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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Fifteen: Making travel portraits that define personality and character. > Tibetan woman at home, Lhasa, Tibet, 2004
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27-JUN-2004

Tibetan woman at home, Lhasa, Tibet, 2004

During the three and a half weeks I spent in China, we were given a chance to converse with a cross-section of people in their homes. One of our most memorable home visitations was with this proud Tibetan woman, who spoke at length to us of life in one of the most world’s most distant outposts. What struck me most was the similarity of the vivid, forthright primary colors that envelope her, and the positive, outgoing nature of her personality. Her demeanor seemed to match those strong colors in her clothing and upholstery. In spite of her age, she is strong and alert. She stands with one hand open, the other holding her ever-present prayer beads. I found myself comparing the young woman featured in the Tibet travel poster on the wall to the lady of this house. Both women display strongly positive attitudes, and both are dressed in similarly colorful traditional Tibetan costumes. Yet one is older and very much present, the other younger and ephemeral. Tibet is a region still remote, impoverished, and considerably distressed. Yet this portrait can show us another side of Tibet -- a look into the spirit of its people.

Canon PowerShot G5
1/30s f/2.2 at 8.0mm full exif

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Phil Douglis27-Jun-2005 20:21
Hi, Rod. Thanks for noting the incongruity of the water cooler. It does imply that even in this, one of the most remote regions of the world, contemporary luxuries such as pure, cool water are readily accepted and used by people who otherwise cling to tradition.
Guest 27-Jun-2005 17:43
Of all of your galleries, this is my favorite. Of all the photos within this gallery, this is one of the best and most expressive. The first thing I noticed is as you mentioned: her colorful, traditional clothing, and how well it matches the upholstery and scene of her traditional home. Everything about her and her home says "Traditional Tibet" to me. But something about the scene made me feel something was out of place. Then I noticed her fresh water supply, and how new, modern, and out of place it is. This photos says to me she's traditional Tibetan, who is quite practical in thought. Her home is as it is, because there is no reason to change it (she could have chosen any poster for her wall, for example). Her clothing could have been made from more modern fabrics, but her current clothing is fine for her, thus is not changed. But, for water, she saw that a more "modern" solution was best, thus she went with the modern foutain. The photo says sometimes a 'modern' solution may be better than a 'traditional' one.
Phil Douglis30-Nov-2004 20:34
Thanks, Filip, for making another important point. We can argue endlessly over what to include or exclude from a picture. There are no rights or wrongs. It comes down to what we are trying to say. This is my own interpretation of this scene, and I chose to include the water dispenser, poster, and chest in the picture because they added important context for Tibet. I also like the way she looks to the right with a sense of great pride. In portraiture, the subject can look right at you, or perhaps look away. This picture would have worked as well if she had been placed at right and looked away, because then she would be looking out of the picture itself. Here, I have alloed plenty of space for her half-turned look of pride.
Guest 22-Nov-2004 08:33
Some might argue that the water bottle / dispenser combination should be cropped and one should only frame the woman and the bed...I'd say: why change reality? That's the way it is...the woman, wearing her traditional dress, stands next to something from the new era. It's quite hard to find a place without outside influence in the world today.

As for the shot, nothing to nit pick. Yout framing and composition are both excellent. The poster on the wall is a great addition to the image and the way she's looking outside the frame works for me as well. Good work.
Phil Douglis12-Aug-2004 21:05
Thanks for this wonderful observation, Teresa. The Tibetan smile comes from the heart. They do not smile because it is required of them. It is not pasted on. It is, instead, an expression of how they really feel. They are an open, trusting, gentle people, who have been poorly treated for centuries and still come up smiling. Maybe that's why some many manage to live long lives despite the harsh climate and often primitive living conditions. I hope you can return someday, and I hope your study of photography will help you to meaningfully capture those smiles with you go back. In this shot, I've added context for that smile by including her proud posture and a sense of place.
Teresa Vilhena12-Aug-2004 20:42
I visited Tibet on April 2001 and since then I missed so much this smile, these people. I think that they have the most pure smile in the world, don't you feel this? When I was there I did not know anything about photography ( I begin to study now), but I enjoyed a lot taking shots with my small Olympus. One day, I will return. This is my dream. I really loved to see this smile again. Thank you very much.
Teresa
Phil Douglis22-Jul-2004 00:27
Thanks, Wendy -- it is no accident that both of us photographed this woman a couple of years apart. She is obviously a valued part of Overseas Adventure Travel's "home visit" program that makes this company's tours of China so informative. And since both of us took this same trip eighteen months apart with the same company, we both had a chance to make portraits of this wonderful woman. I like your portrait because of its intimacy and her responsive expression. You really captured her vitality and personality. As you say, my shot is an environmental portrait, which works a bit differently by adding important context for meaning. Both forms of portraiture can express ideas, as long as a meaningful expression is there (in your case) and meaningful context is included in an environmental approach.
Wendy O22-Jul-2004 00:03
I know this lady! http://www.pbase.com/image/10215354
I like this shot...you included her surroundings which really add to knowing her.
Phil Douglis14-Jul-2004 21:59
You are right, Mo -- this woman is very proud. It came through in her answers to our probing questions, and it comes through in this portrait as well.
monique jansen14-Jul-2004 13:12
The pride and joy that jump from her face to the viewer - great environmental portrait.
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