The Camel Driver by Candlelight, a photo from Er Rachidia, South

Photographer's Note

While in Morocco, we went to the edge of the Sahara for a couple of days. The hotel offered an overnight trip into the Erg Chebbi dunes by camel, staying in a bedouin tent that the hotel had set up there. This picture is taken inside that tent, where our Bedouin guide / camel driver / cook was sitting contemplating a candle. Actually, since we had no language in common other than his minimal French, I have no idea what he was thinking as he sat there. But it made a good picture.

It would be more accurate to say it made a difficult picture. I can't even begin to list all the tools I've tried to use on it to bring out a usable image, but basically I did a lot of brush work, some noise reduction, and cropping. There's probably more I could try; suggestions welcome. It's mainly that I am so intrigued by the image - a combination of two of my favorite ideas: minimalism and chiaroscuro - that I felt the time had come to show it.

BitterMoon, avene, zmey, feather, COSTANTINO, scobert has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rgarrigus (0) 2008-04-15 9:06

Hi Daniel,

I really love this image. It truly looks like a painting and the minimization of the reddish tones on the jet black really gives it mood. The aura of light around the candle flame is wonderful. Very nice example of art in photography to my eye.

Cheers!

Bob G.

BitterMoon (2776) 2008-04-15 9:34

Hello Daniel

As Bob said,"truly looking like a painting","example of art in photography".
Can be seen that light was very difficult to manage and you did the best you can to show us something nice.It`s mysterious,because of the pale candlelight brighting just a little bit the man`s face.
I like it pretty much.Bellissima.

My kind regards

avene (12675) 2008-04-15 14:51

hello Dan,
I definitely like this shot, it does indeed remind of a painting, especially the red colour cast. I particularly like the beautifully balanced composition with only the face of the man and the sand he seems looking into illuminated. brings back memories from our stay in berber tents in Sahara and the sweet smell of mint tea :)

take care,
Kristine

crckt (7222) 2008-04-16 19:33

Hi Dan,
A truly artistic shot! Looks like a masterclass painting. Whatever PP you did to it, worked really well. I love it, goes to my theme.
Regards,
Shaeri
PS: thanks for the email :) and also thanks for the WS on my shot. I did like it a lot, but forgot to reply to you sooner...:)

zmey (7335) 2008-04-17 6:46

hello daniel

this one has a sculpture, architectural monument like quality to it... love the composition, the mysterious mood, the contemplative look on the camel driver's face, the light...

i guess, i would have gone for enhancing/cleaning up the blacks even more in PP.

with compliments,
kristaps

feather (51130) 2008-04-20 3:25

I love this one Dan and can imagine how difficult it was to process. The way his face it etched in the light against the black is wonderful. There is a serenity about his face that is almost spiritual. Well done
Kath

COSTANTINO (116377) 2008-04-21 7:07

Hello my friend,
Your photo is artistic and combinesblack
shadow with the red of the flame.dreamy
photo into a dreamy bedoun tent...
You are very lucky to feel differently
sitting contemplating a candle..Romantic
Greetings from Greece
cOSTANTINO

AROBN54 (11475) 2008-04-22 21:42

Oh, this is just outstanding, Dan. Wow. I really like the placement of his face in the shot with just a suggestion of the rest of his silhouette. I love the way you can make out the details even in the soft light of the candle. It has a mystical sort of quality to it. Beautifully done... Many thanks and kindest wishes,
Shelly

scobert (5355) 2008-05-01 18:50

Hi Dan,
Your instincts are correct about this image. It is very intriquing indeed! I tired to do some WS enhancements on this small photo but I noticed what appeared to be some oversharpening bands when I lightened up the shadows. I find "Neat Image" to be, hands down, the best noise reduction software that I have ever used. When I have a high contrast dance photo, the very first thing that I do with a copy of the full res photo, is to run Neat Image, which cleans up most of the noise and the other garbage created from high iso and underexposed photos. You might try this with a copy of your original high res photo. My mother was on a crazy trip like yours to Morocco, and she slept a few nights in a tent with some Berber tribespeople. She was 77 at the time and she was ashamed at her more cautious son for trying to talk her out of taking this trip. Your photograph has tremendous potential. I know that there is a way to bring out some of the shadow details.
Stan

Angshu (56760) 2008-05-02 0:46

Hello Dan
This looks like a painting. Indeed very difficult to take, & even more difficult trying the viewer to visualise from the picture how you actually saw it with your eyes. But in both the counts, I think you did extremely well. I don't think I am capable enough to 'critique' this picture with more words, rather I would sit back & enjoy this 'painting'
Regards
Angshu