Still at the Meenakshi Temple, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

My last post showed three photos from the early 13th century Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, southern India. Here are three more.

Most of this interesting temple is covered with roofs and rather dark. Today's main photo is from one of the small areas that had a reasonably good light. I can't say much about it. It shows a Hindu priest, or maybe an assistant, doing some maintenance work on one of the many brightly painted deities found in niches like this all over the place.

The dark interiors were the most exciting parts for me, although the lack of light made it difficult to take photos. I took a few, hand held and with long exposures, and show two of them in the WS even though they are technically inferior.

These photos from 1988 were all scanned from Kodachrome slides.

pajaran, ikeharel, Fis2, PaulVDV, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, jhm, PiotrF, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Royaldevon, jean113 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (114915) 2021-09-19 0:36

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepo obelezje, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Lepe fotografije dobijene skeniranjem slajda.

Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja

Silvio1953 (220605) 2021-09-19 0:39

Ciao Gert, my today neighbour, lovely composition with person praying at fantastic temple, fine details, splendid sharpnness and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

lousat (138609) 2021-09-19 1:36

Hi Gert,still 3 beautiful photos from the temple, this time showing scenes of life between priests and faithful. The first is notable with the priest who takes care of the maintenance of the statue, while the 2 WS are very rich and have an excellent quality despite the long exposure and capture without a tripod. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

ikeharel (112439) 2021-09-19 1:53

Hello Gert,
Colors on this photo enhanced the moment taken.
A fine old picture scanned, a srong impression rendered on this.
Have a nice sunday,
Ike

jmdias (114278) 2021-09-19 2:53

gert

I remember such sculptures covered with colorful dust. I liked the dialogue between the man and the deity here. the WS looks many candles and remind me the old catholic cathedrals where the candles are so usual.

take care

jorge

Fis2 (169731) 2021-09-19 3:08

Witaj Gert!
Today a bit late, because I'm already after training on the bike :)
Nice set of photos.
A very curious place, interesting scenes.
Goood frames and colors.
This picture makes impression.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-09-19 3:39

Hello Gert,
Even without being the best quality, the photos in the WS still represent the atmosphere one can expect to find when visiting the Meenakshi Temple. But in the semi-dark spaces it must be very difficult to take decent pictures of the beautiful architecture, the many works of art and the wonderfully carved pillars. With the later ban on cameras, I couldn't even make a single attempt.
Your main photo shows well how the statues of gods are decorated with flowers and painted with intense colours.
The bas-relief of the guarding lion has been badly worn over the centuries.
Best regards, Paul

ChrisJ (171222) 2021-09-19 3:47

Hi Gert,

A superb daily life scene of this religious ceremony. The butter candles in the workshop are nice too. Good colour, sharpness and framing. Tfs!

pierrefonds (113590) 2021-09-19 4:44

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the action of the priest. The point of view is showing the details of the deitie. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

dedee (2931) 2021-09-19 6:43

Hi Gert
A very interesting image with good colours and framing.
Well done in getting such good images from slides.
David

Tue (91574) 2021-09-19 8:45

Hej Gert,
Billedet har mange fine detaljer, men viser præsten der er i gang med den farverige skulptur af gudheden også meget godt. De slidte detaljer ser meget godt og skarpt ud her. De rødlige toner viser at malingen må være en vigtig del af de religiøse handlinger.
Lars

jhm (211734) 2021-09-19 10:30

Hello Gert,

I think that has a treasure of an archive.
Old picture again scan and than carefor a good picture is certainly not eady
Excellent detailed, makes your picture attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

PiotrF (54246) 2021-09-19 10:42

Hello Gert,
A great series of photos from your archive. Interesting photos from the Meenakshi temple in Madurai. Well-captured scenes from the inside.
Interesting presentation
Regards
Piotr

GyurMaster (24668) 2021-09-19 12:44

Dear Gert,

Kodachrome, what else, as George Clooney says in the advertisement. Oh sorry, he advertises coffee. Whatever, I like how the colours of the statue stands out of the dull environment. The human interaction with the spiritual subject is the cherry on ice.

Best Wishes,
Gy

ifege (46951) 2021-09-19 21:19

Hi Gert
Another 3 varied and interesting photos from the temple and I do like the ghost in the WS.
cheers
Ian

mcmtanyel (67657) 2021-09-19 21:25

Hello Gert,
Nice and colorful details from life around the temple.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (115539) 2021-09-19 22:04

Hello dear Gert and have a nice day
and a happy new week
thanks for your useful details
and the notice that most of
these impressive temples are
covered with roofs and darkness...
nice timing for you with the man
searching and doing some
maintance work
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (146280) 2021-09-19 23:36

Hi Gert,
interesting scene about this country, well framed with this attitude of the man, good light and sharpness, well presented with your note, tfs.

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-09-20 6:21

Hello Gert,

Your main photograph shows the priest at work and though this was attracted immediately, it was all the carved decorations and the recesses on the walls that then captured my attention.
I could not help seeing the similarity between these photographs and those I showed in Ely Cathedral, where the lighting of candles links them.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jean113 (27637) 2021-09-21 8:24

Hello Gert, once again I am amazed at the quality of this scanned picture; no-one would know if you didn't say.
I like the close point of view, we can see details of the stone carvings and the remnants of paint from the past.
Looking at the w/s pictures, they are timeless, they could have been taken today!
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

kasianowak (17672) 2021-10-17 10:08

Great photo showing what is an integral part of the daily life of people living there. Well composed and timed and the splash of red really makes it special.
Yes, I can see the long expose ghost in the WS photo. :-) Did you use a tripod?
Have a nice week.
Kasia