Tickets please, a photo from Kien Giang, Mekong River Delta

Photographer's Note

They like their tickets in Vietnam.
You'll buy them from the smiling girl inside the booths outside museums, tombs, temples for a few thousand dong.
Then you'll walk three steps and give it to a man sitting on a plastic chair who has been watching you make the purchase. He will punch a hole in it and give it you back: transaction done.

This booth is in Ha Tien by the pontoon bridge. This toll bridge will be closing next year so this booth will be gone.

Cropped and rotated, and I had to do some work to remove some lens flare from the harsh light.

PS The girl in my earlier photo wasn't doing the evening shift on this night.Here.

robiuk, mateosite, thaprem, ndb1958 heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

robiuk (10807) 2007-03-16 18:20

Very good, Brian. Shot that would probably be
equally good in b/w, too.
Light from the bulb is extremely strong, yet I
don't feel as if you went over the top with it
- it doesn't appear to be overexposed, if you
know what I mean.
A classic!
Robi

Furachan (0) 2007-03-16 19:55

Nice moody night shot, Brian. I saw many such scenes and st a few - it is sooo Vietnam as you rightly point out. Part of the charm and, sometimes, the irritation...
All the best,
Francis

scalerman (26900) 2007-03-17 1:12

Brian: this is a pic that might pique the interest of Furachan here on TE. Great stuff here, with light, action and story. Now, I'm interested in your portfolio. regards, c

eshirey (325) 2007-03-17 1:18

Really interesting shot...I think you captured just enough of the customer here, and in great light, too. The lightbulb might be a tad bright, but I love how you've drawn our focus there. Really nice work!

everlasting (19680) 2007-03-17 4:04

The essence or irritation of Vietnam, tickets. A fine nightshot Brian. The side light catches the details well. I just wish that the bulb was not so strong, but then again.......

t0mmm1 (5442) 2007-03-17 16:56

Hi Brian,
nice one. I like the use of available light to make this strong contrasts between lights and shadows... and the position of both hands are reminding me of Michelangelo.
Have a nice weekend,
Tomi

thaprem (2566) 2007-03-18 12:56

Brian,
The effect of the unseen is mesmerising...
Well managed light & grainyness a enchanter.
Prem.

Luko (14000) 2007-04-07 5:49

This one is almost a killer, composition and timing are gorgeous... but the exeposure is a bit too high if you looked at the blown out areas in his arm. That's the difficult part, with this kind of lighting you should stick to manual and fine tune your exposure.
Still two points for the compo and timing.

ndb1958 (9289) 2007-07-14 2:02

Beautiful image, Brian. Such a nice nightshot about the interaction of the hands changing the ticket from one side to the other. Great composition, very moody shot. Nino