Rice Drying Fields
34 worksFirst upload: Dec 2015Peak: 2022Last 12 months: 7
📝 Description
These images depict the agricultural practice of drying harvested rice grains in open-air fields. Photographers are drawn to the strong geometric patterns created by the rows of grain and the rhythmic movement of workers using long-handled tools. The scenes vary from close-up views of individuals to high-angle shots showing large groups processing thousands of tons of paddy. The locations are identified as rural villages in India and a rice mill in Sherpur, Bangladesh. The group is united by the visual motif of labor creating order on a vast, textured landscape.
How to shoot it
📍 Where to shoot
The shoot takes place outdoors, mainly in rural areas of India and Bangladesh, on open sites or grain drying fields.
🕐 Time of day
Most shot between 10:00 and 13:00 (65% of frames)
Based on 31 frames with camera data. Camera clock time; the time zone is unknown.
The best time to shoot is from 10 AM to 1 PM. The sun is high at this time, providing bright light and sharp shadows from workers and tools.
🗓️ Season
Most shot in: February, December, November
Based on 31 frames with camera data
The optimal months for shooting are November to February. This corresponds to the rice harvest season in the region, when grain is actively dried in the sun.
🎒 Gear
Use a wide-angle lens (10–24 mm) to convey the scale and geometry of the pattern, or a standard zoom (24–70 mm). Aperture f/8 provides the necessary depth of field. Shutter speeds are mostly shorter than 1/500 s.
Cameras and lenses the authors used (10)
Nikon D5 4Nikon D7200 3Nikon Z5 2Nikon D750 2Canon EOS 6D Mark II 2Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR 3AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II 3Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70 f/4 S 2Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 2Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II 11-16mm F2.8 1
🧳 What to bring
Light breathable clothing, closed-toe shoes to protect against hot ground and debris, sunglasses, hat, water, spare batteries.
⚙️ Settings
Shutter 1/640 (1/4000 – 1/200)Aperture f/8 (f/4.5 – f/13)ISO 200 (100 – 400)Focal length 27 mm (10 – 60)
Based on 32 frames with camera data. Median and 10-90% range across the idea frames.
The key parameter is aperture f/8 (range f/4.5–f/13) for sharpness across the entire pattern. Shutter speed 1/500 s or higher freezes the movement of workers, ISO 200.
⚠️ Good to know
Rice drying is an active agricultural process: be careful not to step on grain or tools (forks, rakes), and respect the personal space of workers. The bright clothing of female workers serves as an important color accent in the frame.
📈 How the idea developed
works uploadedshare of all site uploads, per 100k
The date is when the file was uploaded to the site. The chart counts works assigned to the idea.
✅ How to repeat it
- Look for contrast between golden stripes of grain and gray soil to create a rhythmic pattern.
- Shoot from different angles: high view emphasizes geometry, eye level captures the dynamics of labor.
✨ Interesting facts
- 🏆 How the best frame was shot: Nikon D5, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR, 1/3200, f/8, ISO 400, 24 mm
- 🔇 91% of frames were shot at ISO 400 or lower: almost no noise, any modern camera will do
- 📐 97% of frames are landscape orientation
- 🥇 1 works reached the finals, 1 won. Best contest: 35AWARDS 2015 2016
- 👤 Most frequent authors: Partha Pratim Saha 4DIBAKAR ROY 4Santanu Datta 2Uday Bhattacharya 2ANIRBAN CHAKRABARTI 2
- 🌍 Authors by country: 🇮🇳 IN 24🇧🇩 BD 6🇷🇺 RU 2🇻🇳 VN 1🇹🇷 TR 1
Some tips are prepared by AI from the idea description, photos and their EXIF. Check the rules and access to places before you travel.
Works
These lists are generated automatically and may contain inaccuracies. Photos are shown in random order, and selections are refreshed twice a day. This section is made for exploring photos and does not claim 100% accuracy. The lists include photos that previously participated in contests that are already completed.
