A Lesson in Culture, a photo from Kunene, North

Photographer's Note

Visiting this small OvaHimba family group was an opportunity to learn something of the rich cultural heritage of this pastoral-nomadic people group. In this shot you can see two sisters, the younger one is used to visitors and Namibian based, the older one now lives in Angola and shy with strangers. The young man dressed in more western clothing is their brother.
If you study the clothing of the two girls, you will notice clear differences. The older sister wears a more elaborate headdress and her jewellery is more extensive (and expensive). Any OvaHimba meeting her for the first time will see that she is both married and a mother. Her younger sister's clothing informs us that she is 'engaged' but not yet married or a mother.
The girls' mother taught them how to create the goat-skin skirts and jewellery, a tradition that has passed down many generations.
The group are standing in front of one of their huts. The structure is made from branches and cattle dung and is dark and cool inside.

NB I have tried another method of reducing file size and sharpening as suggested by Wolfgang (Wolf38). I would like feedback on sharpness if anyone has the time. Thanks and thanks Wolfgang.

Kofman, rmajum, tyro, ManuMay, TopGeo, bartekp, vasilpro, annjackman, COSTANTINO, RhodieIke, kennyblack, Mistral, yanastallerova has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mauro61 (53411) 2011-11-11 0:55

ciao Rosemary,
una immagine come sempre molto ben curata con la presentazione di questa gente legata alle tradizioni di un tempo che sembra lontanissimo dai giorni nostri.
Ottima definizione e luce,
un saluto
maurizio

ManuMay (36447) 2011-11-11 1:58

Hi Rosemary!

Thanks...This is what TE is all about...learning about the world...

And your capture fits exactly to those terms...a good lesson for all of us, a lesson in photography and a lesson in culture...I really appreciate your work today...

Thanks...

Best regards...

Manu

tyro (30513) 2011-11-11 2:05

Hi Rosemary,

Firstly, what a fabulously interesting note. I have been trying to study the attire of these two sisters to see if I can identify which features of their dress have which meanings. Not very successfully I may add, but I've found it fascinating.

The brother, on the other hand, appears to be wearing much more Western dress, the sort of modern casual things you could pick up in any shop here. Is this because he is young? Do the older men wear different dress to him?

Sorry, I ramble on. I should really be commenting upon your photograph but the amazing thing about this site is that some people's notes can be just so very interesting! Yes, the photo. It's fine. O.K.? No, actually, it is well up to your usual high standard, the colours and the lighting being superb.

You ask about sharpness. I'm not quite sure what Wolfgang's methods are, but this picture looks very satisfactorily sharp to me - but, then, so do all your pictures. Point is - do you feel happier with it than with your standard methods of resizing and sharpening?

No, I don't know about Wolfgang's methods. They wouldn't be similar to or the same as "Luko's sharpening method" of which I have heard in the past?

Beautiful!

Kind Regards,

John.

wolf38 (30) 2011-11-11 2:08

Hi Rosemary. I like the photo very well.
Thank you for mentioning my name. At my recommendation, however, I forgot one point. You should have the sharpening in the camera menu to "0". The sharpening is then set in the image editing software. Basically, the sharpening occurs at the end of the image processing. Rgds, Wolfgang.

Sergiom (117241) 2011-11-11 5:18

Bonjour Rosemary

Ces jeunes femmes superbes dans leurs vêtements traditionnels sont comme figées par la caméra. La légère contre plongée les fait paraitre très grande et la lumière est magnifique.

Amicalement

Serge

dkmurphys (77972) 2011-11-11 5:25

Hi Rosemary,
Very picturesque capture. Good for them for preserving the tradition.
Have a beautiful weekend.

GiorDah (3) 2011-11-11 5:30

Geia soy Rosemary ! Excellent the image of these women an impressive scene
I was struck by the color
Excellent light.
Filika, Giorgos

SteveH (7970) 2011-11-11 23:13

Hi Rosemary, Great documentary shot of these traditionally dressed girls. i like the inclusion of the other elements, showing us their lifestyle too. cheers, Steve

siolaw (38294) 2011-11-11 23:32

Hi Rosemary
I saw somewhere that Himba women are not allowed to touch water, and clean themselves with "aromatic" smoke of burning herbs and resins... Sounds uncomfortable!
Good family picture of the impressive ladies with perfect exposure and sharpness. the brother doesn't seem to care much about the photographing!
Greetings
Laurent

vrabieionut (2189) 2011-11-12 0:17

Salut Rosemary,

Good job....Great Picture! The color is beautiful.Excellent composition and point of view.

Have a nice weekend,
Ionut

TopGeo (38220) 2011-11-12 13:03

Hi Rosemary,
Excellent scene beautiful portraits with very nice composition, the sharpness and lights are excellent, I like the interesting details, superb moment with colours and perfect frame! great shot,
Best regards
Georgios

bartekp (4746) 2011-11-12 14:16

Hi Rosemary,

Very interesting shot. Composition, natural warm colors and sharpness is superb.

Have a nice evening

Bartek

vasilpro (41801) 2011-11-12 16:32

Hello Rosemary,
Superb composition, beautiful and very interesting scene, excellent POV, lovely light and colors, very good clarity and contrast, TFS!
Have a nice Sunday, Vasilis.

scalerman (26900) 2011-11-12 18:13

Maybe a little contrived - but doesn't that say something - very deeply - about the image and the situation in which it was taken - itself? I like what this image says about the day you took it. c

annjackman (23019) 2011-11-13 0:35

Hi Rosemary,
A really nice image of this culture. Those skin tones are as beautiful as ever.
I have read closely the sharpening discussion which explains a note you made to me a while back about 300dpi which I did't understand. I have just checked in my PS settings and the default is 72dpi as suggested by Wolfgang. I was also interested in his post-resizing sharpening with such a small radius - I will try that. I sharpen a bit before saving as a PSD file (about 50-77% and radius of approx. 2.0) - this is because it is just right for printing to A3 size. If I then want to make a TE image I will resize to the TE standard (max. 800 pixels) and then add a touch more sharpening of about 20-25% (radius approx. 2.0). Then save as a JPEG. Your discussion has inspired me to play around with the USM settings.
Best wishes, Ann

COSTANTINO (104089) 2011-11-13 9:09

Hello
a wonderful shot with many culture details
no more comments,this shot describes everything
regards
Costantino

RhodieIke (11752) 2011-11-14 23:15

Morning Rosemary, Your capture of these siblings in the OvalHimba group is splendid and your note informs us so well about their life.Interesting to see the brother with his western clothes and tyre sandals. Your photo is great to explore in the corners seeing their pots to their cattle. Fantastic, love it, Tfs, Cheers Iain.

stevesaba (8167) 2011-11-18 1:35

Hi Rosemary!
Another very splendid shot of yours from Namibia! An amazing photo, with so many great details including their huts. I remember in an earlier upload you described the red mud that they apply every morning. Its all very wonderful and amazing. Congratulations, very fine. Warm regards,
Steve

jadesgran (5433) 2011-11-19 13:03

Hi Rosemary
This is a very strong image of this family.It is interesting to read your note - thankyou. Beautiful colours and added interest seeing the huts .T.F.S.
Best Wishes Gladys.

P.S. Thankyou for your comments on my `Tree On Fire`.