Stanley Cheong
August 2026 - The girl selling buns
About the Image(s)
During my travels, I woke up early one morning and strolled alone out of the hotel. A street food stall came into view, and the clerk was carrying a steamer basket, taking out a basket of white buns. Steam rose in wisps, turning into layers of white mist, swirling around her and the bamboo steamer. This simple breakfast stall instantly transformed into a vibrant and gentle scene of everyday life. Seeing this, I immediately raised my camera and pressed the shutter, capturing this heartwarming moment, a true reflection of life.
Shoot data :
Camara : Nikon D3
Lens : NIKKOR AFS 24-70mm F2.8 @48mm
Aperture : F11
Shutter speed : 1/250s
ISO : 200
White balance : Manual
7 comments posted
Well done, Stanley!
You have caught "the moment" with this image. The girl is at work and she is doing something. There is action in the image. It is not static, she is obviously moving and she is surrounded by the swirling steam.
I love the colour palette, with the brown/orange steamer baskets and the green of her blouse. It is a very striking and well lit image. The bright colours are enhanced by the use of an almost monochrome background.
Maybe darken the light area between the steamer basket and the girl's body, and there is something "not quite right" with her left hand; maybe it is lens distortion.
A great image!
Posted: 08/02/2026 00:16:02
You have caught "the moment" with this image. The girl is at work and she is doing something. There is action in the image. It is not static, she is obviously moving and she is surrounded by the swirling steam.
I love the colour palette, with the brown/orange steamer baskets and the green of her blouse. It is a very striking and well lit image. The bright colours are enhanced by the use of an almost monochrome background.
Maybe darken the light area between the steamer basket and the girl's body, and there is something "not quite right" with her left hand; maybe it is lens distortion.
A great image!
Posted: 08/02/2026 00:16:02
Another beautiful story and image of the everyday life you see. My favorite part of this image is the intensity of this beautiful woman who has her eyes on her job. My eyes go right to the sharp focus you have on her face that is framed by the steam. The simplicity of the two colors keep my attention. Posted: 08/03/2026 18:45:04
A great capture of a woman who has such an intense focus on carrying those baskets to safety. I love the atmospheric addition of the steam which surely enhances the story. I agree with Martin's comment regarding darkening the floor below her arms. I would also remove the light brown basket-looking thing along the left edge of the image as it pulls my eye away from the scene. Posted: 08/03/2026 20:50:32
Wonderfully expressive and lively capture! The orange basket cookers appear quite heavy, so I think the strain on the left hand as shown at 48mm is probably not an in-camera or lens distortion as Martin suggested; but I'm not sure if it's not a congenital defect in the way her hand has been formed. If so she is adapting very well.
I would probably try a horizontal flip, and cropping in slightly from the sides because the space, except for the bright triangle of light on the left, is mostly negative but I don't think it's all contributing. Posted: 08/04/2026 16:53:19
I would probably try a horizontal flip, and cropping in slightly from the sides because the space, except for the bright triangle of light on the left, is mostly negative but I don't think it's all contributing. Posted: 08/04/2026 16:53:19
(Groups 21 & 42 & 71)
Stanley, love this image! The woman's face, her green smock, and those bamboo steamer baskets with steam rising from all of them really make the shot. This was such a great catch. It has tremendous visual impact and so much to draw the eye in. Posted: 08/16/2026 23:45:49
Hi Stanley,
What a fortuitous capture. I LOVE the steam surrounding the woman. The green of her clothing and the reddish-brown of the bamboo baskets play very well with the color wheel of complimentary opposites. I love the level of concentration she is providing.
I would love to have been there with you to capture this scene.
Well done. Posted: 08/17/2026 21:38:26
What a fortuitous capture. I LOVE the steam surrounding the woman. The green of her clothing and the reddish-brown of the bamboo baskets play very well with the color wheel of complimentary opposites. I love the level of concentration she is providing.
I would love to have been there with you to capture this scene.
Well done. Posted: 08/17/2026 21:38:26
Dear Martin, Shirley, Karen, Piers, Tom & Jim, thank you so much for your comments. I hadn't noticed what Martin mentioned about the left hand looking "somewhat off". I don't think her hand is deformed; the distortion may have been caused by excessive heat from the steamer. I've taken note of the suggestions regarding light and shadow adjustments. Thank you all for your feedback. Posted: 08/21/2026 07:23:52