Jakartan police officer, a photo from Jawa Barat, Java

Photographer's Note

Taken near the central train station in Jakarta. It was one of those outdoor police terminals. I wonder if they would have allowed the photo if a native Indonesian had asked for it. Almost all Indonesians were honored that a Bule would ask for their photo. Sometimes police insisted I take their picture - very different from most countries.

Details of this shot I didn't want to crop: the "first-aid" kit on the far left, the radio, the map, the 'diplomas'. Just another day at the office.

And after reading the last note, the name on his uniform, just a little wink there...

robiuk, eleparc, Roly, ChrisJ, hantulaut, touristdidi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhe00 (271) 2004-10-17 18:14

great face and sharp capture. i might prefer a tighter crop, because the rest of the frame doesn't have much info or interest.

robiuk (10807) 2004-10-17 18:45

He certainly looks tough!
Good compo and a very flashy uniform!
;-D

eleparc (24063) 2004-10-17 19:24

Did you run into pbs? you seem to have mostly pics of policemen lately;-)) LOL interesting portrait!!

WALTERito (351) 2004-10-17 19:43

very good portrait, clear and sharp and all....
you certainly don't see piles of work here !
as for his name... well I haven't said anything ;-)

rabani (9645) 2004-10-17 21:13

Thought I take up your challenge this week. But I wouldn't go as far as getting a cop shot. And with a name like that on his uniform, I think I let you do it. Furthermore, I don't like the way he kinda "rolled" up the newspaper in his hand.
By the way, usually non asian could shoot just about anything in Asia really.

cetrocomix (309) 2004-10-17 21:52

Well, the guy looks perhaps a little more rough than the woman who dances in Bali or the ones in the girls bar, but it's a great portrait. It looks so real. And I wouldn't crop it! Once again nothing to say, for me expression and technic are perfect.

aryary (126) 2004-10-18 0:06

Good portrait with perfect lighting since I still can see the facial details. Were it a native Indonesian who photographed him, he would've interrogated me first, fearing that I am a kind of reporter who always writes bad things about the police ;)

kinginexile (2598) 2004-10-18 0:06

let me see if i understand: from a makassar brothel to the police station in Jakarta. Gee! man, you are leaving traces as you travel... I hope there is no cause to effect relation between the 2 pix! ahahah.

Congratulations on a super sharp pix, which of course fits perfectly the moment and the willing but non-plussed and tough, as it should, stance of the "gendarme".

So, it seems that i will have to invest in a Canon EOS Rebel, really!

PS: what flash did you use. the one on the camera or extra?

[2]

ChrisJ (171366) 2004-10-18 5:15

Good photo-documentary portrait. This guy looks like someone you would NOT want to cross! Good composition, color & sharpness also.

touristdidi (8583) 2004-10-21 9:12 [Comment]

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Housegaijin (0) 2009-05-06 5:17

A powerful portrait of a man empowered... Way back in 2004 and you got everything right about this one - the angle, the background, the timing too. Again I say Canon ought to buy up your work to demonstrate the merits of the 24-70!
bw,
-F