Storm of Memories, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

Tipis are a recognized symbol of native Americans. Sometimes spelled "teepee" and other ways, most natives don't use the term at all, but instead call them "lodges". Perhaps ironically, most native Americans also call themselves 'Indians,' avoiding what has become an accepted, 'politically correct' term.

The Shoshoni tribe is the only tribe of Indians in Utah to use the tipi. They were traditionally made from bison hides, and it was the females who constructed them. Indeed, it is still the wife who "owns" the tipi and all things therein. Perhaps this is more fair than the Western system, in which males traditionally own everything AND are in charge (though that's changing now, which I feel is good). So for most Indian tribes, the female owns everything and the male supervises. When a marriage occurs, the male joins the female's family, so descendency is matrilinear.

For this image, I set my camera right along the edge of the tipi pole that holds the flaps open or closed and shot upwards. My camera was on manual with an f stop of 8.0 for maximum depth of field. I then fiddled with the dials to adjust the exposure until it looked good.

I hope you enjoy it!

isabela_sor, pablominto, jstewart, devimeuxbe, jkos, dolin, sam224, Sylvforest, imrek, nwoehnl, singuanti, berek, ChrisJ, ahmetgedikli, wilkinsonsg, john_c, feather, papagolf21, riclopes, rafelito, sufi, Anna--, Nilay, Angshu, Fiddlee ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

isabela_sor (47748) 2006-05-07 11:11

I like yourpicture a lot.. POV and the framing are done by a master..dramatic atmosphere!
Excellent note too
All the best
Isabela

jstewart (1150) 2006-05-07 11:14

Hi David,
This picture just leaps right out from all the other thumbnails and is absolutely stunning. The perspective, the focus and the perfect balance of the tipi against the dramatic and threatening sky. Superb. Excellent note. See my last 2 postings which are a similar tribute to some of Canada's "native people".
All the best,
John

pablominto (53746) 2006-05-07 11:16

Hi David,
For once I regard image and note as one unit, and very well presented! This is indeed good communication, your message gets through to me... loud & clear!
Greetings,
Pablo -

devimeuxbe (58557) 2006-05-07 11:23

Hi David
Very nice idea. The POV is excellent for this tipi under a great sky.
Good work Indeed
Bertrand

abulafia (4900) 2006-05-07 11:30

Hi David
What an amzing pov you found. great dof, everything looks focused.
Very nice work
Harry

jkos (981) 2006-05-07 11:35

Dramatic atmosphere. Pure emotion.
Great POV. And an excelent note.
TFS,
Joel

dolin (7369) 2006-05-07 12:07

Hi David.
Je trouve l'idée du pdv excellente. Cette branche qui part du coin de l'image pour monter jusque vers le teepee, bel effetg.
Le n/b est très bon et la lumière un peu étrange, ce qui donne une atmosphère terrible.
Original
Bien fait
Fred

sam224 (6215) 2006-05-07 12:34

Great shot indeed. Lovely perspective from the lower angle showing us this Indian lodge. Good choice of the black and white and nice framing.
Very well done!

CaptainJack (0) 2006-05-07 12:55

Hi David, wonderful idea with the placement of your camera on the pole as it really stretches the eye towards the top of the structure, making it feel more sureal and larger than life.

baba_flies (8829) 2006-05-07 13:16

Dear David ... as always you know how to make a picture special. Black/white goes so well with the sad histroy which of course was once full of life.

Barbara

PS. ... and thanks for your note.

imrek (4) 2006-05-07 13:49

Hi David,
very good point of view and composition, nice dramatic sky...good work!!!
regards,
imre

avigur_11 (22553) 2006-05-07 17:21

Hi David,
The Teepee is captured in a very effective angle vs the dramatic skies.
You wan't believe it but I found some Indian Teepees in the Negev desert, 7000 miles from your palce (see my recent photo).

nwoehnl (122) 2006-05-07 17:30

Hi David. A beautiful result you got combining the original viewpoint and your fiddling-with-the-dials ;) The well-contrasted b&w presentation looks nice on this one, and the unusual angle along the pole conveys a strong sense of perspective.

clarita (654) 2006-05-07 19:53

it was the essence of culture/heritage/strength/power that made me click on your photo.
that's what i sense when i see this pic.
you did a good job in capturing this from an angle...great image...the colours in b/w also makes this an intense photo.
thx for posting.

singuanti (15250) 2006-05-07 22:45

Hi David. Wow this turned out so impressive for you. I think it's the sweeping line that takes our eyes up to the top that I like so much. B/W is perfect here. tfs David!!

berek (50518) 2006-05-08 1:17

Hi David,
you play successfully with clouds. I can see great point of view and very good light management. TFS
Have a nice week.
B.Erek
Meaning Sense :-))
Framing :-))
Idea :-))

PixelTerror (0) 2006-05-08 4:53

Hi David,
Title fits perfectly to the conditions here and as well to the history, PoV adds to it with a fine upwards progression following this branch to the top of the tipi, nice one !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

ChrisJ (171878) 2006-05-08 8:12

Hi David

A fantasic pov looking up, & marvellous graphism, tonal range, & sharpness on the teepee. Well done!

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2006-05-08 15:27

Hi David,
Wonderful shot. Point of view, depth of field, dark colors and framing are excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Ahmet

wilkinsonsg (8662) 2006-05-08 16:34

Great POV, stark and graphic in B&W - well done :)

sufi (9588) 2006-05-09 0:45

Hi David...
Wonderful point of view and perfect B&W photograph and composition... Also perfect sharpness and details... Of corse great shot... It's interesting that, "Teepee" or "Tepe" means "Hill" in Turkish...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

gebala (0) 2006-05-09 11:33

hello, amamzing perspective and this rope is great, I like how u managed DOF, exellent BW, it was good moved, well taken like always:) I would like to take photo like this one, really:)

rgs

zeca (19762) 2006-05-09 23:18

Wow, David! What a nice gallery you´ve posted! I found this picture first, but I´m sure I´ll plenty to write later.
I like the POV you choosed here, and the DOF is perfect. The sky adds a lot to your picture, very nicely presented in B&W. Congrats!
All the best!
Zeca

john_c (24666) 2006-05-10 17:17

Hi David,
An amazing study in graphism, proportions, and depth. The B&W format is ideal for the imagery and the pole appears to the eye to be incredibly long. Your note is apropos, and I especially like your reference to the fact that most Indians refer to themselves as "Indians". The political correctness of the minority elites - not to mention their arrogance - is beyond belief, with the media dutifully following. Here too, I meet with and do work for many Indians, and they are quite happy to be referred to accordingly....Great work.
John

feather (51130) 2006-05-11 10:43

I love the upward POV making the pole look curved. I also like the way this POV has allowed the inner poles and the tipi itself to be etched against the smokey sky. Excellent note too.
Kath

papagolf21 (152607) 2006-05-11 18:56

Bonsoir David,
Bravo pour cette réalisation très originale et parfaitement maîtrisée (avec les risques que cela comportait en plaçant l'appareil de cette façon).
Le noir et blanc est parfait pour donner un petit air ancien à la composition.
Bravo !
Merci pour la note d'accompagnement très intéressante.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Porteplume (4036) 2006-05-12 4:18

Bonjour David,
Long time no see, I'm sorry, "too much to do, too little time", even if I keep notice your work - also some very intresting B&W, and this one was particularly appealling by the simple composition and the great point of view.
It just works very well...
Amicalement - Viviane

Didi (61589) 2006-05-12 12:43

That's great David !
Very nice composition and your POV is very well choosen.
Very dramatic composition.
Cheers

kensimage (8563) 2006-05-12 18:51

Outstanding, David! Use of B/W suggests the past, and the ominous clouds suggest the remains of a dying nomadic culture. And you've got that really strong diagonal leading toward the sky. Couldn't be better! Regards, Ken.

rafelito (3648) 2006-05-13 20:23

Hi David, Excellent and interesting note about your wonderful shot, the perspective for this composition is very nice.Many regards, Rafael

riclopes (35577) 2006-05-14 4:58

Hi David,
Spectacular shot of this tipi in B&W, along with an excellent note!
I love the close POV from down up to the threatened cloudy sky. The artistic result is superb. Impressive dephness as well for an f8. Congratulations!
Have a nice weekend,
Ricardo

dcawker (5717) 2006-06-03 10:58

Hi David.. Really nice framing and the black & white works extremely well here too. Excellent moody shot. Doug

Anna-- (7801) 2006-06-04 16:33

You have splendidly made homage to this population very abused!
Very good B&W
Compliments
Anna

Nilay (1323) 2006-07-15 6:38

Hello,
I like this photo, beacuse of the wonderful POV, beautiful framing, different perspective, great idea .
Very nice composition,
I love it,
Kind regards,
Nilay

uccia84 (720) 2006-12-04 18:24

excellent!

CDez (1415) 2007-01-23 13:54

Hello David,
le choix du noir blanc renforce l'atmosphère sévère du tipi.
J'aime bien. Bravo.
Christian

Angshu (56760) 2007-09-14 0:35

Hello David
Innovative angle, highly original, which does not exactly give out the shape of the tipi, but allows us to enjoy this graphical view against the cloudy sky, with the bent pole, the cone (like how you framed it right from the corner) & the sticks at the top (what are these sticks called?). Excellent.
Regards
Angshu