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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twelve: Using color to express ideas > Poor Men in Rich Robes, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005
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22-JAN-2005

Poor Men in Rich Robes, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005

These monks seem well aware of the vivid colors their robes bring to this most beautiful of all Laotian towns. The interplay of yellow, orange, and maroon here arrests the eye, and speaks volumes about the men who wear these colors, many of them for the rest of their lives. They may own nothing but three robes, a razor, a strainer, a belt, and an alms bowl for their daily meal. They must also vow to injure or offend no one, and remain celibate. These monks will live spare, lean lives. As compensation, however, the colors of their robes radiate energy and beauty. They may live in poverty, yet dress in the richest of colors.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20
1/80s f/2.8 at 24.1mm iso100 hide exif
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Date/Time22-Jan-2005 09:08:05
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ModelDMC-FZ20
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length24.1 mm
Exposure Time1/80 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent100
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JPEG Quality (6)
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Phil Douglis10-Mar-2006 21:47
Once again, you tell us how color makes an image work. Each monk here can represent a different level or view of the world, as you imply, and the robes can be seen as symbols of those differences.
Ramma 10-Mar-2006 17:50
Beautiful colours, each monk seems to be in a world of his own.
Phil Douglis17-Apr-2005 03:32
Thanks, Tim, for this comment. It's fascinating to me how many different meanings are possible regarding a single aspect of this picture -- the colors of these robes. I saw the incongruity of rich colors on poor men. Benchang looks to the color for keys to understanding their lives. And you see color as a metaphor for cultural variety, the shades of knowing and living. Once again, multiplicity of meanings is in full play here. Beautifully put, as always, Tim.
Tim May16-Apr-2005 18:04
I feel that the shades and hues are a metaphor for deep variety that exists in our world and cultures. Benchang alludes to this in his (?) projections of the meaning of their stances, but for me the colors reflect the shades of knowing and living.
Phil Douglis02-Apr-2005 02:11
I am with you on this one all the way, Benchang. I can't begin to fathom how a monk's mind works either, but I can appreciate the symbolic power of color as packaging. Here are people who own nothing but the robes they wear. In seeming compensation, they dye their robes in the richest of colors --reds, yellows, and oranges. That is the point of my image, and I am sure you grasped it.
Benchang Tang 02-Apr-2005 01:59
One young monk is delveing in his medication, the second is happy since he has just found a piece of truth from his lesson and the third with twisted head is obviously disturbed by the noise from the secular world. For me, an atheist, sometimes it is hard to figour out what the life of the monks means to them. Perhaps the colour of their dresses can give me a hint. The colours stand out thanks to the subdued backdrop. I love this work.
monique jansen27-Feb-2005 09:45
A fine example of making color work for you - orange and yellow hues, hair cropped short, expressive faces.
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