Indonesian Girl

[Steve Leenhouts]

I am submitting this for critique. The title is Indonesian Girl.

Steve Leenhouts: Indonesian Girl​

The setting is a 'rummage sale' or 'garage sale' in a Jakarta suburb. My assignment was to cover the event which was sponsored by a Womens' Association. I was shooting fairly quickly, with both long shots, and closeups of the participants and their children. This little girl was caught with her intense expression in a whirlwind of clothes flaying all around.

I have cropped the picture to allow the colored clothes across the bottom to provide a base of sorts, spread to the bottom corners. Sides have been cropped to isolate the gray tones. Face set off to the left to emphasize the flapping skirt on the right which does not seem to bother her one bit.

I have reduced contrast and de-saturated a bit, and not sharpened too much -- all to give a soft feel and to enhance her gaze, which is the important part of the picture. It is an amazing gaze to me, and provides the central question that I hope the picture raises: what could someone so young be thinking with such intensity!

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

....I have reduced contrast and de-saturated a bit, and not sharpened too much -- all to give a soft feel and to enhance her gaze, which is the important part of the picture. It is an amazing gaze to me, and provides the central question that I hope the picture raises: what could someone so young be thinking with such intensity!

Hi Steve,

Let me start by stating that I like the picture a lot, it will certainly evoke strong feelings in the minds of the lookers. What I am about to write below should not be seen as a criticism for your picture and/or your comment, it certainly is not! (big smile).

Personally, I am of the opinion that we tend to project our own thinking and feelings onto other people, even unto animals. I have some pictures of my cats gazing very intensely, which one could also interpret as if the animal is having some very philosophical thoughts (LOL). What I am trying to say is this. When I see the intensity of her gaze, I may start imagining that she is worrying about the world around her with all the assoicated problems such as poverty, tsunami, health, education, etc. I may even imagine that she has become rather "numb"and has given up all hope already. The truth is, I am merely projecting and speculating. Maybe she is just sleepy or hungry or something like that.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

 

[Steve Leenhouts]

Hi Cem,

Thanks. I agree with you regarding the projection thing. Our response to a picture sometimes tells us much more about who we are, and that may have little to do with the reality in the subject at the time and place of the shot.

Anyway, she sort of looks zonked like I do sometimes after extended mall treks with my wife and daughters!!!

Steve

 

[Ray West]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for persevering in posting this image. I appreciate the gaze, but she may be just 'day dreaming'. I think the cropping is fine, but I would maybe experiment with greying out the white foreground bit to the right/below her right ear, and also, I think do the same with the triangular skin tone above her head (I guess it is the neck line of someone behind her).

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Asher Kelman]

What surprises one can have by just browsing! I just found this.

Steve Leenhouts: Indonesian Girl​

Steve,

What an amazing picture! A treasure. I wish we had more! I just rediscovered it!

Asher

 

[fahim mohammed]

Indeed Asher, it is a lovely picture.

Is Steve still with us, though?