A Walk in the Park, a photo from Cusco, South

Photographer's Note

Most of the native women seen in the photos of Peru and especially in Cusco are paid models. They dress up in colorful clothing and walk around town and ruins asking for money. For one soles ($.30) you can take a picture of them in their costumes. The whole process is very fake and very orchestrated and I hated it. Their smiles are not care-free and their poses are stiff. The resulting photos come out without soul. That being said, I still took a bunch of them just for the hell of it.

I was sitting on top of a Inca terrace when I spotted these women walking about. I snapped this soon after they passed me.

MiguelP, maurajn, pridel, Paolo heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Praetzer (209) 2005-02-12 17:10

Sharp; well exposed; excellent DOF; Would have liked to see the feet of the person in front.

MiguelP (14470) 2005-02-12 17:11

Well done Mark: I like how you´ve used the focus here creating two levels inside the frame. Very well done indeed. Also de colours are great, pity you couldnt include the complete body of both girls, but not important. I hope you enjoyed Pisac as much as I did when I went there. Enhorabuena desde Madrid.

Belumpi (306) 2005-02-12 17:15

Great shot! So bright and colourful in a beautifull setting (love the terraces in the background). And it isnt posed and stiff :), very natural look on a daily life event.

;) Merel

maurajn (902) 2005-02-12 17:17

Nicely set up with the women, colorful, in sharp focus, and the terraces, blurred but still identifiable, below. Thank you also for your insightful note about the models.

DAM (153) 2005-02-12 17:55

Mark, I agree with you... they do not pose well as they are trying to make us (tourists and photographers happy.) Considering their circumstances price paid for such photo is not a bad deal. I normally stand aside from other photographers and wait for their shoot to be over. At this time the subject kind of relaxes and goes back into his/her own mode, and that is when my triggers goes off. However, in this particular one you have gotten them at their best... walking and the background is breathtaking. Way to go...!!!
Thanks

worldtraveler12 (0) 2005-02-12 18:07

Great use of the compression created by a longer focal lenght lens. At least I'm assuming that's what you used.

Bos (628) 2005-02-12 18:41

great dof and good colours, well done!

Homerhomer (4080) 2005-02-12 21:07

This is great Mark, the girls really stand out due to shallow debth of field you choose and separation of colours (which IMO is fantastic).
It's really too bad that they are "professional models" what a pity, before I read your note I thought I really would have like to see a face, but know I only miss her feet ;-)
Peter
PS, perhaps consider cloning out that white circle (plant?) at the bottom left, I find it somehow distracting.

maphoto (8082) 2005-02-13 1:00

Very nice point of view Mark, excellent DOF, great sharpness and colors on the two women, well done

pazmania (6) 2005-02-13 1:19

I really like the composition, and the sharpness.
the contrast between the girls and the background is really good.

naxius (16685) 2005-02-13 4:23

Great photo. I like it a lot. Very sharp and colorful.
Excellent DOF.
Indeed a beautfiul photo.
Alexandre

Leonie (8809) 2005-02-13 4:52

Hi Marc,
A really beautiful photo! The green background is great and I love their skirts!
Well done!

Léonie

pridel (233) 2005-02-13 5:10

Mark
with this photograph, they seem natural in their walk the colors are splendid and I like much the green background which gives much of depth to the compo.
congrats
Pascal

summersun (4978) 2005-02-20 5:42

beautiful shot ! very colorful. you were right not to pay for a fake photo!
I like the blurred background.
I hope I'll take such good pictures when I go to Peru.
Vanessa

Paolo (41258) 2005-03-17 11:21 [Comment]

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tomescuc (3291) 2009-05-12 22:42

Great work - the DOF and color separation is superb. A stand-out.

diegomach (531) 2009-05-25 20:13

Mark tienes una galería de fotografías muy buena. Logras captarla esencia de la toma. Esta me parece fenomenal por el color logrado. Tienes un primer plano muy fuerte y colorido que contrasta con el verdor del campo desenfocado.
Felicitaciones
Diego