Body painting Surma, a photo from Southern, South

Photographer's Note

Body painting Surma - Ethiopia

The men decorate themselves by putting some white clay on their bodies. Then by the help of a friend sliding his fingers on the warrior's body they get this figures. This dressing up and body decoration is meant to show their beauty and virility and thus catch the women attention.

This kind of body painting is especially made during long periods spent in the camps where the cattle is kept by young men. It is also a must during the donga (stick fighting) ceremony.

dawekato, CLODO, Kofman, trevormoffiet has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

JFS (32459) 2012-05-26 9:04

Hi Michel!
Artistic and superb close-up of these painted bodies. Top class shot. Bravo!
Cheers,
Juan

dawekato (2269) 2012-05-26 9:24

It caught my attention! Love the coloured beads against a mostly B/W image. Terrific close cropping for an intimate view, although I would also like to see the whole body. Good DOF. B ravo!

carlo62 (81265) 2012-05-26 9:26

Ciao Michel
un grafismo fisico molto bello.
Ottima scelta del taglio e buona qualit�.
Saluti
Carlo

CLODO (45118) 2012-05-27 0:59

bonjour Michel

Bravo pour cet corps abstrait, bienmis en 騅idence avec ces colliers color駸 dont la raideur relative contraste avec les zig zags de la peinture.
Bon dimanche
CLODO

trevormoffiet (3112) 2012-05-27 1:56

Hi Michel,
I Like the thought that you have put into this close cropped image. If you had not close-cropped then we would not have focused our attentions in the way that you wanted: that is on the colour and patterns and the intimacy of the two men. There is just enough information to hint of a larger story outside the frame.
Excellent.
REgards,
Trevor

BennyV (34780) 2012-05-27 2:00

Bonjour Michel

This is another one of your Ethiopian shots that I really like. Great framing to focus on the subject. The graphic patterns on the back do the rest.

Benny

sevy (58) 2012-05-28 5:04

Bonjour Michel,

D駸ol�, plus tr鑚 pr駸ent sur TE en ce moment mais je d馗ouvre avec plaisir tes derniers posts. Ca me fait assez penser � une expo de Hans Silverster sur les vall馥s de l'Omo que j'ai vue il y a quelques temps et qui m'avait assez impression�.
Un endroit qui semble tr鑚 int駻essant, mais qui ne me parait pas facile pour organiser un voyage.

Yves.

i9l2y1m8a8t3 (4814) 2012-06-03 21:19

Hi Michel!

I loved the zooming and the way you've composed this image. Those patterns are very attractive and intriguing as well. The accessories create a nice contrast too. Great capture!

all the best,
Matt

geneward2 (696) 2013-12-25 8:02