untitled... Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

I have struggled to find an approproatie title so please forgive me...my head is feeling rather empty today.

This is Nanda with two of her six remaining children... She was recently widowed in her late 20's/early 30's...

This photograph is part of a series about Nanda, a young Indian widow. See the rest of the series here

ksvijayb, delnaja, maglex, luisafonso, tcht, sarju, s10001in, coco has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

delnaja (7883) 2007-01-19 3:37 [Comment]

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bantonbuju (48796) 2007-01-19 3:40

hi kajal,
this is most wierd, most fascinating photo i have seen for weeks...
man, one must concentrate intensively in order to figure out what is going on there on the photo... and it is good - lots of the room for interpretation...
like it a lot,
best wishes, j.

maglex (1624) 2007-01-19 3:53

...the monochromatic effect...i agree with delnaja, you did put a touch of "Rembrandtness" in your photo... I would call it "Enlightenment"...

Great dynamic photo! Thanks for sharing!!!

Miks (1707) 2007-01-19 4:00

This is one of the most striking compositions I have seen on this site for a good while. It not easy to explain why I find it so fascinating, but I'll try:

First, the scene is extremely dense with atmosphere. The partial illumination of the faces and the darkness between teh discernible figures requires an effort to 'proccess' the image. But I regard that as a good thing because it has an immediately striking main motif in the crying baby. I like it when an image is striking and then requires some work to appreciate fully. It makes the spectator think!

The use of natural light is excellent here and you do a good job on exposition. The picture is by no means photographically flawless. Parts are overexposed (in fact burned out), it would have been better to have the baby in focus (rather than the mother) and it is not pinsharp. The latter is probably due to the lens. But somehow these flaws just adds to the atmosphere of the picture. It might have looked to 'posed' had it been flawless.

At any rate, I'll add to my favs.

Cheers,
Mikkel

thebecky (686) 2007-01-19 4:07

There is something deeply disturbing about this picture - the crying baby with one eye closed, the burnt out child, the darkened mother ... One of the most unusual images I have seen lately.

Galeota (10334) 2007-01-19 5:02

Hello Kajal, I love the overall atmosphere in here, which is highly dependent of the light conditions. The smile on her lips appears so intense with tenderness. I find the pure intimacy of the scene striking and appreciate the fact they seem absorbed by they personal relationship, as if you actually weren't there to witness it. Very good, and not a bit bothered (or very slightly..) by the overblown area on the head of the child.

KrL (62) 2007-01-19 5:13

Comme le dis delnaja, on pense tout de suite à une peinture de Rembrandt.
Mon oeil a du mal à faire la différence !
Bien joué

Karèle

ksvijayb (385) 2007-01-19 5:52

Hi Kajal,
The smile in Nanda's face in-spite of her woes, is amazing.

The picture is one of the most 'out-of-the-box' kind in TE for a long time......

With regards
Vijayabaskar.

luisafonso (858) 2007-01-19 6:49

This is a pure Caravaggio... A true work of art. I am still battling with myself to figure out what is that burst of light in the middle, but the amazing photo you have created around it is really something... (have no words...). This has a highly spiritual drama and I bet someone can make a biblical study over this. I will just take this one with me for future enlightenment. Thanks

tcht (7298) 2007-01-19 11:42

Hi Kaj,
amazing artwork here!! That light is just fantastic... and the slightly hidden smile of the mother provides a nice and warm contrast to the baby's cry...congratulations!
All the best
CheukHin

Jacobp (798) 2007-01-19 13:36 [Comment]

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sarju (5308) 2007-01-19 18:33

omg ... and I thought the photo you submitted yesterday was a masterpiece.
Speeechless .... i am
Hats off and a big bow to you Kajal
sarju

vagabondtravels (6115) 2007-01-19 19:27

Hi Kajal

Great use of light. Good documentary style shot.
Well seen and captured. You certainly shared Nandas story well.
Nice work.
Ben

russte (0) 2007-01-20 4:06

Hi Kaj, what an astonishing image. It really does have the pictorial quality of an Old Master. At first, I thought the blown area spoilt the image but the more I look at it - and I have returned several times - the more it resembles the representation of the Holy Spirit in some of the great Christian religious works. I'm very much enjoying the series from India even if I don't comment so often - so many of your recent images speak for themselves. Best wishes Stephen

KevRyan (22422) 2007-01-20 4:44

These rich dark colours are very Rembrandt like I agree - I have painted like this and I love the use of such colours and light - the red makes such an important difference - it is another step in your sensibilities and skills as a photographer Kaj...it seems you are learning some very important lessons - about photography and life.........

best wishes Kev

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-01-20 23:49

Kajal,
This last series of yours, with Nanda and her children is very touching and very beautiful. And I am grateful that you post such work for us to see.
At first, I had problem with the very overexposed part. And I did not change my idea about it. It is, in my opinion, quite distracting. I don't like it, personally.
BUT, because there is a big BUT here, I still want to say that the rest is pure marvel, pure work of art (and heart!). When I look at the baby who is crying, I am hearing him (her?). That is so evocative! And then, I see just enough of the mother's face, to see that she is smiling with care. Her hands touching with so much warmth... This is so incredible!
I am forgiving you for that overblown part because of this big BUT...
Claire

polter (6170) 2007-01-21 7:34

What a shot and what light. I think Delnaja said all about the photo. Still there are feelings of ours so deeply moved - no one can say of them more than the photo itself. Greetings T.

s10001in (1485) 2007-01-21 8:04 [Comment]

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Polonaise (5638) 2007-01-21 9:34

Top of the world, Kaj.
A great photography mixed with a great painting.
Delacroix...Perhaps?
And much, much more...
Humanity, sensibility...
Congratulations, gal.

very enthusiastic & deeply moved...george

RADEEH (2772) 2007-01-23 11:29

This remember me the ravi varma paintings which fascinated me from my childhood. The way you composed the gentle face of the mother is outstanding. The way you have played with the light is any photographers dream. You have brought the the theme of poverty and hunger in a powerful way. I add this one to my favourite. TFS.

steveegg (406) 2007-01-24 5:55

Hi Kajal,

I have nothing but praise for this series of images. I've decided to comment on this as, for me, it is the most expressive. I'll not add much by way of critique of the photo as I think 'Miks' has covered most of my observations. Just one thing that comes to mind is that I think you shot this in RAW, so does that mean you can create a low exposure version where the child's hair is not burned out and blend it in?

One reason I'm so touched by these photos is that we're coming to India for a 2 week holiday in March and this aspect is something I will think I'll find quite emotionally charged. Of course, we're going to all the usual tourist sites which is unlikely to take us to this sort of location.

stevep (556) 2007-01-26 0:49

hello Kajal,

I really enjoy your latest five photos and maybe this one especially for the feeling it evokes in me. You seem to be a very driven photographer with a very warm and endearing style to your photos and I want to thank you for sharing with us here on TE!

take care,
steve

coco (28146) 2007-02-26 10:44

Hi Kajal.

Beautiful moment and excellent light for this capture.
Really lovely and not easy to see in TE.

Thanks for sharing.

prantik (1134) 2007-02-27 9:53

This one is a masterpiece for me.

yanseiler (20) 2007-03-14 5:26

Hi Kajal, a very powerful picture... Too bad that I have no time to have a look at the serie at the moment... This one ca go in my favs...
Kindly
Yan

pgorod (1122) 2007-05-07 6:44

Beautiful, powerful photo...

The mother almost lost in the dark is an awesome presence, calm and smiling, contrasting with all the drama going on the lower part of the image...

The strange light hitting the child's hair is very unusual and I think makes a great photo.

bishansamaddar (862) 2007-07-05 4:26

hey kaj:
starting to comment again.
really beautiful shot. the light on the crying baby is just right, and the rest of the elements arrange themselves around it really well. in spite of the variance of illumination in the different parts of the photo you can still discern each person's mood. the expression (almost hidden) on the mother's face is priceless. lovely!
bishan.

venslens (436) 2007-10-18 3:41

emotional gallery.Difficult to pinpoint on single photograph.Gallery is kind if 'rembrandish".Good work.Hats off!!! i am speechless...

ReneDechaine (52) 2008-01-19 11:40

I agree with the comments that this photo seems almost to be a painting. The chiaroscuro is fascinating, ad it certainly does look like a Caravaggio. A technical acheivement! And such the gamut of emotions! Every time I look at the photo, I see something I hadn't noticed before and experience a new emotion.