A Kashmiri Girl, a photo from Jammu and Kashmir, Nord

Photographer's Note

This picture was taken on the Dal Lake in Srinagar. November is late autumn in Kashmir and, while days can still be warm and pleasant, nights are definitely on the chilly side. To cope with cold, Kashmiris always carry small baskets filled with burning charcoal under their long Kashmiri gowns known as pheran. They call these heaters “winter husband” or “winter wife”. You can see one such basket in front of the girl.

Cropped, sharpened, increased saturation

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Critiques | Translate

gringofil (0) 2004-04-01 1:12

This is terrific! Somehow I wish that you had a better scan of this image to get more details out there, but given what you've posted this is still an incredible image. The position of the girl on the boat with the houses in the background works really well. I like that there are the same tones throughout the image make it easier to read. In all aspects a wonderful shot. Well done!

eleparc (24063) 2004-04-01 1:38

thank you for the note. I like the DOF and the sharp focus on the girl, and the blurred water and buildings around and back. However, I get lost in the overall picture and have to look for the girl.. IMO the frame is too wide adn a tighter crop would allow better legibility. only my opinion ! nice shot

piozac (2065) 2004-04-01 2:14

Oj Pani Joanno... piękne zdjęcie nam pani z rana zaserwowała (przynajmniej w Krakowie jest rano). Co tu dużo pisać. Ta oświetlona buźka jest rewelacyjna, kompozycja również bardzo ciekawa. Super!!!
Pozdrawiam serdecznie.

joso (2417) 2004-04-01 2:25

Even more I look to it even more I like it.
On the first look, a bit confused. But there are details, that matches perfectly each other. The diagonal wooden piece(the only one), pointing the girl, and the horizontal line of the two boats, going exactly to their level. The only red touch in the photo, the basket. The very good DOF, the sharp focus on the girl.
I rather saw a photo where are so many possibilities for cropping, for different composition.
The only thing - not important - I'd like to have also her head in the reflection

spence (65) 2004-04-01 2:27

Very beautiful shot Joanna - well done! There's a lot to take in but it's all interesting. The girl's expression is compelling and you've created a powerful photograph.

paguru (1056) 2004-04-01 3:29

Very strong image! I like how you keep the distance to the girl. There is a very good harmony in the colors, with the colorful basket attracting the eye.

maciekda (19895) 2004-04-01 3:58

wow! wonderful! i love it! sucha great shot, the girl in the boat and her expression - only this in focus, the rest blurred - great DOF. there is so much in this picture, the frame is wonderfully filled, excellent!

zatkalo mnie :)

RGatward (20108) 2004-04-01 4:02

Earlier critiques have said it all, but have the points, great shot.

manny (22032) 2004-04-01 9:26

Such a great picture. Your composition is beautiful, the DOF is just right and the colors are all in harmony. This looks almost like a painting. IMHO, a tighter crop on top might draw us more to the girl. Truly WONDERFUL!

lukasfoto (3078) 2004-04-01 10:24

to dopiero klasyka! fotka rodem z NG... gratuluje! :)

clodreno (0) 2004-04-01 10:55

I do like her look, very well seen Joanna.
I love the place.. Dal lake is such a wonderul place.
Nice reflections too.

touristdidi (8583) 2004-04-01 11:47

everything is fantastic, the colors, the scenery, the girls face, the reflections, the explanation, just wonderful!!!!

carper (96) 2004-04-01 11:50

Great photo Joanna,

It's very good, with a perfect composition, the child's face is very nice, the colours are good too, very well done, with my compliments, bravo

dib (277) 2004-04-02 1:51

Superbe moment de vie capté avec un super regard, belle couleurs et belles émotions

summer89 (5422) 2004-04-03 4:23

Wonderfull poto, Joana. What more to wrote...
It's a favorite

Very well done

ianmcall (1213) 2004-04-03 6:06

Lovely light falling on her boat, nice reflections and a haunting expression. Well seen.

bfly (5775) 2004-04-04 7:44

Dear Joanna, this is a great picture..
All the crowded scene is in fact what India was for me (I almost have no pics from my India trip as I had my luggage lost on the way back)...I really love detailed portraits and clean compositions I see here in TE but for me this pic has the soul of North...her expression is nervous but I also agree with you that they are the most kind and polite people..as if they celebrate life in spite of all happening around them..
thanks :)

hantulaut (3441) 2004-04-04 9:15

very naturall shot. But, in my opinion, i preffered the you should controlled the background efectively. The girl didnt become single attention, because the BG pretty noise. Just an advices.

fanel (276) 2004-04-14 9:48

Beautiful picture Joanna! Even if the picture is a little bit crowded with so many details - you still have a good subject that stands out. Well composed! I wish I could see her eyes better, but considering her look, for sure she didn't feel comfortable posing for you! Good job capturing the atmosphere of the place.

sohrab (7439) 2004-05-20 16:55

hi joanna i just received your critique , i hadnt heard of you before so i decided on checking out your photographs. this one is really nice. the look on her face is very captivating. if she had been smiling, it would have been the usual cliched tourist photograph. however this one is really good. so good that it reminds me of a photograph which i saw in the national geographic issue of jan 1992, im not very sure about the date but ill check up and get back to you on that.however im sending you the online link to the photograph right now. youll love the other photogrpahs as well especially the ones on india. take care :)

this photogrpah should be a compliment to you by itself.
http://stevemccurry.com/galleries/kashmir/kashmirFS.html

ChrisJ (172372) 2004-05-29 3:46

Superb reflections

Eagle78 (1933) 2004-05-31 17:49

wow...what an amazing image Joanna!! Wonderful painting...The focus on the girl really makes a fantastic environment! The reaflexions create a strange but stunning atmosphere..great, great work, well done Joanna:)

bend1k (934) 2005-07-13 23:08

Good composition and great colors. I think if you manual focused to infinity, the background would have been sharper too and make it better

pedritos (23) 2005-11-12 19:14

hi Joanna,

This portrait have a good perspective and a good color, and a great POV, hugs pedrito

Albrecht (11283) 2006-09-14 8:36

Hi Joanna
mpressive picture;the way the girl looks tells a lot of her life I guess. Interesting and amazing surrounding.
greetings Albrecht

colinbrenchley (6431) 2007-07-13 4:39

Joanna
I like the general composition and colours of this immage. The soft focus on the background making the main subject stand out. The lighting also helped here in producing a good image
Regards Colin

Hednaskald (149) 2008-02-20 10:04

This is one of the best pictures I've seen on TE as of yet. So many different elements to look at, every time I look at it, I see something new, something I hadn't seen before.

asl (445) 2009-08-10 5:56

Hello Joanna!
I just wanted to say that I came across your photo because it was exhibited on TE's home page and it left me absolutely speechless. It is beautiful and yet reveals an aspect of life that is complicated and harsh! Her expression is powerful! exactly what TE is all about if I understand it correctly! thanks for sharing!

mightyweed (1292) 2011-06-12 15:16

This is a great photo and a very interesting description...from the distance it looks like a tapestry...

photographydoc (92) 2012-02-26 20:15

Hi Joanna, this is truly a beautiful shot that shows full emotion of the surroundings and the way of life that little girl lives in this rural small village. I love the deep contrast and deep colours of the scene. And how you manage to capture the girl in sharpness, very good document shot that tells a story when being viewed upon, well done.