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Warriors' Dance

© Usman M. Bajwa

Warriors

Uploaded: February 03, 2010

Description

KODAK's POTD - October 9, 2010.

For PG 101 Theme - Action.

With swords in their hands and feet in the air, this set of martial sword-dance performers danced in the circle to the drummer’s beat which slowly increased in pitch with a subsequent matching increase of tempo by the performers.
Khattak is a sword-dance performed by professional dancers from the Khattak tribe of Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This warrior dance is performed in rapid steps in sync with uptempo music featuring the piper and drummer (both seen here in the center).
Shot this almost looking into the sun during North Western Frontier Province festival at the Heritage Museum in Islamabad this past weekend.

Treatment in PS CS2 and Topaz.

~~~
CATEGORY: Digital Darkroom (July 18, 2010 - resubbed)


Exif: F Number: 6.3, Exposure Bias Value: -0.67, ExposureTime: 10/1600 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 45.00 mm, Model: NIKON D40

Comments

Kristy A. Keene February 03, 2010

WOW! Very Cool! #1234315

Renee Doyle February 03, 2010

LOL - we both have warriors in tonight :-)
This is SUPERB Usman!!!! #8351929

Brett Dolsen February 03, 2010

Awesome capture,treatment and description Usman!! #8352015

Avril Young February 03, 2010

lovely action shot Usman...great DD work. #8352026

Tammy M. Anderson level-deluxe February 03, 2010

Beautiful tones, treatment and capture, Usman. #8352077

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe February 03, 2010

Outstanding capture and use of Topaz Usman - Very nice work! Jeff #8352180

Nikki McDonald level-classic February 03, 2010

Superb in black and white, Usman. I'm sure the warriors' outfits were very colorful but I'll bet the patterned pavers and the trees made for a very distracting background that is nicely subdued here. Wonderful sharp detail and tonal range. #8352214

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 03, 2010

Thanks all for your kind comments.

Nikki, you are right that they wore red colored mini coats and hand scarfs (tied to their wrists). To make the dancers stand out as the main subjects, I had to clone out quite a bit, as this was a public demonstration and the trees and the background was distracting in the colored version. You dissected my work just like a pro. I am glad you did that!

UB. #8352281

John Benway February 03, 2010

Amazing shot Usman, very nice tones and detail. Beautiful work.
John #8352297

Courtenay Vanderbilt February 03, 2010

Wonderful image and treatment, UB! #8352380

Linda D. Lester level-classic February 03, 2010

Love the treatment on this!!!! Awesome job! #8352587

Stefania Barbier level-classic February 03, 2010

fantastic capture and fx! #8352787

Tiia Vissak February 03, 2010

a great scene! #8353575

Kay E. Mahoney level-classic February 03, 2010

Nice capture, Usman. love the effect. #8353593

Karen Bacon February 03, 2010

An excellent image Usman!Great job on this!! #8353734

Randall J. Scholten February 03, 2010

Fascinating and very well done! #8353854

Steve Reffey February 03, 2010

Awesome Usman, love the effect and I too enjoy topaz (although my 30 day trial is running out LOL) #8354086

Anita Hogue February 03, 2010

Awesome use of effects, Usman! Thanks for your BD wish! #8354199

Randy D. Dinkins level-classic February 03, 2010

Great shot and the B&W treatment really makes the dancers pop. #8354370

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 03, 2010

Thanks to each one of you for your time and continued support!

UB. #8354531

Tommy E. Burgess February 03, 2010

Fantastic capture and treatments Usman!! #8354707

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 03, 2010

Thank you very much, Tommy!

UB. #8354726

Nadia Paul February 06, 2010

What a wonderful scene Usman - great capture and perfect processing! #8360082

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 06, 2010

Thanks Nadia, glad you liked the treatment!

UB. #8360331

Daniel Ruf February 06, 2010

Great black and white and treatment. #8360446

Patti Coblentz February 07, 2010

I love the black and white, making this like a historical image, and like Nikki pointed out...it helped to keep the focus on the warriors...quite an image, Usman!! Nice work :)

Patti #8364590

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 07, 2010

Thank you Daniel and Patti for your valuable and kind comments!

UB. #8364617

Anne McKinnell February 10, 2010

Wow, absolutely stunning effects Usman!! #8371779

Usman M. Bajwa level-classic February 10, 2010

Thanks Anne for looking and for your kind comments!

UB. #8372827

Bunny Snow April 29, 2010

I love seeing the patterns of native costumes, which add so much to the country of origin. This is something I miss as the world becomes more and more westernized.

Your use of black and white to reduce distractions and keep the focus on the dancers has brought out the quality in the image --the sharpness despite the action, the composition, DOF and the clarity of their dress and activity. This is very well done, Usman. I always enjoy seeing your work. #8579438

Graham Robards April 30, 2010

I echo Bunny's sentiments entirely Usman. HTD. ~Pat #8580574

Mitch Spence level-classic April 30, 2010

Wild and constant action going on here, Usman. The effects and black and white focus our attention on just that action. #8580809

Errick L. Cameron level-deluxe April 30, 2010

I am glad this was a dance. Nice work! HTD! #8581135

Patti Coblentz May 01, 2010

Perfect theme entry, Usman!

Patti #8582385

Amanda D. Austwick level-classic May 01, 2010

Great scene here and well done in B&W. You really get the feeling of the dance. Well done! #8582476

Corinne M. Thompson May 01, 2010

Wow, this is awesome! Must of been neat to see in person too. #8583377

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