Lady in Blue, a photo from Badakhshan, East

Photographer's Note

It clearly wasn't a portrait photography situation. While I like the contrast, I would have preferred to show this lady's eyes in brighter light. Like all ladies in Wakhan, she was very shy and refused point-blank when I asked for a photo. But Azim, my guide, managed to talk her into it. They know each other well, she is his boss's spouse. She is the wife of Malang Daria, an almost legendary (for those who have trekked in Afghan Pamir) guide who, in his youth, used to work as a porter on expeditions organised by foreign tour agencies and then started his own travel business that benefits the local economy rather than siphon the money off and into other countries. He is rarely at home, especially during the mountaineering season.

I had an honour to meet Malang a few days later, in another village. I will upload two photos taken on that occasion in WS:
1. A portrait of Malang, taken in equally challenging light.
2. Preparations for an expedition into Pamir. I was told "Come with us". I really would have loved to. It's amazing what opportunities we sometimes waste because we haven't got time.

I would like to use this image to answer a question Paul asked in his kind comment to my last post, regarding the interaction of Ismaili women and the Taliban. Fortunately, there wasn't any. Taliban never reached those villages. Neither did the war against the Soviets in the last century. The region has been heavily affected by the poverty resulting from the war but it remained peaceful. I hope it will stay that way.

pajaran, holmertz, jhm, jean113, Fis2, PiotrF, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, Royaldevon, macjake, CLODO, tyro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Energysavingelk (7834) 2020-07-19 3:54

Hi Kasia!

The difference between a natural portrait and one with additional light tricks is clearly perceptible, but does not disturb anyhow, and to my eyes, this is just more credible.
Her blue gown stands out before the black background, and there is honour and pride in her face. Well done!

Have a fine week!
Sven

holmertz (102866) 2020-07-19 3:55

Hello Kasia,
The dark background is quite perfect but I understand your complaints of the not totally perfect light on her eyes. It's still a beautiful portrait, and she doesn't after all look too worried at the thought of being portraid.
I have been in similar situations a couple of times in India, when I wanted to take portraits of women and they only, reluctantly, accepted to pose when ordered rather brusquely by completely unknown men. I was happy to get the photos but felt rather bad that I had indirectly forced them to do something they didn't want.
In Afghanistan I never found the courage to ask a woman to pose.
Interesting complements in the WS, but less beautiful.
Kind regards,
Gert

jhm (211736) 2020-07-19 5:58

Hello Kasia,

Not the best circumstances to make a portrait, but you did excellent.
Everything sharp and clear.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Silvio1953 (221813) 2020-07-19 7:17

Ciao Kasia, great portrait of lovely lady in blue, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

dedee (3117) 2020-07-19 8:11

I see your point about the eyes, but itis still quite a stunning portrait. The blue against the black is wonderful.

jean113 (27901) 2020-07-19 8:28

Hello Kasia, three interesting pictures.
It is a lovely portrait, yet to me she still looks a little shy of the camera.
The dark background works perfectly as her blue clothing and her face stand out so well.
Persistence paid off!
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

Fis2 (170975) 2020-07-19 8:29

Czesc Kasia!
Znakomity portret, kobieta robi wrazenie.
Dobry kadr, kolory i swiatlo.
Pozdrawiam.
KRZYSZTOF!!!

lousat (139400) 2020-07-19 9:32

Hi Kasia,so a difficult portrait to do,but finally it's here! And it's truly beautiful,the pose,the face expression and the blue of her clothes are preciou ingredients for the beauty of this pic. Nice capture of the husband some day later in the WS,and useful full view about all it need to prepare the trek. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

foxy (3461) 2020-07-19 11:50

Hello Kasia,
It's my honour to see to know what you've done and accomplished through your photography - very professional.
This portrait is beautiful and natural. Her expression is neutral neither shy nor happy but slightly hesitation how to react in front of camera. If you could ask Malang to do it for you, I think she'll be more ease.
I like Malang portrait better. The stare and the slightly grin on his face speaks about a man and his missions for success and better life.
It was a pity that you don't have time for the trek. An adventured missed :-(
Thanks for sharing.
Loong

PiotrF (54920) 2020-07-19 13:54

Czesc Kasiu
Jesli spotykasz sie z odmowa zrobienia portretu to pewnie nawet samego diabla poprosila bys o wstawienictwo;-)
Ostre, kontrastowe swiatlo nie bylo Twqoim srzymierzencem, ale poradzilas sobie znakomicie.
Dobry kadr i ciekawa notatka
pozdrawiam
Piotr

PaulVDV (63026) 2020-07-19 16:36

Hello Kasia,
I had a look at the map of Afghanistan and know now where exactly the Wakhan Corridor is situated. I suppose this area was part of the northeast of Afghanistan controlled by Massoud until 2001 and therefore never directly related to the Taliban.
So, just as much, the war against the Soviet Union was not fought in Wakhan.
Thank you very much for the information.
I like your portraits very much.
I think that the black background makes the people more visible, but at the same time entails something oppressive.
Namely the difficult living conditions of this population.
Beautiful blue robe the woman is wearing.
Best regards, Paul

emka (158204) 2020-07-19 17:25

Witaj kasiu,
Nastepny piekny portret z Twojej afgańskiej wyprawy. Podoba mi sie ten kontrast czarnego tła z błękitem chyba szala. Widziałam podobne szale na bazarach Iranu. Czy ona jest w zaawansowanej ciązy? Jakos ten d�ł zdjęcia mi sie rzuca w oczy. Ciekawe tez zdjęcia w Workshopach. Zainterestowałam sie tym słynnym przewodnikiem Malangiem, zajrzałam do googla i oto co znalazłam:
http://www.wakhan-adventure.com/#contact. Czy korzystałaś z tego biura? Okazuje sie ze Malang był zdobywcą szczytu Noshaq.
Fascynujaca notka.

Pozdrawiam MAłgorzata

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-07-19 22:27

Hi Kasia
Thanks to your accompanying narratives helping us to understand your wonderful shots. That's a face of determination showing her strong, resilient features and she looks like she has had a hard life. It's super sharp in focus and striking colour, I think she could be a model for the textile company! You have done a great job here caught her beautifully with dignity, Congrats.
Best regards

COSTANTINO (116698) 2020-07-19 22:43

hello dear kasia
the lady in blue...dynamic portrait
taken perfectly from you...
I like your description and generally
your notice about lady s eyes in brighte light
welldone
regards
Costantino

papagolf21 (152607) 2020-07-19 23:01

Bonjour, Kasia,
F駘icitations pour cette superbe prise de vue. J'aime la posture naturelle prise par cette femme aux habits color駸.
L'arri鑽e-plan est parfait pour valoriser le personnage.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

jemaflor (147330) 2020-07-19 23:15

Hi Kasia,
Superb ! Well photographed with this dark BG, excellent effect for this lady portrait, so nice blue tone, perfect sharpness, tfs.

SteveH (8220) 2020-07-19 23:49

Hi Kasia, The black BG makes this quite a striking portrait of an ambiguous looking woman. Only suggestion I can make is for a tighter less central crop. Once again, I couldn't help myself and did a WS... Cheers, Steve

(BTW - I posted this twice - first time it disappeared. TE gremlins hard at work!)

[workshop] [compare]

Royaldevon (85932) 2020-07-20 2:43

Hello Kasia,

I prefer your main post to the cropped version, not sure why, maybe just seems more respectful.
Her expression doesn't really seem shy, just thoughtful. Maybe she is thinking, 'How have I let this happen!' which I suppose is a sort of shyness!
The light was difficult, yet the darkness around the lady contrasts well with the brighter folds on her head covering.

The photograph of Malang seems to show a person more shy than his wife! He is, perhaps, a very humble person, just happy to work for his neighbourhood without any desire to project himself.

I was pleased to read that these people had not been overrun by the Taliban.

Have a lovely day and thanks for sharing this,
Bev :-)

macjake (98518) 2020-07-21 0:00

Hi Kasia
what IS the black background??? just curious. and she is standing out so well in this blue color, quite mesmerizing to be honest. so captivating. she almost looks like a Wax Figure hahaha. great moment between the two of you, or should I say 3 of you :) cheers
Craig

rychem (72187) 2020-07-21 2:59

Piekny zestaw portretow, troche mi to przypomina to slynne zdjecie z National Geographic :)
pozdrawiam Ryszard

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2020-07-24 7:44

Ol� Kasia,
um retrato muito bonito esse mesmo, impactado pelo forte contraste e brilho. Excelente.
Parab駭s e Abra輟,
Lucas

CLODO (45118) 2020-07-25 0:12

Hi Kasia

Very live madonna enhanced by the black background! Good for you to have a guide who helped you to get this stunning portrait
Cheers
CLODO

tyro (30513) 2020-07-25 5:35

Hello Kasia,

Oh, I do love these two portraits! Despite what you say about the poor light, you have done an amazing job here and, although both portraits are very contrasty, nonetheless we can see detail throughout both images, not only in the deepest shadows but also in their brightest parts.

Although she was very shy, this lady has a wonderfully serene demeanour and appears very relaxed - you must have that innate ability to put your subjects at ease! And, of course, I do like the portrait of her husband, Malang, who looks to be a very fit and competent guide.

And, of course, nice to see a snapshot of the gathering of supplies for the trek into Pamir.

Wonderful!

Kind Regards,

John.

P.S. Another one for my favourites! :)

mkamionka (74669) 2020-08-14 2:38

Czesc Kasia
portret niemal jak do paszportu, chociaz tlo czarne.
Rzeczywiscie swiatlo nietypowe jak na portret ale efekt oryginalny. Niebieska chustka dekoruje kompozycje.
Interesujaca notka i przygoda.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M