Lal Baba Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

A Nepali Saddhu.. Lal Baba. I didnt ask for this posture, he just wanted to show it to me what he could do at his age.. (his age was 78!!)

One of the real Saddhus who live by the cremation grounds in Pashupatinath/Katmandu (not a 'fake' one, there are tons of 'fake' ones in these days both in India and Nepal)..

I had a nice chat with this Saddhu. He told me that he was sad because he couldnt find any apprentice so far. "I am getting old now..." he said, ".. and sadly, my knowledge will be gone after me, because there is no student to teach..."

- for those who are interested! :-)

Ps. i love his shiny modern watch btw! ;)

happypoppeye, Clairedelune, AnimeshRay, bhardwajkapil78, tehanu_f, ybaki, tober, Jyothi108 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-08-29 16:56

Is that his foot behind his head?

I really didn't notice at first with all those dreadlocks splattered around the photo. Nice composition and good B&W tones. Great expression on the sadhu also, belying the sadness of your note.

Hey, what the heck, I'm up for learning...you pay for my airfare and I'm there. Openminded, with camera in hand and foot in mouth, or behind head...

Great catch.
John

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-08-29 17:07

I rarely comment on Saddhus photos, I must admit. It is a bit like photos of asian monks. It might be that often, seeing one means that you have seen all the others. I often feel that it is the same Saddhus or monks on and on and on.... The same face, the same posture. But not here. Not one bit. I truly enjoy this photo, Evren. One of a kind. The one I would be very proud to have done myself.
And since you have so many cameras, I have no idea if it was film or digital in the first place, but the quality is quite good.
Is that possible though, that you oversharpened it? Well... I'm not really good at that, but it seems to me that there is a halo at some places, especially visible around his upper right arm. Might be something elso though.
Still, the photo in itself, the framing, the eye contact, is good. I don't feel that there is a distance between him and you. Somehow, I feel there is not only eye contact, but soul contact (if such a thing is possible). A great one Evren.
Claire

dvlazar (6488) 2007-08-29 17:43

He's such a character! His face and expression is so amusing.
For age 78 his flexibility is something else.
I also like that his face is very well lit.
Cheers and namaste,
Dave.

AnimeshRay (8886) 2007-08-29 23:01

Incredible detail and tonal separation, Evren! The tortuous posture itself is photographic enough. Then the pristine clarity of your lens and the straight-on tight composition together makes this a stunningly evocative portrait.

Did he have a cell phone too? :-)

bhardwajkapil78 (486) 2007-08-29 23:10

Very nice ...

i think you must have also clicked a few close ups of him.. please post those too..

i like this image.. also the treetment in black and white.. at first i thought the Lal baba... is not going with the B&W choice... after reading the note i realised he is called by the name Lal Baba... (in hindi...indian language...Lal baba would mean Red Sadhu...)

Thanks and regards

tehanu_f (6874) 2007-08-29 23:21

Merhaba Evren,
Az ama oz fotograf yolluyorsun, ben de hepsini takip etmeye calisiyorum. Bu benzerlerinden farkli bir poz. Siyah/beyazi beceremeyen benim gibi biri icin (cunku fotografin kusurlarini cok net gosteriyor) buradaki isik, ton gecisleri, netlik harika. Tebrikler.
Fusun

Furachan (0) 2007-08-30 3:55

Powerful full-on portrait of blinding clarity and sharpness. Great the way you fill that vertical frame. Pro shot!
-E

nygus (8077) 2007-08-30 10:03

excellent portrait, what camera did u use?

alimo3 (6826) 2007-08-30 14:04

Hello Evren,
this is a very nice picture, i love the face of this Saddhu with a half smile.
nice tones ( like out of time ) and fine BW conversion.

Tom

ALSOM (6616) 2007-08-31 1:54

I love the details & tones, close to BW film rendering, impressing posture ;o) . Is the white in his feet a kind of powder ?
Thanks, Alain -

ybaki (349) 2007-08-31 2:58