Storekeeper and Old Friend

[yogestee]

This image was shot on the Lao/Cambodian border a few years ago..The guy on the right is a storekeeper in a small village with his old friend..Shot under available light from the left..I had to "bribe" these guys with cigarettes to sit for this portrait..
Shot on film,,negative scanned..

Nikon 801s/Nikkor 35-105 f3.5-4.5 AIS
30th sec@f3.5
Fuji Superia 200

Jurgen
Australia

[photophorous]

Hi Jurgen,

I'm a fan of your street portraits. I like this shot too, but it lacks something compared to your others. It's almost like two separate portraits that where combined. Nothing about either guy indicates that they're friends. The way the guy on the right is sitting, he appears to be eager to get the photo over with, like he's busy or something. Maybe I just think that because you said you had to bribe them.

With that said, I still think this is an interesting shot that made me stop and think about who these guys are and what they're up to. I just don't think it's your best.

Paul

[J-Dogg Productions]

haha thats pretty funny is that whats hes holding? but any way this shot is really good its so clear and crisp its hard to tell you scanned the film looks digital

jay

[Ronnoco]

Unfortunately when you pay or bribe someone in a foreign country to take their photo, you get too much of an artificial, posed look.

Ronnoco

[yogestee]

haha thats pretty funny is that whats hes holding? but any way this shot is really good its so clear and crisp its hard to tell you scanned the film looks digital

jay

For some strange reason just before I took this image the storekeeper grabbed a packet which to me looked like bulk packet of chewing gum,,,,I guess he was trying to tell whoever viewed this image that he IS the store owner..

Ronnoco,,if I would have bribed them or not the image would have looked posed..These people live in a very isolated region in Laos where tourism just doesn't exist (tourism is in its infancy in Laos) and falang (foreigners) just don't drop by...Also there was a language barrier,,,they didn't speak English and my Lao is worse..

Jurgen

[yogestee]

but any way this shot is really good its so clear and crisp its hard to tell you scanned the film looks digital

jay

Jay,,,I put the scanned image through this nifty noise reduction programme I downloaded for free..

Jurgen

[J-Dogg Productions]

well it works good lol whats it called i use a plug in for photoshop called noise ninja it seems to work ok

[Ronnoco]

Ronnoco,,if I would have bribed them or not the image would have looked posed..These people live in a very isolated region in Laos where tourism just doesn't exist (tourism is in its infancy in Laos) and falang (foreigners) just don't drop by...Also there was a language barrier,,,they didn't speak English and my Lao is worse..

Jurgen

Does street_journalistic photography work in Laos....as in you shoot first and bribe later?
It would seem that a more natural look may be worth the effort.

Ronnoco

[yogestee]

Does street_journalistic photography work in Laos....as in you shoot first and bribe later?
It would seem that a more natural look may be worth the effort.

Ronnoco

The Lao and the Khmer are pretty relaxed at having a camera pointed at them..Especially in Laos where tourism hasn't caught on..Vietnam is an entirely different prospect..The Vietnamese are aware of the tourist Dollar and will insist they get payment if photographed..

I normally don't bribe or give payment...I prefer candid shots...People going about their business..

One or two of the ethnic groups in Northern Laos are very camera shy,,,,it is a cultural not monetary thing..

Jurgen

[MarcusK]

I been looking at this photo over and over again, and here's my input:

1- I would have like to have the left leg IN the shot and not cropped out....

2- Artificial? on the contrary... this is as REAL as it gets... it would have been artificial if it were shot in the US or UK or...you get the drift... but
A- Going to these countries....
B- The subjects being as old as these two
C- Old and from these countries

This is how they do it... these are the shots that give the best and truest expressions... Have you taken a photo of a very old man from a village anywhwere in the world? They are still nostalgic about the good old days when there was no such technology.....So when you ask them permission to take their picture this is how they sit.... Staring and posing at the camera.

I think this image captures the essence of the people of the area, and mainly the elderly...

Other than the cut leg... :thumbsup: great shot!
Marc

[yogestee]

I been looking at this photo over and over again, and here's my input:

1- I would have like to have the left leg IN the shot and not cropped out....

2- Artificial? on the contrary... this is as REAL as it gets... it would have been artificial if it were shot in the US or UK or...you get the drift... but
A- Going to these countries....
B- The subjects being as old as these two
C- Old and from these countries

This is how they do it... these are the shots that give the best and truest expressions... Have you taken a photo of a very old man from a village anywhwere in the world? They are still nostalgic about the good old days when there was no such technology.....So when you ask them permission to take their picture this is how they sit.... Staring and posing at the camera.

I think this image captures the essence of the people of the area, and mainly the elderly...

Other than the cut leg... :thumbsup: great shot!
Marc

Thanks Marc,,,,here is an image of an old man taken in Siem Reap in Central Cambodia...Reputedly he is 108 years old...In the town he is simply known as "Uncle"..Look through his eyes,,imagine what he has seen and experienced...He would have survived through the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 70's...

Jurgen

[gahspidy]

I agree, great except for the cut off leg. But it does not kill the shot. Yes, it looks posed, but not artificial. Their "look" is one of that a photograph is to be taken seriously, and that is the cultural issue coming out. Besides these two being interesting loking characters to begin with, the stiff poses makes it all that much more interesting and somehow revealing.
Lighting was very good. Good work

[MarcusK]

Well Jurgen,

I believe if i crossed by this man, i would call him uncle too.... But that's the way it was for me growing up..... any old man i pass by i had to say hello uncle....

Love the expression on his face!
Marc

[Greg McCary]

Jurgen,
Even though this is a very posed shot I still like it. It gives one a glimps of life in another part of the world. This looks like something out of a Vietnam movie. I think this is a great picture and if you hadn't told me the story behind it. it would have an element of mystery to it as well. Nice work again.
Greg

[yogestee]

Thanks Greg.
Marcus,,,In Asia the elderly are held with such respect almost to a point of bewilderment..They don't allow their elderly to fade away in nursing homes (I doubt nursing homes exist)..The elderly are productive until the day they die...In most cultures the grandparents are the ones who pass their skills onto their grandchildren..Grandfather teaches the grandson how to fish,work wood etc..The grandmother teaches the granddaughter to cook,tend the vegetable garden etc,,and so the cycle continues..This is also common in some European cultures...Now I ask you,,who has got it right??
Gary,,,go into any home in Laos or any part of SE Asia and check out their portraits hanging on their walls...All are very posed almost to a point of being stiff...I guess its all to do with dignity..Yes they do take having their photograph very seriously..

Jurgen

[MarcusK]

Thanks Greg.
Marcus,,,In Asia the elderly are held with such respect almost to a point of bewilderment..They don't allow their elderly to fade away in nursing homes (I doubt nursing homes exist)..The elderly are productive until the day they die...In most cultures the grandparents are the ones who pass their skills onto their grandchildren..Grandfather teaches the grandson how to fish,work wood etc..The grandmother teaches the granddaughter to cook,tend the vegetable garden etc,,and so the cycle continues..This is also common in some European cultures...Now I ask you,,who has got it right??
Gary,,,go into any home in Laos or any part of SE Asia and check out their portraits hanging on their walls...All are very posed almost to a point of being stiff...I guess its all to do with dignity..Yes they do take having their photograph very seriously..

Jurgen

Jurgen, i would personally go with my own "asiatic" uppringing... As you said, it is not as much of they keep their elderly and take care of them as much as it is, the elderly stay up on their feet and active...I am reminded of Dylan Thomas: "Do Not go gentle into that good night....Rage rage against the dying of the light" pretty much sums the attitude of said people... In a way, you could say they take pride in living...
Marc