OlliePitt

Half Smile BW

A portrait photo showing just the half face of a Vietnamese woman smiling.

A portrait photo showing just the half face of a Vietnamese woman smiling.
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X-T20

Aperture f/3.8 ISO 1250 Shutter 1/500 Focal Length 7790/100

location

Hoi An, An Giang, VN

upload_date

Feb, 2021

Views

397

Likes

+23

Awards

Chatter Award

Zenith Award

Curator's Selection

Top Shot Award 21

Winner in Smile Photo Challenge

Absolute Masterpiece

+13

Superb Composition

+12

Peer Award

Top Choice

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

All Star

Emotions

Impressed

Happy

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken deep into the countryside of Vietnam, not too far away from the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An. We were on a small river surrounded by beautiful nature. I had the opportunity to share a small basket boat around the river with this kind Vietnamese lady.

Time

This was taken after a morning of cycling and exploring. My local friend set it all up perfectly and gave us the chance to explore the rivers too. After having lunch and saying our goodbyes, I just had to get a photo of one of the many people who made our day so perfect. It was taken around 14:00 on January, 5th, 2020.

Lighting

The lighting was just natural light mixed with the shadows created by the woman's conical hat and the palms around her. The shade over the top half of her face really revealed her beautiful smile and made it stand out.

Equipment

The shot was taken using my Fujifilm X-T20 with a 55-200mm, F3.5-4.8 lens. This is my go to equipment when out and about. No flash, no tripod. Just me and my camera.

Inspiration

When I was first travelling through Southeast Asia, I was not only amazed by the beautiful scenery, but also by the generous people who live there. The natural sights started to wear off once I had seen them, but people are always interesting. I love to meet new people, especially the locals from any country I visit. This is especially true with Vietnam. In this photo, I wanted to capture the kindness and positivity of the Vietnamese. There is no better way to do this than through a smile. This particular lady was full of joy. She would sing on her boat and spin around the water until she got dizzy.

Editing

I am usually quite prone to over-editing my photos. I enjoy playing around with them almost as much as taking them. I have been both criticized and praised for the changes I make. I guess it's all down to personal preference. In this particular situation, I didn't want any part of the photo to distract from the smile, so I darkened the background to almost completely black and made it monochrome to give it a timeless look. I thought the black background worked well with the shadows on her face.

In my camera bag

I have never been a camera enthusiast, nor do I like to carry too much with me. I try to take as little as possible. That way, I can always have my camera on me no matter where I go. I usually just stick to my Fujifilm X-T20 along with a 55-200mm lens which enables me to capture things from far and near. Maybe I will have a smaller 16-50mm lens in my pocket just in case I need a wider angle. If I'm carrying a bag, I might also include a mini tripod and filter for the times when I want to get a long exposure shot. However, they rarely make an appearance. I feel that it's more about capturing the right moment when it comes, which can be harder to do with too much gear.

Feedback

The best portrait shots I have taken have been from when I was travelling and meeting people. Once you get to know someone, they will always feel more comfortable in front of a camera. Going on private tours with locals is always a good way to do this. Not only do you make lifetime friends with the guides, but they can introduce you to many people in the area. Interact and have conversations with everyone around you. You can also just roam the streets and explore. People are everywhere. If you are friendly, people will be friendly back. There was only one time where I paid to get a photo of someone. They were two elderly ladies with the most interesting faces I had seen. There was a language barrier between us, so I offered a few dollars and waved my camera waiting for a nod of acceptance. After agreeing, they were actually pleased with the result. One day, I would like to go back to that place and offer them a print.

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OlliePitt

OlliePitt

Half Smile BW

A portrait photo showing just the half face of a Vietnamese woman smiling.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow OlliePitt

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