Alan Lichtenstein, QPSA
September 2025 - BATHTIME IN LAOS
About the Image(s)
Visiting Laos as part of a trip that visited Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand in 2012 we visited a small rural village where that characterization could also apply, as being situated on a river that was more like a stream and ended in what could be described as a large cul-de-sac pond. Residents could be seen at the riverbank washing clothes, swimming and bathing as in the image. It was common practice to do so at the time, and I was fortunate to capture this image of life at. The rivers edge.
Gear: Olympus E-5, zuiko 18-180 mm open to 60mm
Data: ISO 100, f8, 1/250 sec.
Metering: Pattern
WB: Manual, used preset cloud
EV: -.3
Date image created: March 18, 2012
7 comments posted
For me this is an excellent example of PJD human interest photo, I personally think that a black and white version would even been much stronger an emotions. The colour version in my opinion is a bit to warm in colours. Excellent work Alan. Posted: 09/01/2025 04:52:43
Thanks for the compliment, Christian. I tend to prefer warmer colors where I can get them. If you note the WB was set to the preset cloud, essentially telling the camera there was more blue in the light (which there wasn't), but the camera compensates by emphasizing the warmer colors. I got the effect I wanted, but your suggestion to convert to monochrome is intriguing. As a landscape photographer (primarily) colors have been my concern, with the emotional aspect secondary. I'll have to try monochrome for PJD. Hope the judges in PJD consider this image; I've looked at the galleries of PJD from several recent exhibitions and they seem heavy on sports. Posted: 09/01/2025 06:17:47
Yes there aren't to many PJD human interest competitions and especially in Asia (India) most PJD images are sports or colourful festival photos unfortunately. Before there were more countries in PSA but now mostly India and such photos as mine more about street situations and documentaries are really struggling to receive acceptance. I am close to PJD Galaxy 2 now, just a few more Edas needed. Posted: 09/01/2025 06:52:29
All PJD competitions are "general," which means anything goes. So, it's up to the judge. IMV, I think PJD should "encourage" the chairpersons of exhibitions to give themes for PJD, such as there are in PID and sometimes, Nature, as the PJD definition is far too broad to include everything. I have three stars in Travel, one star in PID and am looking for a couple more acceptances to get a third star in nature. I'm hoping I can get a couple of stars in PJD so I can get a PPSA rating. I'll probably stop after that; it's getting too expensive. So I envy you with a GM rating and Galaxy ratings in PJD. I've about run out of animals to get more stars in Nature, as the judges seem only to want animals doing something. I have some excellent pictures of lemurs which I've never seen any acceptances for anywhere else, but most of those can't get any acceptances. The judges just don't seem to understand what and where one has to go to get those pictures, and give no credit to the photographer for that. Everyone goes to Africa. Not everyone goes to Madagascar. But I've run into the same roadblocks in Travel. Posted: 09/01/2025 07:24:25
Yes there aren't to many PJD human interest competitions and especially in Asia (India) most PJD images are sports or colourful festival photos unfortunately. Before there were more countries in PSA but now mostly India and such photos as mine more about street situations and documentaries are really struggling to receive acceptance. I am close to PJD Galaxy 2 now, just a few more Edas needed. Posted: 09/01/2025 06:52:29
Great capture of a moment between these two and example of human interest. I wonder if there was an angle that didn't have those 2 distracting white elements in the upper left, but then the question is would the faces been captured as well. Great handling of the light and colors. Posted: 09/12/2025 10:22:41
If such an angle as you suggest was there, and there may very well have been, I didn't think to consider that. Most of my images are hand-held, not planned for, posed as many are, and are captured serendipitously, as they are there one fleeting moment and gone the next. Posted: 09/12/2025 11:53:21