The Herb Of A Thousand Problems Photo

Photographer’s Note

At a roadside market on the Silk Road between Tashkent and Samarqand, I met a woman who would, for a few Uzbek "sum," ward off evil spirits and negative problems by walking around you three times - covering you with the smoke from a burning herb called "Hazorispan" (the "Herb of a Thousand Problems").

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Critiques | Translate

BennyV (4614) 2009-11-13 7:05

Great shot, Michael. I like the closeness of it and the soft colours. Focus is spot on, as well. It creates a very decorative effect. There's an aesthetic 'flatness' to it...if you know what I mean.

And it carries the most intriguing title of today's TE session for me. Thanks for the note.

Benny

ahmet54 (2227) 2009-11-19 10:59

Hello Michael,
thank you for showing us that detail of daily life in Uzbekistan. Those burnt plants are called harmal or Syrian rue in English (lat. peganum harmala; uzb. isirik, farsi: esfand). The name hazorispan is tajik, which is widely spoken in Bukhara and Samarqand. I showed a picture, that shows how it is sold in the bazar of Samarqand. It is burned and inhaled or simply hung up in the house to cure from a cold or to prevend from the 'evil eye'. In higher dose it has got a hallucinogen effect.
Kind regards,
Roland

jalab_temen (1941) 2009-11-24 3:33

Hi Michael,
this one is an artistic, deeply involving, supersensual, mind-capturing, jaw-dropping close-up. I am utterly amazed on this photo. Both composition and the almost tangible textures of textile, skin, metal and smoke make this image truely mind-capturing.
Thank you and best regards, Jalab

ManuMay (10582) 2009-11-26 13:34

Hi Michael!

A very good shot!

A great mood on the capture, showing this very special use, very good crop to the subject and wonderful details on textures...a olay of colours very good too...

Best regards

Manuel