I N D I A N . B R I D E Photo

Photographer’s Note

I was recently in Surat, a coastal town in Western India, to attend a wedding. India is a colourful country and an Indian wedding is even more vibrant and colourful; full of liveliness. It is one of the most sacred occasions in the Indian culture. It does not only stand for the solemnizing of relationships between two people but it is considered as a union of two families. The Bride is considered most important amongst others. Everything about her is special and since, all eyes are on her that day, every girl takes extra care to look her best on her special day. The dress of the Indian bride is a very lavish affair. Made in bright colours with heavy embroidery in brocade, jade etc. it is a gorgeous piece of garment. Normally the Indian brides wear a Ghagra Choli, teamed with a veil called odhni or dupatta. Some brides though prefer to wear a heavy sari also. An Indian bride is usually overloaded with a lot of jewellery from head to toe. And this adds the extra zing to her ensemble.
This was my first attempt at wedding photography and it was a learning experience as I followed the professional marriage photographers, looking for different angles, learning to make use of the limited light. I had two shots to choose from and finally went ahead with this. I have posted the other as a a Workshop. Would be interesting to know your opinion.

kiwi_explorer, anjan, bhorerpakhi, sanalytis, steveryan2006, cobbydale, delkoo, TravelerNL, robob, Photo65Net, miuky, anes_lc, teutza, isabela_sor, peter1892, hispic, renerob, axiotea, Henryk_Bilor, salvator, Silvio1953, ksvijayb, cunejo200, VeeJayCee, veve, gildasjan, riclopes, Albrecht, Tezic, syd1946, siolaw, xuaxo, ramesh_lalwani, sayat, photographer123, tigra, sayan, snunney, pady, vagabondtravels, prezntime, robertosalguero, ruisc_pt, Vato_Law, Emile, pierrefonds, danos, HaBeMa, vinu, Simran-S, noborders, ewasting has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bhorerpakhi (559) 2007-02-03 9:12

Oh WOW! A picture which would make a Pro proud. Beautiful bride, beautiful picture. Super note.
Congrats!
Poulomi

anjan (1086) 2007-02-03 9:15

Gorgeous! As Poulomi said, A Professional photo. I dont think ur mentors cud hav done any better.
Anjan

sanalytis (1634) 2007-02-03 9:25

Hi Sabyasachi,

Excellent portrait of this beautiful bride. I'm sure she was very happy with the photograph. I love all the detail in the image. Also your composition is outstanding. The shallow DOF and inclusion of the two pieces of material in the distant wall make the picture stand out even more.

Spiros

steveryan2006 (439) 2007-02-03 9:28

Another sure winner from you. I have always dreamt of attending an Indian Wedding, the closest I have been to is the theatre hall playing Indian movie. So exotic and colorful. Sharp as well.
S.

cobbydale (1924) 2007-02-03 9:40

Superb Sabyasachi! Perfect sharpness and depth of field. I'm sure the bride her family will treasure this one.
TFS. Leon.

drago (4826) 2007-02-03 9:48

Sabyasachi hi,long time since my last visit at your gallery!Great close up to this beautiful young lady,her expression is almost theatrical!Lovely colours and good sharpness
Have a nice weekend
Panagiotis

Dragonheart (8393) 2007-02-03 10:11

Hello Dada,
Very beautiful capture of an Indian bride. You well adjusted the aperature giving a very nice DOF and good focus on the subject. What is the ISO value here and F-stop?
My best wishes
Vivek

rdfoto (518) 2007-02-03 10:30

Bonjour Sabyasachi
Absolument magnifique ce portrait, excelltent cadrage, lumière et netteté Bravo
Salutations Robi

marietom (31802) 2007-02-03 11:02

Hi, Sabyasachi,

Très beau portrait, expressif et coloré.
Marie

andy_yoes (275) 2007-02-03 11:07

Very...very...very beautiful. Great picture!

ben4321 (9781) 2007-02-03 11:49

I think you made the right choice Sabyasachi; this is the best shot of the two, although she does look a little serious considering it's her wedding day.
What I like about this one is how we can see the beautiful details of her dress, and I also think the angle and the expression you captured on her face are more flattering than in the WS version. Of the two, I think the bride would prefer this one.
I rather like the serious expression on her face, and her pose, which also allows us to see the intricate henna painting on her hand and arm.
Very good work.

Cheers,
Ben

delkoo (34220) 2007-02-03 12:23

hi sabyasachi
wonderful portrait, of this cute bride, she looks very young, nice details and light but how can she carry all that jEwels??
cheers
didier

TravelerNL (2951) 2007-02-03 12:30

Hello Sabyasachi,
I like this version better. It shows much more of the details you described in your note. I also like her expression better here then in the WS. All together a beautiful photo with good exposure and sharpness.
Harko

robob (3640) 2007-02-03 12:34

Hello Sabyasachi,
En fait les deux images sont magnifiques, impossible de faire un choix ! Deux belles expressions et superbes couleurs…
Amicalement,
Robert

suhan (3552) 2007-02-03 12:49

wonderful portrait. very beautiful composition, colours and details. very smart cadrage.
very well done.
tfs-regards
merve-süleyman

Photo65Net (43084) 2007-02-03 12:54

Hello Sabyasachi,
There is something very special in this portrait.
Eyes are a little sad, contrasting with the vivid colors af the dress.
A great one,
Regards,
JB.

markstaples (15670) 2007-02-03 13:09

She's extremely beautiful and I love the expression you have captured. Nice and sharp with vibrant colours. A successful portrait.
Best wishes
Mark

miuky (3335) 2007-02-03 13:24

no bride on earth is so colourfull and beautiful..mysterious and all to discovere...with jewlery all over her body and the body paintings that no street painter in new york or amsterdam can do...then indian does
a lot beautifull, all very very good...
tfs, regards, m.

anes_lc (14766) 2007-02-03 13:41

stunning portret
congratulation
every details is perfect
anes

faubry (32281) 2007-02-03 14:24

WOW really i would like meet you when i will g in india.. beautiful portrait, like artist/ great work
francine

teutza (10562) 2007-02-03 15:19

Hello Sabya
iwas amased by this image..the face is sp pure..so beautiful..the clothes are amasing....and what a divine light..everything is perfect!!
you are a great master in this domain!
congratulations
teo

gilou530 (35066) 2007-02-03 16:33

hello sabya
wonderful this women, the colors and the light are beautiful, great picture, well done
amitiés
gilbert

peter1892 (3201) 2007-02-03 16:44

Hi Sabyasachi - excellent colour & detail in this shot. She really is an amazing subject, obviously she's really beautiful but there's also all those jewels & other items to look at. Wedding photography is hard work but it can be a great way to learn new skills & put some of the ideas & techniques you already know into practice. Well done.

hay_kes (28562) 2007-02-03 17:36

Hi Sabya,
Very beautiful portait.Sharpness,
details and colours are perfect.TFS and best wishes.

hAyAti

vinicio (22358) 2007-02-03 17:46

Hello Sabyasachi,
this is a portrait of a true beauty, perhaps she have a little classic pose but she is really beautiful and lovely, compliments, your little training with the professional of wedding photos is good.
have a nice sunday
Ciao
Vinicio

renerob (601) 2007-02-03 19:18

Hello Sabyasachi,
Excellent Portrait of this beautiful looking bride, superb sharpness and lovely colours with such lovely detail, and very good DOF Simply perfect, well done indeed Sabyasachi.
Regards Irene

sothy81 (8520) 2007-02-04 0:30

Hi Sabyasachi, this is a very nicely done photo. Great facial expression of the subject. Great colors and sharpness. Her beauty is genuine from India. Well done. Sothy

axiotea (16061) 2007-02-04 1:42

Hello Sabyasachi,
Lovely portrait of the bride, richly adorned and very well detailed. Her pose and positioning in the frame are charming. Nice vivid colors and exposure. The WS looks great too with very sharp details.
Cheers,
Marilyn

cuneyt-sb (6559) 2007-02-04 1:43

Hi Sabyasachi
This is beatifull portraid , colors DOF and POv is great,
Very well done
TFS, Regards

Henryk_Bilor (20365) 2007-02-04 2:46

Hi Sabyasachi
What a beautiful woman with big black eyes. I like the calmness on her face very much. Great colours and decorations.
I prefer definitely the original version. On the WS version only depth of field is better, but the look of her mouth with an empty space between lips isn`t very good ;).
Regards

isabela_sor (42054) 2007-02-04 3:59

This means India for me...traditions,faith,all is so exotic so incitant!!Thank you for another exceptional picture and a very informative note
Namashkar

Cricri (43030) 2007-02-04 4:21

Hi Sabyasachi,
Une grande beauté, belle expression lointaine, beaucoup de joli détails et des couleurs attirantes
sous une parfaite lumiére, trés joli
good sunday
cricri

salvator (18763) 2007-02-04 5:04

Hi Sabyasachi,
The colors are just wonderfull in this expertly taken photo. Pov and composition also very nice. Best regards. I wish you a nice Sunday. Salvator.

ksvijayb (383) 2007-02-04 5:59

Hi Sabya,
As usual, an excellent capture.

The details are fantastic.The notes are perfectly in blend with the pictures you post.

With regards
Vijayabaskar.

Emiel_Skyfreak (2976) 2007-02-04 6:18

Hi Sabyasachi,

Very nice portrait of a bride, I like the DOF, which is fine! Nice detail is that line of little light near the upper border.
Her eyes are charming..and damn (pardon me) what a bunch of jewels! Lot's lot's of jewels!
Elegant portrait, cou can be proud of this photo if you ask me.

Greetings from Holland.

Edit, I prefer this version above the WS version. Tfs.

Click3 (1871) 2007-02-04 6:47

Hola Sabyasachi...this is a very beautiful capture,,,love the compo which highlights all the magic of the dress & ornaments...those colours & that detail are just awesome. Most interesting & instructive note...Gracias!
Saludos from Chile,
Robert
PS Ilike both views but this is a super over all view & the WS an aoutstanding close up.

cunejo200 (7157) 2007-02-04 7:36

She is so beautiful, her eyes are quite emotive, and her costume and accessories are very colorful. Excellent work.

VeeJayCee (2410) 2007-02-04 8:19

I like the pose and composition of your posted image but it has shadows from the overhead lighting which are not so apparent in the WS. Maybe a little fill flash at 1/4-1/2 power would serve to lighten these shadows without itself becoming evident.

baronb (245) 2007-02-04 8:59

Hello Sabyasachi-
My wife just returned from a wedding in India, and says your photo really captures the specialness of it. This is a very majestic shot- she is so poised. Having looked at your other photos, I am well impressed with your talent- bravo.
Cheers- Baron

veve (4149) 2007-02-04 9:42

Hello Sabyasachi,
It's really great this portrait!
Beautiful wedding dress and nice jewelry!
Very good shot!
Best regards,
Veronica

Budapestman (41618) 2007-02-04 10:50

Dear Sabyasachi,
Fascinating and very spectacular portrait. I like the beautiful decorative details. Excellent POV and impressive cut. Beautiful shot!
Thank you, nice days
George

pastadog (12821) 2007-02-04 10:54

Both OV and WS shots are excellent, Sabya, and it's really hard to decide (do we have to?). Both of them with great expression, esp. the eyes - and maybe that's the most important element in this occasion. Maybe in the OV one of the achievements is how you've made her face / eyes / expression stand out so efficiently in spite of the many colorful ornaments on her. Congrats and regards, Daniel

Deepforest (8813) 2007-02-04 11:12

Hello Sabyasachi,
excellent portrait of the birde!! Very expressive. Perfect DOF and very good colours.
Best regards,
Andrzej

gildasjan (23655) 2007-02-04 11:42

Bonjour Sabyasachi
Un très joli portrait bien maitrisé sur le plan technique.L'expression du modèle est agréable.
Du beau travail.
Cordialement
Gildas
Hello Sabyasachi
A very pretty portrait well maitrized on the technical level.
The expression of the model is pleasant.
Beautiful work.
Cordially
Gildas

riclopes (32969) 2007-02-04 12:49

A fantastic couple of portraits Sabyasachi. This one is more clasical I guess and perhaps more sucessful, showing the impressive details spread all over her, but some how I prefer the closer WS image. The quality of the image is really good and I love the right framing. I would say that you could be one of the professionals ;-)
Best wishes,
Ricardo

Albrecht (11002) 2007-02-04 13:07

Hi Sabyasachi
One would almost regret the fact of being married already; such a special face and expression;good colours and compo and use of DOF.
greetings from Holland again
Albrecht

Tezic (16927) 2007-02-04 13:32

Hi Sabyasachi,
I love all the details in this image. Your composition was outstanding. very nice DOF and good focus on the subject. Perfect portrait... Congratulations...

syd1946 (17869) 2007-02-04 13:53

Hi Sabyasachi,
Beautiful woman in colors and as usual you made a great work,a fine portrait.The colors are so vivid made the portrait more impresive and well seen!
Greetings,
Thomas

hyasar (7333) 2007-02-04 14:05

Hi Sabyasachi,

simply you are a magician on portraits. I am learning many things on your shots. This is an amazing shot, too. congratulations.

best regards from Istanbul,
Hakan

Gierlinski (940) 2007-02-04 14:09

Hi Sabyasachi,
Now that is a pretty nice portrait. Theres piece and quiet in the BG, which does not distract and you can fully admire the girl in the foreground.
In my opinion the lady's elbow should be in too. The henna tatoo would be seen fully.
All the best,
Michal

siolaw (25722) 2007-02-04 14:58

Hi Sabyasachi,
Great posture she has here, and details of the bridal decorations are nicely standing out with vivid colors good use of narrow DOF
TFS
Laurent

capthaddock (28640) 2007-02-04 18:41

Hi Sabyasachi - beautiful portrait, and so ornate, the red cloth is alluring, I also like the pearly blurry lights.

partha (13657) 2007-02-04 21:59

Dada,
Its a wonderful wedding photograph to start with. Excellent vibrant colour tone with the essence of Indian Bride.
Well done.
Regards.
Partha

Angshu (33585) 2007-02-04 22:49

Dear Sabyasachi
Bap re bap...ki goina re bhai...tomar bon, kintu okhane theke Guju hoye gecchhe mone hoi. The portrait is just superb. The framing, the lighting, the lights especially the OOF ones on the top. You sure learnt well from wedding photographers. This one for me over the WS, simply because of her eyes..
Best Regards
Angshu

rbcy1974 (20742) 2007-02-05 7:47

Hello Sabayashi
Very beautiful portrait
her expression is really wonderful
I like the way red dominates this photo
very beautifully done
Regards
Daniel

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-02-05 8:43

Hi Sabya, a great image of this woman!
the red typical dresses are wonderful as your compo and POV!
great the blured background!
ciao!
Valeria

Silvio1953 (41533) 2007-02-05 8:51

Hi Sabyasachi, wonderful portrait of lovely lady, splendid light and colors, great focus and sharpness, very well done, have a nice sunday, greetings from Italy, ciao Silvio
:) tomorrow

savask (1803) 2007-02-05 8:53

amazing portrait as usual. Crispy colors, exposure and very emotional

agbonavita (0) 2007-02-05 9:25

Hi,

very rich details of this bride. I have post recently a photo with a note about the henna body draws, that are common n India.

You made a great photo, with nice sharp and colors.

Suberb
Andre

sayat (2944) 2007-02-05 10:58

Both shots are amazing Dear Sabyasachi. I would agree with your choice because this shot shows more in terms of details and colors of the dress of the beautiful bride. A masterpiece.
Sayat

photographer123 (5750) 2007-02-05 11:01

hi sabya,
good portrait with nice note...color is also good..comp and detail r very good..best wishes..SUBIR

tigra (2966) 2007-02-05 15:29

Hello Sabyasachi
One more incredible portrait from you!
The indian women are really beautiful and your portraits of them are really impressive.
Katia

tibervince (781) 2007-02-06 2:29

Hi Sabyasachi,
Fantastic portrait once again. This picture is giving us not only a beautifull face and colorful dress... it shows us the intensity of a culture, traditions and rites... this is all about photography... congratulations...
Vincent

sayan (2609) 2007-02-06 9:38

Hi Sabyasachi,
Yes, indeed wedding photography is a difficult one. I had some previous experiences. I think that the high power lights used by the video photographers in the marriages usually is a good one to use instead of the flash of the camera if one uses it cleverly. This one is a perfect photo both in a sense of beauty and the quality of photograph. The shallow depth is what making it a gem as you know better than me. Personally I prefer the WS because of the more natural and closer look. But this one is also has its beauty in the sense it covers the range of jwellery and costumes much more than the WS.

Regards,

Sayan

snunney (34684) 2007-02-06 10:25

Hello Sabyasachi,
A very beautiful portrait of this beautiful young lady. Her pose and expression are perfect. Superb colours and clarity. Marvellous work.

coco (27786) 2007-02-06 11:56

Hi Sabyasachi.

Splendid portrait.
Technically is perfect and also is plenty of life.
Well done.

pady (4800) 2007-02-06 13:35

For me you choose the right one between the two pictures.
It's a wonderful portait and she looks so beautiful.
Nice composition
Cheers
Pierre-André

batalay (20836) 2007-02-06 20:11

Hello Sabyasachi,

In the parlance of America, you have "...hit another home run!" The composition, the colors and exposure are nothing short of magnificent. You have captured the young woman's soul. The great portrait painters would have given their soul to create this effect on their canvases. Warm regards,

Bulent

vagabondtravels (6103) 2007-02-06 20:17

Hi Sabyasachi

Very sharp. Spot on with the exposure. Great comp with her on the right half of the frame looking left. Focus on the eyes. The henna on her hand and jewlery are amazing. Very colorful. Well done.
Ben

prezntime (3945) 2007-02-06 22:34

Hello Sabyasachi.
I think you made the right choice. The posted photograph has much more character than the workshop...although the workshop is very good. Here the angle is nice along with her contemplative look. The DOF is great and you've used the shallow depth to its fullest. Also, there is something very attractive about the crossed draperies in the background, a nice touch to add interest. A stunning bride.
Chris.

robertosalguero (2763) 2007-02-07 1:45

A very nice portrait of this Indian beauty. The colors are great and well saturated. The expression of the woman gives an sense of enigma. A moment anticipated by her and her future life. Good work Sabyasachi.

Roberto

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2007-02-07 3:52

Hi Sabyasachi,
A beautiful bride indeed captured superbly. The placement of the subject is perfect so as the DOF. Excellent!
Cheers,
Renier

AiresSantos (41920) 2007-02-07 9:52

Hi Sabyasachi,
Magnificent portrait of this INDIAN BRIDE !
Excellent colours, light and sharpness.
TFS and greetings
Aires

t0mmm1 (5434) 2007-02-07 14:04

Hi Sabyasachi,
you got the essence of the Indian bride here... from the painted hand, to the jewellery, dress... and finally the natural beauty. She acts wery naturally here and that's most beautiful part of the photo.
Have a nice day,
Tomi

Bluejeans (32053) 2007-02-08 16:17

Ola Sabyasachi fantastico retrato desta noiva indiana , cores fanatsticas !!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

berek (28865) 2007-02-08 23:41

Hi Sabyasachi,
she looks mystic. lovely portrait with traditional clouds. I like red colors. well framed . greetings.
Burak
****

eza1701 (3343) 2007-02-09 7:59

Hi Sabyasachi,

You have managed to capture the beauty of the bride well with this shot and the telephoto lens has enabled you to blur the background and emphasise the main subject.

Best regards,
Paul.

dorte_s_t (2285) 2007-02-09 11:23

Hi , Sabyasachi .
Very beautiful portrait of the bride .Very sensitive too !
I like her untraditional attitude for a wedding photo . This expreses beauty , respect and devotion !
very interesting to see and know about the dress , ornamentation and jewellery !
Beautiful !
Kind regards
Dorte.

devimeuxbe (55865) 2007-02-10 16:30

Hi Sabyasachi
Beautifull colors and light for this ethnic portrait. The sharpness is perfect, the frame also. I like also the DOF.
All perfect my friend.
Bertrand

sebinho342 (18736) 2007-02-11 11:55

Hi Sabya, you made me such a pleasure by adding me to your favs, we have different styles you and me, you are far more talented than me but i will try to honor your selection in your favs :)
A picture that i could have found in devimeuxbe gallery, so beautiful is your picture, good isolation of subject of original compo, how lovely beautiful she is ... this is more than "event", this is "transportation" for french guy like me.
Thanks a lot for sharing those beauties

ruisc_pt (6206) 2007-02-11 12:18

Hi Sabyasachi..
Anyone of them is a great great exposure ..superbely metered both..
TFS..
I prefer the subject look and atitude in this one....

Scharan (13951) 2007-02-11 13:34

Foto belíssima Sabyasachi...cores excepcionais...
Uma imagem deótima qualidade e composição agradável.
Meus parabéns meu amigo.
Grand abraço,
Vera.

Vato_Law (11660) 2007-02-12 18:10

Hello Sabyasachi,
Maybe it was your first attempt on wedding photos but not the first on portraits and this one follows the line of quality we can find on your work.
Excellent details of this beautiful bride and lovely expression on her face.
The colours of her clothes and the accessories brings great life to this photo.
Cheers.
Paulo

Emile (19901) 2007-02-12 23:12

Hola Sabyasachi.
Superb portrait of the beautiful bride, the professional photographer must be jealous of your picture, impossible to get a better one.
I prefer this photo than the one is in your WS but both are excellent.
Best wishes.

chrisnet (20370) 2007-02-18 4:12

Hello Saby,
This portrait is excellent, strong colors and good framing, very well realised, congratulations.
Regards
Christian

pierrefonds (26137) 2007-02-18 7:40

Hi Sabyasachi,

A nice portrait of this indian bride, the POV is showing a lot of details of her garment. The photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks fro sharing.

Pierre

AmiBe (6042) 2007-03-02 18:36

Hi Sabyasachi,
good portrait of this beautiful bride.
I like the warm colors and all the details.
Well done

danos (32250) 2007-03-09 3:37

Hi Sabyasachi,
impressive beaty of this bride,with a grear informative note.Excellent the colours and the light.The sharpness,the dedails and the contrast of your photo are marvellous.Well done.
Regards,Danos

HaBeMa (1326) 2007-03-19 15:23

Hi Sabyasachi;very high sharp a portrait shot,very good colors,nice days....
Habema.
:-]

vinu (129) 2007-03-21 4:52

hi sabyasachi.
this is rich and colourfull.
the fantasy in her eyes keep flashing..
great frame. good portrait. TFS.

Simran-S (0) 2007-03-21 16:37

Bahut Khoobsurat! I love this very special picture. Awesome Job! Shabash!

noborders (14199) 2007-05-18 3:54

Being a little tired of the photos of Indian beggars and saddhus, I am happy to see a good shot like this of someone from the middle class, on a special occasion such as her wedding - the model is beautiful and the photo very well done - congratulations and (a little late) my best wishes to the bride, for an easy future with her in-laws !
********
NB : about your WS, that portrait seems more natural, here she is evidently posing, but we can admire her wonderful parure !
Please, have a look at some of my favorites on TL (of course, not of the same quality), one where the emotion of the bride is moving IMO :
http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Asia/India/photo215486.htm (photo taken by a close relative), or to this amusing one, also on TL :
http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Asia/India/photo263288.htm - I wonder what you would think of those ones ?
So in short, I think that this photo is great, but it is a "pro" photo, rather intended to the family of the bride ; whereas the 1st one from TL is more moving for us here, because it has more soul...
Hope that you'll accept this critique from someone who is new to this site and to digital photo...

Best regards from Brussels,
Cath.

kibele66 (2910) 2008-08-05 3:41

Sabyasachi hello,
Just elegant, very egzotic and beautiful colors. Very well captured portrait.
Congratulations!
Sibel

lucaq8 (63) 2008-10-02 11:39

Brilliant!
Intersting subject and nice color
Well done
Luca

syrus_persia (2150) 2009-03-07 22:38

Salam Sabyasachi
Beautiful Indian bride! Amazing colours and excellent composition!
Have a great weekend!
cyrus

thaprem (2472) 2009-08-14 6:35

Sabyasachi,
This is truly a winner...
You do not seem to be making it for first time... THis looks more of the experienced & I am sure the paid photographers would not have managed well.
Cheers,
Prem.