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Jeremy | all galleries >> Travel Images - Myanmar (Burma) >> Bagan - The Era Of The Temple Builders > Praying By The Foot Of Buddha (Dec 06)
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Praying By The Foot Of Buddha (Dec 06)

Taken at the Reclining Buddha in Shinbinthalyaung, located next to the Shwesandaw Pagoda.

The picture was shot hand-held, at ISO 1600 and shutter speed of 1/10 sec. I suppose I could have used a tripod and lower ISO settings to minimise grain in the picture. But grain is texture, and texture enhances mood and atmosphere. In my view, pictures of certain scenes such as this can in fact benefit from some grain. Anyway, poor excuse for simply being lazy to carry along a heavy tripod and setting it up to take the shot...


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Jeremy25-Mar-2007 03:12
Thank you for your comment, Phil. I agree fully with you that it would be a better composition to include the huge toes in the picture. But there was a window right there at the end of the toes with light streaming in, causing the aberration you see at the edge of the picture, so they were cropped out. But you are right that we should always watch the edges to be sure what is in and what should be out. Rgds.
Phil Douglis24-Mar-2007 19:57
I agree with you and Steve on this issue. I never carry a tripod. I rely in on my image stabilized camera to shoot at low ISOs and low shutter speeds, often bracing the camera on fences, posts, sills, and chairs if need be. A tripod immobilizes me and I must constantly move to catch the small changes in the positioning of my subjects. This is a very expressive image, Jeremy. The grain (noise) here is minimal, and as you note what grain there is enhances the mood and atmosphere. You have caught the essence of faith here -- a belief in something larger than yourself. The only thing I would have done differenty is to move back a bit to include the ends of the toes of the huge feet -- always watch your edges to be sure what is in should be in and what is out should be out.
Guest 12-Jan-2007 13:43
I hear you on the tripod issue. I simply don't like to carry them. Even when I take one, I seldom use it. As you say, a poor excuse for avoiding use of something that could probably improve many of my photos, especially those taken in low light.
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