On a Rainy Day, a photo from Louangphabang, Nord

Photographer's Note

On my last day in Luang Prabang, it rained. Unsatisfied with my previous day's shots of the monks in their early morning rounds, I woke up early again and proceeded to the town center. I re-traced my steps the day before.

At around 9:00 a.m, it rained. I went to a sidewalk noodle shop and ate. I observed the locals passing by in front of me. I took some pictures. This was one of them. And for some unknown reason, this turned out to be one of my top favorites among all of my Luang Prabang shots. Maybe it was the context of this shot...the rain, the waiting, the desperation from my side because I was holed in on that noodle shop for 3 hours.

Then it was time to go back to my hotel. I had to be in the airport at 1:00. Flight will be at 2:00 pm. Luang Prabang is a place like no other. A few hours before my flight, I was still in the middle of the town taking pictures. No hassles, no hurry, no pressure. I REALLY love Luang Prabang.

carper, Galeota, pridel, cgrindahl, ChrisJ, timotey, phd94, Cool-ice, orme, Nottinghill, gilad33, jhonny_blue, katsuhiro, Jeppe, nwoehnl, maphoto, kikvel, elihesamian, ishai, naxius, jrj, RAP, mikhalych, cmartos, eleparc, Riz, randompics trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

carper (96) 2004-08-12 0:23

Great one Manuel,
Very good composition, well chosen for the sherpia, You did a great job again.

Galeota (10352) 2004-08-12 0:25

The woman's attitude seems so full of strength, and protective of the little girl whose eyes seem to reveal fear, like she was scared of something. There is such a complicity and tenderness between these two human beings. great shot.

phd94 (305) 2004-08-12 1:51

Toujours un oeil précis et efficace dans les scènes de la vie quotidienne.Techniquement bien réalisé.Félicitations.

Cool-ice (5289) 2004-08-12 1:59

A really GREAT photo for me. I am enthousiat because it's seldom that we can have two so deep eyes on the same image when we have two characters. And it's the case here. There is an incredible presence in this photo.
The sepia tone is the best choice here.
Just great, as I said !
Congratulations Manuel.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-08-12 2:34

Hi Manny, very good moment, they both don'r like the arain very much, but it indeed givesa the impression that there's more going on than just that rain. That little girl looks scared, and is hiding behind her ?mother's? back.
Is it possible that you add the aperture and shutterspeed in the info? It's sometimes a way to learn from other photographers, and I really like tpo learn from you.

orme (7219) 2004-08-12 2:47

It's a great photo, Manuel, because it really makes me feel for the mother and daughter - they look absolutely miserable and drenched through. You captured their expressions perfectly, as well as the rain. Beautifully framed - as always!

ChrisJ (172440) 2004-08-12 2:57

Good choice of sepia tone & b&w. Well composed & lit. A nice dual portrait that breaks the mould, by having one subject partially obcsured by the other.

avis2avis (4264) 2004-08-12 3:04

Wow this is a really high quality image Manny! Looks like a still from a documentary film. Good choice of sepia, excellent DoF, superb framing... super shot :)

RGatward (20108) 2004-08-12 3:06

Maybe it was the expression in the half hidden girls face that gives it the edge you like. That's certainly what makes it for me.

Nottinghill (1089) 2004-08-12 3:12

I can really feel the rain there. Outstanding job. Congratulations

maciekda (19895) 2004-08-12 3:16

very good picture Manny, great moment - very natural scene. very interesting post-processing. good composition too. one wish - i'd like to see both eyes of the girl. anyway, good work

cyril (2748) 2004-08-12 3:19

Hi Manuel,
This shot is really good.
You have captured a scene with lots of emotions.
The DOF is great since the background don't disturb the subject.
The B&W is a good choice. It seems to emphasize the expressions.
Cyril

elroyie (2750) 2004-08-12 3:32

Great capture with very good face expressions on both of them.

pridel (233) 2004-08-12 3:38

Manuel, superbe photo, j'aime beaucoup la texture de la photo et la lumière presque irréelle. la petite fille derrière a un regard inquiet alors que la femme semble sourire. c'est une très belle scène de rue.
Félicitations
Pascal
pts later

gilad33 (14433) 2004-08-12 3:52

Woderful capture, you caught a magical moment. The look in the girl eyes is very strong, tells a story that looking at the picture is like listening to a good poem.

Brilliant work

ma-tibou (4568) 2004-08-12 4:04

très belle scène de la vie ordinaire, le choix du sépia est très bien vue. Une très bonne composition Bravo Manuel, joli regard comme d'habitude.
Amitiés.

timotey (119) 2004-08-12 4:48

Great shot of a scene full of feeling. A depth of field perfectly choosen to focus on the subjects, an amazing contrast revealing each detail of this woman and is daughter, a B&W choice increasing the dramatical aspect and an exposure time catching each rain dot (like that one falling at the left of the umbrella). Beautiful and well done !

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-08-12 5:47

Simply wonderful picture !
The sepia choice and the drops are amazing.
Fantastic Manny !
Very well done !

katsuhiro (479) 2004-08-12 6:11

Great picture with perfect DoF. Also the sepia tones work very well. Well done!

jrzufferey (7305) 2004-08-12 11:48

Tu as fait u choix judicieux pour cette image, le sépia convient à merveille et le sujet est très beau et bien contrasté.Ciao/jr

waysai (611) 2004-08-12 12:40

This is live from Luang Prabang. Intensity amid heavy cats & dogs rain. You have captured a great life here.

Jeppe (18654) 2004-08-12 13:35

That umbrella surely looks special - almost in 3D on my sceen - I like the portraits and faces of that pair - I can understand why this amoung you favorites - I like the wet look as well - thanks Manuel.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-08-12 14:38

Great scene, Manny - the posing of the two people in the pouring rain is well caught, and the almost grotesquely small umbrella adds a slightly humorous touch I think. The splashing water is well rendered and the sepia treatment looks fine.

ephemere33 (9743) 2004-08-12 17:40

oups !!! il pleut aussi en Asie, c'est la catastrophe pour cette personne portant son bois pour le repas je suppose...heureusement que sa fille est là pour l'aider...l'air tout a fait inquiet...tu as capturé son espression au bon moment manny....belle composition comme toujours...merci pour le partage...amicalement BI

maphoto (8082) 2004-08-12 23:04

Very beautiful sepia composition, great capture of this moment, they have such a nice expression and you've done a great work to obtain this result, congratulations Manuel.

saparot (1861) 2004-08-12 23:23

Even under the rain you make beautiful photo ...

cgrindahl (6113) 2004-08-13 1:46

Each time I've started to write a critique of this image I've become distracted by something. I definitely want to echo the sentiments expressed by others who see the beauty in this distinctive image. I understand the rains like this are very much a part of people's lives in the Far East and that life must go on. Here two women drenched by the rain, maintain the illusion that the umbrella with its distinctive fringe is going to protect them from the downpour. You had the good sense to stay indoors, but they must go on with their business. As Gal says, there is determination here.

Sepia is fine and your tight composition works well. I appreciate that you include some space above the umbrealla so that we can see the rain falling down. Very fine work Manny.

Eagle78 (1933) 2004-08-13 10:04

Wow! This is a pure art job....

dsolano (67) 2004-08-13 13:36

What a beautiful picture !!! I found it browsing your photos and I think is a piece of art.. thank you very much for sharing this one with us.. (adding a new favorite !!)

harold (2377) 2004-08-13 14:28

Un très beau portait Manuel, couleur sépia, très bien choisie. Bravo,les visages sont très expressifs.

kikvel (4784) 2004-08-13 21:44

Manu:

WOW!!! what a lovely couple all wet!!!

nice capture, I can not say much but I like this very much!

K.

elihesamian (26149) 2004-08-15 9:09

Admirable shot,a special moment you captured,unique shot really,like a frame from a movie,but it's real,well done,Manuel!You did great and this tones colors are very fine for this subject,Excellent,Manuel.
Yours Truly
Mohammad

ishai (4097) 2004-08-15 15:06

Manuel
The composition of this picture is wonderful
The raindrops and the sepia color choice
The expressions in there eyes tells the almost the whole story.( I wonder what the both women are looking at ?)
The way the young women holds the umbrella
Many I suggest you go back to the noodles shop and stay there for at least a week the noodles are very very good for your already perfect picture
Well done and good capture

shihwei (238) 2004-08-17 0:24

Simply wonderful.

naxius (16685) 2004-08-17 3:16

Strong composition enforced with sepia mode. This is a really nice shot Manuel. I do like it.
Alexandre

jrj (34843) 2004-08-18 14:27

Very good Manny - rich with details, fine scene, well done post work. Very good.

RAP (1053) 2004-08-19 15:21

Otra conmovedora imagen Manuel.
Oportuna, nitida, impactante por la expresion de los rostros.
La eleccion del sepia es excelente.
Bravo!

Another stirring image Manuel.
Opportune, clear, impressive by the expression of the faces.
The election of the sepia is excellent.
Bravo!

mikhalych (1319) 2004-08-20 5:01

Great capture, Manuel. They have work to do and the only thing to protect them from that rain is one small umbrella.
I wonder how it looks in color.

eleparc (24063) 2004-08-22 4:45

manny this one is an exceptional shot. i love it thoroughly...;-) i am just checking TE rapidly before leaving to dehli tomorrow.. more after next friday when i return...

bravo my friend for this spot on shot!!!

Eric

kaychambers (1198) 2004-08-24 2:57

Hello Manuel

Your sepia toning choice works well here. The detail of the umbrella stands out beautifully and one feels that the subjects have a sense of urgency to reach home.

Well done Sir,

All best

Vic, Singapore.

OOPS, points L8R

cmartos (242) 2004-08-26 4:32

I come late, I know...But what a really fantastic shot. Unique expressions, wonderful composition and the rain effect is so well captured. Nice, very nice sepia processing too. This is a masterpiece to me Manuel!

Luko (14000) 2004-09-03 12:18

a few minutes ago I was daydreaming about the monsoon on clodreno's image. This is another monsoon daydream...Dunno where you got your tones from but it's lovely and so well suited with LP's atmosphere.

I do too love Luang Prabang!

scalerman (26900) 2004-11-26 15:49

it's a great town. i want to go back. I think your use of sepia worked great for this shot - very touching.

cloverstar (0) 2005-01-16 22:30

Sometimes, rainy days have their advantage. Without such days, this wonderful photo wouldn't have been possible. Great composition Manny. I like the low point of view. Perhaps you were still sitting at the table for this shot. Very nice tones on the sepia. Not too dark. I like the raindrops, especially the ones dripping from the bottom of the basket.

dumaresq_ca (1892) 2005-06-05 14:34