Holy and happy, a photo from Bagmati, Central

Photographer's Note

This Sadhu, or Hindu holy man lives, with many others among the shrines of Kathmandu𠏋 major Hindu temple, the Pashputinath. When he spotted my camera, he immediately checked to see that his hair was tidy. So men who leave the world to find enlightenment care about their hair as well. That's comforting to know. At least, this guy looked happy, and wise and contented, which is more than I can say for many of his fellow holy men there

murattepe1, siolaw, Silke, ndb1958, Carmody, J304 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

siolaw (38294) 2007-07-27 7:15

Hi Kevin
You had good times with the Babas in Pashupatinath! Nice this Saddhu portrait with a dark BG isolating his face .. god colors and focus. They are a treat for the photographer indeed!
Laurent
PS Back in town? I just got myself one year wireless internet connexion for my laptop!
Don't have to go to cybers now!

Silke (3027) 2007-07-27 7:21

Outstanding portrait and great notes.
That's an awful lot of hair to keep tidy!
TFS
silke

jonp (0) 2007-07-27 7:23

Fascinant ce portrait bravo.

Manamo (3710) 2007-07-27 7:30

Hello Kevin,
indeed, it's a very special face which makes a splendid portrait.I like the paint in his forehead and the tattoo on his wrists.
However, I'm not a fan of the pp. What is going on in his beard? What's with the background too? I see spots in the upper left corner and upper right too. It looks very strange...I have nothing against pp, but it has to be invisible, here it is not. sorry There could be more contrast in the face, especially that it's so important in your compo with all the rest being blurry.
The potential is huge, but the execution does not meet the requirements...
Marc

[2] +

aral (1195) 2007-07-27 7:30

Hi Kevin,

nice portrait. You did a good job in darkening the background&unessential details. Pitty that some artefacts are visible.

vincz (19113) 2007-07-27 8:39

I like very much this close up portrait, the tight framing and the wonderful dark tones you got. Some issues in the beard, don't know what it is but in any case a great one.

Senk (2355) 2007-07-27 8:45

hi Lung, did u use Photo shop help for this picturs ?

kinginexile (2598) 2007-07-27 9:25

Had no idea you had a brother in Nepal, Kevin! ahahahaha
Not sure what is happening with that delineating cloudy blur clogging a part of his cheek, but by far your best portrait, man, if that's what you are going to come up with, with your next (DSLR) camera, buy it, and buy it now.

I like the ancient brown dreads coiled further on top of his scalp by the white hair of his getting older. the stare is direct, yet not posed.

Bravo, except for that blur ( I don't get it or what the hell did you conceal there?)

grandklaus (423) 2007-07-27 9:51

BRAVO !
superb portrait !
something amazing is the color of the dread locks : dark at the end (the oldest part ? ) and grey near the roots ( the newest part of the hair !)
what is that bizarre blur on the right side of the beard and on the clothes?
bye

Traczewska (14) 2007-07-27 10:08

I am incredible sorry but I have a strong feeling that the shot is false.. You cover with black paint the outfit of that man, what gives extermely unatural look of the outfit, beard and background.
The face itself is interesting but it is not enough to recover the total effect.

with regards, Agnieszka

ndb1958 (9289) 2007-07-27 10:35

Hi Kevin,
a very beautiful portrait of the sadhu. I'm impressed by his appearence. You caught him so well.
Beautiful light and good natural colours.
Have a nice weekend,
Best wishes,
Nino

capthaddock (28790) 2007-07-27 11:15

Hi Kevin - even the thumbnail catches the eye, striking face, not to mention the hair, there is something strange about his clothing and the softness of his beard, as if his head has been cut'n'pasted onto someone sitting (appropriately enough) a barber's chair.

wolf38 (30) 2007-07-28 1:01

Hello Kevin. A strong and impressing Portrait. A maximum performance without weaknesses. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Stepan (27210) 2007-07-28 1:03

That's a face !! Very well captured, with a perfect sharpness, in a perfect light.
But I'm not sure the PP was that useful. Actually, it even disturbs. Was it so necessary ?
St廧hane

PixelTerror (0) 2007-07-28 3:24

Hi Kevin,
A very nice portrait with a strong expression I like the surrounding darkness from which the face emerges in full light.
Have a nice week end, JY

oochappan (4880) 2007-07-29 21:33

A very nice portrait Kevin, my full appreciation for that although you got still some correction to do on a rather clumsy finishing of his robe, the smudge and clone tool will do the job to reduce that selecting line and the white around his beard, only a matter of know-how finishing wich would give the total glance of this excellent portrait, so still you got some homework to do in spite of the readable quality here already present wich I appreciate, oh well it will keep pirates away too lazy to do that finishing job :).
greetings
Henk

carper (96) 2007-07-30 8:39

what a fantastic head Kevin,
this is a great photo, the light is great and the pov is great, man what can I say more then super shot, I like it a lot, with my compliments. Have a nice day.
gr., jaap

RGatward (20108) 2007-07-30 10:15

IMO (quite a popular view) I think this is your best so far from Nepal, perfectly executed classic portrait, maybe you should try more of these.

TopGeo (38220) 2007-07-30 11:45

Hi Kevin,what a fantastic head ,with ruper sharp details and superb color tones very nice job!this is a great photo, the light is great and the pov is superb.
Bravo Thanks for it distribute.
Georgios

AmiBe (6042) 2007-07-30 12:42

The portrait was nice Kevin, I like the light on the face and the dark background.
The PP is really too much visible and it ruins the shot IMO.
I'm sure that the original is better.
Rgs

lancehannah (1307) 2007-07-30 13:12

Hallo kevin;
Wonderfull portrait of this man. The detail of the hair and the way you have capture the light and shades fantastic.
great job.
Lance

happypoppeye (4819) 2007-07-30 15:55

I generally agree with alot of the other comments Kevin. It's a great portrait but, well, you already know, sloppy PP. I would love to see you re-post this. The positioning of the man is excellent and he certainly makes a great subject. Really sharp and detailed also.

Good & bad work (if you know what I mean)
John

Burberry1 (6041) 2007-08-12 1:36

Wow!! This portrait makes an impression Kevin.
Everything seems to be like it should and I love the mans mysterious look!!

A great, great work!!!

Agnieszka

jwillie44 (1236) 2007-08-12 2:10

Very well done PP; Some earlier comments might say it is abit too much or artsy, but I think it adds to your "Holy and Happy" theme very nicely. (maybe you should have put it under the ART catagory as well- IMO) Doesn't he remind you of Anthony Hopkins abit :)
thanks
michael

Carmody (138) 2007-08-20 5:03

This is a really beautiful portrait, however as some other people said, the postprocessing is poor. I have read what you told to Manamo about it, you should post the original one as workshop so that people can try to do it better (I would like to give a try).
Congratulations anyway !
Mathieu

partha (14023) 2007-09-12 1:05

A really strong porytrait. Its all about using of light and expression. Well done.
partha

livinitout (942) 2007-09-12 20:46

A wonderfull capture. The man has deffinitely a unique look with his mass of dreads and hindu appearance. The only thing I would have changed is the line around the mans beard. You seem to have chopped a bit off there.
Jacek

ngythanh (8458) 2007-09-14 15:17

Very impressed and successful portrait.
Leaving the undone modification around the face and hand aside, I have looked at this shot longer than others, trying to appreciate your mastering of light and compo on this artwork...
Thank you,
Thanh

claudeD (47754) 2008-03-15 12:31

Hello Kevin,

I have looked over your very interesting portofolio and I have choosen this very good portrait shot to give two points.Its not enough for this amazing fotojob but you know the rules...

With regards from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude