Forever young, a photo from Gujarat, West

Photographer's Note

For more than 32 years this woman has been smiling at me, and the girl laughing out loud. Now the woman is reaching old age and the girl is a middle-aged woman, but to me they will be sitting here, forever young, in a street of Ahmedabad city.

I took this photo in late September 1977. I had almost forgotten about it, until I brought it out from my wardrobe recently to scan it. I have no idea what they were selling, those black and white things. A fruit or vegetable, partly peeled to reveal the white meat? I am sure I asked about its name but only got it in Gujarati, which didn't make me any wiser. Maybe an Indian member of TE will know the answer.

This was scanned from a Kodachrome slide.

Buin, saxo042, danos, Kielia, Glint, macondo, Vasa, patdeph, skippy007, UlfE, ruchisjoshi, mrugesh-thaker, ourania, Cricri has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Buin (42580) 2010-02-11 6:35

Hallo Gert!
A photo which immediately spreads good mood! What an infective smile/laughter! Let's hope that their lives since then predominantly have been as pleasant as in this moment ...
A wonderful shot!
Greetings fom cold and snowy Germany!
Frank

bema (26591) 2010-02-11 6:39

Hello Gert,

a great title and a wonderful and indeed, moody capture, too..
in the first moment i was catched by those strange colors, incredible view and take...

have a nice day, kind reagrds Bernd

john1 (4028) 2010-02-11 7:07

Hi Gert,

A beautiful portrait of these two lovely people, their smile says a lot about their lives. Happy doubtless, their coat colors live with their jewelry and necklace.
An excellent ethnological composition, bravo.
Good day.
john

saxo042 (38078) 2010-02-11 8:16

Hej Gert,

Beautiful smiles onthese attractive girls! Also very strong and saturated colours.

This is really the advantage with TE. Instead of hiding your pictures in the wardrobe for more than 30 years, you can let the whole world enjoy them!

Hälsningar
Gunnar

emka (157280) 2010-02-11 11:38

Hi Gert,
Yes, it is the power of photography. Nice photo of the smiling family. I am already beginning to miss India with all these smiles. Strande thing what they are selling.

Regards

Malgorzata

jasmis (58653) 2010-02-11 12:12

Technical level isn't important here. Amazing "ancient" gem.
Regards.

yquem46 (38752) 2010-02-11 13:57

Hej Gert
That's why I like so much going to India again and again, for smiles and colors
Here they are !
Not the best quality as one can dream but still ...
Best
patrick

danos (110407) 2010-02-12 0:27

Good morning Gert,
nice snapshot from the oldies, with the old and the middle age woman in nowadays to remain in your memory as we see them in the image, so young and happy.Lovely the saturated colours of their clothes and their adorable smile that is really engraved in mind for ever.Well done.

Have a nice day,Danos

Disabled_A (0) 2010-02-12 16:28

Hello Gert,

IMHO, it's so nice to have - and sometimes look at - such "smiling" photos like this one!
The longer I live the more I make sure how necessary they are and how necessary it is to take such photos whenever you see smiling or laughing people! especially when they are looking at the photographer :)
excellent portrait of a Good Mood :)
Time flies, doesn't it..

Warm regards,
Elena

Gerrit (62042) 2010-02-13 1:07

Hi Gerd,
that's photography's prime magic.
Wonderful pink colors and great happiness.
regards, Gerrit

Kielia (24077) 2010-02-13 2:55

Hej Gert,
a fantastic document! First of all I enjoyed reading your lovely note and then I discovered all the wonderful details of this outstanding composition. Very beautiful colors and light and a great atmosphere of happiness. Who could not resist those charming ladies? Congratulation.
Warm regards
Harriet

Glint (6171) 2010-02-13 12:32

hello Gert,
this is a warm, happy photo o take the chill off a winter's evening. The woman seems so personable. I wonder if she has become a happy old woman?
Bev

macondo (20449) 2010-02-13 21:00

Hello Gert.
Ah, the bitter-sweet pangs of nostalgia - she is forever young and forever beautiful, and both are forever smiling. Let's hope they really continued on through their lives smiling and laughing. Perhaps the younger one is now a mother herself.
Their richly coloured scarlet-pink clothes make such a wondrous contrast with the grey background, and we can see the colour repeating itself in the lips, the thingy on the forehead, the bangle on the wrist.
A superb photo, one which it is no surprise to learn has been on your mind all those years. I'm sorry I cannot explain what they are selling, but maybe it is jackfruit?
Regards,
Andrew

mafegan (8626) 2010-02-14 4:31

Hello Gert
A delightful photo to view. Their smiles would brighten anybody's day. Again a well preserved slide. I hope they are still smiling! Tfs, Marlene

BeBeHooker (0) 2010-02-15 2:58

Hi Gert!
Amazing girls. Wonderful scene. Excellent smiles. Gorgeous picture.
Cheers!

Tabris (140) 2010-02-15 8:30

Hello,

Great photo, great composition. Thanks.

Friendly,

Nabil.

Vasa (515) 2010-02-15 12:32

Your note is pure philosophical reflection. The facts are serious, Gert. Keep the photo for eternal optimism, friend. Really wonderful witness of life.

Branko

atilgone (0) 2010-02-16 1:36

very nice picture.
they are smiling very happy and prety.
well seen details nice picture
tfs

patdeph (35750) 2010-02-16 2:36

hello Gert
I love the colors and the wonderful smile of the girl and the woman!I have a great pleausure to look at such pictures,thank you very much!
Regards
Pascale

skippy007 (12510) 2010-02-17 3:48

Hello Gert, The last couple of days I have been scanning some of my old photos, not as old as yours but the quality is very poor, I appreciate these ones of yours even more now that I know from person experience how difficult it is to end up with an image of this good quality. I have also experienced the nostalgia & thoughts that you have written between the lines. A beautiful happy image with strong colour & an excellent mood well captured. Well frozen in time.
Thank you
Regards
Santo

UlfE (14641) 2010-02-20 23:23

Hej Gert,

What a wonderful scene. I love the smiling faces of these young beauties. They are very cute in their colourful clothes. You have captured them perfectly. The child in the background is an extra bonus and contributes to the vividness of the scene. TFS and have nice Sunday!

Hälsningar

Ulf

figenya (2852) 2010-02-22 13:32

Hi Gert,

I really can not believe that you have forgotten such a shining shot. Vivid colours, their comfort and sincere smiles are admiring. Please spare some time for your archieve, I wish to see more of them.

India becomes a dream for me due to your and Patrick's shots:)

kind regards

figen

jmdias (114278) 2010-03-09 7:33

gert

nice job using the scan. I liked the contrast of the colorfull clothes and the walls around, these interesting product they were selling looks interesting. perfect smiles, so natural. perfect framing and light. a beautiful sample of india

hugs

jorge

tusharkmandal (3173) 2010-04-23 5:40

Hi Gert,

Some images travel time and are ageless. This one is one of them. Just imagine after 32 years they have been still smiling. Its very much nostalgic. Great use of colors. The smile is priceless and ageless. I am adding this picture as my favorites.

Regards
Tushar

mrugesh-thaker (0) 2010-08-09 23:47 [Comment]

Show Comment +

ourania (51103) 2014-10-01 13:38

Hello Gert,
the smile, the laugh and the vivid colours make this picture so delightful. It has energy and character and the viewer responds to it instantly, even before studying the details. It's so refreshing and reassuring to see this good mood in such a gritty context. I like very much the title which could apply to a large part of your timeless collection. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a good night,
Ourania

Cricri (176) 2017-09-26 22:43

Hi Gert
Quel beaux portraits aux grand sourires, c'est un plaisir a voir, l'on a envie de rire avec elle !, vous avez capturer un beau moment de la vie , les couleurs sont très jolies, magnifique
belle journée
cricri