Stumble 1X
Tour
Join
Sign in
Username
Password
  Forgot password?
 
'Butter won't melt in their mouths'
© Andre du Plessis
I am so relieved that this was published.
I had my reservations, as I felt that the words cute and kiddy will spring to mind...
...and those do not usually do very well here, so......
.... a very big Thank You from me!

This is a continuation of my photos of the delightful people of Bracken Hill, who live in a cluster of old cottages next to the motorway between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay in South Africa....
Here Danelle Subramoney and Adean Moses (in the back) are photographed at the back door of the house belonging to Jerome Christians and his cousin Geraldine Moses. Jerome can be seen in a recent upload where he is looking from a window of the same house.
Related photos
Write
Dim 3 years ago
Nice shot!
Andre du Plessis  Much appreciated Dim!
Helmut Schadt 3 years ago
Another brilliant example of your excellent and touching photography Andre!
Andre du Plessis  Evening Helmut. That's very kind of you to say, thank you, and also for your visit. Andre
beautiful!!!
Andre du Plessis  Many thanks Antonio!
CathS 3 years ago
Beautiful light and expression.
Andre du Plessis  Having such a lovely comment from you really pleases. I have the higest regard for your people work on OE.
Really inspirational. Thank you very much Cath.
CathS  Thank you very much for your charming reply Andre. :)
Giorgio Lorcet 3 years ago
absolutely great. love the compo and her expression. bravo.
Andre du Plessis  Thank you Giorgio.
Tim Corbeel 3 years ago
Superb! Love the way you 'played' with the light and shadow.
Great use of DOF as well and the looks on their faces makes my day (night actually :)) )
Andre du Plessis  Hi Tim! Many thanks for the reference to the light. So important in mono especially, and just glad that it seems to have worked here. Regards, Andre
Rosco 3 years ago
great angle, like the second child in the back ground and the lighting is of a different dimension.

Thank you for yoru most recent comment on the "welder's mate". you touched upon a few items there that I would not have been aware of in a million years.

Robert
Andre du Plessis  Thanks Robert. Very much the samehere in this image as in yours, with the other person adding to the main subject, but just a little closer here, which makes life a bit easier..:) Many thanks for your comment, Andre
Rosco  your photo works much better as the two people are much closer together as you correclty state.

i just uploaded a repost of the welder's mate as a portrait. should come through soon in the critique section. i would be pleased if you could cast your eye over that one. it has now become more of an observational portrait imo which does not necessarily need its surroundings.
I hope you like the toning.

Robert
Andre du Plessis  Hi Robert. Shall be glad to look, thanks!
Codrin Lupei 3 years ago
Andre, again, your excellent works, you've captured wonderful expressions, another great moment frozen here! Love it!
all the best
Codrin
Andre du Plessis  Much appreciated comment from you Codrin. Regards, and good weekend there!
Fulvio Pellegrini 3 years ago
beautiful POV and composition
F.
Andre du Plessis  Much appreciated Fulvio:)
Laurent Roch 3 years ago
Very nice portrait ! The perspective is excellent and the monochrome tone is just perfet !
Andre du Plessis  Merci Laurent! My final tweak caused some banding, but so far no one has complained about it. Phew! Lucky!
I shall with time load an slightly adjusted version. Regards!
John Taylor 3 years ago
Ah great faces! love the composition, everything
Andre du Plessis  Many thanks John!
Raphael Guarino 3 years ago
interesting perspective !+
Andre du Plessis  Dear Raphael. I love your 'eye inspection from today - left a criptic remark to it in the forum. So many thanks for your positive feed back on these children. Regards, Andre
storytaylor 3 years ago
our eyes show us the world and I have been so deeply touched by these eyes. powerful and remarkable.
Andre du Plessis  Dear storytalor. Your pictures tell stories, so many thanks for stoppling by here, and saying these lovely words, Andre
Phyllis Clarke 3 years ago
Excellent candid shot..love the diagonal, the expressions on their faces, the POV, and the DOF. All of things things create an artistic look, and certainly not cute..well the children are adorable..
My best,
Phyllis
Andre du Plessis  Thanks Phyllis. Difficult when it comes to kids. As I mentioned in the reply to Robert H below, I am sure that the angle did it this time. Which just proves that kiddy shots can pass here it there is an inherent creative expression in the technique or approach. The subjects that I have encountered so far are so pliable afa these factors, and the weak link in the chain remains with the person holding the camera. The rest is up for grabs. Take care, Andre
Octavio Soto 3 years ago
as always Andre... thanks for the inspiration, your work and dedication will remain as one the lights in my tunnel... ever

O.
Andre du Plessis  Your'e very flattering. I think that you posess a wicked eye, and am looking forward to see many more of your images up on this super site. Best wishes, Andre
Alex OBrien 3 years ago
Andre your images are unique, the manner in which you present them is different and inspiring. Your stories are always very special to read and complement the photos perfectly. Congrats!
Andre du Plessis  Hozit Polyglot! Many thanks for this Alex. The little chappie at the back (Adean) was not supposed to even be in this image. I was trying to get some sensible image of the girl in shade, and he crept up from behind the corner. So this compo congrats I have to share with him, and I shall. My portraits (always impromptu) usually turn out this way - made by the subjects. Take care, Andre
Alex OBrien  Made by the subjects... the way it should be. People are much more spontaneous and creative than mere ideas. ;)
Andre du Plessis  Problem is, I am running a bit short on ideas lately. Usuall go quite unprepared, and just go for it. Kind of: Who is around today? Problem is that OE has influenced me in that so many photographers (you included) think about that composition, work it through in their heads, and then produce something quite amazing. In that regard I am such an opportunist. Has it's pro's and cons, however, would have liked to approach things a bit more clinically...
Enjoy your weekend, or what's left of it:)
Alex OBrien  Ideas in my opinion are meaningless. Ideas will not allow you to become a good photographer. When I hold the camera in my hands, the composition just comes to me, yourself, anyone who does not take snapshots. It's not so much thinking as a natural and instinctive reaction, this photo, the placement of the girl, even without the boy in the background is excellent. Probably the only time I think when taking a photo is when I am on the street ironically as many believe that that is the most spontaneous genre of photography. I analyse the ethical and moral reasons of taking it, not what angle, what compo, what aperture... its automatic.
Your photos do show us that you have a wonderful eye and wonderful skills, so please do not put yourself down, your photos have acted as inspiration for me.
Jure Kravanja 3 years ago
superb
Andre du Plessis  Thanks Jure!
Bob Patefield 3 years ago
I like it very much A. B
Andre du Plessis  Much appreciated Bob.
Kim Ayres 3 years ago
Beautiful!
Andre du Plessis  Thanks Kim!
Femke de Wit 3 years ago
This is a wonderful shot from children in their world. although I think they are poor they seem to be very happy, I like that. And ofcourse, light and B&W is perfect.
Andre du Plessis  I like the 'of course' bit. This digital stuff I hated like poisoned Ivy. It was only since early last year that I have slowly started to like digital. I found it so limiting when it comes to dark tones. Initially banding all over. Slowly I have migrated towards a very laborious work flow - actually less flow and more work. So I spend hours doing selections, and working on those selections individually, creating layers and layers. Anyone savvy with advanced mono PS skills will probably think that I am crazy in the way I go about it. However, it works for me, and I frankly enjoy working up an image over some time. I cannot think that a quick shift here and there, and Hey Presto! will do it for me. Best wishes, Andre
moses stell 3 years ago
i like it Andre......great BW!
Andre du Plessis  May thanks Moses:)
doro rapp 3 years ago
a wonderful capture...the tones, the light, the distribution of white and black in your compo...but of course foremost the expressions... happy to see it published! :)
Andre du Plessis  Thanks doro. I really like photographing kids, maybe because it is so easy, and in Africa it is even more easy, for they usually go quite wild when they see a camera. It is still special, and a novelty in most parts there. I love it. Thanks for sharing your positive feeling about this image. Andre
Zaahir Essa  haha indeed! i was out testing a film camera, and plenty of kids appeared trying to be in the photo. then after its taken, they're all confused as to why i can't show them the image review on the back of the camera heheh....a pity that thing has light leaks, i got a cool shot of these 3 boys - south african kids do have bright smiles :)
Andre du Plessis  Hi Zaaahir. You still with that leaky camera:):)
I am sure that you know exactly what I was talking about. The effort does not go into getting the kids in front of the lens, rather quite the opposite! Interesting that you mention the LCD image - I find this such a re-assuring tool. When subjects are a bit wary, their demeaner change when they see their image on the LCD. I usually ask then which images they like, and which ones I should delete, which I do in front of them. It helps to establish that rapport and trust factor. The kids don't seem to worry, however.
Zaahir Essa  yup, that old leaky 1977 cam is all i got :) the digital that i sometimes use is not mine, so venturing out in public is not something i want to do with that thing! south africa may have great people, but there's always the thought of losing that expensive equipment when you're a target for crime absolutely anywhere :/ even if thats far from the truth, the stories you hear always puts that in the back of your mind. unless the camera is owned by you, of course :)

as for the kids....go to the beach for an hour, and come back with a memory card full :D
Andre du Plessis  Yes - you read my mind. Next time I want to get some shots of kids on the beach. Think that I'll pile a whole bunch into my car, take along a guardian, and go an improvise. I have an uninterrupted 11km stretch of pure white beach in front of my pondokkie down south, and that will be the setting.
great shoot.. great work.. lovely
Andre du Plessis  Many thanks Jamal!
joan kocak 3 years ago
I enthusiastically voted for! Far beyond "cute and cuddly", their spirit shines through, lovely work Andre
Andre du Plessis  Many thanks Joan! Yeah - I love children photography, so feeling relieved to have this up. These two, and especially the boy, are such naturals! one simply cannot resist!
Monique 3 years ago
excellent Andre
I'm smiling when i'm watching this picture :)
Andre du Plessis  I'm glad about that Monique. Could not have asked for more...
Colmar Wocke 3 years ago
Andre,

Congratulations!

Available light and your eye a good combination doth make.

Colmar
Andre du Plessis  LOL - another public holiday there in Switzerland? Thanks Colmar, and also for your continual motivation!
Colmar Wocke  Andre,

Actually not - have taken half the day off to take my son to the ZOO (I myself am not crazy about a Zoo - I prefer seeing the animals in their natural environment).

I couldn't resist coming past the very addictive OneXposure first!

Go well.

Colmar
Stephen Edds 3 years ago
Back to my favourite series of yours Andre....well done :)
Andre du Plessis  Running out of material soon....so another visit indicated, thanks!
latoday 3 years ago
Oh Andre! This is yet another beautiful portrait filled with nice light and mood!

Congrats! :)
Andre du Plessis  Oh well - just reward for my OE mail last night:) The gods smiled on me this week. Thanks Anja, and regards, Andre
Balazs Pataki 3 years ago
A wonderful capture, Andre.
Andre du Plessis  Thanks Balazs - quite blown away that this was published.
enzo penna 3 years ago
andre increasingly appreciate your excellent work .......... well that particular point shooting ....
Andre du Plessis  Hey Enzo! Many thanks for that. Your reference to 'particular point shooting' (POV) makes me look at my pics again,
and trying to see what you mean. Much appreciated, Andre
Add to favorites
Share this image on StumbleUpon:   
  Click here to share this image on Facebook
 
Equipment
Canon 5D
Location
Bracken Hill, South Arica
Date
2009
Unique views
12684
Comments
31
Category
Portrait
 
© 1X Innovations AB 2007-2011. All rights reserved.
 
 Stumble 1X