Nile boatman, Elephantine Island, Aswan, Egypt, 1984 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Eight: Light and shadow shape meaning > Nile boatman, Elephantine Island, Aswan, Egypt, 1984

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Nile boatman, Elephantine Island, Aswan, Egypt, 1984

The translucent backdrop dominates this photograph of an Egyptian boatman waiting to carry his passengers along the Nile. The sails of the boats glow as the sun passes through them, while the lush foliage, his costume, and his body language create a mood of timeless tranquility that brings a sense of place to this image.

Nikormat FT,Vivitar 70-200mm zoom
Scanned from Kodachrome transparency. hide exif

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Mia		24-Jan-2006 04:53
Phil, You really got me there. I was sure this man was a statue. And look in his right hand, he seems to hold pink flowers. It is an optical illusion, of course. (I hope you can see it too) You got my imagination going, I guess. Nice to have you back! I spent the evening in your new gallery!

Phil Douglis		24-Jan-2006 04:33
An image full of riddles. Bouquet? Where? And where is that elegant statue?

Mia		07-Jan-2006 15:52
At first, without reading your comment, it looked like a sort of supervisor monitoring the building of some structure (the sails looked like plastic sheets used during construction). I was also puzzled by the bouquet he holds in his right hand (optical illusion of course). The cropping and combination light/shadow give a special dimension to the picture. I like the artistry in this picture: the sails are gorgeous and impressive, the statue has some elegance and the flowers/bushes/trees add an element of beauty.

Phil Douglis		23-Oct-2005 19:08
Thank you, Ahmed, for this comment. It is always gratifying to know that I have made an image that has meaning to people who are native to the places I photograph. I am glad that this photograph has taken you back to Aswan. Although I made this picture 21 years ago, it seems like yesterday. A photograph can overcome the limits of our memories -- and this one is no exception. Whenever I think of my visit to Aswan, I think of this moment in light, time, and space.

ahmed		23-Oct-2005 10:19
One of the best photos for Aswan, I'm from Aswan, I live far away, you took me there, thanks, the picture is so much good, the light impact, the green color, the structure with the boattman in the middle of everything, you've done a grea picture.

Guest		18-Oct-2003 20:45
The DOF is sooo good here. ah, I just love the souvenirs you brought back from your trips and would like to thank you for sharing them

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