The Strength of a Woman, a photo from Segou, South

Photographer's Note

Kalabougou is on the other side of the Niger river about 45 minutes by pirogue from Segou. The village produces much of the pottery for which the area is renowned. During the week women mould and shape the pottery, at weekends the open air furnace in the middle of the village is lit. Most of the work is done by women...

This picture was taken on our visit to the village. The heat of the open air furnace, which forms the backdrop to this shot, was so tremendous I even feared for my equipment...

The pole is used to rake the baked pots out of the fire.

dedicated to strong women everywhere

Jardim, Lukasso, lilimih33, kleeross, Priam1966, miguel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cirano (1244) 2008-04-26 14:43

Xwezla ling瘽 w� j� di hundir� qadraj� de b塜a,L� bi v� hal� j� bi t瘲a xwe dramat螶 e.

Jardim (3243) 2008-04-26 14:48

Ol� Benny,

I like of the colors and sharpness of this photo. Maybe my option for this picture would be as a portrait, but this is only my personal opinion and a detail.
J萖io Jardim

polpo56 (15146) 2008-04-26 14:51

Hi Benny,
the title is the best comment for your shot. It is wonderful one.
Compliments!
Ciao
Ludo

lilimih33 (9918) 2008-04-26 15:10

Hello Benny!
Nice image! Great focus!
Beautiful colours and good point of view!
Best regards!
Lili

Atousa (7131) 2008-04-26 20:08

Salam Benny,
Its a revealing shot with great compo..she really seems to be very hard working..tfs

Regards,Atousa

kleeross (159) 2008-04-26 21:15

Benny,
Wow, this is an amazing picture of this woman. Great detail and sharpness in this shot. Well done.
Regards,
Kevin

Priam1966 (892) 2008-04-27 0:06

Helo Benny
A beautiful composition and the background is like the work of of a great painter.
Good POV, well done.
Chris

macondo (20449) 2008-04-27 4:33

Hello Benny.
I like this shot a lot. The narrow depth of field is very effective in highlighting the sharp detail in this portrait of a woman and child. You placed her well in the frame. He look is one of stoic determination. One can almost feel the white heat rising from the furnace and the burnt grass. I'm always amazed at how colourful and beautiful are the clothes of African people, and even doing this rather unpleasant job she is wearing something with a lovey colour scheme, and a nice pendant around her neck, meaning that even in the heat she looks elegant.
Regards,
Andrew

nirvana73 (0) 2008-04-28 6:10

Hello Benny!
good documental
meanfull shot
i like pastel colors
and her looks impressive
tfs
regards
Ozhan

miguel (899) 2008-04-28 12:48

Really a great shot Benny and a very informative note.
I can almost feel the heat with this really well managed background.
Greetings from Martinique.

Merline (0) 2008-04-30 6:18

I like this a lot Benny. It's a very good composition, her so sharp in the fg, and the shallow DOF still makes us devine the environment she works in, her baby with her...she has an air of strength yes and of dignity. Together with your most interesting and touching note, this is a meaningful shot!

Thanks
Cheers
Mich鋩e

marietom (34611) 2008-05-18 1:57

Hello Benny,

Une autre magnifique image du Mali. Les couleurs sont magnifiques, de m瘱e que la composition.
Bonne soir嶪
Marie

agjika (3177) 2009-11-18 4:12

Hi Benny,

I am having a feast here browsing your gallery. This is an amazing portrait of this impressive young girls.

Great sharpness and colour and what a strong light.

Regards

Aleks

fplohoff (0) 2010-05-26 3:30

Great colors here, good use of DOF which leads to more simplification. Focus on objectiv is clear. Best wishes, Frank

happypoppeye (4819) 2010-12-19 10:57

Nice...
I don't think any photo can really truly show how west africa is "held together" by the women there. Probably the hardest workers I've seen i nthe world. This shot is definitely worth the title though.
Great work,
John

Robert1969 (7160) 2012-04-18 9:03

Hallo Benny,

Opvallend bij deze foto is de ietsjes
overbelichting. Dat zorgt dat de achtergrond
mooi vaag is geworden (samen met de diafragma
spel), zodat dame met kind gelijk opvallen en
het zorgt voor zachte contrasten. Ook de
compositie is heel goed.

Vriendelijke groeten,
Robert