Today we spent the day in Delhi, first visiting the Jama Masjid, the largest Mosque in New Delhi, then we took a quick cycle-rickshaw ride through the old market to Chandi Chowk, a bustling business/market street to visit the Sikh temple. After photographing the Sikh temple we had a delicious lunch and ended our day with a one-hour shoot at Quatab Minar.
While at the Jamma Masjid we started photographing a group of school boys sitting in a niche just inside one of the arched entranceways we where the light was bouncing in from both directions. Rather than making just one or two frames of the boys I continued shooting multiple frames from several different perspectives, creating as many varying compositions as possible. This evening as I was editing my images I settled upon today’s cover image of just the boys legs, rather than the other shots I had with the faces or full bodies.
Afterwards, two young boys who had been watching us, seemed rather interested in us and our photography, so I engaged them in conversation by taking a few shots and then showing them the back of my camera. While we were photographing these two boys, I was asked by one of our tour participants about my work with NGOs. (Non government Humanitarian Organizations). The question was asking about what types of images I often make. I replied that in many instances, NGOs are looking for images taken from what I will call the “parental perspective”. In order to illustrate my point, I took a shot. The image above was shot in the “parental perspective”, where we the viewer are above the subject with the subject looking up at us. This perspective is where the photographer (or the viewer) is in a position of power viewing someone who perhaps needs help or assistance. After photographing the boys from that parental perspective I moved around the sides to photograph the boys from a different vantage point.
Taking a position on the side, I created an image of the two boys with one boy in focus and the other boy out of focus. This was accomplished by selecting a shallow depth of field (f4), while the two boys were looking directly into lenses of some of the tour participants. The side view image creates a completely different feeling as compared to the “parental perspective”, but it is just as useful to the NGO client who might want to use this image to illustrate a something like, “looking forward into the future”.
Below is a shot I chose first because of the background. I noticed this elaborate metal door, with the intricate carvings, which was being illuminated by very directional, “bounce light”. The direction of the light accentuated the texture or depth of the carvings. With the vision of using this “canvas” or background, I just waited for a subject to come into the frame. As luck would have it, a Muslim boy paused on my “canvas” long enough for me to create several frames, of which I like this one the best.
If you are shooting for NGOs or are making images of your world travels, it is important that once you find a compelling subject, you spend sufficient time photographing that subject from different perspectives, so as to create a variety of images thereby increasing your chances of getting a photograph that you like.
Above you see a photograph made from the cycle rickshaw during our wild ride through the crowded marketplace. In this case I held the camera at the level of the cyclists feet and with the magic of auto-focus, and by using the widest focal length I have (a 17 mm lens) I shot several consecutive frames in order to try to capture the feeling of a rickshaw ride from a very low perspective.
Above and below are short videos shot with my Nikon D3S; they are a bit jumpy because I shot them from the rickshaw, but at least it gives you some idea of our adventure.
When we arrived at the Sikh Temple I went up to the second floor and made this image, looking down on the street. I stabilized my camera on the wall and used a slow shutter speed to blur anything that was moving, while rendering anything that was still at as completely tack sharp. I was lucky enough to have someone notice me, stop, and look up. He is in sharp focus, while those moving around him are blurry. It’s a simple but effective way to add interest to an otherwise ordinary composition.
Inside the Sikh Temple there is a large kitchen where food is prepared and served to any travelers who are in need of a meal. Due to the large volume of people who come to this temple, the kitchen uses some colossal sized pots to prepare large quantities of food. Our group was able to go into the kitchen and photograph food preparation. The gigantic size of the pots being used is demonstrated by placing a person in the frame, in order to give the viewer a sense of scale.
Above and below are two images of a Sikh man shot through a screen window, the one above was shot with my 17 to 35mm F2 .8 and the one below was shot with my 70-200 F2 .8 lens.
The kitchen also has an area where bread is prepared. Here we were able to make photographs of the women involved in preparing the bread before it is served to the waiting diners.
Today’s final, simple, image is of an ordinary, empty bench against a stone wall. I made this shot using one stop of under exposure with my white balance set to cloudy. The combination of under exposure and a white balance helps to portray a feeling of “warmth”.
Nice shots!(as usual). Would like to be there again this year.
Right now we are going thru our Myanmar and as you said, with a little bit of time, we find more and more keepers.
Have a great trip.
This is the photo tour I have been dreaming to take! Until then your photo blog will have to suffice! Thanks for sharing your compelling images and your insights.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the comment. I sincerely hope that some day you are able to take this trip with me, it’s one of the most amazing photo trips anywhere!
Take care and thanks for following the blog.
Cheers,
Karl
Those videos had the most amazing affect on me… I was instantly transported back to Delhi, and could smell it! I could actually smell the heat, smog, gas fumes and food. Oh, I miss it! Thank you for triggering such great memories.
Thanks Karl for all of your instructions that come along with your great photos on this blog. You are truely a master teacher and We hope to travel with you soon again. We both improve our photos greatly after a trip with you–it doesn’t matter where the trip goes. I will just go along for the helpful instruction that can be given while exploring any country. Of course I love to travel too! Great vidoes to give us a flavor of the country–you couldn’t do that with your old Canons.
Judi P
Hi Judi,
Thanks for following the blog and thanks so much for the wonderful compliments! I just got your email about the article you got published, it’s fantastic! Thank you so much for your kind words. A few moments ago I emailed you a reply. Take care and I hope you can come along on another trip soon. Meanwhile, good luck with your photography…and happy Thanksgiving!
Karl
Hi Karl
Nice shots!(as usual). Would like to be there again this year.
Right now we are going thru our Myanmar and as you said, with a little bit of time, we find more and more keepers.
Have a great trip.
Thanks
Michel S
WELL DONE KARL!!!
Hi Karl!
This is the photo tour I have been dreaming to take! Until then your photo blog will have to suffice! Thanks for sharing your compelling images and your insights.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for the comment. I sincerely hope that some day you are able to take this trip with me, it’s one of the most amazing photo trips anywhere!
Take care and thanks for following the blog.
Cheers,
Karl
What a blog!!!!
Have I ever told you that you are my Idol? Yes my friend! When I grow up as a photographer I want to be like you.
Great great great!
Celso
Those videos had the most amazing affect on me… I was instantly transported back to Delhi, and could smell it! I could actually smell the heat, smog, gas fumes and food. Oh, I miss it! Thank you for triggering such great memories.
Thanks Karl for all of your instructions that come along with your great photos on this blog. You are truely a master teacher and We hope to travel with you soon again. We both improve our photos greatly after a trip with you–it doesn’t matter where the trip goes. I will just go along for the helpful instruction that can be given while exploring any country. Of course I love to travel too! Great vidoes to give us a flavor of the country–you couldn’t do that with your old Canons.
Judi P
Hi Judi,
Thanks for following the blog and thanks so much for the wonderful compliments! I just got your email about the article you got published, it’s fantastic! Thank you so much for your kind words. A few moments ago I emailed you a reply. Take care and I hope you can come along on another trip soon. Meanwhile, good luck with your photography…and happy Thanksgiving!
Karl