Anticipation, a photo from Gujarat, West

Photographer's Note

I am not sure what her name is, but she kept bugging me to take her photograph, even though I had told her she did not *meet the criteria* (that sounds terrible doesn't it?). I had to somehow focus the project. Anyhow, there are times where you have to break your own rules because the moment seems to be fit an idea you have in your mind...or, because the lighting is good. Needless to say, I gave in.

Oh...this was taken at approximately 6pm. She will have gone out early in the morning to collect recyclable waste from the streets of Ahmedabad. She will then have returned home, sorted the rubbish into its various types.

This is the best part - where she will be paid for her day's labor. She has no idea how much she will be paid or whether she is being paid teh right amount as she cannot read or write. Unfortunately, the money will not stay in her hand for very long, as she has debts to pay or food to buy...

Project: Underexposed - Lights in Dark Spaces

RADEEH, KevRyan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

blow (672) 2007-07-16 9:23

trиs beau portrait avec une expression interessante; les couleur sont justes bien felicitations

wolf38 (30) 2007-07-16 9:31

Hello Kajal. Your photos belong to the most impressing on TE. Here now a further of these mysterious and fascinating photos. Congratulation. Best regards, Wolfgang.

everlasting (19680) 2007-07-16 9:39

I am glad you are still postign your series, Kaj, be it in the criteria or not. And I am sure you made her day with this.

prezntime (3946) 2007-07-16 19:21

You know...everytime I think I'm improving with my photography i see your shots; then I'm quite humbled out of respect. I don't mean to flatter too much, and I know alot of the attention deserves to be placed on your incredible subjects (not incredible, human); but your amazing ability to capture the dynamic nature of human expression cannot be underestimated. Where has such beauty been seen among such rubble? What eyes you have...

Chris.

tcht (7565) 2007-07-17 1:24

Hi Kaj
another fascinating portrait with superb, silky colours & soft light...and here I like the way she's looking up slightly with her hand holding the recycled stuff...always interests me how you captured such 'beautiful' photograph in a not so clean or beautiful location...another master pic :)
Cheers
Cheukhin

Darren (6823) 2007-07-18 2:12

Nice photo here Kaj, you have really become good at working with soft morning light to create really beautiful colors. Maybe the colors are too beautiful to match the circumstances, but then again maybe not. I don't have much to nitpick here, other than to say that I do wish her right hand wasn't cropped quite as it is. That is a very minor part of the photo and a minor quibble to be sure. She has a kind of defensive or almost accusatory poster I think, interesting that she was asking to be shot.

brandstaetter (15915) 2007-07-28 12:12

The expression in her face tells us the whole story. Great capture !
TFS Chris

dvlazar (6662) 2007-09-01 0:57

Hi Kajal!
Its been a while... But I like your work with this project of yours. What Im most impressed about is the amount of dark tones you manage to get in your shots. Do you do much burning or darkening of sections in post production? Or do you have an ultra steady hand and can shoot in dark lighting environments and not blur your images? All in all, well done with these photos!
Thanks, Im quite interested in your process in regards to this dark style but also with well exposed sections.
-Dave.