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Tricks of the tree trimming trade
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 31 July 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Wood chips flying, this worker hangs by rope and wire to lop the dead branches off a palm tree in Saudi Arabia. He climbed the tree in bare feet.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States
wow -- a beauty of a shot! and i am loving the PP job here! this isn't HDR is it? the antiquated look is just captivating! looks like it came right out of a National Geographic article... in 1980!!! brilliant!
31 Jul 2008 5:20am
@dj.tigersprout: Many thanks, Jaycee. This isn't HDR however the image was adjusted with various layers including curves then some of the noise was removed which may account for the antiquated look.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Michael I love all of your images from Saudi Arabia. I would love to hear some of the stories that you write to go along with the pictures. This one is colorful. They must be an incrediblly interesting people. Bare feet to climb a tree. Wow.
31 Jul 2008 5:20am
@Marion: Thanks so much for the really nice comment, Marion. Their feet are so tough because people like this worker have been walking without shoes since they were children.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Excellent capture with interesting processing. Very well done.
31 Jul 2008 5:27am
@Steve Rice: Thank you very much, Steve.
Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece
splendid shot, where does he get electricity from? lol
31 Jul 2008 6:07am
@Dimitrios: Thanks, Dimitrios. He has an electrifying personality.
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
What an impressing shot of a worker in full concentration. How did you process this one? It looks so 'old'...
31 Jul 2008 6:10am
@Mirko Herzner: I used various layers for processing: curves, highlights/shadows, solid color, sharpening and then noise reduction. Thanks, Mirko.
@Erik: Thank you, Erik.
@eddy: Thank you, Eddy.
@ManuelaR: Thank you very much, Manuela.
MJ from Delaware, United States
I love the intense look on his face and the color... great shot///
31 Jul 2008 10:03am
@MJ: Many thanks, MJ.
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Good close up shot of the man at work, I like the 'vintage' style to your PP, it gives it a film like quality.
31 Jul 2008 10:22am
@Richard_Irwin: Thank you very much, Richard.
@Cia: Thank you, Cia.
Tracey from White Hall, United States
Amazing how workers make a living around the world! He is braver than me! You have captured this portrait very well.
31 Jul 2008 12:01pm
@Tracey: Thanks so much, Tracey.
@Lorraine: Many thanks, Lorraine. I can't do better than your generous rating.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
A great image, but what a dangerous profession. The processing gives it a printed effect not unlike a postcard, but it's really good.
31 Jul 2008 1:04pm
@Observing: Thank you, Mike. I was hoping for a little different effect.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
A good portrait of a man at his work. Amazing the use of the electric wire to bundle the rope.
31 Jul 2008 1:54pm
@António Pires: Thank you, António. Everything has a use when you are poor..
@Daniel: Usually near 40 C. Thanks, Daniel.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
I'd say this is National Geographic quality and you captured his hard work very well!
31 Jul 2008 2:56pm
@MadScientist: Thank you, MS. I appreciate the compliment.
Rui Silva from Leiria, Portugal
Nice post edition. The final result is fantastic.
31 Jul 2008 3:09pm
@Rui Silva: thank you so much, Rui.
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Yes, I agree with other fellows: the editon is very important to give to this (very good) image its particular look. And also it is a good document, of course.
31 Jul 2008 5:33pm
@Paco Díaz: Thank you very much, Paco.
Jason Kravitz from Brussels, Belgium
this photo does have a unique quality to it - nice subject and processing!
i bet that is hot work
31 Jul 2008 5:47pm
@Jason Kravitz: Yes, very hot work. And thanks so much for commenting, Jason.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Intéressant portrait de ce homme qui exécute un travail dur et certainement dangereux. On sent sa concentration sur son visage.
31 Jul 2008 8:06pm
zahra from tehran, Iran
beautiful shot.the texture is great.and I like the dust every where
31 Jul 2008 8:11pm
@zahra: Thank you, Zahra.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
Great catch, I love how the flying wood chips make the image look quite grainy. These guys can definitely teach us all about what hard work really is!
31 Jul 2008 9:15pm
@Mandy Provan: I agree. thank you, Mandy.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Fantastic, Michael! Look at his hand... you can see the tight grip! You captured a wonderful moment in his work! Well done.
1 Aug 2008 12:18am
@Betty: Many thanks, Betty. I liked his hand too.
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, Canada
It is difficult toimagine working with an electrical cord as a safety harness. Very well shot, Michael.
1 Aug 2008 4:56am
@Michael Rawluk: I know what you mean about the electrical cord. Thanks, Michael.
@Daryl: Thank you very much, Daryl.
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
Sorry I didn't get here yesterday, but what a wonderful closeup this is, Michael.
I've seen fellows climb palms with bare feet - their feet become like leather - it's incredible.
1 Aug 2008 3:32pm
@Judy: Yes, his feet are tough. thank you, Judy.
@Twelvebit: Thanks for commenting.
Pentax Optio A30
1/800 second
F/4.3
ISO 64
78 mm (35mm equiv.)