A villager and the cows coming home.

This was taken in Prespa Albania. Each evening, the cows come home from grazing while their owners wait for them in front of their homes.


The Cows Come Home

Any thoughts on this one?

i think this is one of those shots where you had to be there to really appreciate the moment. From a viewers point of view I would say I am having trouble finding a focus point - in the foreground the cows are on the extreme left (and lacking detail) and the people waiting are on the extreme right of the shot. The mountains and the blue water in the background are equally interesting, so my eyes are wandering around the shot and are not drawn to a particular focus point.

Just my opinion of course.

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.

It does a grand job of suggesting the atmosphere of a bucolic idyll--or a peasant's life of unrelenting toil, if you look at it that way. These people and their farm could have time-traveled from several centuries back. They remind me of characters in the Grimm brothers' European folktales.

As a composition, I agree with Brian500, it's undirected, it lacks unity; we don't know what to look at. I think one big reason is that the first cow is facing out of the picture and will leave the frame entirely if she keeps walking. Cropping off the left quarter might make an improvement.

Unrelenting toil is spot on. Life in the Villages, especially the more remote villages, is incredibly difficult. At the end of the day it is about simple survival.

This does show you how some people are living in the 21st century !! Good record image.

Thank you!

I think a black and white conversion might add a little to the editorial part of the shot. I like the long shadows you've captured. Black and white would make them pop a little more.

Brian500au wrote in post #17422095
From a viewers point of view I would say I am having trouble finding a focus point - [...]

I have the same experience with the picture. Like the colors but miss the story. The strongest element for me is the woman standing there and looking at us.