Early morning in Hanoi, a photo from Ha Noi, Red River Delta

Photographer's Note

On my first day in Hanoi (after a less than relaxing train-ride) I sought refuge from the rush that is Hanoi-traffic in the garden of the "Temple of Literature". It was early morning, and the groups of tourists had not shown up yet. This security-guard seemed to just take in the silence for a while, knowing that he soon would have to start calling out to tourists to stop them sitting on the ancient turtle-statues...

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Critiques | Translate

kwazireal (181) 2007-10-04 13:37

There is a time and place for defocused backgrounds. This image would benefit from greater depth-of-field to better define the sense of place, and what the subject is looking at across the river.

The composition was fair. While you positioned the subject well, the silver pole growing out of his right shoulder is a distraction that should either have been avoided, or, removed before posting.

Your failure to post a Photographer's Note was inconsiderate of viewers who are interested to learn more about the world through your photography. Who is this guy? He has some sort of uniform with epaulettes and a hat, and a cheap walkie-talkie radio in his back pocket. His complexion does not look Vietnamese, or, does it? Point being, the subject does not appear to be an ordinary citizen of Hanoi, and some explanation would be in order.

[2] +

kinginexile (2598) 2007-10-04 16:09

A note would be nice, though I think it's a mood picture. the guy is probably a private guard, or someone hired as a guard, maybe. A policeman in Hanoi would have his shirt tucked, and maybe of a kaki color altogether.

I think the strong shaded blue of the shirt chases a bit the mood, much more than his possible occupation. I see the picture quite typical of trying to convey a special mood you sensed then, that is your title. But we guess it more than feel it, I'd say . It's a good effort nonetheless. You tried to capture a feeling and that is not the easiest thing.

medio (466) 2007-10-18 16:20