Maybe magic, a photo from Gujarat, West

Photographer's Note

Another remarkable person I met in a street of Ahmedabad, a huge, crowded and very hot city in western India. I have no idea what he was trying to sell, or whether these items were used to tell the customers' fortune. In any case it was probably something that a westerner wouldn't understand.
This photo from more than 32 years ago was scanned from a Kodachrome slide.

bukitgolfb301, fanni, saxo042, patdeph, BennyV, UlfE, jhm, ManuMay, carper has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

wolf38 (28146) 2010-02-25 1:36

Hello Gert. Indian exoticism and the art of survival. One can look at the picture a long time and always discover something new. In this small photo is much more contained by the Indian mentality. Westerners have difficulty understanding the typical Indian to. As photographers, we are just spectators from outside. My compliments for this excellent photo. The technical quality is also excellent as a scan. Regards, Wolfgang.

tusharkmandal (3117) 2010-02-25 1:55

Hi Gert,

I see you have a nice collection on Indian daily life and people. Its a great portrait of the old sage selling some beads and fortune. Thanks for Sharing this 30 year old picture.

Regards
Tushar

BeBeHooker (0) 2010-02-25 2:30

Hi Gert!
Amazing archive picture. Wonderful man. Very interesting pose and scene. Fine colors. Original work.
Cheers!

bukitgolfb301 (30053) 2010-02-25 2:49

My dear Gert

Perfect framework and composition.
Your own this color is quite impresive as usual.
His gentle eye is very much attractive.
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Takero

fanni (13868) 2010-02-25 2:54

Hej Gert,
yes, a most curious and picturesque man! looks like he posed specially for you? What I am most impressed by is the way he is sitting! this is, probably, an absolutely impossible pose for a European! :))
Excellent scanning job. I wonder how many more of such interesting photos you have, all in all? :-)
Have a nice day!
Kind regards
Elena

saxo042 (31794) 2010-02-25 7:40

Hej Gert,
An absolutely marvellous picture! Of all "red details" I have seen here on TE, this turban must be one of the best. And there are indeed a lot of other enjoyable details here as well. Great!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

Gerrit (43739) 2010-02-25 8:48

Hi Gert,
Fascinating figure and the stuff he has stalled out in front of him is just as fascinating.
Excellent portrait in fine strong colours.
regards, gerrit

patdeph (35738) 2010-02-25 21:55

hello Gert
one more splendid portrait with numerous colorful things around the saddhu!I also love the red turban,the necklace,the pose,and the superb wall as background!Superb!
Regards
Pascale

rikko77 (10849) 2010-02-26 3:03

Hi Gert
I am discovering only now your gallery, so full of interesting pic, especially portraits just like this one. I like the way you saturate colors and give contrast to these pics. I chose this one for the subject, this man with magnetic eyes and all those things surrounding him. Very well seen and well done, Have a good day!
Rikk

BennyV (12747) 2010-02-26 6:20

Hej Gert,

Great scan, again. I particularly like the contrasts in the face and the effect of the red turban against the wall. It's great to see all those old beauties you come up with. Lots of state-of-the-art high-def ultra-brand-hip shots don't half come close to this. Keep posting them.

Benny

ellelloo (6570) 2010-02-26 9:52

Hej Gert,
A fascinating portrait and document from your trip three decades ago! Colourful, expressive, well framed and amazing definition. Indeed many details to view. Again an excellent scan. TFS!
Have a nice weekend,
Lasse

UlfE (13728) 2010-02-26 11:59

Hej Gert,

An fantastic shot again. I must be fun for yourself to rediscover the treasure of yours that you have kept for yourself in your wardrobe for more than thirty year and now is able to show the whole world. The scanning job is excellent and the photo is almost perfect in all respects. TFS and have nice weekend!

Cheers,

Ulf

agjika (4011) 2010-02-27 0:54

Hi Gert

Another fantastic portrait. I think you are right about the magic bit. The type of items in the display and esp the way in which they have been laid out is interesting. The symetry for example and while I have ablsolutely no idea what message this many is trying to convey through his image I am just as sure that he is has got a clear audience in mind.

Fantastic Shot

Thanks for sharing

Aleks

jhm (122366) 2010-02-27 1:16

Hello Gert,

Very well done these old picture as scanned image.
A very specially type man, look also extraordinarily to the camera.
Sharpness and colors are nice.
Composition and presentation are very well. TFS.

Nice weekend,
John.

ManuMay (33311) 2010-02-28 4:46

Hi Gert!

For sure magic!!

Even if scanned looks very good!

Nice expression and a very good mood, from my point of view, almost every time this people have a very special look on their eyes...as to be in anothe plane...and surely they are, even if their business is only to shell this little things...but most important is that surely they don´t need too much ...and there is a lot to learn...

Gerat capture...

Have a nice day...

Manu

papera (13760) 2010-02-28 11:32

1977... I guess that your slides are kept with the utmost care and love, if after so many years they are still so rich in colours, details and contrast... I am amazed every time!
a RAW file would require many PP steps to look like this... :)
I also like that you keep your diaries and that you look into them to remember what you did on that particular day.
excellent portrait.
c.

figenya (2842) 2010-03-01 15:05

Very strange man and great details Gert,

I did not love his energy even though he smiles.

Photo is attractive,

kind regards

figen

carper (96) 2010-03-02 9:18

I am tired of that winter to Gert, but even we must wait for a few weeks.
this portrait of your hand from 1977 is very good, well composed shot, good colors very nice details, good photo Gert, have a good evening.
regard jaap

Angshu (51174) 2010-03-02 9:46

Hello Gert
I also wonder what he's selling...of course I can think of selling stones and rudraksh...kind of astrological things. It is said that many of these sadhus can actually foretell the future correctly. The quality of scan is very good and his stare almost bores into the viewer. A good portrait of an interesting character
Best Regards
Angshu

Waylim (22349) 2010-03-03 18:15

Hi Gert,
All the wonder of the easter culture, even as a person from that part of the world, there is still so much mistery for me the Asian's culture, relegions and supperstitions. I don't like much the negative supperstitions that is told to children, I was very scare for most of my childhood day of many things the older people told me. Very sad.
Good shot, rich in the cultural espect.
Way

hemantbuch (1649) 2010-09-25 11:58

Hi Gert,

Excellent shot of this sadhu...beautiful candid street shot...I especially like - if like is the word! - the betel nut juice stain to the right of frame...it typifies India...unfortunately!

Hemant

serp2000 (29158) 2011-03-04 22:35

Maybe. This is a magic country, Gert, Sometime Indian reality reminds me old tales or movies from past.
Excellent capture, good quality for a scan.
Have a great weekend!
Serghei