blessing, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

En Inde, l’éléphant symbolise la force, la royauté, la fertilité et la sagesse aussi. Il est associé à de nombreux aspects du divin, et dans l’Inde dravidienne, il n’est pas rare d’en croiser un en chemin ou d’en recevoir la bénédiction. J’ai pu en voir plusieurs fois dans les temples, comme ici.
J'ai voulu recevoir moi aussi la bénédiction de l'éléphant, et croyez moi, c'est très impressionnant de se retrouver face à lui, sous la trompe(cf WS).

In India, the elephant symbolizes strength, royalty, fertility and wisdom too. It is associated with many aspects of the divine, and in Dravidian India, it is not uncommon to see one on the way or to receive the blessing from it. I could see them several times in the temples, as here.
I wanted to receive myself the blessing, and believe me, this is very impressive to be in front of the elephant, under its trump(cf WS)

CLODO, bayno, SnapRJW, timecapturer, jlbrthnn, macjake, dip, adores, Cricri has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

CLODO (24734) 2012-02-08 0:48

Bonjour Pascale

Le coup de flash fait miroiter comme de l'argent toutes les parties blanches de l'image. moment décisif pour cette reconnaissance, dommage que le conducteur soit partiellement caché.
Bone journée
CLODO

jjcordier (62366) 2012-02-08 1:02

Pascale
C'est donc lui le pape des éléphants! Beau moment que tu as immortalisé là.
Amitiés
JJ

Nicou (97775) 2012-02-08 1:38

HJello Pascale,

Je suis un grand amoureux des éléphant c'est tout simplement magique et merveilleux quelle scène quelle iamge, grandisoe.

Très belle journée et merci pour ce beau cadeau.
Nicou

bayno (16213) 2012-02-08 1:38

Hi Pascale,
interesting reportage and beautiful moment,the shot is not the best quality, the conditions was very difficult, but you did very well to posting it, you perfectly captured the moment and this is the most important...very well done,
regards, Valter

SnapRJW (18784) 2012-02-08 2:41

Hello Pascale - The difference between African and Asian elephants is quite marked. Not just the size of the ears but also the height and temperament. I love Asian elephants, they seem much more gentle in spirit than their African counterparts (yes, I know that they can run wild). This is a point in case. Here we see the elephant gently laying his trunk on the woman's head - such a careful movement for such a big animal. It's a pity the mahout is partly hidden but an interesting and unusual image none-the-less. Warm regards Rosemary

gita (243) 2012-02-08 4:11

Amazing picture! , superb clarity with well defined focus, very useful note. Thank you so much for sharing.Excellent,:)

timecapturer (30342) 2012-02-08 5:35

Hi Pascale
what a wonderful and captivating image. The detailing is amazing as is the fascination of this type of blessing. Captured so imaginatively and a powerful presentation.

Regards - Brian.

jlbrthnn (79773) 2012-02-08 5:47

Bonjour Pascale,
La photo est tout-à-fait extraordinaire, c'est une émotion énorme, éléphantesque. Rien que pour le plaisir, j'aimerais vivre cette expérience de la bénédiction. La photo est superbe et de bonne qualité. Bravo.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
Joël

maria-v1981 (10403) 2012-02-08 6:12

Hello Pascale,
What an intresting and unusual shot and poze. The sentiments that sovereign are devotion and religiosity.
Great executed.
Warm regards,
Maria

sacimar (25957) 2012-02-08 7:04

Bonsoir Pascale,

good image, the moment you captured is really interesting I haven't seen this ceremony before, I also like the tones and colors of the picture, well done,

Best regards,

Sergio

holmertz (26980) 2012-02-08 8:19

Hello Pascale,
This is a remarkably beautiful elephant and it is very well placed between the nicely sculptured pillars. I have seen this "ceremony" several times and also had the strange pleasure of receiving a blessing, although that was at the courtyard of a hotel, not in a temple.
Kind regards,
Gert

lakshmip1949 (19110) 2012-02-08 13:08

Hello Pascale,

Every big temple has its own elephant. They are the temple elephants and revered next to God. As youngsters, we used to get the blessings and enjoyed sitting on one. This is a beautiful shot which brings back the sweet memories for me. The image is very sharp and the bright colored clothes the girl wearing is a nice contrast to the dull background.

Lakshmi

macjake (39235) 2012-02-08 23:22

Hi Pascale
this is exactly why i like TE so much, we see here a true Cultural scene.
obviously you had to use Flash - i hope it didn't spook the Elephant!
a wonderful moment captured in India.
love it.
Cheers
Craig

dip (21921) 2012-02-08 23:47

Hi Pascale,
a very interesting scene indeed,and an informative note as well,
I like the lighting,the sharpness...and the WS :)
Dimitris.

faubry (35335) 2012-02-09 16:12

Bonsoir Pascale, vraiment une très belle prise, j aime comment la femme est tranquille sous la trompe de l'éléphant, tu as une belle lumière grace à l utilisation du flash, utile ici;
bonne soirée
bises
francine

adores (28236) 2012-02-09 16:43

Hi Pascale
This must be a really great experience:)! Good use of the flash - the result is very good and the composition is great. I like the way the elephant matches so well with the columns and the moment was also well chosen, with the woman getting the blessing. Good WS also:))!

batalay (32864) 2012-02-11 4:32

Hello Pascale,

Absolutely extraordinary photograph! The 5,000 kg creature certainly is the master. As the Haitian farmer says about a dog, "He is just a dog, unless you are facing him. Then he is 'Mr. Dog!'" I know the elephant is associated with divinity, as in Ganesha, but to me he would be Mr. Elephant.

Regards,

Bulent

Cricri (86501) 2012-02-11 8:53

Bonjour Pascale
Magnifique scéne, le cadrage et l'effet du flash rend bien, je pense que j'aurai essayer aussi, je dit bien je pense !!!!! très belle image et un WS sympat :-)
Beau weekend
cricri

Angshu (51174) 2012-02-13 23:52

Namaste Pascale!
So you were blessed by the elephant!

The flash has been used judiciously here & the action of the elephant blessing the devotee comes out well depsite the dark BG. I wishe the mahout was more visible as is the case in the WS...but nonetheless, a well done picture!

Regards
Angshu