°Living on the street .. Photo

Photographer’s Note

Why is it that I got always that strange feeling when I see those "Sadhus" on the street?
They don't beg aggressively, they just sit there, waiting for some alms, they leave the choice 100% up to you, to give or not.

Like I said before, the privilege to be poor in India, maybe this man is revolting in his way against all dominating order of arranged marriages, established rules of taking responsibility, the urge for prestige .... he simply steps beside the ruling order to recreate his world of being, not wanting anymore, in an religious mystique atmosphere to give more acceptable sense for the outer material world that there are other possibilities of living.

Indeed in India you still got the possibility for this way of living, maybe people here do still respect and accept all life-forms ... a privilege that we would deny here by calling them 'drop outs'.

He is a lonely Hindu alright living in an empty street, maybe a man like him lied at the origin of Buddhism, only one step to go, leaving religions behind.

Taken just outside the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, inside beggars are not so welcome anymore.

removed 'like a dog' from the title for the mal-interpretations in spite of a clear note.

oochappan ©®

jmdaoudal, rowanb, ndb1958, patcras, yasoda-nandana, jhm, Fixfocus, eleparc, Stepan, thaprem has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jmdaoudal (82) 2005-08-11 4:12

Ce mode de vie est bien pris et délicatement tu laisses de l'espace devant pour que le passant se décide de lui même.
J'aime bien ce travail complet ou chaque détail est pensé, comme l'angle de prise de vue.
Grand travail.
jean Michel

LeanneMarie (185) 2005-08-11 4:16

I love the angle and composition of this photo. His expression looks sorrowful, but almost resolute in a way as well... can't quite figure it out. Nice job!

jinju (14265) 2005-08-11 4:37

He almost has a warm glow about him. When I look at him he seems to projecting an aura or light into the space around him. That probably stems from his bright colored clothes and accessories against the almost b/w background.

sohrab (7423) 2005-08-11 5:12

a comment on your note henk..

sadhhus beg not because of poverty, but because they're supposed to be content with what others give them.. it's called 'dakshina'.. for example.. guru dakshina is what pupils give their teachers.. as sort of a fee.. it's their philosophy, not that they have no other choice.. something like the buddhist philosophy when every morning monks and nuns goto various homes and have to be content with what they get.. ofcourse.. today a lot of dacoits,murderers, thieves etc escape the law by diguising themselves as sadhus and infact also indulge in the trade of narcotics...

secondly.. i doubt he's "revolting in his way against all dominating order of arranged marriages, established rules of taking responsibility, the urge for prestige ...."

arranged marriages etc are very much a part of the hindu system and also the caste system etc.. so by doing so he will only be contradicting himself..

i'm sure you've read the mahabharata..

arjun was not the greatest archer in the world.. it was Ashwathama, a tribal boy who was rejected as a pupil by dronacharya soleley becaus he did not belong to a high caste.. nevertheless ashwathama built dronacharya's statue and practised day and night in front of it...
when he beat arjuna, in order to make sure that arjuna becomes the best in the world, dronacharya asked for ashwathama's thumb as "guru dakshina" which ofcourse ashwathama gave very happily..

so.... this is why i feel that your note is a little too utopian
regards

rowanb (864) 2005-08-11 5:28

hi henk, nice shot, i like the tilted composition. i like how you placed him on the right, so he is staring into space.

interesting note as always.

Furachan (0) 2005-08-11 6:45

Thoughtful meditation in image and note, Henk. Wonderful tones and framing to express your cogent views. Superb! Francis

kevinos (6929) 2005-08-11 7:13

You seem to be turning in these stunning pictures all the time now, henk. This one is colourful and facinating. You have a very intersisting camers angle and composition.

bnallama (3755) 2005-08-11 7:54 [Comment]

Show Comment

bikram (48) 2005-08-11 9:01

Very nice and soothing image with beautiful colors and expression. But what a disgusting Title?! Did you ever think of the philosophy and the contemplation behind this lifestyle? How could u say he lives like a dog. How does a dog live and what for? They live for food and sex, just to procreate. And it's we and not these menw ho live like dogs.
Cheers

[3]

ndb1958 (9249) 2005-08-11 11:46

But he seems to take care on his looking ... the bright colours on his face and even his colourful clothes. Nice composition.

Thanks for your note

Nino

patcras (14) 2005-08-11 13:37

Ik weet ni wat ik altijd moet zeggen op uw foto's, diepte, kleuren en scherpte zijn optimaal.
Originele trekhoek bij deze.

donluicu (24129) 2005-08-12 4:41

Great street shot (again)!!!
the note is interesting..do you think it's a choice? living in the street?
do you think it's a chosen way of life?
may be, i don't know their rules..
bye
loic

jhm (85052) 2005-08-12 8:00

Hallo Henk,
Ik zal mij niet mengen ik de discussie over tekst, want ik weet niet wat die man ginder achter heeft verteld, maar wat ik wel weet dat uw foto opnieuw zijn traditie bezit, alleen vraag ik mij af waarom de schuine hoek voor de foto, misschien iets meer kunstwerk!
Groeten en goed weekend,
John.

Fixfocus (9377) 2005-08-12 13:05

A beggar with proud,You really captured his personality,Henk.The perspective and the tilt is very dynamic,but this picture is so good that it would also work without tilt.
Prettige weekend,
hermann

eleparc (24063) 2005-08-12 13:33

great colors Henk and i like the tilt in this one! i like your note too..
i am off tomorrow morning for 2 well deserved weeks of vacation.
See u
Eric

Stepan (27181) 2005-08-12 13:40

The colors and the focus you have are ideal. The tilt produces a good effect.
A good work.
Stéphane

thaprem (2508) 2005-08-15 8:05

Henk,
Generally, everything that is religion & Spiritual re-defined with contemporary meanings...
That has been the way since the vedic days...That is crux of Evoluation of Hinduism in this subcontinent...That is why we have different flavours, custom & traditions across the indian subcontinent all under the same religious umbrella...
Moreover, Hinduism is more a way of life than a religion & hence customs or "rules" or rituals mean nothing infact...

Though I agree with sohrab`s view historically, Your note instantiates this fact very well...
Also, I think there needs to be some discretion in the tiltle, but again it is only me..
For this Documentation I salute the Oochappan the great once more...

As Ever,
Prem.

BAKO (1683) 2005-08-17 19:42

Hello Henk,
this is quite nice portrait of this man
also the pov great
thanks
BAKO

fireflyz (2079) 2005-11-09 15:17

I like the photo. The POV is nice as well as DOF and composition but you could choose a different title that wouldn't sound insulting.