Delhi to Ladakh rejoiced (H series)

[zoossh]

i am really not liking the distortion here. a little bit is fine, since you are after all using an ultra wide, but if you have the opportunity and time to change, why not switch to something which would render them less demon-like? :dunno:

i think this is a double edged thingy. on one side, the distortion is meant to create emphasis to their fists and hands as it is a fun picture. on the other hand, severe distortion in two planes can ruin a picture too, and i have some other pictures that i did not post, having that problem... which is the reason that i'm shifting more and more from 10mm to 20mm, and may consider a 30mm lens to learn a new composition. i reckon that concern

not quite sure about the depth of field here, i thought it was a tad too shallow for my liking. certainly the focus is locked on nicely, but the lack of sharpness in his other facial features spoils this somewhat for me.

that depth of field actually is to my liking... but it varies with the working distances, so only a certain series run in this fashion. i can understand your liking as it is not conventional, probably DOF made more "narrow" due to a tilt up shot, making the ears and mouth more anteriorly and out of focus. i probably have to look back at this style a year later and decide again whether it works, becos my perception does change with time and experience.

there is also prominent distortion due to going in too close - i.e. bloated faced syndrome. 50mm tends to be more suitable for head/shoulders or further. have you considered using liquify to correct?

yup, agreed. think i have to alter my focal length/working distance to get a better compression.

got to look up what is "liquify"... not very photoshop savvy

i like everything about this one, except for the bluish cast. have you considered converting to black and white - understand that removal might turn out to a pain in the arse.

i'm not so particular about that cast. in fact, once in a while a different cast would be refreshing, and the cast can represent a certain lighting condition and its natural environment. but i would consider removing a cast that is unnatural. as for converting to b/w, i think that is an open option too.

anyways, hope i don't turn out looking like i'm nitpicking.

nope, looking forward to comments from many others.

i really think you should forsake your personal preference for colored photos and consider black and white sometimes, especially when the colors are not in harmony, or there are problems with having color.

i tend to cast aside those with clashing colors rather than to attempt a b/w... but i gradually more open to some tries, not that often though.

i would prefer conversions in many of them (like the ghandhi statue one)..

may try out later...

 

[zoossh]

maybe do a portrait composition.

the more i think abt it, the more the frame is not going to work in any way it is done. the foreground outline clashes with the midground subject. and the possible vantage i can stand on would not solve that problem. it is great lighting there and then and i force a picture out of it....but probably not worthy of posting.

 

[zoossh]

#64

a simple still life: window and pegs. at keylong

 

[zoossh]

#65

basgo fort on the left, basgo monastery on the right (without mentioning, they probably looks just like any other stone stacks), and in the middle of them right in front of me, is a heap of stones, that like the prayer flags, are no longer strangers to us ever since almost every photographer will shoot when they are there. they are common in many tibetan inhabited areas.... likewise i see offerings in bali and in india that is rather quite unique. it brought me to a question then what on the streets or landscape is symbolic, common and frequently seen in chinese inhabited areas.... and i suddenly realised i dunno the answer..., maybe things associated with the chinese new year, like couplets (chun lian) on the walls, or the door gods, but even then they are probably increasingly less common. or is there a better object of interest?

 

[zoossh]

#66

sunset side of sarchu. but given a different setting, the opposite side of this frame is being warmed up by the setting sun in rust and mahogany. i was actually quite sick at that time, down with acute mountain sickness but have not vomited as badly as the ascent of kota kinabalu. but after about an hour of rest, i forced myself out to join my friends and of cos to capture some landscape shots.

 

[zoossh]

#67

i thought of posting this although the focus is off, as it cheers up the gloomy face of the indian boss in the printing shop when he saw this picture being printed out (later to be given to the tibetan women). he said very little in that 20 mins or so, but he uttered from his moustachy mouth and said "that is good" probably becos the laughing expression is most obvious as compared to the little shy smile from most other portraits.

in many places, amateur and inexperienced photographers like me will have to worry how to establish a comfortable approach without being too reserved, or being too intrusive. many times, we either fall too far ahead or too far behind that balance, and with every other fellow photographer or non-photographer we met, it gives me a dimension of how i am and what others see of that. it always take that night to think of how better to adapt that balance to my personality (different photographers have different personalities and the approaches can't be the same), and though difficult to come to admit of one's mistakes at once, through time, one will slowly smoothen out those undulations. i have to thank my fellow travel mate who does not want to be identified, for suggesting to print out the pictures locally and that cheers up a day for the women on the street, though we can't buy their vegetables and we can't cook. yah, i missed out some chances of photographing more portraits while printing and while i went around looking for local food to buy for the kids. but it was compensated a little for feeling that i have started out on doing something simple, neither requiring a big heart nor a deep pocket, and something i didn't do and isn't thinking of doing in my previous trips.

 

[zoossh]

#68

the visit of ladakh (part of political india and part of cultural tibet) lies within 3 months from the tibetan SAR protest and the media blackout that spurns out various dodgy or uncorroborated claims from small european press previously unheard of, the chinese state press and that of the overseas chinese press allerged to be afflicted with the falungong, each side with their stories and some with fixations.

and despite of skipping dharamsala due to the long transport to and fro leh, the general sentiments in ladakh that borders tibet SAR can be felt or seen - this freedom of which definitely not possible across the border. this newspaper clip is pasted on a window pane of a house at the top of spituk monastery, reflecting dalai lama's response to awkward labelling of him as a syndicate or a clique. there are probably tons of information online calling each other biased and offering no neutral grounds for understanding or reconciliation. those who are interested in reading some pretty solid information can check this russian democratic website article and this 2hrs video, though slightly over-romanced, holds many valuable first hand footages that overturned immediately some claims. These information is in every sense better than ploughing the hate threads/videos that is accessible to all on youtube or such. what we travel photographers is doing is merely capturing the tip of the iceberg, or at least seeing for ourselves at least what it may seem, adding minutely to that corroboration important for the path of undistorted history.

 

[elias601]

RE: Pic 68

Glad you highlight and share the site for the 2 hours video documentary. I find it eye-opening, moving and yet very sad after watching that video documenting what had happened over the years in Tibet. I hope many will get the chance to watch it.

 

[zoossh]

RE: Pic 68

Glad you highlight and share the site for the 2 hours video documentary. I find it eye-opening, moving and yet very sad after watching that video documenting what had happened over the years in Tibet. I hope many will get the chance to watch it.

just completed it. there's parts i dun fully agree with the western understanding, but shall leave out the discussion here. the footage speaks much for themselves for most of the historical events and the tibetan point of view, especially in the last few sentences spoken by a tibetan guy. i thought that is good educational stuff.

 

[Pokka]

very informative video!

 

[zoossh]

#69

scanty yellow flowers and cow dung. at spangmik

 

[zoossh]

#70

alchi has one of the oldest monastery in ladakh with wall paintings as early as the 11th century. these paintings that are kept in very dark rooms with only a small window of light from the roof high up, which they disallow photography, even if non-flash. it was initially not on our list of itinerary but an unexpected two day holiday due to the visit of an indian commissioner, means we can't get permit to go hunder nor spangmik (alert regions close to possible chinese intrusion, therefore require additional pass). however, there are other things in alchi such as some mini tunnels showing small versions of wall murals. this is one of them. For good shots of wall murals, take a look at giantcanopy's Angkor Wat shots. The use of lighting to carve out the contours, together with the crispness of the optical quality, can easily show the difference between his and mine.

 

[zoossh]

#71a

a bookstore FULL of books in connaught square (new delhi), first spotted by redoxsim. i took 2 quick frontal shots before stepping aside as there are 3 of us there ... we kept a distance from the shopkeeper which i'm not sure if he is often "harassed' by photographers. maybe it is common thing in india?? but to us, that is so spectacular.....

 

[zoossh]

#71b

same shot. semi-b/w with faint tinge of red that is barely seen.

 

[redoxsim]

Oh yes! I remember this book stall. Quite an amazing sight yah?

​

 

[zoossh]

yah, i think your eyes are good for identifying streets and stilllife.

for the information of the rest of the readers, we are in the midst of looking for local indian food in the last of our few days (actually i'm more keen for convinience and budget instead), so we are walking around and around the connaught circle. i didn't even see the shop when it is only 20m ahead from across the road.

 

[moments]

Really love your potraits. Like I have mentioned before, you captured their emotions and expressions very well.

#7 ,#14, #57, #59 and #67 are my favourites for this series, with #7 as my number 1.

Any more?

 

[Gannic]

i'm not sure if my self-criticism is the reason getting no one to critique/share opinions on these pictures, but i'm just sharing the before/after thoughts i think is engaging. i'm sure there are things that is improvable, or probably useful for my future enlightenment (many comments are often understood only when the moment clicks on another shot).

I'm not sure why so many said your photos are great.

Seriously, you should work on your composition. Tilted low angle shots don't work 99% of the time.

The Indian foto shop boss picked the laughing woman was because of the emotion, which most of the other fotos lacked; they look very dead and devoid of life. Pick the right subject and not let the subject pick you.

 

[zoossh]

I'm not sure why so many said your photos are great.

Seriously, you should work on your composition. Tilted low angle shots don't work 99% of the time.

The Indian foto shop boss picked the laughing woman was because of the emotion, which most of the other fotos lacked; they look very dead and devoid of life. Pick the right subject and not let the subject pick you.

points noted. elaboration are welcome.

but tilted low angle shots that dun work, please let me know which one so that i can review them. if you have good low angle shots that work, do give me a link too.

 

[asterixsg]

#67

i thought of posting this although the focus is off, as it cheers up the gloomy face of the indian boss in the printing shop when he saw this picture being printed out (later to be given to the tibetan women). he said very little in that 20 mins or so, but he uttered from his moustachy mouth and said "that is good" probably becos the laughing expression is most obvious as compared to the little shy smile from most other portraits.

in many places, amateur and inexperienced photographers like me will have to worry how to establish a comfortable approach without being too reserved, or being too intrusive. many times, we either fall too far ahead or too far behind that balance, and with every other fellow photographer or non-photographer we met, it gives me a dimension of how i am and what others see of that. it always take that night to think of how better to adapt that balance to my personality (different photographers have different personalities and the approaches can't be the same), and though difficult to come to admit of one's mistakes at once, through time, one will slowly smoothen out those undulations. i have to thank my fellow travel mate who does not want to be identified, for suggesting to print out the pictures locally and that cheers up a day for the women on the street, though we can't buy their vegetables and we can't cook. yah, i missed out some chances of photographing more portraits while printing and while i went around looking for local food to buy for the kids. but it was compensated a little for feeling that i have started out on doing something simple, neither requiring a big heart nor a deep pocket, and something i didn't do and isn't thinking of doing in my previous trips.

this photo speaks so much. lovely capture, zoossh. many of your photos leave me speechless. at the same time, i don't agree with some of the photos either. it doesnt matter, because what works for me, maynot work for someone else and vice versa.

i like your narrative too, because it gives one an idea of the thought process that went in while photographing a shot.

keep posting more photos. there's always something to learn for your work.