Photo Critique (By Susan Welchman, Illustrations Editor)
This looks like a 1950s postcard. Everything is in its place, and the colors are still vivid and strange. It's almost as if it's hand-colored. The photographer is at a distance from the subjects, so he couldn't have directed them. They must be there on some sort of a private pilgrimage or ceremony. The shape of the umbrellas mimics the pagodas. The poles of the umbrellas are thin, straight, and delicate. And that strong, hot light casts deep shadows. It's beautiful light and beautiful color. The hint of the tree in the upper right balances the image with a blend of green and yellow. There are tiny details like the woman's elbow and the tufts of grass along the shore. It's a very nice composition that's easy to look at. This is a very strange and unique part of the world, and a great place to be on vacation

Color is life. I assume you have heard of this many times. Imagine if the world was greyscale or black and white. Everything would be dull and boring, right? The opposite is shown in this picture. The colors contrast one another perfectly. The grass, the red flowers that line the land near the water, and the sky and its calming blue. Even the silhouette of the structures in the background adds to the life of the whole scenery.

This photo reminds me of the Discovery Channel or National Geographic documentaries on the vibrant side of Asian countries. In the same way, it reminds me of the many times I have travelled with my family around Asia, all the places we saw, and the cultures that could have shaped our culture too.

The ladies in the photo must have been part of ceremony or a procession since they look to be praising someone or something, or even praying. To me, the picture exhibits the beauty of your beliefs and religion. Devotion to your faith and beliefs can indeed be an art.

Photo taken from: National Geographic