Patience Diptych - Holga

[Herriot]

Trying something a little different with a couple of new prints. The contrast between the two related images (from Thailand) led me to piece them together but perhaps they may have worked better separately?? Any comments would be gratefuly received, as always,

Many thanks
Herriot

[mtbbrian]

Interesting!
It's wonderful contrast for sure, showing the complete and incomplete Buddha
How far apart where these taken anyway?
Great photograph!
Tell me more about how you thought about it. please.
:thumbsup:
Brian

[Herriot]

Thanks Brian, the two images were taken just minutes apart from each other just as a storm was threatening to appear...the buddah on the left is 45 metres high and 25 metres across at the base (if you look closely there are a couple of figures on the scaffolding to be spotted) while the other one is 12 metres high and made of 22 tonnes of brass.

I put the two together as the incomplete structure appears to be in a state of unrest and the scene is a lot darker overall, the scaffolding over the mouth of the buddah also suggested to me that the figure is almost muted or censored and set in an environment where the immediate outlook is one that is bleak and challenging. The golden structure against the partially blue skies with a fully visible face suggests a sense of peace and calm that the other can only hope to achieve given time and patience.

Now...if you want to take it one step further, you could draw reference to the current political situation in Thailand (where the People's Alliance for Democracy have occupied a central government complex for weeks, demanding the government's resignation and last week there was rioting where two protestors were killed) note the yellow drape on the front of the scaffolding, the colour that symbolises devotion to the world's longest reigning monarch who ultimately will determine how the county's political situation will unfold with the golden buddah being the completed process / the peaceful and intended outcome (or at least the hope for it!)

Does that help??!

[gahspidy]

Interesting political background to the shots. I think each can stand well on it's own as they are both nicely composed and have interesting perspectives as well as light leaks out of the holga. I do think they were well in this diptych also. The different weather appearances offer some compliment and reference to it's particular subject. The gloom sky over the renovation in progress, and the cheery blue sky over the content and beautiful brass subject.
very cool, Herriot

[mtbbrian]

Just a suggestion, especially if these two frames are adjacent in the camera.
Try scanning the two frames together, assuming you scanner can scan two 6x6 frames.
I do my diptychs that.
It does require a little more fore thought, but I think it has a better look and is easier to do than having to piece things together in PS.
Glad to see you're still shooting with your Holga!!
:thumbsup:
Brian

[Greg McCary]

Nice work Herriot. I agree that they are both very strong images and could easily stand on their own or together. The Holga certainly adds that extra something that works. I would not argue a bit if you hung them in my house. Very good.

[Herriot]

Gary, Greg, many thanks for your comments and I am glad that you liked the images and saw the motive to put the two together.

Brian, thanks again for your input, I think my scanner identifies the images as separate images whenever I try and scan two prints in parallel, thus giving me two separate output files. Can you help me to understand why they look better if they are scanned at the same time, am sure you are right but I am not sure what the difference would (or should) be?? Many thanks again.

[Dylan8i]

for me, i think the fact that both photos are taken at such extreme angles, looking up. it takes away alittle bit from the pair. granted their probbably wasn't much else you could do with a holga.