Happy days, a photo from Jammu and Kashmir, North

Photographer's Note

Very happy people with not alot of material goods. I wonder how much better the western society would be without so much rubbish they buy? BUT if we did stop buying then there would be a serious recession, just shows you how much we do buy!
Hmmmmm ponder on that one.

Oh yes these are the Gurjjar people of northern India.

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Critiques | Translate

utamaputranto (186) 2007-07-03 14:49

it's a nice tone.. on the bw.. i use fm2 for 5 year.. but never put in a bw film in it.. i sold it 2 year ago.. this is good.. but try cropping on the smiling faces.. give's ur more power to pov..

utamaputranto

ben4321 (9875) 2007-07-04 2:29

The framing isn't the best here Simon, especially the way you chopped the face of the small child on the right in half! What you have done though is to catch the moment well, and the goodwill and happiness of the people comes across.
Maybe tighter framing on the people would have created a stronger image, but I rather like how the loose composition has allowed various interesting details of their lives to creep in - the pots and pans, the tents etc.
Still, I'd have preferred it without the back of the woman's head in the foreground, and the chopped in half face - well I've mentioned that already!

Cheers,
Ben

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-07-04 2:42

Hi Simon,
... but if there was a recession we will have no choice but to live a simplier lifestyle ... will that make us happier :):)
This photo is a good reminder that material things does not necessarily mean happiness. I like your POV ... this is well captured and composed scene. An excellent work indeed. Tfs
Cheers,
Renier

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-07-04 5:33

Dear Simon,
A nice family portrait of the Gujjars. The man from the tent and the girl on the right have a very interesting look.

Well captured.
Best wishes.
Dr. J.

Polonaise (5802) 2007-07-05 10:18

There are kinds of pictures I just love...
I won't asses their technicality, I won't see some flaws here and there...
just love it...
There..Sue me...!
And if you really push me hard to answer the question 'why' - I'll tell you the truth...
Because it is real...That real' real photography...
The photography where a photographer is a part of the photograph...
That's why I praise this photo and I will praise everyone of them...

Stay cool, Simon
g.

Manamo (3710) 2007-07-12 21:24

HEllo Simon,
you caught a moment of great quality! Their soul seems to be filled up with joy and happiness. They're not posing for you. They are just happy to be. Be there altogether, be there to see you. There is not much they need...well, that's the feeling we get when looking at your pic.
Technicalities are important sometimes...the feeling is there, buth it's filtered by some inconvenient features in your photo. So I think you'd get an even stronger pic if you've had the chance to clear the bottom right corner:the person that we see his back, the ark spot(likely another person)in the right corner, but most importantly, the kid with his face cropped. the cropped face is really too bad...There seems to be an important look in the face of this child.
Regards,
Marc

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