PhotoFeed Contest - Portrait Photography Round 138 ~ Portraits of Sanggar Melati Personnel

Hello Hivers....

This post is my entry for the Portrait Photography Contest hosted by @photofeed. If you'd like to participate, please read here

The photo I'm sharing captures a colorful moment from a member of Sanggar Melati, Gampong Liliep. In the close-up, we see a young woman wearing a hijab in bright red traditional clothing, adorned with a gold crown adorned with beads and delicate embroidery. Her makeup is bold yet soft, with neat eyebrows, eyeshadow and eyeliner accentuating her gaze, and her cheeks are flushed, giving her a stagey look. Her hands are posed as if greeting or blowing a kiss to the camera, creating a friendly and confident impression.

The red of the kebaya/shawl and the embroidered details highlight the richness of local culture and the role of costumes in performances. Red is often chosen to attract the audience's attention and emphasize the characters in traditional dances. Gold-ornamented crowns emphasize the performers' status as part of a special performance. Intense stage makeup serves a dual purpose: emphasizing expressions from afar during the performance, while also serving as an aesthetic element in close-up portraits like this one.

The backdrop of a white tent and decorated chairs conveys the atmosphere of a traditional village event. The close-up composition places full focus on the expressions and details of the costumes, while the slightly busy background provides community context without distracting. Soft natural lighting accentuates skin tones and fabric textures, giving the photo a warm and candid feel.

Studios like Sanggar Melati play a vital role at the village level, serving as training centers for traditional arts, a platform for the regeneration of young artists, and a social gathering place. This portrait is more than just an aesthetic photograph; it captures the continuity of tradition through the bodies, clothing, and skills of the current generation. Young faces in traditional costumes offer hope that cultural heritage is still alive and being passed on.

Important Note: I wrote in Indonesian, then translated it using Google Translate. Regards @yayan