A good wash

[scully]

I have just returned from Vietnam and Cambodia. I took this shot of a family bath in Chau Doc on the Vietnamese Cambodian border. The other one is of a young man preparing Coconuts for sale. Hope that you like them.

I have heard people say this before but this trip showed me how lucky we are to have what we do in western countries but also that we do not appreciate what we have. These people are poor with no welfare but the community makes sure that no one goes hungry. We sure could learn a few things.

[IzzieK]

Welcome to CiC. Being Asian, I can relate to what you say here. I am on holidays myself and I am visiting here in Melbourne, at the moment, my house and my kids and my grandchild. Love Melbourne too. As for your photos here, good ones. #2 is most dramatic with the subtle reflective light in the face of the young man.

[Sergio M.]

Welcome to CIC, Stephen, and yes, I do like the photos. It sounds like it was a very eye opening and inspirational trip. I agree with you, there is so much we can learn from others.

Sergio

[rpcrowe]

I have passed the Chau Doc Ferry Landing many times... Another time, another life

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Stephen,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me.

I think both are excellent as documentary photos of a live far more simply than we live ourselves.

These are shots where the normal guidelines can and should be ignored, as you have.

For example;
In #1, if I try a crop to exclude some of the out of focus foreground, the image becomes too 'voyeuristic' of the scene.
In #2, if cropped to exclude odd blotches of bold colours, we lose much of the context along with those urns in the background.

Well shot and processed - the light on the lad's face is great in #2.
Those poles give nice leading lines in #1.


Just one parting thought, in an effort to be constructive (even with such good shots) ...

I noticed from the EXIF these were processed in PS CS5, I don't know if that has the gradient filter feature (of later versions) in ACR, but if so (and I were processing these), I would try a slim gradient filter to just tone down the brightness of the highlights on the extreme left of #2.

Cheers, Dave

[scully]

Hi Dave, yes CS5 has a gradient feature and it is a good idea, thanks. I will post some more of my shots if you don't mind, and I would be happy to get your feedback. What a great place to go for photography.