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mask


mask
Photo Information
Copyright: Taner Sesler (tsesler) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 12 N: 1173] (6301)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-15
Categories: Nature, Macro
Exposure: f/2.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-11-04 0:13
Viewed: 632
Points: 110
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
hi folks,

this colourful bug remembered me the African masks,
it is a kind of nature's art indeed,
actually i don't know the name of it and unfortunately i couldn't prepare an informative note about it,
thats why enjoy yourself while reading the note about African Mask;)

i hope you will like it as much as i do:)
have a wonderful week;)

warm regards
Taner

African tribal masks

A traditional Malian mask
There are an enormous variety of masks used in Africa. In West Africa, masks are used in masquerades that form part of religious ceremonies enacted to contact with spirits and ancestors, the Yoruba, Igbo and Edo cultures, including Egungun Masquerades and Northern Edo Masquerades. The masks are usually carved with an extraordinary skill and variety by artists who will usually have received their training as an apprentice to a master carver - frequently it is a tradition that has been passed down within a family through many generations. Such an artist holds a respected position in tribal society because of the work that he/she creates, embodying not only complex craft techniques but also spiritual/social and symbolic knowledge. African masks are also used in the Mas or Masquerade of the Caribbean Carnival.
Fang mask used for the ngil ceremony, an inquisitorial search for sorcerers. Wood, Gabon, 19th century.
African masks are made from different materials: wood, bronze, brass, copper, ivory, terra cotta and glazed pottery, raffia and textiles. Some African masks are colourful. Many African masks represent animals. Some African tribes believe that the animal masks can help them communicate with the spirits who live in forests or open savannas. People of Burkina Faso known as the Bwa and Nuna call to the spirit to stop destruction. The Dogon of Mali have complex religions that also have animal masks. Their beliefs are in three main cults - the Awa, cult of the dead, Bini, cult of communication with spirits and Lebe, cult of earth and nature. These three main cults nevertheless use seventy-eight different types of masks. Most of the ceremonies of the Dogon culture are secret, although the antelope dance is shown to non-Dogons. The antelope masks are rough rectangular boxes with several horns coming out of the top. The Dogons are expert agriculturists and the antelope symbolizes a hard working farmer.
Another culture that has a very rich agricultural tradition is the Bamana people of Mali. The antelope (called Chiwara) is believed to have taught man the secrets of agriculture. Although the Dogons and Bamana people both believe the antelope symbolises agriculture, they interpret elements the masks differently. To the Bamana people, swords represent the sprouting of grain.
Masks may also indicate a culture’s ideal of feminine beauty. The masks of Punu of Gabon have highly arched eyebrows, almost almond-shaped eyes and a narrow chin. The raised strip running from both sides of the nose to the ears represent jewellery. Dark black hairstyle, tops the mask off. The whiteness of the face represent the whiteness and beauty of the spirit world. Only men wear the masks and perform the dances with high stilts despite it being a “female” masks. One of the most beautiful representations of female beauty is the Idia’s Mask of Benin. It is believed to have been commissioned by a king of Benin in memory of his mother. To honor his dead mother, the king wore the mask on his hip during special ceremonies.
The Senoufo people of the Ivory Coast represent tranquility by making masks with eyes half-shut and lines drawn near the mouth. The Temne of Sierra Leone use masks with small eyes and mouths to represent humility and humbleness. They represent wisdom by making bulging forehead. Other masks that have exaggerated long faces and broad foreheads symbolize the soberness of one’s duty that comes with power. War masks are also popular. The Grebo of the Ivory Coast carve masks with round eyes to represent alertness and anger, with the straight nose to represent unwillingness to retreat.
Today, the qualities of African art are beginning to be more understood and appreciated. However most African masks are now being produced for the tourist trade. Although they often show skilled craftsmanship they will nearly always lack the spiritual character of the traditional tribal masks.
moli, harpya, aperis, Reflex, Doudou, gnada, boomcat, boreocypriensis, burak28, mikolaj_cava, lele, Dot, milas, taftabit, Silvio2006, Fortuna, ayse51, Hendrika, black_dream, colvert, juyona, cunejo200, trekks, leeloo, viawia, lizas, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mbrito: Maskmbrito 1 11-04 15:27
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fons Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1300 W: 2 N: 202] (15612)
  • [2008-11-04 0:23]

very nice mask!beautiful picture

hello Taner,

another excellent macro shot of this bug.. i like the pov.. excellent eyes.. this super sharp.. well done.. tfs..

regards, terry

  • Great 
  • AndroK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1498 W: 23 N: 0] (11836)
  • [2008-11-04 0:40]

Merhaba my friend...
Beautiful macro...
Nice colors, composition...
Andro

it has the look of a human face, Taner - the hairdo, eyes, nose, cheek lines, lips and a goatie!
you presented it so well to show those parts in a human face.
the centredness is not without a purpose - for us to see clearly those 'parts' of the face. well done!

TFS
regards
Agoes

Hi Taner
wnderf red black mask
perfect for my friend Cobra112 supporter of Milan FC
great macro and wonderful details
have a good day
ciao
Lucio

Selam Taner Bey, nefis bir reduviid böcek [stinky bug:)] makrosu. Detaylar hoş olmuş.
Elinize sağlık.
İyi gün dileklerimle,

Bayram

Hallo dear Taner.
Excellent close up of this Lady bird.
It sure looks like an African mask.
Good dept of field with nice blurred background.
Groeten van Jan

  • Great 
  • nicou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1310 W: 0 N: 2609] (20871)
  • [2008-11-04 1:34]

Hello,

quelle macro, superbe. ce scarabé est parfaitement capté, tu met en valeur sont dos colorés avec ces taches noire, grandiose.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

Taner Ağabey merhaba
Bu böcekleri biliyorum
Ama bakış açınıza bayıldım
Gerçekten maska benziyor
Muhteşem makro
İyi günler
Burak

Hello Taner! Ideal macro, perfect capture. Amazing colours. Very good sharpness. Original work. Good luck!

Merhaba Taner Bey

güzel ve hoş bir makro çalışma.
Netlik ve detay gayet iyi olmuş.
Elinize sağlık
Selamlar

Faruk

  • Great 
  • lele Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 814 W: 51 N: 1717] (11169)
  • [2008-11-04 3:04]

ciao taner...bellissima macro..colori suggestivi ben contrastati...ottimo il risalto del rosso che rende l immagine nitida e gradevole
complimenti
lele

  • Great 
  • Kiwis Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 0 N: 189] (13118)
  • [2008-11-04 4:18]

Hello Taner!
laugh it's true thats looks like a mask. Well catch my friend. Details are so clear and colors natural. Well presented too. Good job and a pleasure to look at. Have a nice day
Diane

  •      
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1372 W: 0 N: 1] (12003)
  • [2008-11-04 5:03]

Hi Taner
very nice macro in a good colour.
Gr Jos
P**

  • Great 
  • Dot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1429 W: 31 N: 3081] (12504)
  • [2008-11-04 7:33]

HI Taner
Indeed it does look like an african mask.
What a sharp eye you have to have spotted this on such a tiny bug.
Great result with this macro.
Dot

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2737 W: 412 N: 2987] (32871)
  • [2008-11-04 8:17]

Merhaba Taner bey...
Durup durup hakira bir iş çıkarıyorsunuz, yine mekemmel ber macro çalışması....renk,ışık ve netlik mükemmel...eline gözüne sağlık...selam ve saygılarımla...

Hi dear friend,
nice to see a close up of this little fellow.
Good details, tones and natural light.
Maybe just a little more space in the down area.
Have a lovely day.
Ioana

Selam Taner Bey,
Gerçekten bier maskeyi tüm ayrıntılarıyla benziyen bir görüntü. Adını şu anda hatırlayamadığım benim de dikkatimi çeken bir böcek. Bayram Hocadan yarfdım istemeli...
Tebrikler ve teşekkürler

hello Taner
great macro capture , lovely colors and details
there is so many bugs like this in my backyard but they are realy fast :))
thanks for sharing :))
best regards
T

Merhaba Taner, you are right, it really seems an african mask, superb macro with splendid colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Merhaba Taner bey,
Bu masklar düşmanlarını korkutmağa yönelik herhalde!!..
Muhteşem renkleri ile canlı bir macro...
Eline sağlık. Selam,sevgiler.
Dr.Seyfettin Güner

Hello Taner,

Excellent macro, beautiful colors, very good crop!
I like the frame very much.
Congratulations and TFS.
Sergio

  • Great 
  • mbrito Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1637 W: 118 N: 2819] (11374)
  • [2008-11-04 15:16]
  • [+]

Hello Taner
Amazing capture. When I saw the photo in thumbnail I thought it was an african mask painted.
Imagine my surprise when I have opened the photo and saw... a bug.
If it is a pp is superb work if it isn't a pp, superb work it is also. Great sharpness and colours. Anda great posting.

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1709 W: 124 N: 1465] (20644)
  • [2008-11-05 0:01]

merhaba Taner bey,
bu böceği bende çok gördüm ve görüntüledim ama üzerindeki desenlerin böyle maska benzediği hiç dikkatimi çekmemişti.Derlerya bakmak ve görmek farklı şeylerdir.Ellerinize gören gözlerinize sağlık.Tebrikler.Necla.

Hi Taner,

That was indeed what I thought to see in the thumbnail - tribal art.

I don't like bugs in real life and luckily we don't have many here and certainly not such coloured ones. But I must say they are very photogenic! Lovely presentation as well.

TFS
Els

It does look like an African mask!!! The resemblance is really amazing!
Excellent job, Taner!
Best regards,
Diana

Bonjour Taner
Je suis effrayé,sa tête me fait peur!
Cheer,very good work,Ilike it
Have a nice night
Friendly
Gildas

Hi Taner. These are Milan's colours my heart's team. Thanks. Greats details anf DOF.

Roberto

bonjour Taner
very nice macro of what we call in France "gendarme" (policeman) in popular language, but I don't really know why.
Perfect colours , sharpness and frame

  • Great 
  • azaf1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 740 W: 61 N: 1255] (6932)
  • [2008-11-05 13:41]

Hi TAner
You're right! The little guy really looks like an african mask, all colors and sharp in its details. A really nice one
TFS
Argiris

Merhaba taner bey,
İlginç ve harika bir böcek makrosu..Çekim, netlik, renk ve detaylar muhteşem.Elinize sağlık.
Selamlar,

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2642 W: 1 N: 1264] (15445)
  • [2008-11-06 0:16]

Hola Taner,
realmente es una mascara tribal,
fino pov y colores...
excelente macro.
saludos

Good morning Taner,
The beetle's hard outer wings are indeed colorful and show nature's design at its best. Good focus on the bug, attractive bokeh. My compliments....Danilo

Hi Taner,
You've made such a good shot:) and I like your upside-down composition:) Those bugs are great for shooting with those beautiful colors :) Great job you've done:)
warm regards
biljana

Godo macro. I love the colors. It sure does look like a mask!

Interesting composition, with the contrast in colors between the bug and the plant, and a nice soft background. Nice work!
Tracy

Taner Hi;

Splendid macro of this beautiful "Mask" in Nature. Marvelous colors, details and crystal clear. Wonderfully educational notes, as well.

Congratulations, very nice, my good friend
Larry
USA-tfs

  • Great 
  • trekks Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2025 W: 145 N: 3404] (13633)
  • [2008-11-06 8:13]

hello Taner

Very good close up macro shot of the red bug to the nice BG green blur.

I agree to what you show here about African mask and it is really very impressive.

tfs, bill

Dear Taner Sesler!
Nice macro.
Very nice light and colors.
Good capture.
Original work.
TFS!

günaydın sevgili taner
muhteşem bir komposizyon,harika bir benzetme.renkler ve netlik mükemmel.tebrikler.
sevgiler,saygılar.
gürkan akçakır.

  • Great 
  • gnada Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2662 W: 74 N: 4764] (21697)
  • [2008-11-08 20:08]

Hi my friend...

Beautiful macro shot...
Nice composition, colorsand contrast...
My compliment,
George

Bonjour mon ami Taner,

Magnifique macro de ce petit insecte, qui il est vrai pourrait être confondu avec un masque malien ou africain!!!
Peut être leur a-t'il servi de modèle, va savoir!!!
Couleurs superbes et magnifiques détails, comme à ton habitude!!!
Merci de ton éternel soutien, j'apprécie beaucoup
Amitiés
Odile

Hello Taner,
very nice composition on this shot with good detail. Effective DOF nicely isolates the subject. Very nice work.

Regards siegfried

  • Great 
  • Ramdan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 701 W: 31 N: 1420] (5756)
  • [2008-11-09 21:17]

Yes Taner, it looks like the African mask you'd mentioned. A nice shot indeed.

Ramdan.

Very impressive shot with a great graphic effect. Nice colours and nice light !
Best regards
Jean

  • Great 
  • aperis Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 85 W: 5 N: 30] (1065)
  • [2008-11-11 10:49]

Hi Taner,
Superb macro. Colours are great and the note is fantastic.
Congratulalions,
Amadeu

Hello Taner

An excellent macro shot here, nice and sharp with excellent colour and your notes are just superb. I like the framing you have chosen here but my personal choice would have been to have the insect slightly less centrel. Not saying your capture is wrong of course thats just my personal POV.

TFS kind regards Helen

P.S. I just took a browse through your gallery and you have some superb macro work there my friend.

Hi Taner - another interesting insect captured with great sharpness and excellent colour. The resemblance to a mask is well seen and captured.
TFS

Wia

  • Great 
  • lizas Silver Note Writer [C: 9 W: 0 N: 24] (94)
  • [2008-11-14 2:17]

Hello Taner,
an outstanding capture.
The colours and details achieved are
excellent.
Thank you

  • Great 
  • yanm Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 557 W: 41 N: 849] (8440)
  • [2008-11-18 0:36]

The pattern of the wings and back indeed looks like a mask :D

very good macro Taner

Yan

  • Great 
  • jone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2260 W: 175 N: 0] (29188)
  • [2008-11-30 23:54]

Hi Taner my friend ;)))
Wonderful macro shot...Compliments,
Have a nice week,
J ;)

Excellent macro image of the beautiful bug. Yes you are right looks like a man mask.

Ciao My friend Taner



Another excellent shot of this wonderful bug.
I'm amazed by the beauty of designs and colors of tue body.
Featured a beautiful pair of eyes, to be very mindful of the danger
and excellent color.
great macro and wonderful details
Greetings.


Sergio

Hi Taner,

Truly amazing shot with the bug filling up the frame. Very fine details against pleasing blurry bg. TFS and best regards,

Jusni

  • Great 
  • moli Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1430 W: 275 N: 1988] (12292)
  • [2009-02-25 11:50]

Hello Taner.
Great one and full of colour.
Good looking makro.
My compliments
Janek Kloss

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 595 W: 0 N: 957] (4612)
  • [2009-02-25 23:38]

Hi Taner,
excellent shot of this insect. Well seen in great clarity and
harpness. The composition is well done and positioned. anyway it looks like a mask from Africa.
Excellent presentation.

regards,
Foozi

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