The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
In Gifu City, Japan, the ancient practice of using cormorants to catch small river fish is still practiced. This type of fishing is no longer commercially viable and is now done for tourists.
The grandfather of the fisherman was able to catch a thousand fish during a night’s fishing. Now due to over fishing and changes in the river’s environment, a single pass along a kilometer of river yielded only a few dozen fish.
This photo was taken while in a boat that paralled the fishing boat. The sole source of light was the fire in the basket. The light cast by the fire is said to attract the fish close to the surface making it easier for the cormorants to catch them.
Specific Feedback
Does the photo accurately portray the activity or is a detailed explanation needed?
Technical Details
Canon R5 and 28-70 lens set at 1/100, f/2.8 and ISO 10,000. Denoise and cropping done in Lrc.
Critique Template
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You have captured a fascinating scene Richard, the lighting on the front of the boat and the water droplets is great.
I think that I can work out what is going on …but the fire seems a bit fierce!
Quite a spectacular shot. Nice that you have cormorants diving and ready to dive. Is there a cormorant on each one of those lines? Seems like hey could become snarled easily. I rally like this.
Richard, a very unusual and compelling image. I’m guessing this is from an Asian country where they use trained, harnessed cormorants to catch fish that are attracted by the light?
The firelight, drops of water, face of the fisherman and faint image of the birds are all marvelous - quite a remarkable image!
Ryan, Jim and Sandy: thanks for having taken the time to look and comment. It is appreciated. The fisherman, is holding about 10 or so leashes
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with which he somehow manages to keep order as there is a bird on each one. This photo was taken on the Naragawara River in Gifu City, Japan. I'll amend the description to make this clear. It takes about two years of training (most of which is becoming accustomed to being on a leash) for the cormorants to become acclimated to their situation.
A very fine image, Richard. It does tell the story pretty well, though I think for something like this a bit of text to explain what’s going on is usually a good thing. Someone not being aware of this activity could look at this image and think the boatman is somehow snaring cormorants and miss the whole idea without a bit of explanation.
As an image, it’s fantastic. All kinds of action, unusual activity, and the lighting is very dramatic.
Fascinating to see an action shot from this practice. We’re so conditioned to see the posed portraits of these fishermen from China and elsewhere, that an action shot feels new and different.
(I was just attacked by a cormorant last week, btw, so I know how those fish feel. )
Dennis and Max: thanks for looking and commenting. Max, I’ve been dive bombed by Johnny Rooks but didn’t realize that cormorants were blood thirsty. Richard
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Richard