Pathway to Nirvana, a photo from Louangphabang, North

Photographer's Note

The Luang Prabang monks, in their early morning walk.

It was drizzling that day. But they have to perform their daily work. They have to go around, receive offering, and pray for the locals who offered them food.

This is a long queue of monks. When I went down to kneel and shoot this, I received some quizzical stares from them. Personally, I like the way one of the feet was lifted up and almost touching the ground.

The path to Nirvana, is indeed, not an easy one.

pamastro, cgrindahl, Jeppe, ishai, carper, ChrisJ, RGatward, jrj, papagolf21, summer89, elihesamian, Hanssie, nwoehnl, cmartos, eleparc, avigur_11, orme, mikhalych, Albrecht heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

benny (631) 2004-07-05 0:00

Belle photo, beau cadrage original!
J'aime beaucoup, ça me donne des envies de voyager dans ces pays si particuliers!
Merci.

pamastro (7296) 2004-07-05 0:31

Very good capture. I like the bright color and very good textures. And this point of view and this composition is very good. Without the faces we get this very good repeating pattern. All of them doing the same thing and looking alike. I like the slightly lifted foot, too. It helps add that motion. Very good job.

karin (175) 2004-07-05 0:42

I have seen this in print and I told you that I like this a lot. It is something different from your other pictures of faces. Thanks for using my suggested title. I will try to comment to your Louang Phabang pictures that I like. I am looking forward to see more prints and please give me copies of those that I like.

cgrindahl (6113) 2004-07-05 1:30

Wow! This is a great shot Manny. I didn't make the comment yesterday but I'm aware that these monks will receive all the food they will eat this day from this journey with bowl in hand. Yes, it is an exchange of food for blessings bestowed, an agreement that works only in a culture prepared to embrace such an exchange. An American I know tried to practice this way after returning from many years in Thailand to be received only by quizzical stares and closed hearts. It is the culture that supports this spiritual practice. And you capture with this image of shuffling feet, what is essentially a walking meditation that is at the heart of this practice. Very well done.

scalerman (26900) 2004-07-05 2:41

Supreme shot, thematically speaking Manny. Yes the trip is underway, but a rocky start, as my luggage was lost for a month. I have it back now. cheers.

femkevdh (2633) 2004-07-05 2:49

I see I have a lot of catching up to do Manuel! I'll start with your most recent photo; excellent idea!! haha, I can imagine their wondered faces... Love the low angle, the composition and indeed that one lifted foot. beautiful!

Jeppe (18654) 2004-07-05 2:59

Greeat shot and surely an different angle you got here Manuel - Yes I noticed the almost lifted foot - could it be the tiles feel cold :-) - no I don't think so. But you right the Path to Nirvana not paved with gold :-)

ishai (4097) 2004-07-05 3:03

When I saw this shot I knew it was from you
I remember the last shot
Great sharpness
I can feel the wet ground
Well seen Very realistic
Well done

carper (96) 2004-07-05 3:07

First thing what I do in the morning, is put my computer an. Looking out for the photo's on TE, and then I saw this feet.
Well Manuel it's really a great photo, the depth, the colours, really great, The idea, realy great. Manuel really my compliments for this great photo. Thank you

kogawa (4742) 2004-07-05 3:19

Like the picture very much, for many reasons:
The colors of the monk's cloth are meant to be in earthly colors according to Buddhism, and hear you found the earth that fits to the monk's cloth.
The diagonal that gives a dynamic sensation and the point of focus with DOF that gives the same atmosphere to the picture.
Above all I like the picture for a subjective reasons – it's a reminder for me from this unique and lovely place…
Good one Manny!

ChrisJ (171852) 2004-07-05 4:02

Good detail shot.

pridel (233) 2004-07-05 4:07

J'aime beaucoup cette photo inhabituelle par son angle de prise de vue et les pieds ont remplacés les visages. La composition est excellente répartie en 3 zones : sol ocre - pied clair- tissu intense.comme j'ai vu les processions dans les photos précedentes, celle-ci ne m'a pas déconcerté.
Peut-être auras tu pensé à faire la même composition avec les visages ? en tous cas, bravo

sengir (4956) 2004-07-05 4:51

this one is good

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-07-05 5:06

Wonderful POV Manny ! Very good composition and cololurs. In one word ? Fantastic ! :)
Very well done !

RGatward (20108) 2004-07-05 5:23

A lot of orange today. I really like these latter experimental shots of yours Manny. I think this one might benefit from a CCW tilt a bit, like your other monk shot from Saturday. Really great shot though.

jrj (34843) 2004-07-05 5:29

Interesting details of the marching monks, creative shot, good dof, strong colour setting, well done Manny.

papagolf21 (152607) 2004-07-05 6:00

Source d'inspiration inépuisable, vos photos Manny. Une idée très originale très bien réalisée.
J'aime beaucoup les mouvements des pieds, cela donne vie à la photographie.
Très bien réalisé.
Source of inexhaustible inspiration, your photos Manny. A very well realized very original idea.
I like very much the movements of feet, it gives life to the photography.
Very well realized.

summer89 (5422) 2004-07-05 6:05

Wonderfull Manuel.

Great colors tones, excelent DOF.

Very Well done

elihesamian (26149) 2004-07-05 11:55

Great POV,real & beautiful colors & contrast,Skilfully DOF managed,fine cropped & excellent diagonal composition.
I like it a lot,Manuel!

Ebbe (9625) 2004-07-05 13:24

Fine colors and repetition. Short DOF is ok but I would have liked it still short but a bit longer. As yuo say, the lifted foot is important for the picture.

Hanssie (11022) 2004-07-05 13:47

That were my thoughts too, when you photographed them, how they react on you...
What a fantastic view and colours, very well seen and done, Manny, including a nice title !

nwoehnl (122) 2004-07-05 13:59

Excellent shot, Manny. Very creative framing of the diagonal of the monks' feet, and great way of focusing on the center and having a softer focus towards the sides. Like you point out in your note, the one lifted foot is what also "lifts" this composition way above average again. Very good, also great color setting and nice effect of light on the wet floor at the left.

danbachmann (1746) 2004-07-05 16:30 [Comment]

Show Comment

cmartos (242) 2004-07-05 19:14

This is a very, very good and original picure. I love your choice of shallow DOF here, where ever you look, you come back to walk with them. Very well seen and done, the crop is just perfect in my opinion. Very fine shot, thanks for sharing and congraulations Manuel.

maphoto (8082) 2004-07-05 21:39

Very nice composition, perfect blur and great contrast, special framing and special photo, very well done.

eleparc (24063) 2004-07-06 8:29

manny, i missed that one yesterday. how could I? this is the PERFECT shot for me... it deeply touches me... this one definitely goes as a favorite... words don't come, i could cry on it for some unknown reasons... i am totally wordless! thanks Manny for such a precious gift... Nirvana? yes for sure or the path to it... 1000 smileys well deserved! ... after such a photo, i quit TE for i cannot compete anymore...;-) just kidding about my quitting! no way!

zto (268) 2004-07-06 9:34

This is GREAT Manny, really great! The view point, so un usual but leaves such an impact on the viewer.

waysai (611) 2004-07-07 13:49

Down to earth with barefoot lining up and moving diagonally upward. The composition, the angle and the focus are superb.

dsidwell (9783) 2004-07-08 18:10

Engaging and interesting patterns here, all made with fabric and feet. Another fine photo from you!

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-07-10 2:51

POV, DOF, colors, angle, subject - are all perfect. Wonderful shot, Manuel. very very well composed and captured.

orme (7219) 2004-07-12 5:50

A very well framed shot, Manuel. Good DOF and beautiful rich colours. I like the diagonal line of the feet and the path.

philip_coggan (11) 2004-07-12 21:25 [Comment]

Show Comment

mikhalych (1319) 2004-07-13 10:32

Fantastic capture! Composition, colors and a story behind are just great.
A favorite.

light (865) 2004-08-08 10:47

Really good idea, and superb composition. Beautiful colors and nice pattern. Great title and really you captured a moment. You say a lot without showing much.

MiguelP (14470) 2004-09-12 10:46

What to add after so many critics and remarks???? Well, I´ve enjoyed your pictures, including this one. Congratulations from MAdrid.

Dionysos (1234) 2004-10-01 9:35

For many photographers, Far-East is an unlimited source of subjects.

Unfortunately, most of pictures based on only their unexpected wearings, colors, temples etc. Usually, in fact, those pictures don't say anything.They are just, colorful, just, funy, just interesting..but says nothing.

That picture is great. One of the best pictures I have ever seen ! You tell everything about a mystical self-development way.

Alonso (247) 2005-01-20 16:48

nice colors and angle!! very great shot!

Albrecht (11283) 2005-09-23 3:46

Hi Manuel

Wonderful POV
great subject
Wonderful colours
good use of DOF
Well captured.....
-< regards Albrecht >-

moxon (78) 2005-10-23 23:31

It's tought to get an interesting, original shot of this frequently photographed scene but you've done it here. Beautiful colours and great DOF. I love the focus on the cobblestones on the left.