Nodding Off, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005 by Phil Douglis

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Nodding Off, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005

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22-JAN-2005

Nodding Off, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005

I was not sure if these young boys were supposed to be collecting donations or studying their lessons, but one of them is dozing and the other is not far behind. A few moments after I made this photograph, a monk's command sent them scurrying. I saw the potential for a number of Human Values to involved here: exhaustion, shyness, immaturity, discipline, and obedience, for example. One of these kids is exhausted, the other is shy. Given the fact that a monk would soon be lecturing them, I can also assume that they were not really supposed to be doing what they were doing at that table, which stood at the entrance to a Buddhist temple. My camera discovered them before the monk did, however, so both discipline and obedience are human values that were expressed shortly after I made this photo and are not actually expressed within it. I organized the image around the brilliant colors and the geometry of the signs, window, molding, table, and table cover. The children fit perfectly in to the composition, and the fact that one child seems to be peeking at us while the other sleeps is at the heart of the expression.

Canon PowerShot G6
1/200s f/4.0 at 28.8mm hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	22-Jan-2005 12:31:15
Make	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot G6
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	28.8 mm
Exposure Time	1/200 sec
Aperture	f/4
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias
White Balance	(-1)
Metering Mode	multi spot (3)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		14-Dec-2005 21:44
Rod -- I explained why I organized this image as I did in my previous responses. I feel this image is focused well enough so that viewers can readily appreciate the meaning I am expressing. There is nothing here that is truly "out of focus" or even in "soft focus" It is just the way my lens happened to record this particular scene. I was probably using a conversion lens, placed over the zoom lens of the G6, which might have optically softened the image very slightly, but hardly enough to affect the meaning as I see it. I do not make images as exercises in technical perfection, but rather as vehicles of expression. If there is sometimes a rough edge to an image, so be it. I saw this a charming and colorful moment in light, time, and space, and from the comments I read on this page, other viewers have been able to get a lot out of it.

Guest		14-Dec-2005 18:15
This photo is interesting. I am not sure what to make of it, really. I can understand why it is composed as it is. But the lack of sharp focus on the boys really takes away from the focus on them (which, to me, is what is expressing the human values). I understand it is because of the choice of camera. But, it seems to me nothing in the frame is really "sharp." It just takes away from the expression of the values...

Phil Douglis		19-Oct-2005 23:48
This image is built around a series of panels. There is a vertical panel on the left, which I intended to be seen in both Laotian and English. Coming out of that is the desk, as well as a banner behind it which I have deliberately turned into a horizontal panel to rhythmically echo the horizontal thrust of the desk. In between are the boys -- which are in focus -- the depth of focus in this image extend from the foreground right into the background, so there is no way that they can't be in focus. (There is no way I can selectively focus on the boys from this distance given the camera I am using to make this example. The small size of the G6 sensor and lens eliminates selective focusing except at very close distances.)

Denny Crane		19-Oct-2005 21:39
The composition could be much improved by eliminating up to 40% of the bottom of picture. Leave the native script, but lose the English translation (or much of it) along with the table legs and big nothingness under the table. This would place the boys in the lower part of the picture, and you would then include more of sign above them -- hopefully the entire sign. It has nice colors complementing the nice colors in the boys and wall. Or maybe don't include more on top and just keep crop out the bottom 25% to 40%. It appears that the focus might not be on the boys, which it should be.

Phil Douglis		19-May-2005 21:35
Thanks, Anna, for adding these thoughts. I appreciate your comments, no matter how brief. They trigger thoughts that I can use to extend the teaching potential of my images, such as this one. Thanks again. Phil

Anna Pagnacco		19-May-2005 20:33
I told you that I am very terse in my comments... unfortunately....(especially if I have to express myself in English.S)orry for theat Phil :-) Another thing most importrtant to me is that I do not comment at all shots that do not hit me in some way.... It might be a small detail...or vivid beautiful warm colors...or attitudes or situations or above all the light... To make it short .....I have to like what I see eventhough sometimes I am not able to explain it in details.. Ciao Anna

Phil Douglis		14-May-2005 03:15
I was drawn to these boys by the bold colors all around them. I knew before they ever reacted in this way that I had the makings of an expressive image here because of how those colors represented this culture. The matching of the two primary colors red and yellow, is so typical of Southeast Asian cultures. When you say "great color" I can only assume that the color both draws your eye and says something to you at the same time, and that's why. As for the "accurate composition" I assume you mean that I've organized this image to stress the content in it. There is nothing left over that is extraneous, is there? And by "interesting moment," I am assuming that you are drawn to the behavior of the boys because of what it expresses to you. To draw your interest, a picture must be more than superficially attractive. It must stimulate the imagination and express meaning. I am assuming that you feel that this particular moment in time best tells the story that has seized your imagination. I don't want to ever put words in your mouth, Anna -- I am just trying to read between the lines here to sense what it really is that pulls you to this image. Feel feel to add your thoughts to mine if you wish. Thanks for these observations, Anna -- you have given us all a chance to look more deeply into this image for what it expresses rather than for what it shows.

Anna Pagnacco		14-May-2005 00:38
Great colors and again an accurate composition and light! Interesting moment captured...Anna

Phil Douglis		09-Mar-2005 18:37
Another interesting observation, Clara. I am not a student of theology, so have no basis upon which to make such judgments. I do know that historically, all religions evolve and divide into many different forms of observance and practice. So Buddhism, in its purest sense, might well no longer be what it once set out to be. However I don't think that I can find any sign of religious education being imposed in children within this image. I do know that many Lao children routinely become monks for a few months or years. But these children are not even monks. They may just be school boys waiting for someone to meet them at this temple. On the other hand, if this image triggers a chain of thought which causes you to question religious education itself, and along with it, question the changes in an entire body of religious thought and practice, I am delighted to offer this image to you as the agent.

Guest		09-Mar-2005 14:47
Knowing this is a temple, the image poses a question about religious education being imposed to children. Such is a well known pattern within monotheistic societies (Jewish, Christian, Muslim) but much less usual in Eastern Polytheistic and Non-theistic societies. Specially Buddhism originally is based upon open discernment and intelligence, is not about memorizing texts to repeat like a parrot later. As I said before, Buddhism (acording Sakyamuni Buddha's predictions) is now in decline.

Phil Douglis		07-Mar-2005 19:54
That's one of my aims, River -- to establish a connection between the subject and viewer. No matter what cultural and economic differences may exist, the human values that bond us can be expressed photographically. And that is how this image makes its connection.

Phil Douglis		07-Mar-2005 19:51
That's one of my aims, River -- to establish a connection between the subject and viewer. No matter what cultural and economic differences may exist, the human values that bond us can be expressed photographically. And that is how this image makes its connection.

Guest		07-Mar-2005 17:41
The boy actually slept seems so peaceful and he must having a sweet dream... I am really enjoying these photos, because it brings us a total different culture, life and humanity. The conditions in their life seems so poor compared to what we have here, but it's fancinating to see people's lifestyle without having a judgement on where they live or how they live... I naturally feel connected to the picture...

Phil Douglis		27-Feb-2005 20:31
I saw the humor here, too. Mark Twain could have used such a moment in Tom Sawyer!

monique jansen		27-Feb-2005 08:57
This one made me laugh! On the one hand you have the sleeping boy, and from the fact that he is sleeping on top of his books at a desk, you already know he is not supposed to be sleeping, the other one is peeking at the viewer through half closed eyes, a bit shy, a bit sly as well.

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