in 1908 in a German anthropological journal. The Gurangatch and Mirragan dreamtime creation story is still told today by direct descendants of the Gundungurra people.

While at the ochre site (which is extremely hard to find and protected by deep dense sub tropical type trees / vegetation) I managed to capture a series of photographs.

Here is one photograph - penny for his thoughts!!

phwall, delpeoples, jlbrthnn, gunbud, skippy007 ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

phwall (6787) 2010-05-27 0:36

Hi Graham,
Yes, nice portrait.
Now it's about the composition, in a frame like this it is much better to have the subject looking into the open side of the frame not the closed side, that is, have the main subject on the camera right side of frame in a composition like this. Composition is all about balance, and where you place the main subject. For this shot you'd want to see more on left of frame than on the right of frame, to balance the shot you'd place the subject on the right of the middle line. Its the same with your previous post, all of the main action,the two people, is on the wrong side of frame
I've done a workshop for you, obviously I've had to crop a lot off the shot but now the balance is correct.
Its all got to do with stuff like the rule of thirds and other technical aspects of composition, in the end though it boils down to what looks right.
Very nice light, good choice to go B/W, it adds a lot to the drama of the shot.
Don't even mention the State of Origin, bloody hell.
Best wishes
Pete

[workshop] [compare] +

delpeoples (60342) 2010-05-27 0:58

Hi Burraman, excellent title. The young fella looks very pensive, maybe thinking about his past, his ancestors and maybe his future. Going back to your roots is always an emotional experience but I can imagine it being even more so in this lad's circumstance given 40,000 years of culture, dreaming and history - not to mention the violence of the past 200 years. So your portrait to me is excellent even without that context, a thoughtful young man in the bush. But it is even more so when you know why he's standing where he is. TFS, it's a photo that will stay with me, Lisa

bobocortis (16090) 2010-05-27 3:23

Hello Graham.
An excellent portrait into a charming environment.
Perhaps the human subject is seeing too next to the left border.
Anyway a good work.
Best regards.
Bobo

jlbrthnn (76043) 2010-05-29 14:54

Hello Graham,
The composition of this portrait in black and white is balanced, and fixes an interesting expression. The quite enlightened portrait is skilfully put forward by the forest a little darker. Good realization of a good clearness. Cheer.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

gunbud (34066) 2010-05-30 17:51

G'Day Graham,
Splendid black and white image with very sharp clear details.
lovely somber moodcreated by the thousand yard stare and deep woods backdrop.
Regards, Tom

skippy007 (12510) 2010-06-02 4:53

Hi Graham, This BW image has excellent tones & clarity, my first thoughts were as pointed out by Peter, which you acknowledged but to be quite honest I was also very interested in your note, having just returned from Malaysia where I spent most of my time in little villages occupied by indigenous people & loved every minute of it, I realised that I need to if possible visit & spend time with out indigenous people especially in their remote communities, perhaps one day. Our people once roamed all over this beautiful land, carefree. My guess is that's what he may be thinking. Well done Graham. Thanks
Take care
Santo
No HD in this dense bush I bet ;-)