Rum Bum Bum Bum
The drum corps of the Indonesian Naval Academy band marches through a park in Bangkok.
The drum corps of the Indonesian Naval Academy band marches through a park in Bangkok.
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Jul, 2016Views
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Awards
Winner in Marching Bands Photo Challenge
Peer Award
All Star
Superb Composition
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
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Top 30 rank
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this series of photos in Lumpini Park in central Bangkok, Thailand. I was in Thailand to do some teaching and had sought out some nature in the park but happened upon an unexpected parade by the Indonesian Navy- not sure why they were in Bangkok but they are apparently a celebrated group for these kinds of performances and must have been touring?Time
This image was taken around 3:30 PM local time.Lighting
The sun was still pretty high at this hour in the afternoon in Bangkok because it was August. Full sun, especially high overhead, can be brutal for image making but in this case it not only helped bring out some of the bright colors of their uniforms but it also provided the shade on the drummers' eyes, which was a really nice effect.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 20D and Canon EF 24-70 L zoom lens, handheld, no flash.Inspiration
I very rarely shoot images of people and was actually in the park looking for interesting birds, flowers, and especially monitor lizards and other reptiles. I heard the sound of the marching band and when I saw the colors and costumes (you can just barely see a black walrus mask on a drummer behind these 4) I couldn't resist trying to get some interesting shots. These drummers were especially photogenic between their colors, concentration and synchrony.Editing
Only a little bit of cropping, straightening of the horizon/vertical lamp post in background, tone adjustment (mostly decreasing the strong white highlights), and subtly decreasing the exposure and contrast.In my camera bag
Because I normally focus on shooting wildlife I typically carry just my 5D- now a mkIII- and one telephoto zoom lens, either Canon 100-400 L or Tamron 150-600. Most days I prefer to be light but sometimes carry my old 5D (or 20D) as back-up. When I'm out to shoot wildlife I don't even bother to carry a wide angle lens as my pocket Canon Powershot G9 and even my Lumia phone can both shoot raw files. I do sometimes use my Canon EF 24-70 L lens for landscapes and close-ups and love my Slik tripod, but rarely have the opportunity to use it. I also toy with a circular polarizer sometimes but otherwise avoid filters. On this trip I wasn't planning any significant photo opps so brought only my old 20D (lower risk of loss, theft, damage).Feedback
This image was mostly about timing- getting a nice alignment of the drummers, their hands raised, etc., and composition- arranging those elements but having a strong focal point in the near drummers face.
