Photo Essay: The Barongsai Story

Hello, children! My name's Barongsai. I'm a lion. My ancesstors are from China. They were born about 2,300 years ago. They are pretty old, are they?



Yes, I look fierce. But look at my eyes ... You see ... I'm friendly.



That's why children like you adore me ..., do you?



By the way, I like eating envelopes that contain money, you see. They are called "Lay See" or "Huang Pao". Yummy! Feed me that ..., and I'll dance for you.

What Is A Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a type of photo presentation whereby a series of photos are arranged in such a way to tell a story or evoke emotions in their viewers. A photo essay may be accompanied by a text or commentary or may not.

Just like in a verbal narrative, the photos in a photo essay may be arranged sequentially (temporally or spatially) or in any other modes of arrangement depending on the message that the author or the photographer wants to convey or the emotions he or she wants to evoke. A photo essayist may even choose to let the viewers or audience decide for themselves the order by which they want to "read" the visual narrative. In relation to the way the photos are presented, therefore, the narrative of a photo essay may be descriptive, expository, argumentative or a combination of any of them in its orientation.

The plot of a photo essay may also vary: Single, multiple, linear or flashback, and simple or complicated. However, considering the nature of still photographs, it may, in my opinion, be a little bit difficult to have multiple plots in a photo essay.

A photo essay may concentrate on events, places, or people. Regardless of its subject, a photo essay strives to present the essence of the subject that becomes its theme.

The following is an example of photo essay. I decided not to include a commentary on this one.

Text and pictures by Eki Qushay Akhwan, all rights reserved.

FLYING FOX

Photo Essay: KRD, Commuter Train with Services

Text and pictures ©Eki Qushay Akhwan


It had been sometime since I had taken the KRD (Kereta Rel Diesel), the commuter train that serves Bandung and its vicinities, to commute between home and work. Convenience was the issue. However, the recent phenomenal hike in fuel prices, the worsening of traffic congestion (especially during the rush hours), and the messages of impending disasters caused by global warming pounded almost daily by the media had made me rethink about leaving the car and moped at home, and start taking the commuter train again. I must admit that apart from the rush-hour crowding and occasional delays, the KRD is actually the cheapest, the fastest (and quite probably the greenest) way to get to Bandung from the suburbs and the other way around. And so, this week I gave it a try again.


Like a memorable place revisited after years of being away, it was not surprising that the first ride gave me quite a new insight. Instead of the usual grumbles about the crowding, the noise, and the hygiene (which I used to feel), I actually began to see how wonderful this place was. For a 1000 rupiahs (about 9 cents US dollars), I couldn't ask for more of my money's value. Forget about the driving and the stressful traffic. Just sit there (or stand if there are no more seats), relax, and the train is going to take you into the city in literally minutes. And, if you happen to be a keen observer of human behaviors, this is just the perfect place to satisfy your curiosity. But wait, that's not the only good things you get here ............






The train literally gives you all the space you need to lug around what you wish to carry, like this man with his wooden sandals.







Candies or refreshment? They are ready on board, and offered with impeccable hospitality.







Leave you ipod at home if you wish. Life music is part of the service on board. You don't need to pay extra for this first class service. But yes, small tips are always appreciated.







And who needs movies if you could get life performances like this for free? (Well, tips are certainly welcome.)







You don't even need to worry about forgetting to bring your morning paper with you. Of course, this one is not free. But it's good to know that should you ever forget to bring your paper, there is someone who'd bring it for you.





And if you are a spiritual person who never feels good about passing a day without an act of benevolence or charity, don't worry ... there is ample opportunity to do that here.


There! What more can you ask for?

Camera Works: Unplugged

Pictures and text © Eki Qushay Akhwan


We - photographers - are keenly aware that the act of pointing our camera at our subjects has the effect of changing the nature of the subjects. At worse, they can become jittery and act strangely as if worried that the camera might catch them bare and naked. At best, they want to look better for the camera, acting out and putting a mask of superego compromise so that the camera might not see who they really are. Hence, we (or the camera) often fail to extract the essence that makes a personality unique.

There comes the questions: What if the camera was invisible? What would we see (camera capture) if our subjects were unaware of the camera presence?

Here are some pictures I recently took at a street festival in Bandung. I let the camera hang loose at the waist level, more or less. Technical control was minimal. Hence the shakes and loose exposures. In short, the camera was unplugged from my eye. The results are, as you can see, technically imperfect pictures; but, as you can also see, the technical imperfections, I think, are more than well compensated by what I can see through the faces. The camera unplugged, the subjects' masks off!

A Photo Essay: A Day at a Festival

By Eki Qushay Akhwan

I like going to festivals.

Not so much for the fun as for the opportunities they always present:

to have a peek at the behavior of the homo ludens;
and to hone the ever-faithful view-finder of my camera...

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In a festival, beauty is always part of the fun. Always commanding. Always speaks loudly for herself.

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Games are staring coldly right through the escapist desires in us all.

Fun, everyone?

Why not having an adventure without leaving your seat?

It still IS an escape ...

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A juggler makes your eyes swirl in bemusement ...

And music stirs your soul and makes your body restless,

aching for the rhythm of the universe.

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Adventure is always about a test of your strength;

resolution, and the sheer joy of conquests and discoveries.

It's a world of joy found

in children ...

And the child who lives in us all ...

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The horrors of magic might not be your cup of tea.

But hey ...., that's why it's called MAGIC!

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Just a fair warning:

Too much fun could affect your heart and vitality!