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lorrainemd — The Smiling Sage
Published: 2003-12-27 16:34:56 +0000 UTC; Views: 12129; Favourites: 364; Downloads: 5896
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Description
While visiting a temple in Vietnam, I caught a glance of this man, teaching, praying and smiling all the while, despite goofy tourists everywhere. The power of a smile is almost unparalled.I know that most people do not really appreciate this type work on DA (i hope more people subit photojournalism), but i would like people to get a chance to see some of my street portraiture...i think it is the most profound type of photography...it opens the mind to the similarities in people.
Thank you.
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Comments: 301
he reminds me of my grandma..she was always a very happy person..wow you made me smile..now i will fav this so i can smile again and againn
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This is what street photography is truly about. I admire this skill with all of my heart.
The tone is fantastis, you really gave depth to character with it. I think adding a tone to your photographs is misunderstood, you've tutored us all with this guy.
This shot also takes us back to a simpler time when it was easier to just be ourselves--so we were. Not caring about the world around us, but doing what we thought was right; not what we thought people felt we should do. It is when the line between right and wrong was so clear you could gauge your walking path on it.
Well done. I do not often find inspiration like this on DA. I find the kind of inspiration to try something because it got results...but not find a subject that will tell a story like you have here. If anything deserves to be on the front page it is this and who else to bring it to us but you.
And pardon my sappiness...it is 4am and I only woke to get water and noticed my download went awry (so I thought I'd stop by DA since the PC was on).
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i love work like this. photojournalism is incredibly interesting and revealing. do u like the work of Diane Arbus? or Philip-Lorca DiCorcia?
Your image wonderfully captures the smile
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i love diane arbus. i am not familiar with the other photographer, but i am off to check him out. thanks for the tip!
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what i find most interesting is how is wise old sagely face and smile contrasts between the relatively modern clothes he wears, particularly the rubber boots and the sunglasses in his hands.
this seems to say two things to me - how contrasting cultures can coexist in a single body. and, how most mass media have trained us to perceive more 'exotic'/'other' faces as being deeply culturally and traditionally entrenched and we almost expect him to be garbed in a more traditional outfit instead of what he currently wears.
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what a great pic. very nice + the colors, what you said about DA users isn't right, i like these kind of pix a lot
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Hmm...a temple in Viet Nam? It must be in the North of Viet Nam, i guess, because it was in the winter and only Northern Viet Nam has the cold season. Just curious 
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I think it's a great shot.
Personally I'm too shy to shot people with my camera but I like to watch at good portraits, journalism and street photography.
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ooh..this is absolutley beautiful..because such portraiture ends up capturing the true spirit and essence of its subject...kick in the butt to all those who dont appreciate such art...good luck to you...you have something there
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it is awesome! I love it.
the elderly wise man with a knowledge filled smile.
he looks so happy. I luvs it.
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photojournalism may not be appreciated but I am glad some people post some anyway. I really like this photograph and I'll be watching you!
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i like this.. little detayls that don' fit the sage image and make it more interesting
cheers
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He looks like he's found the way all right. Great shot.
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I agree on your comment on photo journalism. The sepia adds to the warmth of his smile 
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Personally if you go to DA's main page a click photography and look at the majority of "work" that comes up then there is no way you can say that this isn't DA style. From what i have seen, DA has no real style, so many people use it to post there own candid self protraits (if that is what you can call them) taken with their webcam.
I find photojournalism to be excellent. It gives you a real look at whats going on some where else out side of your current surroundings. Definatly a 
P.S.- please up load some more of your street photography, im sure traveling as much as you seem to you ought to have tons of it.
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Photography isn't art, it takes no effort to take a picture, that is my opinion.
But as for the picture, I think it is quality, having it in black and white makes it so classic looking.
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What an idiot...
Photography is just as equal of an art as any other. The photographer has an eye for catching what is interesting and beautiful. Some people are sadly, not blessed with that talent. Don't patronize others for something you don't fully understand
This is a beautiful photo, and an inspiring point for which it was taken...
M*
By the way,can you handle being flamed? I've viewed your gallery Sylver...let's just say that I wasn't impressed.
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Ow my heart. I really don't care what you have to say, and Ill say whatever the hell I want about something I don't understand, the worlds full of ignorance, deal with it.
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I'm actually really glad to find this. I love travel photography and whenever I go travelling next, I plan on taking 500 million disks for my camera so I can take loadsa travel photos. This is a great photo and the monochromacity (word?) is a really nice touch
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ITS beatiful. I think this piece will enlighten others to try to get out there. +fav +devwatch
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beautiful photo. i especially love how you captured his good natured smile. he just looks so contented! absolutely beautiful. 2 thumbs up to you!
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great shot, everything about it is just good. colors, framing, focus, the smile, the cane
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I appreciate this kind of photography.. I think it is some of the better.. This little man is so awesome though.. The smile and his expression is wonderful.. I think you did a really great job with this capture.. Ttyl, byes -kia
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Very innovative Photo-Journalism T____T absolutely magnificent *sniff* can we be friends? ^___^ of course, almost all of us here are friends.
This is great.
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This photo is timeless and amazing, the simple power he seems to radiate is breath taking. Over all ... just amazing!
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keep up the goodwork. i've just been to vietnam earlier this dec too for the sea games..
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I'm deadly envious of your travels. Great shot my man.
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yup, I'll definetely try to do more street photography once I got a camera...
I agree with you on how you can show similarities between people or on the other hand their differences. wonderful and simplictic composition btw, I love it.
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that's just cool, I think if you have more of these your going on my favorites list
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That is so nice, Im viet myself.... He looks just like my grandpa, where'd u get this picture? hehe jp
I like the color on that thing, and he looks so nice... makes me wanna visit vietname..
I am vietnamese but i never step foot on vietnam soil
Anyways Nice picture
+fav
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Nice work, and I really agree with you. Photojournalism is severly underrated.
If anyones interested in seeing more different photojournalist deviants ~amers00 is an exellent place to start.
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you so far have 87 favourites.
i think you're accepted
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awesome picture. i really enjoy photos such as this. i dont see why others wouldnt enjoy seeing more photojournalism, though. its what we live with all our lives - you see it on the news and in the (news)paper all the time. but anyway, back to the picture. i like that youve captured someone smiling, sitting alongside the street, enjoying their moment of life.
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I find that genuinely lovely and sweet. Who can look at that picture and not help but smile?
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I saw this stopped browsing for a bit. This is by far one of the most complete images i've seen on DA in quite some time. From the use of sepia to the subject themselves, this photo speaks volumes about your sense of story and instinct for composition. I normally find things to critique in most photos, i cannot in this one.
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There's balance in the way life is set up I suppose. As far as physical ability to mental ability. When we're young, we're basically harmless. We don't know anything, but can do anything. Kind of keeps most of us in limbo. But when we come of age, things balance out to where physical and mental compliment each other. From then on, it's all mental.
Shit... Forgot to comment on the art piece dinn't I? Good work! Made me think and made me s m i l e. Fav. Easily.
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What an awesome shot. Indeed the power of a smile is wonderful.
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I really believe this is a natural photograph, something true to life. It's so rewarding to see a person so happy. I truly love this photograph.
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nice picture... slughtly blurry, but the man makes up for it I think
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