Dindugal

Photographer's Note

This is my second shot about Kolams. This is the first one. Since i have given an exhaustive note on kolams on my previous picture, i am not repeating it here.

This here is Thilaka akka (akka = elder sister in Tamil), an expert in Kolams. The complexity of a kolam is judged by the number of dots you place before joining it with lines and curves transforming that into a beautiful pattern. A 3 dot kolam (dot = "pulli" in Tamil) will be a square, 3 dots big, each dot separated by about 10cms from each other. so in a 3 dot kolam, you will have 3 lines of dots each have 3 dots. confusing...? :)..wait till you hear this - Thilaka akka can draw 100 and 150 dot kolams...! phew..!

Here you see her decorating the verandah of her house with small kolam patterns. this was a special occasion as it was the temple festival time in their village in Dindugal. So, they clean and whitewash their house and apply a thin paste of water mixed with cowdung to purify the place which gives the green background to the Kolam.

Btw, Thilaka akka is the mother of little Reethi, who you will see in my previous Kolam picture.

The picture is posted as shot with a little bit of sharpening.

jhm, ahmet54, yasoda-nandana, weswang, gaby, rbcy1974, jjbach, AmiBe, aloyho, Fixfocus, supereira, PJE, kevinos, Cricri, Luan, elihesamian, capthaddock, rajhema, moxon, alford, ChrisJ, Galmeida, ynnad has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (123140) 2005-08-02 13:28

Hi Ranjith,
The sharpness and clarity its superb, also the perspective and the colours its very great, I do not know these drawings, through the other culture, but I find you picture very lovely.
Best regards,
John

t0mmm1 (5440) 2005-08-02 13:34

Very nice and touching photo. I like the way the girl decorates her house in such a peaceful mood. I like the composition, with the diagonal of the house that is crossing the whole image. Then I like the colours and somehow mathing colours: white chalk with white dress, green shirt with leaves and the goilden colour of her skin with the ground.

ahmet54 (2903) 2005-08-02 13:47

Hi Ranjith,
beautiful coloirs. Interesting shot. Good sharpness. Nothing more to say.
Thanks.
Regards, Roland.

wishnugaruda (1305) 2005-08-02 14:14

A wonderful shot with pretty and intensive colours. The lady is so beautiful.
I like the warm brown/orange.
Photos with people, showing their tradition are always so intersting.
Thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

snuggleaphagus (4146) 2005-08-02 14:30

The warm colors are so good. And there is a nice sharpness which makes the photo very fluid and clean. I like her concentration which you show very well. The designs are so intricate and remaind me of a mandala. Her green shirt goes so well with the vegetation surrounding her. Truly a beautiful capture.
The little weed on the middle bottom of the photo is placed so well and is a welcome sign in to the photo.

Ina (2687) 2005-08-02 15:38

This is great... Colors , light composition, story and pose all makes a very nice harmony... TFS...Ina...

yasoda-nandana (430) 2005-08-02 16:11

framing and color are beautiful, i like the three tones of green present in the photo, the plants, the blouse and the stripe in the saree...

the note is very useful to understand this art that before i believed it was simple and almost casual

jsec (2122) 2005-08-02 17:21

Hi Ranjith,
what can I say, great color, great composition, great notes. I think you should get all your work published in a book.

Regards

Jeff

sandip (3492) 2005-08-02 20:05

great one Ranjith.. dont u think that it just matches the color of TE... I liked your composition here.. and the clarity and sharpness... the POV makes it perfect.. really a great one.. goes to my fav.

sarju (5324) 2005-08-02 22:52

Hi Ranjith
Excellent man .... very rich composition with the Kolam going diagonally ... and very good colour composition also ... the clothes of the woman match so very perfectly with the surroundings ... everything is so very earthly .... this one is going to my favourites for sure man .... tfs
cheers ... sarju
PS: I am still waiting for a coloured kolam by you one day ... ha ha .... (don't worry take your time man)

designsoul (21492) 2005-08-02 23:28

Ranjith, a wonderful shot. Very beautiful, harmonious composition, interesting detail, excellent capture, sharpness and colours. I am going to see your first Kolams pic now... Congratulations!
Sarolta

mishreyee (0) 2005-08-03 0:50

Very nice moment you have captured with such details and sharpness! The colour combination in your photo is beautiful.

kinginexile (2598) 2005-08-03 5:33

What nice soft tones thru-out the picture, going so well with the quiet and purposeful drawing of the kolam. What a fascinating custom, and done daily too. thanks, Ranjith, great note to go with it.

john_c (24662) 2005-08-03 8:38

Hi Ranjith,
A very well composed scene with pleasing colours of beiges, yellows, and browns contrasting well with the woman's dress. You have the knack of capturing these scenes so sell and with such clarity. The POV is excellent, with the woman neatly angled into the frame and her work vividly displayed. Very fine work, Ranjith.

weswang (18223) 2005-08-03 10:42

Hi Ranjith, A very nice depict of the special art. Thank you for the introduction about the art and the culture. This is a well taken picture. You have done a very nice job to portrait the artist with sharpness and details. I think this photo is a little tiled judging buy the side of the gate. It does not bother me though; I like the picture and thank you for your informative notes.

gaby (19819) 2005-08-03 17:02

Hi Ranjith - fantastic shot - very nice compo and tones and great technical quality -
a great one
Bravo
Thanks
Gaby

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-08-03 17:12

Hi Ranjit,
The new camera is paying off, flawless execution, excelent sharpness and colours. You have captured her actions and designs every well.
Regards
Daniel

jjbach (9322) 2005-08-03 17:21

Very nice scene Ranjith,
Beautiful colours and stunning clarity. The pretty lady works very well inside the frame. Lovely composition!

Regards John

AmiBe (6042) 2005-08-03 18:11

Hi Ranjith,
good diagonal composition, I like where you placed the lady.
Interesting shot with excellent colors and sharpness.
Well done

mumek (20192) 2005-08-03 20:26

Very well composed and captured scenery. Beautiful colours, details and the light.The note is very informative.Thanks for posting
ziggy

aloyho (6705) 2005-08-04 22:16

Hi Ranjit,
I admired this shot because you have depicted the dedication of this lady so well. The concentration and the amount of work she will have to do after this showed the strong devotion to her belief. I love the earth colours which goes well with this theme and the little green is refreshing. Congratulations!! Best regards.

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-08-05 4:49

Hi Ranjith,
Thanks for showing us the beautiful world of Kolams!Very good note and picture,I like your composition with it´s tight framing and the strong diagonal line.Excellent sharpness and clarity here.
greetings,
hermann

supereira (9576) 2005-08-05 7:14

Good daily life shot.I like the composition and point of view.Very good colors and contrasts.I like the textures,light and sharpness.I like the pictures.Well done!

manny (21833) 2005-08-05 14:36

LOVE the diagonal. Excellent colors as well. Ranjith, the quality of your last shots has indeed improve. Keep it UP.

devimeuxbe (58557) 2005-08-05 16:30

Hi Ranjith
I like your picture with this woman working. Beautifull colors and light.
Nice composition.
Well done
Bertrand

PJE (20756) 2005-08-06 12:42

Simply one of your very best showing your culture and world in its simplist form and design. I love all colors and how you caught her in her work of art. Very nice photo.

kevinos (7349) 2005-08-07 11:37

This is a nice picture with an interesting note. I like the composition, with your subject occupying the lower left and pushing the attention into the frame. WE can see enough of her face to see her character. The colour is lovely. The cool white and green against that lovely area of rich warm gold. One is drawn into taking an interest in what she is doing and why. The whole makes a very pleasing picture.

Cricri (87288) 2005-08-07 16:06

Bonjour Apache, jolie image qui montre ce travail fait avec finesse, belle tradition, de jolie couleurs, amitié, cricri

cam (9041) 2005-08-07 17:02

Hi Ranjith.
I like your composition of the lady at work and the well seen kolams.
I will guess that every drawing has a specific meaning.

Well done and very interresting topic
Charles

elihesamian (26127) 2005-08-08 23:08

She decorated her house with love,with a very simple thing but with a big heart,she love her life,her son,her daughter,her man,...and all thing that can keep this love.
I appreciate it,her and you,this a great daily life shot,no doubt,with a particular simple shot but very deep and strongly composed,too,excellent sharpness and quality and very well worked,Ranjith,nicely done.

My Favorite!

Best Regards
M

Luan (12971) 2005-08-09 3:50

Hello Ranjith,
I like this lovely scene and the way you have caught it. These paintings are beautiful and contrasts very well with this golden tint. The picture quality is also excellent...
Very well seen
Luan

rajhema (1901) 2005-08-09 13:04

Nice crispy picture. Colors have come very good.

capthaddock (28790) 2005-08-10 9:53

Hi Ranjith - wow, this is the first time I see your gallery and wonder how could I have missed it before, this is splendid work, as is the rest of your portfolio, interesting and beautiful and expertly presented, this is a quintessential TE shot with a great note.

moxon (78) 2005-08-10 11:48

Lovely. Nice composition and beautiful warm colours. I love kolams too--I find the idea of them being destroyed and renewed each day wonderful.

bnallama (3763) 2005-08-11 9:37

Lovely note and shot. I really like the colors and the light here + the compo... It gives me some ideas for my shots.. may be we can start a theme on kolams soon...
Take care. Bala

alford (3961) 2005-08-12 2:52

Hi Ranjith! Very good daily life shot! I'm quite amazed with her drawing skills! Good colors and sharpness! A very unique way of decorating a house! Good notes to go with your photo! rgds.

greg64g (11193) 2005-08-16 4:02

hello Ranjith,

Well, this is a marvellous picture who received many compliments, i must say that the composition the light all is perfect.

i like the tonal range too.
cheers
greg

ChrisJ (87654) 2005-08-16 5:14

Namaste Ranjith

I like the strong compositional diagonal & the chalk writings. Excellent colour & sharpness. Well done!

Galmeida (12559) 2005-08-16 6:58

Hi Ranjith,
Thanks for your excelent guidelines and picture of the Tamil history and tradition. Very good perspective, angle of view, approaching angle and a clear picture obtained. Fine colors and textures.

Very well done and composed.
Congratulations.
Fernando

geetha (18) 2005-08-17 4:00

Hi Ranjith,
This picture clearly depicts the culture of south India. A very interesting photo.
I like the colors in the photo.. white depicting purity and green prosperity.

ynnad (1052) 2005-08-18 4:01

wow. art. sharp & crisp.

optic (0) 2005-08-18 20:32

Hi Ranjith ,
What a wonderfull photo i like the great composition, colours & details are great very well done, Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Christian

Raciti (619) 2005-08-19 5:47

excellent work --My best Compliments:Francesco

Stepan (27210) 2005-08-20 13:01

This is INDIA !
A simple but so effective and pertinent shot.
The woman looks so concentrated !
A good frame.
Stéphane

clodreno (0) 2005-08-25 11:25

very nice image of a great tradition.. I have been to Dindugal..
it so nice to see those , hopefully I will be able to in december...
take care..

faubry (35335) 2005-08-29 5:05

superb image with this woman who are drawing in front of her door! very beautiful colors, i have seen the same typic scene
bravo
francine

scalerman (26900) 2009-03-16 12:01

Ranjith: for someone 'beginning' you have some masterful, sometimes painterly images in your opening pages. Nicely sharpened. Are you considering the alpha series from sony? they use the minolta mounts and I have a great minolta wide-angle I'm not using. We could work out something on my next visit to the subcontinent. regards, c