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summer at the ganges


Guest imported_stefan_r

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Stefan -

 

Your signature sensitivity in portraits comes through loud and clear. And, of course, all the "technicals" are spot-on. I suspect that you did not have an opportunity to engage her in conversation since she was so rapt in prayer.

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Stefan - The slight vertical lines in the forehead, lightly compressed eyelids, and long slender fingers barely touching conveys an incredible depth of feeling and devotion.

 

For an increcible moment like this It leads me to wondering about the photographer, not so much about what equipment was being used. How close were you? Were you there in the water and how deep when you captured this? What were you feeling at the time? Was it something more than "what a great shot"?

 

Richard

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Guest imported_stefan_r

Brent, this is a 120mm film, Kodak trix 400, paper agfa mcc111.

 

Stuart, I had two whole mornings to talk to her and her husband…

 

Richard, I hate! I really can say this, I hate these typical “I pass by with the boat” snaps, so I had to get into the water (like in the one with the sadhu) http://www.stefan-rohner.net/portrait/1/02.jpg

 

here I am about 1m from her

I used 80mm (MF format) lens ( in 35mm film about 50mm). since we didn’t wanted to bother prayers we looked for a place where prayers don’t go, the strong water current makes praying difficult.

she is standing higher then me, under the water are the typical steps like everywhere in Varanasi, going down to the Ganges, I was standing on the next step ;( the water until the chest, the camera between

the chest and my chin. what did I feel? well when I saw her the first time on the street I knew already what picture I would do, to me she is the Indian “mona lisa” .. so I felt much more organizing a date with her. I was nervous, I was happy, I felt unsure. how to talk to her? since I meet already some people I asked a guy what he thinks about the idea to ask her … “ohh I think this is no problem, but we have to ask the husband” so he did. later that day I was sitting under a tree beside the river, she passed by ….what a beauty! just a short quick smile to me, from the angle of her face! ok she already knew….

the next day we had a date in their home with her family, “why you want to take pictures?” “you are very beautiful, that’s why” what will I pay (normal question in India). I told them that I would like to give her a nice present if she agrees. some clothes for her children or something for her. she agreed, she wanted a new “Sari”. for the night they invited me for dinner (people will ask why you didn’t take pictures?) I din dent want to bother them more then enough… the next day we went out by boat, early in the morning….. in the afternoon we went for the Sari, the whole family, mother, sisters husband… ;) I felt like a child, like somebody who does not know where people take them, dive into a new world… it took her 1h to realize that she cold take the sari she likes, and then another 30min to decide witch one….

I stayed some more days in Varanasi, every time I saw here somewhere around I got that smile from her, she got mine.

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A beautiful image. All the more credit to you that you organized it without it looking that way.

 

The compressed tonal range range also works in its favour. Was this done in the processing or in PS?

 

Cheers,

Erl

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Stefan - Thank you for your response to my musings.

 

In a very meaningful way you have said it is much more than the equipment used. You entered and became a part of their lives for a short time and by your description you have reinforced my initial feeling of what it would be like to stand chest deep in water and an eye up to the viewfinder.

 

Richard

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Guest imported_stefan_r

thanks again

 

Erl,

 

"Was this done in the processing or in PS?"

 

 

yes, I scan them in RAW, 0 contrast, 0 usm, then in PS I ajust contrast and usm. until the image on the screen looks like the one on paper. the one on paper just looks like the one above. regards S.

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Stefan, what an interesting image and story. I like the way you worked to make this photo. I also am stunned by the beauty of this woman. The whole image is well conceived and your mastering in controlling all the elements at the moment of the shot is noteworthy.

 

But... why did you spoil everything with that terrible cheap "aura" stuff, so obvious and so kitsch... you transformed a rare subject matter in a pious image (you know, those one they gave to kids when they got a good answer...) What a pity...

 

My 2 cents, of course.

 

Best,

Gérald

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