Photographer's Note
Flying over the rice fields of Central Laos Province of Bolikhamxai...finally i can write RICE IS LIFE!
and enter in the Club!
*Scanned image*
Laos
Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the 14th century, which lasted until the 18th century, when Siam assumed control of the separate principalities that remained. To avoid a costly war with the French, the Siamese king ceded lands now known as Laos to them, and these were incorporated into French Indochina in 1893. Following a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, the country declared its independence in 1945, but the French re-asserted their control and only in 1950 was Laos granted semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. Moreover, the French remained in de facto control until 1954, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy.
Political unrest in neighbouring Vietnam dragged Laos into the Second Indochina War (see also Secret War and Vietnam War), a destabilising factor that contributed to civil war and several coups d'ιtat. The North Vietnamese Army invaded and occupied portions of eastern Laos. The North Vietnamese army, with its heavy weapons including heavy artillery and tanks was the real power behind the Pathet Lao insurgency. Significant aerial bombardment by the United States occurred by that country's attempt to eliminate North Vietnamese bases in Laos and disrupt supply lines on the Ho Chi Minh trail.
In 1968 the North Vietnamese Army launched a multi-division attack against the Royal Lao Army. The attack resulted in the army largely demobilizing and leaving the conflict to irregular forces raised by the United States and Thailand. In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao, backed by the Soviet Union and the North Vietnamese Army (justified by the Communist ideology of "proletarian internationalism"), overthrew the royalist government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on December 2, 1975 (he later died in captivity). After taking control of the country, they renamed it the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Pathet Lao government afterward signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station military forces and to appoint advisors to assist in overseeing the country. Laos was ordered in the late 1970s by Vietnam to end relations with China which cut the country off from trade with any country but Vietnam [citation needed]. Control by Vietnam and socialisation were slowly replaced by a relaxation of economic restrictions in the 1980s and admission into ASEAN in 1997. Vietnam still wields political and economic influence in Laos.
The 20-year embargo by the United States was lifted in 1995, although Laos has still not achieved Most Favored Nation trading status Lack of this status is often considered to be the result of Hmong refugee activism in the United States which targets human rights violations by the Lao government.
From Wikipedia
pasternak, Henryk_Bilor, oochappan, AiresSantos, Elaine_Blath, riclopes, Yffic, feather, isabela_sor, bibiweb, Luan, atus, john_c, Izobretenik, Cretense, elmec έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
pasternak
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1341 W: 179 N: 3373]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(15185) 2006-07-06 4:20
WOW, Paolo, an amazing image!!! Aerial photo of superb quality, light is fantastic, highlighting the clouds and the rice fields, placed one against the other, and a successful sepia treatment.
Very very good!
Cheers
Alexander
Henryk_Bilor
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2797 W: 8 N: 3641]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(20803) 2006-07-06 4:24
Hi Paolo
Hmm, it looks like a sheets of paper on the floor :). And these clouds... like a fiction.
Great composition!
Have a nice day.
oochappan
(4880) 2006-07-06 4:25
Very impressive the light in these clouds and nice turn to sepia. First I couldn't understand the title but reading your note it became more clear what we are seeing down below so the shot is a nice eye-puller to this this extended well informative note.
Well done Paolo
greetings
Henk
rozy975
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 19 N: 392]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(3047) 2006-07-06 4:26
Really amazing!
What a light.
Interesting choice of b&w but I love it.
Well done!
AiresSantos
(56155) 2006-07-06 4:27
Hi Pablo,
Different but very gorgeous. Amazing sky in this lovely composition. Very well choose the sepia version.
Excellent work.
Greetings my friend
Elaine_Blath
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1205 W: 31 N: 1504]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-n.gif){kind=small}
(8471) 2006-07-06 4:29
Hi Paolo,
wow this is beautiful, again my favourite monochrome tones, amazing reflections...my favourite instantly, I love this!
take care, Ivana
haya
![Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3 W: 49 N: 69]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/n-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(839) 2006-07-06 4:34 [Comment]
eleparc
(24063) 2006-07-06 4:37
this is an amazing photo from the rice fields... the b&w suits well in there too! well done!
Eric
marianita
(3455) 2006-07-06 4:51
paolo
eventhough it is scanned it is great! excellent work
well done
amrianna
riclopes
(35577) 2006-07-06 5:16
Uhau Paolo!
I'm loving your work with the sepia and b/w. This is quite an impressive one. The interplay bettween this amazing sky and the shining rice fields downthere, with the mist bettween them, is outstanding.
Congratulations!
Ciao,
Ricardo
dolin
(7369) 2006-07-06 5:42
Hi Paolo.
Assez folle cette photo, j'aime bien ce qu'elle dιgage.
Les nuages, les reflets sur le bas, la lumiθre est top et ton traitement accentue cette ambiance.
Bien fait
Fred
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 40 W: 25 N: 45]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-s-s.gif){kind=small}
vapours
(8264) 2006-07-06 8:31
Brilliant shot Paolo, really love the feeling of the shot and that wide angle is really impressive.
teutza
(10590) 2006-07-06 8:41
this is a fantastic photo!i thought u captured the water and sky...but from the ground...after i read the note i got it!amasing!hole composition is great!!
david
(3992) 2006-07-06 9:11
such a dark and dramatic shot. amazing photograph paolo.
i'm thrilled that you got this shot in the air. the perspective is great and quite abstract ... we honestly wouldn't know they were rice fields unless you told us.
nice b&w too ... beautiful and dramatic shot! bravo!
Yffic
(6106) 2006-07-06 11:16
Hello Paolo,
At the first vision, I was sure that your shot was an analogic one: the grain is so nice and your BW is definitly a winner.
i really like your shot.
Regards.
Yves
feather
(51130) 2006-07-06 11:40
The sky is stunning and the light on the rice fields below creates an interesting abstract image. Very creative shot and PP treatment.
Kath
isabela_sor
(47748) 2006-07-06 12:07
Incredible,dramatic and perfect composition!Excellent lighting and great note,Paolo
Thank you for posting
All the best
Isabela
Fis2
(169635) 2006-07-06 16:22
Witaj Paolo!
Curious moment, good composition. I like the colours. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof
AmiBe
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1626 W: 309 N: 526]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(6042) 2006-07-06 18:02
Ciao Paolo,
really great one, the PP is excellent and mysterious.
Great light and sky.
Just fabulous !
Well done
bibiweb
(8) 2006-07-07 1:01
Ciao Paolo,
I was of course attracted to this image by the title! ;o)
It's a very artistic result you have here with the sun reflecting on the rice fields and the light coming out from behind the clouds. The B&W is perfect in this case and you've done a good job with PP on this scanned image. I'm sure Luan is going to appreciate.
Have a nice day.
Brigitte
Luan
(12971) 2006-07-07 4:57
YOu have understood Paolo, Yes RICE IS FILE for sure, and for sure your picture is wonderful, the light over the rice fields...just an amazing view.
Luan
ALLEZ LES BLEUS ;o) hihihi
atus
(15878) 2006-07-07 8:04
Ciao Paolo,
molto bella immagine con favorevolissima luce filtrante e bellisiimi riflessi delle risaie che si estendono a macchie fino all'orrizzonte. Ottima scelta di convergere in b/n. Complimenti e buon WE!
Attila
alekpet
(4663) 2006-07-07 10:42
Hi Paolo.
YOu continue the sepia files with this incredible view, with the contrast set to very high because of the counter light. Two completely different structures complement each other with their different forms, with the key ingredient, the sun, present on both. Rice fields are shown in quite different light than bibi's but yet, so much powerfull.
take care, Aleks
john_c
(24666) 2006-07-07 11:36
Hi Paolo,
An amazing composition, and an unusual aerial view. I like the depth in this shot and the lighting. The sepia oriented hues are fitting. The scene is surreal. The birds must become dizzy...Well done.
John
Graal
(103040) 2006-07-08 2:49
Hi Paolo,
unusual POV, interesting graphism and view. Nice landscape in sepia. I like it.
Rgs, Aleksander
Izobretenik
(1268) 2006-07-08 9:07
What kind of picture is that ? It is totally surrealistic for me. I needed to read your note to understand what it was all about and after I read it, I thought : "Of course !"
Dramatic black and white picture with an incredible sky and these reflections of light in the rice field's water are just great.
Izo
capthaddock
(28790) 2006-07-08 19:11
Hi Paolo - I see you're really into BW photos these days, great view, having the sun hidden was a brilliant idea, avoids lens flare, and the flooded fields stand out nicely, along with the sun's reflection in them.
Cretense
(68709) 2006-07-09 10:05
Hi Paolo!
Great almost abstract photo. Very unique, original and a dificult one. Keep on letting free your imagination and keep on giving us "presents" like this one. Thank you for your excellent note too. Congratulations once again my friend!
Ciao, Hercules
elmec
(12210) 2006-07-09 15:41
Hello Paolo!
Such an amazing photo!
It's so amazing composition with perfect contrast and light!
Perfect work!
Congratulations!
Best regards!
ngythanh
(8458) 2006-07-09 22:35
Thank you for a photo that drawn back to me a lot of memories. During the Vietnam War, out of monsoon, this is identical to what I have seen every day from the open window of military UH-1B chopper.
But more than that, you have made a great contribution toward RICE topic. I am pleased and honored to include your photo to the theme that I am working on. Thank you.
Thanh
SCidER
(388) 2006-11-13 12:33
very nice image indeed.. the formation and the density of the clouds are blocking the moon behind them.. but the moon forgives them and grands them this unique colour..
Below them are the rice fields, small enough, to make us understand the height..
Combing all these together we have this nice photo.. well done.. TFS
:)
rubisheikh
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 38 W: 51 N: 18]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-g-s.gif){kind=small}
(77) 2007-05-13 12:06
Hi Paolo Motta,
Very impressive the light in these clouds and nice turn to sepia color, Well done, TFS
Regards Rubi.
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Paolo Motta (Paolo)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3739 W: 144 N: 8840]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(41258) - Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Μαύρο & Ασπρο
- Date Taken: 1998-09-00
- Categories: Φύση
- Camera: Nikon N80
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση
- Θέμα(τα): Rice Fields "I", Your favorites, The Sepia Files, Rice is Life /2/, Rice is My Life [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2006-07-06 4:16
- Αγαπημένα: 1 [view]
