Photographer's Note
Driving up north from Bhuj into the Rann of Kutch is like stepping onto another planet. You pass vast salt plains with wide-spread nothingness…just white! You catch glimpses of occasional creeks, and settlements with baked mud houses. Shaam-e –Sarhad is right there at the south end of the Rann.
Owned and operated by the community of Hodka, Shaam-e-Sarhad meaning "sunset over the border" hopefully heralds the dawn of responsible, community-based tourism in India. The raison d’être of Shaam is that if tourism is to be a source of income for rural people, then they need to own, manage and control the kind of tourism and the experience itself. The Halepotra tribe - originally cattle traders - built Shaam in 2004 using a grant from the Indian government and the United Nations Development Programme, which established 36 other similar projects nationwide to provide a sustainable source of income to deprived communities.
Initially it was thought of as a home stay programme. However, the village disagreed with the intrusion into their privacy. And the Shaam-e-Sarhad Rural Resort was conceived – three Bhungas or huts and eight tents set out in the pattern of a typical hamlet of the Halepotran community of Hodka. The whole resort has been conceived and constructed by the Hunnarshala Foundation’s architects, mud artisans, roof weavers, potters, carpenters, weavers, embroidery artisans, lacquer workers, and lime (chuna) specialists. 26 people can stay comfortably in this resort.
Shaam-e-Sarhad Rural Resort is an excellent example of how local communities can come together and execute a eco-tourism concept that increases awareness of local arts and crafts and employment and is a good example for other upcoming rural tourism projects in India.
The bhunga which serves as a 'Reception' was being painted over & I was lucky to have the artist painting local motifs on the white washed wall
papagolf21, rmajum, SnapRJW, yquem46, jhm, pierrefonds, Kofman, holmertz, Kielia, Graal, pajaran, nobuikehonda, angel66, jusninasirun, josepmarin, nikkitta, delpeoples, adores, shyamchat, edcone, danos has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
papagolf21
(76561) 2012-03-06 1:26
Bonjour, cher ami Angshu,
Encore une image digne d'intérêt et fort bien présentée.
Nous pouvons apprécier le travail du peintre en pleine action et le sujet en cours.
Très bonne réalisation.
Amitiés.
Philippe
yquem46
(32263) 2012-03-06 1:42
Bonjour Angshu
i regret that I have not been there
A very informative note and a good shot to show us the artist in full work
Have a nice day
All the best
patrick
rmajum
(1077) 2012-03-06 1:47
Hello Angshu,
A nice portrait of daily life in Kachh. The wonderful grafitti,painting is the result of the skills of the painter/craftsman and perhaps depicting a story through it. The photograph too is well taken with the sunlit and shaded areas appear brightly and clearly.TFS
Ranjan
ChrisJ
(86862) 2012-03-06 2:11
Hi Angshu
This brings back memories. I took a train from Janukpur in southern Nepal to a small town which also had this same type of paintings, on the outside walls. When I tried to take photos of the artwork, I became the centre of interest, as all the villagers came out of their huts to look at me! Good color & graphism here with superb sharpness. Tfs!
SnapRJW
(18722) 2012-03-06 2:20
Hello Angshu - Your excellent note explains this location so attractively and I love the idea of community-based tourism, an idea which is working quite well here in Namibia. As the world changes it is great to see traditional skills being maintained and population diversity being celebrated. Your shot illustrates a fine example of just that. The detail in the shot is nicely captured, I love the textures in the mud walls and can imagine the hands that did the work. A super DL scene. Warm regards Rosemary
jhm
(122444) 2012-03-06 3:22
Hello Angshu,
An art worker busy with the painting of the wall, this in a nice light brown color and nice figures.
Nice composition, perfect captured.
Sharpness and clarity are excellent made. TFS.
Best regards,
John.
cavli
(1874) 2012-03-06 6:03
Hello Angshuman,
very good sharness and brillant. very good colors and point of view. very nice composition about a dail life. nice work. tfs
regards..
holmertz
(26932) 2012-03-06 8:26
Hello Angshuman,
A great composition entirely to my liking. A fine combination of human presence, traditional architecture and rural art. Very well handled strong contrasts of light.
An entirely appealing picture.
Kind regards,
Gert
Kielia
(20445) 2012-03-06 8:34
Hello Angshuman,
this is exactly what I appreciate here. A wonderful impression of daily life and living conditions! This is a very nice impression of this busy artisan, accompanied by a very interesting note. The perspective is excellent. My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet
sacimar
(25957) 2012-03-06 8:59
Hello Angshu,
good image of daily life, I like the painting the man is doing, the scene is well captured, interesting job and photography,
Best regards,
Sergio
pinakie_slg
(857) 2012-03-06 9:02
money ache amay??? pray 3 bochor por phirlam, phirei tomay pelam.
Composition ta khub bhalo laglo...
Rgds,
Pinakie
Bluejeans
(64231) 2012-03-06 11:37
Ola Angshuman ,
Que belo momento com este homem a pintar estes desenhos nesta parede sem duvida um artista e com muita paciência para este tipo de arte , boa luz , gostei muito dos detalhes dos triângulos coloridos nos bancos , parabéns !!
Um abraço Gonçalo
dkmurphys
(36801) 2012-03-06 14:06
Hi Angshu,
Well taken scene with this artist making traditional wall paints. Fine contrasts and colors, well catch!
Have a nice day.
Daniel
emka
(58140) 2012-03-06 15:00
Hi dear Angshu,
Kachchh - what a funny name! always interesting to see the people working, specially artists. interesting motifs - camels, rural scenes. Nice place.
Warm regrads
MAlgo
aliabazari
(10105) 2012-03-06 21:38
Hi Angshuman
Very good picture of the artist and his works. Good record.
Regards Ali
TopGeo
(37994) 2012-03-06 22:20
Hello Angshu,
A nice portrait of daily life in Kachh. The wonderful ,painting is the result A very informative note and a good shot to show us the artist in full work amazing portrait and informations. Fine theme about the daily life
Have a nice day
Georgios
mohammad_H
(6598) 2012-03-06 23:08
hiAngshu
The pictures are simply great concep
Very interesting subject for a painter with the spaces of social understanding and have a wonderful selection
have a nice day
Graal
(88886) 2012-03-06 23:54
Hi Angshuman,
very nice scene. Good shot and presentation of work any artist. Superb effect. Well informations and photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander
jjcordier
(62328) 2012-03-07 0:39
Angshu
Une belle et intéressante photo permettant d'admirer le talent et la minutie de ce peintre.
Amicalement
JJ
Nicou
(97679) 2012-03-07 0:46
Hello
quelle scène et compo sueprbe cet artiste qui peint les facades, avec ce rayon cet éclairage, c'est merveilleux.
Bravo et amitié
Nicxou
pajaran
(36224) 2012-03-07 7:07
Pozdrav.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst sa datim podacima ...
Umetnik polako oslikava bele zidove kuce.
Dobar trenutak snimka i prikaz, lepe boje.
Dobra ostrina snimka i kompozicija.
Sve najbolje, srecno.
Paja.
Google.
Greetings.
Very interesting and good text with a given data ...
The artist depicts the slow white walls of the house.
Good time recording and display, beautiful colors.
Good image sharpness and composition.
All the best, happily.
Paja.
nobuikehonda
(3846) 2012-03-07 7:35
Hello Dear Angshuman-san!!
This is another excellent package coming from your gallery. The note is full of fascination, and the image is full of creative force. You have mentioned that you were lucky having had an encountered with the local artist while at work. The image has travelled thousands of kilometres in a fraction of a second, and I am now viewing the photo in the comfort of being at home. The quality of lighting in the image and the triangular patterns created by the artist at work, they seem to match so well. With the artist far to the right, and the incoming sunlight to the left, the depicted scene is composed with a fine finesse. The radiating warmth of the image is just as warm as the artist who has taken this image ! The message has reached this part of the world well and sound. I appreciate the photo very much!!
With my very best and kindest regards,
Please do have a very productive evening, Angshuman-san
Nobu.
P.S: The answer to your question is “Yes” I still do. Thinking about missing parts of history is always met with fascination, at least with me. : )
angel66
(1006) 2012-03-07 7:52
Hi Angshuman
another interesting shot and an high standard of technique!
Overall i like this photo because seen it here from my computer it makes me think of calmness and patience, great qualities nowadays! In my favourites!
Have a nice day
ciao
Giuliana
Fis2
(73100) 2012-03-07 9:03
Witaj Angshu!
Curious scene, curious wall.
Good frame and light.
I like colours.
Well done.
Best regards
Krzysztof
ciakgiak
(30329) 2012-03-07 15:16
DEAR Angshuman,
What a magnificent moment you captured with a perfect timing.
I really love the light that emphasizes these fantastic colors, as these of the bench with the white and yellow triangles. Congratulations and TFS.
Best regards
Giorgio
jusninasirun
(17138) 2012-03-07 22:31
Hello Angshu.
Nice documentary about the village. I like the capture of this man in good concentration doing his job. The paintings on the wall attracted my attention in this pleasing composition.
Thanks and kind regards,
Jusni
josepmarin
(55027) 2012-03-08 1:05
Namaste, my friend Angshuman,
I like the nice game of light and shades on this wall, that it emphasizes its forms and its colors.
The scene of the man painting local motifs in the white wall provides a lot of dynamism and a good spontaneity to the composition.
An excellent work, the image has a high quality and a few very natural colors.
Best wishes,
Josep
nikkitta
(5862) 2012-03-08 14:09
Namaste Angshu,
Informative note about this kind of tourism that want to preserve the local ambiance and crafts
And lucky you that capture the artisan at work fully concentrated in his art,reminds me (in a way) of the beautiful painted walls of Mandawa
Nice brownish colors
Greetings and TFS
Maria
delpeoples
(44904) 2012-03-08 20:55
Namaskar dear Angshu
It is always fascinating to watch artisans at work and it is particularly so given the type of art is he making nd th glourious colours. Here you have managed the light superbly and composed the shot well, where our subject is off-centre and we can see clearly the work he has already completed. Thanks for you note, it is a fine contribution to TE.
Warm regards
Lisa
wolf38
(28180) 2012-03-08 22:20
Hello Angshuman. An interesting photo of artistic quality. Very realistic, absolutely worth seeing, informative text. Well done. Rgds, Wolfgang.
everlasting
(13803) 2012-03-10 21:53
Excellent note Angshu and excellent initiative! This will certainly go into my list. Do you have any contact details of the shaam-e-sarhad resort? (you can email me)
Back to the photo, the sidelighting works perfectly here spotlighting the artist but not too much to overexpose the wall. The paintings are quite fine, even the border on the balcony has been painted with care, no drips:)
A beauty Angshu!
batalay
(32860) 2012-03-11 18:14
Hello Mr. B,
This photo brings together several elements that I've always enjoyed — primitive and timeless wall decorations, artists at work, the local color preferences, the geometric shapes inherent in ancient works... and of course, the exotic subject. The light was ideal to illuminate the scene, and you handled the deep contrasts in light and shadows well. Best of all, you gave us an informative note.
I have seen these or similar words, "Shaam-E-Sarhad" (evocative of Sharm-al-Sheik, the Egyptian port in the Red Sea), I've seen Gujarat, but "Kachchh" is entirely new to me. Such a strange combination of "c's" and "h's".
Regards,
Bulent
adores
(28210) 2012-03-12 19:36
Hi Angshuman!
This is something I really like in this region. These paintings really catch my eye and you captured him in action, working on them. I wouldn't miss them if I was there - they look just great:)! Good shot, with good light, colours and sharpness.
patdeph
(35738) 2012-04-02 10:18
namaste Angshuman
very beautiful scene where I love this man painting the walls in such a splendid way.It 's maybe a good thing to go in this village,and to do this kind of tourism, but me, I love to be in real and authentic villages in a simple and cheap guest house, even if I can understand that the local people don't like to be always disturbed .But maybe, it's easy to have contact with people too.Anyway, I like the picture very much.
Regards
Pascale
danos
(73974) 2012-04-04 0:49
Hello Angshu,
nice the closer view of the place with the local artist to be the main characteristic of the image.I like his painting motifs with the daily themes on the white wall.Excellent the light and the colour management of the image.
Reagrds,Danos
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Angshuman Chatterjee (Angshu)
(51174) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2010-12-21
- Categories: Daily Life, Artwork
- Camera: Canon 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO, RAW, Marumi 72mm PL-CIR
- Exposure: f/14.0, 1/30 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Travelogue: Portraits from Kachchh
- Date Submitted: 2012-03-06 1:17
- Favorites: 1 [view]
Discussions
- To angel66: My privilege... (1)
by Angshu, last updated 2012-03-07 08:12









