Fiji

Was recently in Fiji on research and used the opportunity to do some photography.
The first three photos are from the big Hindu temple in Nadi. The old man with the leafblower originally had another geezer standing off to the right, totally breaking the composition - thanks, Photoshop.
The photo of the hands was a candid shot on my island, Viwa - the little girl was actually trying to burn the old man's hands with a makeshift magnifying glass (A fanta bottle hald full of water).

Interesting shots: I like the third one down the best, though I wish his face was better illuminated. Attached is a crop that tries to pull the viewer more towards the face rather than the fire (which is understandable, since we tend to look at bright colors first, esp red). The top two pix - whewieeeeee - those colors almost blind me! I think I could look at those for 10 years and still be blinded every time - is that the way that Fuji buildings are painted? They sure aren't conservative. The fourth pic down is also quite nice.

- Gb

Lovely pics! I love the first one, talk about the clash of civilizations (leaf blower, technology/Fiji settings). Lovely colors in all the pictures and good shooting!

Must be a beautiful place to shoot,

Jared

Thanks for your replies!

GB1 - I have thought about a tighter crop on that fire one - it is a tough one as I guess I want to have attention drawn to his face but still keep the whole frame and his shirt - will have to think about it for next time I reckon. I do a lot of firedancing so it is easy to practice taking shots of people illuminated by fire :)
The colours in the other two pics ARE pretty wild - Fiji is about 45% Indian (introduced by the British to harvest sugarcane), and this was at a big hindu temple in Nadi (Go for a walk around the countryside and you would swear you are in southern India, not the South Pacific!). Very beautiful, all handpainted and handcarved. Check out this photo of the temple roof - I was kicking myself for leaving my telephoto behind but was trying not to look like TOO much of a tourist!

jar_e - I love the old man photo too for exactly those reasons - old vs. new, the invasiveness of consumerism (aren't leafblowers one of the more unnecessary of the gardening tools?).
Below is the original, I htought the photo was ruined 'til I remembered that clone stamp tool! Yay photoshop!

These rendered me speechless.
My husband is Indian, hailing from Suva, Fiji. His grandma was born in RikiRiki. My husbands cousin is doctor, and professor there. I have yet to go, and I hear so many stories, but your pictures just brought all of what I have been imagining to life.
Technically and compositionally- I think these are really great- nice photoshopping work as well :)
Rebekah
VillenaDeCorte

[QUOTE=jackthegreenrat] The old man with the leafblower originally had another geezer standing off to the right, totally breaking the composition - thanks, Photoshop.
QUOTE]

We (I do anyway...), about clonning stuff out!
:rolleyes: :D :p ;)
We really don't, but it is a "pet peeve" of mine..
I am glad you at least told us you did that.
My question to you is why didn't you wait until the second guy left? Or ask him to leave?
Something?

Anyway...
I like the second photograph the best. It has great color and shows a lot about the culture there. You are very lucky to travel to such an exotic place.
Thanks for sharring!
Brian

I love the first of the old man but I would like to see the cable from the leafblower restored.
Tom

I understand how you feel about cloning - normally I feel the same way, that it is cheating somehow. Kinda makes you wonder a little about all those amazing newpaper photos you see too, huh? I I am currently having an ethical dilemma about things like cloning...
In this case, however...well...part of me just wanted to see if I COULD do it!
In a perfect world I would have asked the second guy to leave, but...He was REALLY keen to be in the photo, and I am not used to taking photos of people so much yet so didn't have the heart to ask him to get out of the frame! Next time I will have more backbone though.
Also Overbeyond - I think you might be onto something about the cable. Maybe it would help draw the eye towards the leafblower? Will have to have a look and see what I can do.

VillenaDeCorte! Fiji is amazing!You should DEFINITELY go there as soon as you can. I only had the chance to go from Nadi-Suva and then to Viwa island (near Bau on the East Coast) - but I plan to go back soon and see some of the other islands. Suva is in a beautiful spot, but rather ruined by all the air pollution...

The others are great, particularly the temple.
But for me the best image is #4, the hands.