African Portraits

[MPC]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading for a while but only posted a couple of times... I wanted to share a few photos from recent travels in Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria. Any feedback on composition / PP would be much appreciated. Hopefully, with a bit of direction about what's good and bad I'll be able to get a lot more consistent! Let me know what you think...

1) The young Rasta - Lagos, Nigeria.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3150758854_fc4d444ebb.jpg

2) The big man - Lagos, Nigeria.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3150759720_9f86e1dd72.jpg

3) Ema on the banks of the Nile, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3249873953_002f2e86dd.jpg

4) The Thinking Man, near Jinja, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3319069462_e1c7a18681.jpg?v=0

5) The Coke Boy. Kigali, Rwanda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3318227885_9959953fda.jpg

6) In defiance. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3318220937_b771396f79.jpg?v=0

7) Into the light. Kampala, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3319038530_75a439f81c.jpg

Cheers,

Matt

[Qarik]

1st off..awesome shots. I love them all actually with #4 as my favorite.:thumb :thumb

I don't have much to say actually except for the PP..I love monotone effect. It works very well... except for #2..which has too much green in it. I prefer the more other tones better.

[marikris]

#5 caught my eye immediately. Did you compose that shot or simply seize the opportunity?

[MPC]

#5 caught my eye immediately. Did you compose that shot or simply seize the opportunity?

Not quite. There was a ton of kids around me wanting a photo taken when this kid asked for his photo. He was stood near the coke advert. I just asked him to move back a little I think and that was all. Pretty lucky to get it!

Matt

[Richard]

Hi MPC and welcome to Dgrin :wave. That's a great series. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[Awais Yaqub]

amazing portraits ! great job

[Darren Troy C]

An amazing job with these!

[Scrubs]

Hah hah! number four is a corker - love it! :D
and I really like the girls expression that you captured on the last one.



Great work here - Thanks for sharing :clap

[Mike J]

Hey Matt,

Welcome to Dgrin. This is an absolute stunning set. #7 is worthy of a magazine. My only nit (hard to find any with this set) is with #2. He's just too dead-center for me. I would have cropped tighter on the left for what it's worth.

I think the PP really adds to these shots. It all fits together nicely.

[Agnieszka]

Hello.

I don't have much "advice" how to improve any of the shots, I think all of the shots are stunningly beautiful. I envy you for your travel to Africa, looks like you came back with some beautiful photos :lust

My favorites are
#1, nice composition & processing
#3 & 4 (haven't seen anybody post and "happy" African kids lately, nice to see!!)
#7

Very nice set :lust Please share more, if you have some!

[Arvan]

Stunning!
:jawdrop

[JohnC]

I love #4. Great shots! :thumb

[Scott_Quier]

:wave - Welcome!

Nice series, with 3, 4, and 7 (in that order) taking the lead for me. Love the smile in #3!

:agree with others - not much to critique here. An excellent job!

Thanks so much for sharing.

[JulieLawsonPhotography]

I love them all but #4 is so amazing!!!! That little one has stolen my heart. I hope one day to go to this area and photograph the children. I've heard that they love having their pictures taken.

[MPC]

Thanks for all the great comments!

Agnieszka, glad you like 3 and 4. It's nice to get away from the 'African' stereotype as in reality most of the people, whilst being materially poor, are some of the happiest and friendliest people you could meet.

Here are a few more:

8) Sula. Taken in Bujagali, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3249818227_0a22b01f71.jpg

9) Jackfruit. Bujagali, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3249819609_b2b43d80a9.jpg

10) Muscle man. Bujagali, Uganda. (It's a shame about the blown highlights)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3249822857_5c91cb56aa.jpg

11) The Stage Master. Jinja, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3249836461_b65b59c63a.jpg

12) Jali.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3249863199_9c6cfccc6f.jpg

13) Macy

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3249867563_247a00567a.jpg

14) It's a Mzungu! Kampala, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3318211293_dc826f368b.jpg

15) Home time. Kabale, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3319040396_6dc467c028.jpg

16) Hiding from the sun. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda. (Very harsh shadows spoil this a bit I think)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3318220215_075fb0d390.jpg

17) Behind the fence. Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3319050672_c72d943f10.jpg

18) Hide and seek. At the source of the Nile, Jinja, Uganda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3318244987_475ec0a424.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Matt

[Spydawebb]

This is a very nice set of images. I love #1.

[MPC]

I love them all but #4 is so amazing!!!! That little one has stolen my heart. I hope one day to go to this area and photograph the children. I've heard that they love having their pictures taken.
Thanks Julie!

If you can go I would thoroughly recommend it. I've been three times now - mainly to go kayaking on the Nile (which is incredible btw!). I spent most of my time in Bujagali which is where the kayaking and rafting is based. After spending a bit of time there you get to know the kids pretty well.

People in general love having there picture taken. I'm not a big fan of asking to take people's photos but by just walking around with you camera out you'll soon get people asking you for a snap!

Matt

[kombizz]

Nice capture. I guess the best one would number one only in mho.