An Afternoon in Kumartuli Photo

Photographer’s Note

It was a dull and grey saturday afternoon, hot and humid, clouds were there in the sky, there was some promise that the rain will come down to beat the heat. I was trying to take a nap but could not succeed. Decided to go out to some place with my camera.

I knew one place where I can get many things - that is Kumartuli. I can get activities, I can get dynamism, I can get colour, I can get black and white life too. So I decided to go to the place and surprisingly, that afternoon, Kumartuli was also dull and grey like the weather. Then I decided to take some tea from the tea stall and started chatting with the shop owner.

Suddenly this boy showed curiosity over me and my camera. He was looking at me and my camera with a strange look. I decided to take a photograph of him.

The work for this years Durga Puja started in middle of April. As you can see on the left side of the frame, the structures of idols have already been made in studios. These structures will remain as it is untill June-July, when further work on these will start again. Within this period (May-July), some other idols for different pujas are made.

jcdurka1, indoka28, rakeshgupta, japiey, grafu, zeca, AnimeshRay, leo61, Cretense, noborders, nirajsinha, riclopes, syd1946, ALIRIZA, robiuk, flory, Benedict, edytungkal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jcdurka1 (1940) 2007-05-22 6:41

Nice composition, this look like an old picture from 1930-1940. I like the overexposed light. All great, but you've cut the foot of the man in foreground.
Weel done,
Cheers, Jean-Claude

indoka28 (5187) 2007-05-22 7:32

Documentary shot, Sayan..

Beautifully done with Maa on one corner , then the road and then the curious boy..the overexposed parts are nice..looks very old ..a very good daily life shot...

TFS,

Regards,

Indro

batalay (21205) 2007-05-22 8:46

Hello Sayan,

It is said about some of the old half-timbered houses in England that they lean to-and-fro, and are held up by "forces of tradition" as much as by "forces of physics." Those words resonate, when I look at the second floor level of the building in the distance. Indeed, perhaps the only thing plumb in the photo is the young man in the foreground. Excellent b/w shot, Sayan,
Bulent

photographer123 (5803) 2007-05-22 11:58

hi sayan..
looking abstruct ...I dont like cropping the leg this way...but old effect is the main key here...well done...best wishes...subir

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2007-05-22 11:59

Hi Sayan,
This is a very different kind of work, not only because of B&W, but the treatment, the framing everything is refreshing. Well chosen POV.
Best Wishes
Sabyasachi

xavshot (63133) 2007-05-22 15:54

Bonsoir Sayan
j'aime beaucoup le choix de ce n&b très contrasté. Bel effet et belle réalisation
Xavier

rakeshgupta (2670) 2007-05-23 0:32

Hi Sayan,
This is looking like full of life shot. Even though it is a b&w compo, there are full details and added attraction from boy and the incomplete idol.
Thanks for sharing and showing Kolkata life.
--
Rakesh

alagarcia (252) 2007-05-23 3:11

Very nice b&w those crambling buildings could have been be like this since they were made.I like this boy being so "proud" as for the full-time first-plan model:)I would left him slightly more space at the bottom &right part of the picture
regards
Alicja

Furachan (0) 2007-05-23 3:44

High, HIGH contrast treatment here, Sayan but I like it. The washed out areas give the image an old look, a timeless look, also there is the suggestion of heat blanching everything...
Good work,
Francis

grafu (1905) 2007-05-23 13:20

hello Sayan. i like how you pushed the light to limits, frame is nicely integrating with picture this way. good depth and perspective. best regards, p.

MayaG (2393) 2007-05-23 16:57

I like the high contrast here, Sayan, the details are not lost at all - the relevant ones at least. Its a nice daily shot, yes I agree - life is in the image.
best regards
Marija

zeca (20026) 2007-05-23 22:05

Hello Sayan!
Very nice composition, with excellent b&w application. The strong contrast is well done and adds dramaticism to the image.
Regards,
Zeca

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-05-24 12:23

Sayan,
I like this high contrast photo. It has a searing, bleak look that is just right for the mood projected by the boy's posture. There is just sufficient detail here to tell the story, and a good depth too.
Very nice!
A

leo61 (43772) 2007-05-24 13:48

Hi Sayan!
That`s balck and white indeed.
Amazing contrast and a good composition with the depth of the street and the boy in the foreground.
Regards,Leo

bigboroboy (1009) 2007-05-24 21:04

Interesting work with the contrast levels in this shot. I like it very much. The mood has been enhanced by the dramatic contrast and the boy to the right of the frame adds interest as the focal point. Nice, PHIL

polter (6170) 2007-05-25 5:28

Hi Sayan !
Nice it is. Good composition and realy dramatical light and contrasts you've got here. Like it very much. Greetings T.

Cretense (57010) 2007-05-25 6:32

Hi Sayan!

Great artistiv, but at the same time documentary and journalistic shot! Fantastic composition and the light managment is really original! The great contrasts and highlights give an almost surreal effect. Congratulations!

Hercules

noborders (14201) 2007-05-25 11:52

Very atmospheric photo, this makes me dream... Congratulations, I'd like to add it to my theme, if you don't mind...
I know how oppressive the heat can be in May in your city, so I hope that you'll get more rain soon (but not too much at once, of course, otherwise some streets could be flooded !)

jinju (14265) 2007-05-26 0:39

Your best photo Sayan,

the b/w treatment is fantastic, high key with great contrast. The mood of the place is made for b/w and the man is beautifully positioned.

pablominto (41372) 2007-05-27 3:34

Hello Sayan,
A very well composed image with fine dynamics!
B&W works well in this kind of setting, and gives an additional documentary touch...
Well composed, good lead-in!
Greetings,
Pablo -

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-05-27 5:37

Hi Sayan, i love the great contrast of this image!
the boy is perfectly placed!
beautiful work!
ciao!
Valeria

Angshu (34119) 2007-05-27 7:00

Dear Sayan
Very very interesting treatment, something that attracts like a magnet. Overexposure cum solarisation treatment, high contrast, almost turning into a negative. Yet that look of the boy is the key...holds the picture. Maybe your most adventurous shot, one which I like well. Way to go!
Best wishes
Angshumanda

nirajsinha (822) 2007-05-28 11:54

Hi sayan Da,
Marvelous presentation of superb picture. Really overexposed area is the key in this picture. The old look making it gold. I wonder how I missed your picture. I like your story very much.

niraj Sinha

riclopes (33135) 2007-05-29 5:12

Olá Sayan, this is a nice interesting street shot in a fantastic b&w. The presentation with these strong contrasts are very appealing and making an artistic and original image. I guess that I could refer the cropped foot or the fact that it would be nice if he was closer, but the perspective and atmosphere are really wonderful. It could be a scene from 30 years ago, as there are no sign of modern times. Great shot!
Regards,
ricardo

vagabondtravels (6115) 2007-05-29 8:03

Hi Sayan

Very sharp contrasty image. What a b&w. Good work with the pp. Really nice comp. Great scene you have set here. Well done.
Ben

syd1946 (17965) 2007-05-29 13:00

Hello Sayan,
A documentary shot at its best!This "strange" and rare sepia tone works so well to this composition,adding interesting and timeless...I like it very much!

Best wishes,
Thomas

ALIRIZA (16197) 2007-05-29 15:06

Hi Sayan,
Beautiful composition and good documentary shot. Great work my friend...
All the best...
Ali Rıza

cephi3 (939) 2007-06-01 3:34

Hi Sayan
A great B&W shot! I really like your post-treatment and the composition. I only regret the 'cut' foot on the young boy
Greetings from France
Philippe

vincz (19045) 2007-06-01 15:45

I like this image. The overexposition brings much atmosphere to it wih the strong contrats. it is very well composed as well. Very unusual feeling, a great one.

prumod (8264) 2007-06-07 12:18

hi sayan...
excellent one in b/w... good frame with apt exposure....
greetings...

faubry (32419) 2007-06-08 3:42

hello Sayan, your picture seems old picture, very nice bW treatment, very strong contrast, i dont arrive to made the same PP, i am afraid too white and too black... but fron you its very well... thanks a lot for lesson photographie.

francine

robiuk (10763) 2007-06-11 15:48

Hi Sayan,
this high-contrasted b/w carries a
certain charm of a place out of time,
meaning - it could've been taken a hundred
years ago as well.
I've been wondering what if th ewhite frame
is replaced by dark grey... so I did a workshop.
What do you think, Sayan?

[workshop] [compare] +

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-06-12 4:45

Dear Sayan,
Little confused I am. Last night and today morning I entered your gallery and viewed this snap. I could not write any point of appreciation on this capture. So fled away.
However it attracted me and now it is 2 PM and after finishing my surgery schedule I am at my hospital terminal.

The list of appreciating critiques have lengthened and I respect many of them. Even the last critique posted the remarks yesterday.No doubt about a very popular upload.

I tried to work out the parameters making the photo out standing. It's really difficult for me to find out points in photographic language and I could not.
Then what is there for which I visited this photo yesterday at night and today at morning and struggling again at this afternoon to get some positive point. Why I can not just discard it and take up your another snap? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great Ramkinkar Bej once commented that Rabindranath's paintings never maintain even a little bit of anatomy of human body and colours are never accurate (Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose had joked him to be a colour blind and probably he was so as researched from many of his paintings) but there is something non-descrptive that attracts and elevates it above others.

Best wishes
Dr. J.

Graal (58732) 2007-06-23 2:51

Hi Sayan,
interesting place and view, good note and unusual PP. Fine finaly effect. I like this work but I don't like big frame.
Gr., Aleksander

angelsimon (2466) 2007-06-23 9:55

Hello Sayan.
Thanks a lot for visiting my gallery, it has allowed me to visit yuors. It is full of good pictures. This lastest for example is a very good work on B&W, with a nice composition. I like your sinple but effective frame. Congratulations and regards from Spain.
Angel.

nicoz (1963) 2007-07-12 4:41

Hi Sayan,
This phot really stands out. It's nice. I like the compo and the B&W.
Is it a giant spider for sale on the left side????
I see some kind of squares on the edge of the legs of the man, maybe it's my screen...
Nice one!
Nicolas

Benedict (7062) 2007-09-12 17:00

no doubt the compo is great on BW tone. the choice of white for the framing is not fitting because it makes the whole foto look pale and @ the same time too bright. the image of the right foot of the gentleman on te FG should not have been cropped. aside from these, a good work, sayan!
benedict

edytungkal (4519) 2007-09-20 19:19

Hello Sayan,
You have a beautiful composition, like an artistic painting. Good choice with b&w pattern, but your picture have alot of bright sides and i suggest you better give the black border between the photo and white border you have chosen or you can changed it with the black, maybe it will be more contrast. That only my opinion...
But overall i like your classic picture, tfs

daniel

marietom (32076) 2007-11-02 8:16

Hi Sayan,

Jolie image de rue, bien vue en noir et blanc, et bien composée.
Marie

sn00zie (2384) 2007-11-12 2:56

nice capture. love the effect

flory (4804) 2007-11-29 22:27

hi Sayan,
hm,what a beautiful one!everything works well here:the position of boy,the idol,your inspired treatment..hope the rain was coming after..;)
thanks,
Flori