Morning at the Ferry, a photo from West Bengal, East

Photographer's Note

Morning at Telinipara ghaat. I came here exactly 42 years ago while on a picnic, on 26th December. At that time we were on a boat going south from Chandannagar. At this point we waited for my mother, who had had a board meeting of her school. We played cricket on the uneven ground by the ghaat. Today I rode a motorbike to this place, through dingy lanes lined with jute mills, waste dumps and slums. A very different place from what I remember from 42 years ago. I had not had the occasion to visit this place until now. I could have come here once before if I were present at my father's cremation, which took place near here, but at that precise moment I was on a flight over the Pacific.

The boat is waiting for us.

designsoul, bhuniatrekearth, Luko, Salil_B, chc has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

designsoul (21492) 2007-01-25 20:28

Very nice work again, dear Animesh... and an equally haunting note... personal and philosophical again, fused together... the boat is indeed there waiting for us. This shot expresses just that... the face of the figure in the front is beautifully wrapped in darkness while at the other end of this old boat, young children like you were 42 years ago are playing... beautiful division of frame and full of elegy and melancholy feeling. A profound shot.
take care,
sasa

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-01-25 22:32

Dear Animesh,
I respect your very setimental and philosophical note with the posting og this beautiful shilloute
Dr. J. Bhunia

Luko (13978) 2007-01-26 5:25

Another of your Plossu (did you check him out?) style images.. something deeply linked to memories and the questions that eventually raise about the global sense of life.
This is where your text fits in perfectly, it's like the narrator's off voice in a movie.

One of your very very best pics.

Two favorites in a row this morning... jeez, I have to cool down.

ALSOM (6616) 2007-01-26 6:17

Very cool design, the foreground face along with the boat shape are well thought to boot strap the bg scenery. Lovely b/w with fine details in shadows.

Salil_B (737) 2007-01-26 9:17

One of your best work, Animesh. Wonderfully sensitive. Moreoever, a very difficult exposure situation handled very well. So is the composition.

jinju (14265) 2007-01-27 0:11

Fantastic work Animesh!

Love the melancholy feel of your b/w. Film ofcourse, its more authentic I suppose. Especially like the low contrast look of the background, just a hint of a horizon as the d4stination..it raises some philosphical questions if one is inclined to think that way (not in the morning though;))

Furachan (0) 2007-01-27 8:03

Lovely shot, a real classic, elegiac look to this, Animesh. The placement of that gentle face at the bottom left is...inspire IMHO.
Love this,
Best,
Francis
Just back from New York.

arnabchat (7233) 2007-01-29 0:08

appreciate this POV, something nice to see whwn it is a vertical compo. always somes good in such light situations. TFS, Arnab

partha (13775) 2007-02-06 22:03

Hi Animesh,
I alwayas like the strong perspective in your shot.Nice timed shot.
Partha

nerve (10231) 2007-02-23 8:55

great one, i am only wondering if that small part of the boat on the right side is necessary
though..

prantik (1136) 2007-03-02 10:39

This one goes straight to my favourites. Breathtakingly beautiful and evocative. About 32 years ago I visited Chittagong with my mother and brother. This picture brought back memory of riding "Shampaan" in Karnafuli.

Polonaise (5796) 2008-10-15 9:23

One of this rare things when photo itself spells 'photography' and I don't give a rat's ass about the note and your sentiments about it, dear Animesh...

A PHOTOGRAPHY...!

Still, an odd thing around...
Too unique to ignore it…

…………….