Timeless Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

This woman has to be one of the most photographed on the site. She even has her own theme here on TE- The Famous Bayon Woman and rightly so. She has an extraordinary demeanor, especially towards tourists, and is extraordinarily nice. She prays at the top of The Bayon in the Angkor Thom complex. She is always there, at least was when I visited, and is always smiling. I have seen pictures of this woman for years and I do have to say that she is as timeless as the temples themselves. A part of them now. She will always be known as the Nun of the Bayon. Famous all over the world yet she does not know it. If you see her stop and smile, she will probably invite you up (this is at the top of the temple, probably considered the fourth floor and the window she is sitting in is a circular room in the center tower). "The closest room to heaven" as she put it. She is the kind of person that turns a "trip to Cambodia" into an "experience in Cambodia". Simply timeless.

There are some great photos of her in the theme (and around the internet) and I did my best to add mine. For all those interested, although it has been six months now, she is as healthy as ever and in great spirits. Hope you like it.

John

Note: if anyone is visiting in the near future, I'm sure printing some of these photos out for her would bring a smile to an already happy face.

crisnique, daniwidjaja1, orme, richwm, InasiaJones, axiotea, leo61, hattori trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

siolaw (25800) 2007-06-22 1:57

Hi John,
A famous woman in a famous spot, but you framed her well in the window on a dark BG and she gave you one of her best smiles! Good contrast between the bright woman and darker rest of image
TFS
Laurent

crisnique (857) 2007-06-22 2:10

Hi John,
Very nice portrait. Perfect frame and good natural behaviour of the Bayon woman. She is really great!
Cristian

grantlp (2104) 2007-06-22 2:59

Hi John,
I like the image because of the simplistic colours...black, white and grey....with the obvous focus on the old woman dressed in white. Composition is simple with the woman perfectly positioned in the frame, and I also find that the texture and varying tones in the building add nice detail to the overall effect.
Cheers Grant
PS. Thanks for all your time and comments to my photos. I have been playing around with some of the sky...mostly where it was burnt out, but very obviously I did not do a good job. I am now going to work that to improve. I [probabaly also need to upgrade to an SLR camera.

ohe (2332) 2007-06-22 3:25

Dear John,
Very nice shot !! Framing & POV are very well chosen.
The B&W frame you've created around the picture is very appropriate.
Thanks for sharing,
- Olivier -

daniwidjaja1 (29) 2007-06-22 4:43

Nice shot John! The framing is wonderful, especially that she wears a white dress, very contrast to the surrounding atmosphere. The simple composition makes me focused on the main object

mphotographies (1976) 2007-06-22 6:43

Hey John,

I see a different 'happy' feeling inside this woman, I'll print and give this photo myself! Great framing, her white outfit gives a perfect strong contrast on the black background. Simple, clean and yes timeless!

Have A Great One my friend!

Jom

orme (6746) 2007-06-22 9:57

Thank you John for introducing me to this great theme.
The black background contrasts beautifully with the nun's white hair and clothes.
I also like the lovely warm smile you have captured here.

cam (8880) 2007-06-22 12:04

Hi john
Thanks for introducing me to this woman,rarely one person is so known,in a so unglamory way.She is not an actress,neither a diplomat or any other such person that attracts the attention to them.She does it with a smile and kindness.
They say that a smile is the shortess distance between two persons ...
As to the photo,good framing in this natural frame from the window.The light is well managed.I noted an overall simplicity to the compo.which suits well the lady.
Have a good day
Charles

batalay (21116) 2007-06-22 17:46

Hello John,

The genre putting a woman on the corner of a window appears to be discovered independently in diffent places and different times, and always with dramatic results. One of the classics is a painting in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Murillo's Two Women in Window. And on the pages of Trekearth, i've seen it several times. Accordingly, your photo and note resonates with the theme as well.

Warm regards,
Bulent

Dpbours (220) 2007-06-22 22:32

Hi John,

That is just so funny to see that this woman has her own theme! And not just one, even two themes! Haha, with so many people taking pictures of her, we will be well informed on her life :-).
I like your shot, because it has a lot to see around her, but it is not distracting from her! It gives a little hint of the environment around her, but it is still a portrait I feel. Very nice and subtle tones. Nice shot!

Have a good weekend!
Dennis

asival (4285) 2007-06-23 1:06

Hi John

Nice frame within a frame technique and very good composition, I really liked the expression on the women face, it brings some happiness to he scene

GJ

Assi

SteveH (3967) 2007-06-23 1:24

Hi John, Nicely framed shot of this famous face. It may be my eyes, or the size of the image, but it looks as if she is a little OOF. Great shot nevertheless. Cheers, Steve

richwm (1209) 2007-06-23 15:13

Hi John,

Terrific shot of this famous Bayon lady. Regarding your reply to Steve H, I'm glad you didn't decide to crop out the stone doorway to leave her sitting infront of a plain black background. As good an image as I'm sure it would have been, I can't help feeling that seeing her so elegantly posed in the doorway, naturally framed by the beautiful stonework - you've got to have made the right decision to leave it in. Great composition, great colours and a wonderful note you've written in dedication to this incredible lady!

Oh, before I go: What is it you usually write in your critiques for my photos just as you're about to finish? Generally something along the lines of "...seen an image just like yours on TE posted yesterday"... well John, I think you've gone one better than me since you've found a whole theme of photos to compare to yours!!! ;)

Seriously though, it's a terrific photo, well done!

Regards,

Rich

InasiaJones (20685) 2007-06-26 0:17

Hi John,

How could I’ve miss this one!

So you’ve been invited to her appartment as well... Was it an experience next to heaven?

Excellent composition my dear friend, of this adorable and professional model (after all these years, she certainly knows how to behave in front of a camera..). You’ve done a perfect job, using the window to frame her and to present the context where she’s "working/praying/modelling".

You have realized a different version from those in the theme, and it’s interesting to see how every Trekkers have came out with their own interpretation of this famous figure.

Minimal surrounding colors for optimal impact of her face.

Welcome to the Bayon Nun’s Club!

André

axiotea (16221) 2007-07-03 23:00

Hi John
A good addition to the theme of the famous and smiling Nun !
She is naturally framed between the large window and contrasts well against the dark BG. Fine texture of the old stones.
Cheers
Marilyn

jaywalker (12248) 2007-07-04 14:19

Hi John, A wonderful portrait & superb framing, the sharp focus is excellent & the black background perfect, highlighting your brilliant subject, first class composition, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

lucinka (9920) 2007-07-05 9:09

Hello John, even though this lady appears often here on TE, you've captured her in really lovely composition. I like the title of your photo as it could be indeed taken in any time, today, tomorrow, 100 years ago. Wonderful work. Lucie

PS: as for Pakistan trip... we didn't know you wanted to go :-)

leo61 (43494) 2007-07-06 22:30

Hi John!
In about five month I`ll see her again at my second visit of this fantastic place.
This is a very well composed image with the nun framed by these old stones.Perfect placement ,great contrast and I like her expression.
Regards,Leo

hattori (2) 2007-07-08 1:31

dear john,
never mind being one of the most photographed woman on the site
impressive photo and great composition with interesting note
best regards from turkey
nezih

note: when i see your frame titled "Flag of Honor" i just remember my WTC shot please check Istanbul's soul in the heart of WTC

dilane (10289) 2007-07-25 1:57

Hello John,
j'aime beaucoup cette photo toute dans les tons blanc, gris, noir. elle n'est pas sans me rappeler ma photo faite en Inde intitulée "le temps...qui passe",non par les couleurs, mais par la même position de la personne photographiée. Là, le visage est souriant...ce n'est pas toujours le cas -
good shot
amitiés
daniel
...

daisydaisy (255) 2007-08-19 7:37