Life in a small Indian town, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

Still in India in October 1987.

Among the places I visited on my journey along the Indian east coast was Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, about one hour by local bus south of Madras (now Chennai).

Mahabalipuram is mainly known for its exquisite small temples and statues from the early Middle ages, but is also popular among Indian tourists for its beach. The town is listed by the Unesco as a world heritage, and I would rank it as among the top sights of all of India. In 1987 most visitors seemed to be locals, but maybe the Western groups have now found their way there.

I give you three photos this time, because I couldn't really make up my mind which one to choose. They all show very ordinary non-events in local life, like this man having a drink, probably sweet tea with a lot of milk, outside a grocer's shop. His youngest daughter is calling for his attention, while the man he was probably talking to seems to have discovered the photographer.

Here is a larger version.

In a workshop you can see a man preparing the daily bread, and the other shows a glimpse from a very basic fish market.

All photos were as usual scanned from Kodachrome slides.

ikeharel, adramad, snunney, papagolf21, Fis2, cornejo, COSTANTINO, alvaraalto, PiotrF, ChrisJ, jhm, Royaldevon, macjake, pierrefonds, bukitgolfb301, gildasjan, saxo042, ourania, daddo, danos, mcmtanyel, fritzi007 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

adramad (72526) 2017-01-11 7:27

Hi, Gert.
Magnificent street scene, every day of every corner of the country, the man who is drinking, something attracts attention, while the girl tries to reclaim your attention, the lady with her back to the sari, and the fruits together To the door of the store, are a nice complement.
Very beautiful colorful, in a few tones, very attractive.
Good lighting management and superb sharpness.
Very well done. I like it.
All the best and have a good day.
Luis.

snunney (130967) 2017-01-11 7:57

Hello Gert,
An image that sums up life on the streets in rural India. There is much to see apart from the people who are nicely dotted about the frame. The image is well exposed with very good colours and sharpness.

pajaran (114801) 2017-01-11 8:09

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan tekst ...
dobar rad skeniranjem i lepim fotografijama u radionici, lepo pokazano mesto i trenutak sa posetiocima, lepa fotografije i secanje na 1987.
Lepo popodne i sve najbolje, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Beautiful view and the moment, interesting text ...
Good work by scanning and beautiful photographs in the workshop, shown a nice place and a moment with visitors, beautiful photos and memories of in 1987.
Nice afternoon and all the best, good luck.

GyurMaster (24668) 2017-01-11 8:15

Dear Gert,

The truth is that both three photos would work well as a main upload and I couldn't decide it either. Anyway, this is a great photo, I like the bored facial expression of the man, seems like a bit annoyed by the child.

Nice nothing special as always.
Best Wishes,
Gy.

ikeharel (112393) 2017-01-11 8:22

Hello Gert,
Hope there is a pavement and a road added within the last 40 years (almost). A daily life scene well shown on the entrance to the stores, one guy was watching directly at you, and the other guy saw something on the far distant right side.
Well scanned old stuff.
Good evening,
Ike

papagolf21 (152605) 2017-01-11 8:26

Bonjour, cher Gert,
J'aime bien être plongé dans un milieu exotique, où même l'écriture est incompréhensible (je suppose, en plus, qu'il existe plusieurs langues au sein de la communauté).
Ce retour en arrière est très agréable et très enrichissant.
Amitiés.
Philippe

rychem (72187) 2017-01-11 8:41

Very nice series of three photos from te past, great reportage of daily life in India, very well captured, it is good that you show us such beautiful historic photos
regards Ryszard

Fis2 (169609) 2017-01-11 9:27

Witaj Gert!
Another curious scene from daily life.
Good frame and composition.
Nice colors.
Excellent reportage shot.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

cornejo (61504) 2017-01-11 10:53

Hello Gert, very good photo of this interesting scene of daily life, very well captured in this interesting image, with good clarity, light, color and quality. A great work perfectly done, my congratulations, my friend. Thank you for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy week.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

COSTANTINO (115421) 2017-01-11 11:50

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new day
another impressive photo from India in October
1987 you must very pround of having visited
so many places all over the world
its the first time I read about Mahabalipuram
known for its equisitive small temples
and statues
regards
Costantino

alvaraalto (42804) 2017-01-11 11:54

Hello Gert
Beautiful series of pictures of the daily life in 1987 this small Indian town. I was surprised by the various clothing of all the people on the pictures.
Interesting information and excellent scan work.
Groet Rob

Cricri (176) 2017-01-11 12:08

Hi Gert
Belle scène de vie quotidienne, naturel, bon travail des détails et des couleurs
belle soirée
cricri

dale54 (17750) 2017-01-11 12:38

gert hello.. Well taken shot... Beautiful people and daily life shot. Very pleasing work.. TFS. dale

PiotrF (54246) 2017-01-11 16:16

Hello Gert,
Interesting daily life scene from India. I like the image of the fish market in the workshop.Nice presentation
Regards
Piotr

ChrisJ (171146) 2017-01-11 18:39

Hi, Gert.

Another fine photo journalistic shot of the south Indian village with a wealth of interesting small details to take in. Good sharpness and the 2 workshops compliment this image. Tfs!

Tue (91478) 2017-01-11 22:53

Hello Gert,
A perfect vertical and narrow composition to show the daily life around these shops with these people waiting in front of them. Only one of them seemed to have spotted you and your camera. The many bananas are a nice eye-catching element, just as the signs in the upper half of the photo.
Lars

jmdias (114170) 2017-01-12 4:48

gert

curious the mix of western clothes and indian clothes used by that guy who is watching you.nice details of the daily life in the village with a good quality despite the time you got it. when I see your images from other countries I ever think about is personages are alive yet, because most of them are countries in war. These guys in this image probably are alive yet. despite troubles India has, it is a peaceful corner if compared with some neighbors..

hugs

jorge

jhm (211734) 2017-01-12 5:04

Hello Gert,

I've much picture seen of my friend from Tamil Nadu, but never this type of pictures.
This real street view with pêople and excellent advertisement.
This is real very well done.
Colours and sharpness are perfect.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

Royaldevon (85602) 2017-01-12 5:16

Hello Gert,

A very interesting series showing quite different aspects of the daily life of these people.
I wonder how much has changed since you were there!
I am always surprised to see how people walked bare-foot, especially because there are quite obviously stones and pebbles on the floor. Their soles must be incredible hardened.
Love the bread making!
When I think how easy it is for us, nowadays!
I used to make my own bread by hand but would never have dreamed of attempting to use such large quantities!
You have some amazing records, especially when you link your diary to these informative photographs!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

Nicou (193806) 2017-01-12 6:53

Hlelo

Avec ce pin de bananes jaunes quelle vue et scène la rue ces personnages dans la rue et les échoppes avec ces enseignes colorées au sommet superbe.
Bravo et amitié
Nicou

macjake (98260) 2017-01-12 10:07

Hi Gert

First of all....just to let you know, my last 3 photos have been posted at 1200 pixels, not just my newest one.
and did you get to read my entire note? i think you didn't get to read the part about my dinner plans. it took my awhile to upload the whole thing.

interesting to hear you say this is probably ranked near the top of sites to see and explore, I didn't go here :(

and yes, the man looking straight at you catches my attention right away, his expression isn't the most pleasing, but i'm sure he doesn't intend it to be that way.

and now i have a craving for Chai Tea :)
love the signs up top, they have that cheesy appeal that i like. cool everyday life scene.
cheers
craig

lousat (138541) 2017-01-12 11:40

Hi Gert,new beautiful trio from your very rich archive,3 different daily life scene from this small village,maybe nothing is changed after 30 years...it's nice to see the child of the 1st WS learning,and the others 2 pics are still interesting. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

emka (157280) 2017-01-12 12:27

Hello Gert,

I saw all three pictures and indeed it is difficult to decide what to make as main post. All three scenes are nice and interesting. Maybe I like most this one. I like the view of these little bar foot girls. I was also interested how the chapatis are made, I have some pictures of the whole process. The very basic fish market is also interesting. There are not only fish, I see also crabs. Btw, I wonder when an if it will be possible to transmit smell. Sometimes it is better that it is not possible as yet.
This time we have the sign in tamil (in Tamil Nadu :)). I wonder what could be written there. I tried Google translate. The first word has no translation, maybe it is the name of something.

Kind regrad s MAlgo

pierrefonds (113492) 2017-01-12 17:52

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the actionin front of the store. The point of view is showing the details of the store. It is clear and precise. Have a nice day.

Pierre

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2017-01-12 18:42

Hi dear Gert

Another great your archive image, so impressive thier daily life shot. So natural atmosphere is perfectly captured in this reasonable framework. A gil only in pantsu is so touchy and heartwarming at all.

All the best and have a good day! Takero

gervaso (28177) 2017-01-13 2:33

Hello, Gert!

It's a very nice presentation of this little town in three different and interesting photos! Just ordinary daily life scenes of this place, but all of them full of interesting details to see, each one of them with a story to tell. Thanks for this great contribution to TE! Wonderful job!

Silvio1953 (220465) 2017-01-13 6:26

Ciao Gert, nice daily life scebne, excellent clarity, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

gildasjan (43826) 2017-01-13 7:58

Bonsoir Gery
Une bonne scène de vie bien composée dans ce carré.
Bonne soirée
Amicalement
Gildas

saxo042 (38078) 2017-01-13 8:35

Hej Gert,
Ett myller av detaljer, färger och framför allt människor. Det enda som saknas är väl lukterna, som jag förmodar fanns med när du tog bilden.
Trevlig helg
Gunnar

rbassin (27472) 2017-01-13 8:40

hello Gert,
C'est bien vu, la scène de rue montre bien l'ambiance du lieu dans toute sa simplicité, avec plein de détails pittoresques.
Bon W-E
Roland

ourania (51103) 2017-01-13 8:47

Hello Gert,
I like all three of your pictures, they really say a lot about the daily life in this town, even about the characters and their relationships. They could be considered visual short stories. It's enjoyable to the viewer to search for complementary details, the colours and the clarity are great, the scenes flow before us so naturally. Congratulations and thank you!
Thank you for your wishes too!
All the best, have a great weekend,
Ourania

kasianowak (17662) 2017-01-13 13:43

Hi Gert
Great documentary series of 5 photos (I remember those other two posts very well, especially the colourful people on the beach). I can't make up my mind which one of the three presented here I like the most, I think they all could be main uploads in their own right but it's nice to be able to see them altogether and look at them as a collection of street images from the same place. All are very well observed and timed as always with your street photos.
As for the ice - the fish probably get eaten too quickly to go off without being kept in a cold place.
When I was in Xinjiang I noticed something more unusual - yoghurt was kept outside the shops, on display in direct sunlight in very warm weather. I bought a little pot and ate it and... noting happened... [email protected] :-)
Best wishes
Kasia

daddo (28748) 2017-01-13 18:06

Hi Gert. I presume that in some parts of India little has changed for the common man apart from mobile phone and texting. I wonder if you have read the short stories by R K Narayan from his Malgudi Days. This little scene reminds me of his style. Regards. Klaudio.

danos (110407) 2017-01-14 1:04

Hello Gert,
one more nice snapshot from the daily life of the town of Mahabalipuram with the people as i see to walk without shoes.
The WS complete perfect the whole scenery from this interesting town.

Have a good WE,Danos

batalay (41261) 2017-01-14 9:14

Hello Gert,

Almost 20 years old and as sharp and timeless as a photo taken today. In June of the same year (1997), we were in Mumbai but did not get to the area of Mahabalipuram. You captured an excellent slice of everyday life.

Have a good weekend,

Bulent

sabermonajati (11537) 2017-01-14 10:19

hi
amazing daily life frame you captured.
regard
saber

willperrett (14195) 2017-01-14 12:56

Hello Gert

I feel fairly sure that everything to be said about this photograph, already has been! And that I've said on previous postings all the things I'd want to say about this one. So nothing to add, except I love it, and it's another addition to your increasingly valuable documentary archive.

Kind regards

P.S. There is one other thing: again probably I'm not the first to point out the rather odd sign at top right: Shiva's phallus!

Will

mcmtanyel (67529) 2017-01-15 19:53

Hello Gert,
After an excursion of critiquing the two photos your notes link to, I come back to this one. It is a precious daily life scene from an ordinary street in an ordinary town. Once again, I am struck by the shoeless feet that don't seem to be bothered by the dirt and grime of the streets. Of course the shoeless feet are matched by a shirtless father-daughter duo. To your comment about the fish-market, I would reply "Forget the ice, where is the clean surface the fish are supposed to be on?" Interesting slices of daily life, TFS.
Regards,
MT

boa (8039) 2017-02-23 8:12

Hej Gert,
jag gillar intimiteten i den här bilden, det känns som man står där själv där du har fotat! Självklart så är det många detaljer att se på i den här miljön(det är ju Indien) men också så får man en fin inblick i det dagliga livet. Ett liv och miljö som förmodligen är sig likt än idag, 30 år senare. En utmärkt bild i din personliga stil, och helt i min smak.

Hälsningar/
Boa

ps. Tack för hjälpen med WS, Beta mm. Skal testa nästa gång.

fritzi007 (14698) 2017-02-25 12:08

Hallo Gert,
sehr gute Strassenszene aus Mahabalipuram, gut gemacht!

Viele Grüße
Wolfgang