no need to worry, she is not dangerous ! Photo

Photographer’s Note

Venturing out of the beaten track, I felt always as a bizarre creature in India, also in small, untouristy Indian cities... Arriving out of the blue in this remote hamlet high up on the hills, the children (and the adults) were wondering why I had come, who I was etc... As we could not communicate with words, I smiled constantly and tried to reassure them that I was just a crazy but harmless middle aged woman.

As a way to enter into contact, I took lots of photos - showing the LCD to the adults was easy but for the children, it was more difficult, so I aimed at animals first and approached slowly to show the result...

First I was at a distance and behind the goats ; this photo was taken some moments later when they got a bit used to my presence, but I could not approach the 2 children on the left closer than 5 metres, at which point they quickly ran away !

NB : ... Conversations only with gestures ; they don't go down very often, only market days 'if' they have something to sell (livestock).
(there is a series of 10 photos in total incl. the WS, that you can view in chronological order with the link on top of the note here), I'll place this one in the series later on.

holmertz, macondo, patshoo, MarianneS, ChrisJ, Vasa, Gerrit, dareco has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ommishra (1129) 2008-07-15 1:22 [Comment]

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holmertz (9242) 2008-07-15 1:35

Hello Catherine,
A really interesting set of pictures. I love the way the girl to the left glances at you without - it seems- quite daring to watch you openly. But it surprises me that they were so shy. My experience is that kids of this age quickly overcome their fear because their curiousity is so much stronger. Onle very small children have been so terrified by my appearance that they have had to be taken away!
Best wishes,
Gert

macondo (12935) 2008-07-15 1:41

Hi Catherine.
I enjoyed reading your note very much. I then had a look at the shot you took from behind the goats. This one is a much better picture of the children, of course, with their almost-smiling faces. Well, one is smiling, the others look unconcerned, except for the little girl who seems to be looking at you out of the corner of her eye, and the oldest one who looks rather worried. A colourful, candid and delightful shot with your trusty little Canon. The various colours of their clothes stand out beautifully against the many brownish textures behind.
Regards,
Andrew

faubry (32191) 2008-07-15 2:14

Bonjour Cath, des enfants qui n'ont jamais vu des touristes, eh oui cela existe... j'aime beaucoup ton titre qui colle à l'image, les deux petits de gauche semblent un peu inquiets.. mais je pense qu'ensuite tu auras réussi à les approcher??
une photo parlante et colorée,
à très bientôt
amitiés
francine

jasmis (49589) 2008-07-15 2:36

Smart photo of a group of children. This is interesting that every child looks in different direction.
And for me - the great doze of exotics.
Regards!

patshoo (944) 2008-07-15 3:00

backbreaking scene,Good capture of natural action and good result for your patient,Well simple and natural look with good sharpness through entire scene that made more detail for me to explore. Outstanding work for observer of the world,TFS.

MarianneS (14262) 2008-07-15 3:45

Bonjour Catherine,
Quel merveilleux mélange d'expression. On sent qu'ils n'osent pas regarder et pourtant les regards en disent long sur leur curiosité. Cette petite fille en vert te regarde vraiment du coin de l'oeil. C'est délicieux.
Cela ne doit pas être facile d'être 'l'intrus', 'la bizarre'... mais tu arrives à si bien briser la glace, malgré l'absence de mots pour communiquer avec eux.
Quelle belle expérience cela doit être.
Merci de nous la partager.
Cordialement,
Marianne

Jeppo (11574) 2008-07-15 4:14

ciao Catherine,

excellent colourful pic...I like their expression so natural...somehow between shyness and curiosity...but also ready to smile!
tfs
Silvio

amazon (10375) 2008-07-15 4:15

sevgili cath,
cocuk heryerde cocuk degil mi?
rengarenk giysileri ve guzel bakislari ile sahane bir coklu portre bu...,
cok begendim,
ellerine saglik,
sevgiler istanbul'dan,
iffet

ChrisJ (69430) 2008-07-15 5:38

Bonjour Catherine

A superb daily life scene from this poor part of India. Vibrant reds & yellows. Tfs!

crckt (6963) 2008-07-15 6:58

Hi Cath,
I like the expressions here, and your note is simply wonderful. I especially like the part about "harmless middle aged woman" :)
Thanks for sharing,
Shaeri
PS: i have a photo for you in my gallery :)

okahraman (4576) 2008-07-15 7:04

Catherine Merhaba ;

renkler harika elinize sağlık

Önder Kahraman

Vasa (4764) 2008-07-15 13:30

Ici, je parle une fois encore sur les couleurs. Un vrai spectacle des tons chauds. La photo a part pourrait etre le portrait de deux mignons a gauche avec la chevre. J'aime bien, vraiment. Amities pour toi chere amie,

Branko

dvlazar (6468) 2008-07-15 18:19

Hey,
A colorful daily life snap. I always found it interesting and slightly amusing how these poor rural girls often wear really formal looking dresses and clothes... just for day to day wear.
Great work!
Dave

emka (21131) 2008-07-15 23:07

Hi Catherine,

Very nice photo from India. The face expression of mthe little girl is fantastic. Splendid composition, good colours. I like the goats in the bg. Very funny story (and the title!) and photos in it. Warm regards
Malgorzata

didemay (2401) 2008-07-16 0:34

Merhaba Cath,
Just loved the kids. I think you were lucky to communicate with them although it was a body language talk. I liked this photo but I think "at a distance and behind the goats" is really humorous. Loved that one also.

fkokol (1614) 2008-07-16 7:41

This is great portrait. I enjoyed to read your note. great composition. beautiful colour and sharpness. greetings,

figen

trekks (14260) 2008-07-16 10:12

hi Cath

Very intimate capture of the street candid view and you really have a great colorful contrast and saturation at this shot. Interesting expression and interaction among them. tfs

bill

Gerrit (35417) 2008-07-17 2:40

Hi Catherine,
Fine group portrait. You can see the curiosity as well as the prudence and distance in their looks. Great colors.
Regards, Gerrit

scalerman (25607) 2008-07-21 11:52

Catherine: great to get off the beaten track. - great note too - and the picture is almost flawless - sharp with realistic color. I liked the links you included in your note too. regards, c

dareco (17024) 2008-07-22 11:56

Oh they are so sweet! And I love the many expression captured here. Your gallery is filled with interesting people and places. Very colorful and excellent detail. TFS and have a happy day !