Tanburi Chris

[Rob MacKillop]

My friend, Chris, playing a Turkish Tanbur. There is a tradition of calling such players by the appellation Tanburi X.

In my front room, with whatever sunlight made it through the blinds. DP2M jpg. In Nik Colour I used the filter for the Fuji 160S, which gave the images an attractive blueish tint.

The tanbur is very pale, and it was difficult not to overblow the highlights there. Occasionally I raised the light on his face, but tried not to make it obvious I'd done so.

In no particular order...Any favourite?

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[Rob MacKillop]

Looking at them all together here, I can see they form a study in the triangle as a compositional device!

 

[Tom Dunne]

The last image appeals to me most Rob mainly because the light on the instrument is easier on the eye and not allowed to distract too much from the actual player; so a better all round balance. I really like how his eyes are on the chord and the hand movement works very nicely giving a great overall shape to the image.
The second last image had me mentally cropping out the player alltogether leaving nothing but a study of the instrument, chord shape and strum.
A lovely bit of experimenting in not so generous light Rob.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Tom. I like the idea of just having the instrument and hands in the penultimate one. I might do that, though Chris might not be too happy! No matter, it wasn't a paid commission. He'll have to take what I give him

I get your points re the last one.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

I like the last one better, but like the others too. It's a little hard when there is more than two for this Norseman. But the last one appears a tiny bit grainier on my tablet. Is that so?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, it is grainier, Ivar, and all the better for it I suppose. Cheers, Ivar.

 

[Pete Askew]

As I portrait I like the first the best but for atmosphere, it's the last. A damned fine study anyway.

Last week I was in Athens and on Friday night we went out with our friends Klis and Pepi to a local bar where they often play. It was the first night of the new season (it is closed when the tourists are around) and they had a 3-piece band in (guitar, bazooki and singer / percussionist). The grandfather of the guitarist was a famous composer of Greek folk songs and the players themselves were very well known it seems. The bazooki player was utterly amazing. I have some shots taken on the DP2 but it was way too dark and I haven't processed them yet.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Cheers, Pete. I find the bazooka too much after ten minutes or so, but I'm always in admiration of those who can play it well. Chris got me involved in a traditional Greek group once, with Greeks at Edinburgh University. There was about ten of us in the band, and a few dancers. We put on quite a show, but ultimately it wasn't what I wanted to spend much time doing.

Chris has a great face for portraits. Must ask him around again...

 

[Pete Askew]

Yes, just one note on the Bazooka. Impressive effect but one tires of it quite quickly, especially when one runs out of targets!

Greek Blues on the bazooki was quite impressive though.