Folded and Waiting..., a photo from Chiang Mai, North

Photographer's Note

Southeast of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is Bo Sang, known throughout the country as the ’umbrella village'. It is mainly a tourist market filled with craft shops selling painted umbrellas (often produced elsewhere), fans, silverware, statuary, celadon pottery and lacquerware.
In this village there are many workshops and hundreds of umbrellas of every size, shape, and color with gorgeous hand-painted designs of dragons, flowers, birds and scenery.

Visitors watched the artisans as they followed the steps to create their umbrellas. It was like an assembly-line beginning with making each of the parts to the drawing station, sundry station and finally the finished umbrella. These umbrellas were prepared with bamboo strips composing the framework and the handle, latex for the varnish, and other natural products.

The Sa paper was specially made from the stems of the Mulberry tree bark for the umbrella's "sail". The complex process begins with soaking the bark in water for 24 hours then boil with wood-ash until it was soft and continuing to boil the mixture from three to four hours. After rinsing the bark, the mixture is pounded and placed in large water filled concrete trays. The artisan stirs and releases the mixture through a strainer into rectangular metal screens and dry it in the sun for 20 minutes. The substance forms wafer-thin paper.

Each layer of the paper was pasted on the umbrella frames with glue until it became thick and strong then after drying, the artists painted their designs. These umbrellas ranged from small for cocktail glasses to larger sizes for gardens or patios.

I liked the graphic effect of the umbrellas piled up here waiting for their turn, to be painted.

danos, SnapRJW, besnard, Subhogen, holmertz, rigoletto, pierrefonds, jjcordier, saxo042, Didi, InasiaJones, papagolf21, jhm, Romano46, Graal, bukitgolfb301, delpeoples, adores ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

danos (110407) 2014-01-07 1:37

Hi Angshu,
nice the created texture of the closed umbrellas made from the Sa paper.You could uploaded a WS to see the beauty and the details of this artistics umbrellas.Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.

Regards,Danos

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-01-07 1:54

Hello Angshu - I was about to comment on this yesterday but it disappeared! Glad to see it back again. I have been to Bo Sang and what impresses me about this shot is its originality. Most of us are attracted by the colourful, open umbrellas but you have seen the furled up ones as a good subject. I agree with you; the patterns and colours are excellent here. Nicely done dear friend... your shot illustrates to me that I need to look for the less obvious! Warm regards Rosemary

besnard (59196) 2014-01-07 2:01

Bonjour Angshuman
Une image originale avec les parasols fermés qui attendent l'arrivée des beaux jours. C'est net et bien cadré.
Amitiés
Nicole

emka (157280) 2014-01-07 2:09

hello dear Angshu,
I wouldn't guess they are umbrellas. Very creative view, congratulations! And when you observe the craftsmen by work, you can hope the umbrellas are not from China. We have no much sun in Poland, so we use umbrella only in rain. These are probably for hot days. Nice photo with very good title and interesting note.

WArm regrads Malgo

Subhogen (4067) 2014-01-07 2:41

Hello Angshuman,
Excellent title to the photo.
Nice selective focusing on the umbrellas in front. Good observation to have this as an uncommon subject. I agree the graphic effect is good enough to be photographed and shared. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Subho

lousat (138683) 2014-01-07 4:00

Hi Angshu,there is always something of original to watch in your gallery,this is a great idea from the umbrella city,truly new for me...fantastic close up,great macro with the best details too,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (102066) 2014-01-07 4:02

Hello Angshuman,
This was well seen and well thought. The folded umbrellas create very interesting patterns which you have used well for an original composition. I appreciate that the colours are quite discreet, within a narrow range of tones. It would have been tempting to choose the most spectacularly colourful ones.
Kind regards,
Gert

rigoletto (34279) 2014-01-07 4:05

hi angshu. at first gaze, i was mistaken and thought them to be rolls of parchment in an ancient monastery. very well seen details of umbrella piles waiting to get their dragon tattoos :) f2.8 creates a great dof as well. i like the beauty of your colors and how the green balances the warm palette.

pierrefonds (113676) 2014-01-07 4:34

Hi Angshuman,

The tight frame is putting the umbrellas in evidence. The point of view is showing the details and the colors of the folded umbrellas. The light has a good effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jurek1951 (42198) 2014-01-07 5:03

Hi,
a superb photo with spectacular composition and vibrant colours, the POV is very attractive.

Sergiom (117241) 2014-01-07 5:42

Bonjour Angshuman,

On dirait bien que ces parasoleil n'attendent que d'être ouverts pour protéger du soleil chaud de l'endroit ou encore de servir de souvenir pour les touristes.J'en ai un qui sert de décoration depuis 1998.

Amicalement

Serge

Giustiniani (3650) 2014-01-07 6:23

Hello Angshuman,

un sujet original, bien traité avec un bon cadrage, une lumière et des couleurs très agréables. Bien vu!
Amicalement,

an original subject, although treated with a good framing, light and very pleasant colors. Well done!
Sincerely,

Magaly

sevy (58) 2014-01-07 7:41

Hello,

I let you a comment on this shot yesterday, but the time to send it, the picture disapeared.
I still like the graphism shared by the side view and the good use of the depth of field to isolate the subject.

Yves.

jjcordier (79299) 2014-01-07 22:19

Angshu
Un cadrage original et effectivement très graphique de ces parapluies. Merci pour la note très intéressante.
Amicalement
JJ

saxo042 (38078) 2014-01-08 1:15

Hi Angshuman,
The umbrellas here provide a good picture, a non figurative work of art with these interesting forms and pleasant colours. A very good observation and picture.
Kind regards
Gunnar

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2014-01-08 2:12

wow, dada, what a frame. Those are looking like nice artworks from this angle. You managed a nice frame which is rich with graphical impact. Excellent colour temperature and fine sharpness. Like the shallow depth of field too. Great shot- darun... Tfs.
Subhendu

Didi (61589) 2014-01-08 8:57

Namaste Angshu
Interesting subject, I had to translate your notes in French :)
Very original composition It will be more interesting to follow the stapes of fabrication
Best wishes for 2014
Kind regards

siudzi (34141) 2014-01-08 12:00

Hi Angshu,
Simple scene but it looks so original and unique in this particular presentation! Superb work executed perfectly with great DOF and sharpness management. Like it!

Best,
Gosia

InasiaJones (31566) 2014-01-08 15:28

Hi Angshuman,

They say that by the 10th of January, it is too late to offer someone our thoughts for the new year. So I am just in time to express my best wishes to you and your family. And knowing your passion for photography and travel, I guess that it is appropriate to wish you many opportunities to go around the globe. If you ever decide to come and visit your sister in Joburg, make sure to let me know!

This image is intriguing at small size, and very creative once enlarged. I think that the idea to make an abstract image out of these folded umbrellas is imaginative, in the exploitation of these circular patterns.

Namaste Angshushu!

André

papagolf21 (152605) 2014-01-08 23:41

Bonjour, cher ami Angshu,
Voilà une image originale et bien construite.
Il fallait avoir l'oeil pour saisir cet étalage particulier.
Je te présente mes meilleurs voeux pour l'année 2014.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (211734) 2014-01-09 5:12

Hello Angshu,

Nice selective focusing on the umbrellas in front.
Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.
Your picture is wonderful taken, out of a wonderful angle, nice detailed image.
Composition and presentation be superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Nicou (193806) 2014-01-09 5:26

Hlelo

quel détail et vue mervielleux quel graphsime cea fait ces ombrelle toute plieées avec le bois rond et ces tissus colorés sueprbe.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

Fis2 (169847) 2014-01-09 7:07

Witaj Abgshu!
Interesting work,
i like colors and light.
Good depth.
Well done.
Good evening
Krzysztof

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2014-01-09 8:37

Hello Anghsuman,
a nice idea to capture the umbrellas on a pirture. Great idea for a shot. Beautiful composition and nice colours as well.
best wishes,
Achim

Romano46 (18472) 2014-01-09 9:23

Ciao Angshuman
ottima realizzazione che, greazie ad un particolare gioco di luci ed ad un contrasto ben dosato, rende questi oggetti inanimati simili ad oggetti vivi che colpiscono la vista dell'osservatore fin dalla miniatura.
Una eccellente realizzazione per la quale ti faccio i miei complimenti
Ciao e buona serata
Romano

pajaran (115025) 2014-01-09 12:13

Pozdrav.
Dobar tekst o postupku izrade kisobrana ...
Interesantan i lep pogled ...
Dobar snimak i kontrast, lepo pokazani kisobrani, lepe boje.
Dobar rad, lepo pokazani detalji.
Sve najbolje.
Paja.

Greetings.
A good article on the process of making an umbrella ...
Interesting and nice view ...
Good footage and contrast nicely displayed umbrellas, beautiful colors.
Good work, nice details shown.
All the best.
Paja.

abmdsudi (95869) 2014-01-09 23:28

Namaste Angshu
A simple well cropped, doesn't matter what it is, I just liked the interesting graphic effect made up of repeated patterns and shapes in it. I think the title fits it well
wonderfully observed and captured. Well done,Tfs
Best regards

Graal (103040) 2014-01-10 23:10

Hi Angshuman,
amazing composition and finally effect here. Good idea and shot. Well informations also. Photo I like.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2014-01-12 18:49

Hi NAMASTE dear Angshuman, how are you here?

A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

Again I aprreciate your keen sense and attention at all. So unique and amzing angle shot in the perfect framework and composition as usual. I hope this year is good one to you!

All the best and have a good day! TAKERO

delpeoples (60342) 2014-01-13 2:57

Namaskar dear Angshu

This is delightful. I'm used to seeing your wonderful landscape so this "still life" is quite exciting to see in your gallery. The colours and definition are impeccable and I love the depth of field and low POV that you chose. Stunning and original. I couldn't ask for more.

Warmest wishes
Lisa

Waylim (25436) 2014-01-15 10:14

Sabaidee Angshuman,

This is a very unique image of the umbrellas. Usually, people take photo of them when they are open up in display of the color and shape. I like all the folds and curve like flower patterns. A nice image of the art work in progress.

Thanks.

Have wonderful day.

Way

adores (46979) 2014-01-18 13:09

Hi Angshuman!
We generally see them open:)! It was surely a good idea, you got an original shot with a good graphism!

adidas5nb (5743) 2014-01-19 23:03

one needs and excellent eyes to be able to spot thses kinda frames.love the graphic effect and the uptight frame.
regards
dwaipayan

tatadalou (7459) 2014-01-27 10:59

Hi Angshuman,
Nice graphism of the umbrellas, due to a perfect sharpness and an excellent DOF management.
Good job !
Delphine

Photo Information

Copyright: Angshuman Chatterjee (Angshu) (56760)
Genre: Luoghi
Medium: Colore
Date Taken: 2012-03-19
Categories: Vita quotidiana
Camera: Canon 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO, RAW, Marumi 72mm PL-CIR
Esposizione: f/2.8, 1/125 secondi
More Photo Info: view
Versione Foto: Versione Originale
Diario di viaggio: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Bangkok
Date Submitted: 2014-01-07 1:31