African Gothic, a photo from Limpopo, East

Photographer's Note

The Zion Christian Church, or ZCC, is one of the most popular religions in South Africa. Zionism blends traditional African beliefs with faith-healing and water baptism.

Followers are easily recognizable, as most men are wearing a five-pointed silver star on their chest, like a sheriff, and usually a "captain style" hat. Women cover their head with turban and wear specific colours, usually green attire for Sunday services.

Members of the ZCC are also recognised in the work field as honest and dependable employees. According to their religion they abstain from alcohol, smoking, eating pork, sexual promiscuity and violence.

I came across these people that were walking along the road, going to their Saturday special dance, part of ZCC ceremonies.

About the title, it refers to the famous painting from Grant Wood, called American Gothic, for which Sevy have underlined a loose evocation with this photo.

jjcordier, jemaflor, daddo, sevy, holmertz, rigoletto, worldcitizen, COSTANTINO, ourania has marked this note useful

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jjcordier (79299) 2014-01-08 23:23

Andr�
Fantastique photo de ce couple d'adeptes du ZCC qui posent pour toi avec leurs plus beaux atours. Lumi鑽e parfaite et qualit� d'image au top.
Amiti駸
JJ

jemaflor (135308) 2014-01-08 23:31

Salut Andr�,
Int駻essante contribution et note pour nous pr駸enter ce couple, excellente luminosit� et teintes m麥e si le haut du visage de l'homme est un peu dans l'ombre en raison de la casquette (qui tient bien son re), une impression de fiert� dans la pose et de beaux v黎ements traditionnels surtout pour cette femme.

daddo (28728) 2014-01-08 23:58

Hi Andre. I saw the image as I was scrolling and could not see your pseudonym. I was sure it was a "Wanda"- her style has rubbed off on you. I like their direct gaze. Of course the colour and exposure are excellent.Wonderful African light. Best wishes. Klaudio.

wolf38 (30) 2014-01-09 0:51

Hello Andre. Here again you show a perfect photo. Such photos are images for an exhibition or a photo magazine. Meiun compliment for this photographic excellence.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

sevy (58) 2014-01-09 1:44

Salut Andr�,

Merci pour la d馗ouverte, je ne connaissais pas le ZCC.
L'騁oile de Sh駻iff me plait beaucoup.
C'est amusant, ta photo me fait penser � un tableau c駘饕re repr駸entant un vieux couple de fermiers rigoristes am駻icains; et pourtant le tableau 騁ait en format paysage et non vertical. C'est sans doute la posture qui me fait faire le lien entre les 2.
Joli boulot sur le cadrage: � droite le baton et � gauche les ombres qui s'騁irent; les 2 encadrent bien le couple.
Tout au plus on peut regretter l'mombre dure sous la casquette de l'homme, mais d'un autre c� 軋 traduit l'ambiance du soleil fort qui est la norme par l�-bas. Et un l馮er coup de flash en fill-in (pas dispo sur ton appareil) aurait sans doute cass� l'ambiance et l'駲uilibre de l'馗lairage.

Yves.

holmertz (92766) 2014-01-09 2:45

Hello Andre,
This is a lovely and impressive double portrait. Apart from the colour this reminds me of the kind of portraits that were made a hundred years go or more. I admire that you had the guts to approach these people in the road, but this was a superb opportunity not to be missed. They pose perfectly in a most dignified way and I am fascinated by their clothes, especially the woman's, and most of all her marvellous turban.
Along with the informative note this is a superb contribution to TE.
Kind regards,
Gert

Corry (4508) 2014-01-09 6:58

Bonjour Andr�

Tr鑚 beau portrait de ces deux personnes dans leur v黎ement de sortie. Nettet� de l'image excellente. La note est tr鑚 int駻essante. F駘icitations.

Yvon

saxo042 (38078) 2014-01-09 8:33

Hi Andre,
A very good picture, with an obvious reference to the famous painting. This is just as good, a well balanced view with perfect colours. There is a great part of dignity here.
Kind regards
Gunnar

yquem46 (38752) 2014-01-09 8:50

Bonsoir Andr�
Un excellent portrait de ce couple, manifestement bien fier de l'int駻黎 que tu leur portes
Ils aimeront s皞ement en avoir un tirage
Bonne soir馥, amicalement
patrick

BennyV (32570) 2014-01-09 10:53

Hello Andre

The great title reference adds a playful note to these serious posers. I happened to be reading about that painting yesterday!

Well spotted, great picture!

Benny

rigoletto (34279) 2014-01-10 13:04

hi andre. a cross reference to a painting, and you'll find me here :)
sevy's interpretation and your completeing it with the title are genius. of course the base is your photo, and a very strong base it is. if grant wood was in africa today, he would be painting this. superb double portrait, and i want to add some two more reinterpretations on that famous work to the WS. i hope you enjoy :)

[workshop] [compare] +

Hanssie (11018) 2014-01-11 1:10

What a superb portrait this is ! !

worldcitizen (14266) 2014-01-12 18:16

Hello Andre,
This is such a great double portrait. The similarity to "American Gothic" struck me right away. This couple looks so dignified, and there are so many great details: the sticks in his hands, the star on his clothes that you pointed out, and the woman's dress. Very nice!

adidas5nb (5743) 2014-01-15 4:49

your pics always have this sense of perfection and i love that fact.this one is so beautifully done.great light subject colors and sky.and the people look so nice.
regards
dwaipayan

COSTANTINO (104029) 2014-01-16 22:59

Hello
nice photo of this couple
it has been perfectly excuted
showing details of the traditional
woman dress
shot suitable for a photo magasin
regards
have a nice weekend
Costantino

ourania (51103) 2014-01-26 7:51

Hello Andre,
I like very much this portrait of the couple wearing their special clothes and making a brief stop on their way to the Saturday dance. You have made superb use of the strong light and chose an upward point of view so that they have both the characteristic landscape and the fabulous blue sky as backdrop. I also like their closeness in the narrow frame and the 3D way they stand out, an effect that accentuates the vividness of the portrait. The shadows are marvellous too. They are posing in such an innocent and straightforward way, it's touching. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely day,
Ourania