Gone Fishing, a photo from Zanzibar, East

Photographer's Note

This is a traditional Dhow leaving the northern tip of the Island of Zanzibar at the afternoon high tide. This elegant and (if I may say so) photogenic ship is still heavily relied on along the East-African Swahili coast as a means of transportation as well as a fishing boat. The fishing fleet leaves in the afternoon sets the nets after dark. The fishermen sleep on the boat to return with their catch by the break of dawn.

I'm wondering whether the dhow itself takes up too little of the frame, but I like the strong perspective created by the breaking wave in the foreground too much to crop it.

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Critiques | Translate

susana (53) 2004-01-25 15:08

I like your picture as it is. The breaking wave on the foreground has a beautiful shape, it gives the feeling it will come out of the picture and splash on us. I also like the gradation of blues in here. Nevertheless, I'd say the horizon seems to slightly lean on the left..and i would have liked to see less blur in here, more sharpness..all this blue desearves it. What a beautiful shape this Dhow has

[3]

Vagabond (5848) 2004-01-25 16:07

Very nice composition with our sight leaping from the breaking wave to the elegant boat, all in turquoise tones. A slight tilt CCW does not damage the picture. Congratulations ..

mrcrow (3993) 2004-01-25 16:10

the waves just lift this shot of the dhow and give it life.
nice grades of sea colours blending with the sky

whereami (1477) 2004-01-25 20:02

I love the colours in this shot. I think the vertical composition is well used here and the subject is very interesting. A very warm feeling - just what I need today!

Liora (1857) 2004-01-25 22:06

Beautiful postcard! I like your composition as is - the wave in the front adds motion and perspective. Great colors.

Luko (14000) 2004-01-26 11:18

Miks, there's something that bothers me with your shot like a feel of "unfinished" work. I think, but that's too late (otherwise, go back to Zanzibar..) that you'd given a more tubesque surf feel to your wave if you had waited some 10th of sec. later.
I would have liked to see a real white crashing wave on the left side and the tube starting to form in the middle of the pic.

The other thing that can be fixed right now is that I think the shot format is too "bulky" enhancing a sort of empty feeling that is created by the fact that yes, the Dhow is a bit small, try to get a slimmer image, cropping vertically on the right hand side for instance.

Just an idea...

ianmcall (1213) 2004-04-04 5:58

I like the breaking wave as it adds motion and dynamism to an otherwise static shot. Good light on the wave and a nice gradation in ocean colour as you move into the scene. I also really like the bright line of light on the edge of the sail. Well captured.

To increase the size of the boat in the frame, and keep the waves you could have used a lower PoV; by crouching closer to the beach you'd have reduced the apparent amount of water between the wave and the boat. As it is you might try a small crop at the top, but that will only increase the boat size marginally

skydive (119) 2007-09-23 14:31

Hi Mikkel,

I would have put the dhow in the center of the picture, but that's me =) The dhow's are for sure a very photogenic object, I liked them a lot when I was on Zanzibar.

Regards
Patric

Photo Information

Copyright: Mikkel Gerken (Miks) (1717)
Genre: Plaatsen
Medium: Kleur
Date Taken: 2004-01-00
Categories: Dagelijks leven
Fotoversie: Originele versie
Thema's: Boats with Masts(Cropped and Not), Boats and vessels [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-01-25 14:48