Camel's Family, a photo from Rajasthan, West

Photographer's Note

On my way from Pilani, a tiny college town in the state of Rajasthan, approximately 200km from Delhi, I found this itinerant family of migratory people, who move from place to place in search of farm jobs. Thier main, perhaps the only, property is a camel. Here this was a large family, with three camels, at least three men, a number of women of all ages in colorful dresses, and lots of little kids. These people were in that area at this time because this is the time when dried post-harvest wheat plants are collected and converted into husks. The husks are transported over the farm lands by carts drawn by camels. These people had set up a few temporary shelters to protect themselves from the sun, and were resting, when I approached. The kids went wild with excitement, the women gigled, young girls were shy, and the men were amused. The women and the kids filed into posed formations but the men realized what I was after and quickly broke them up. Unfortunately this is probably the only passable frame I could take at this point...it was difficult to concentrate with so running kids running after you to catch your attention.

moshe_mosk, oochappan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ben4321 (9875) 2006-05-02 13:43

This is great!
I like the facial expressions of the kids in the foreground, and the slightly unhinged haughtiness of the camel.
Good one.

summersun (4978) 2006-05-02 14:23

I know what it's like when you try to take a picture, and all the excited kids are running all around...
but there is an atmosphere of fun in your image, I like it.
I also like the main characters with the camel in the back, and the brown/ sandy tones of the image.
Vanessa

sonti_in (346) 2006-05-02 15:11 [Comment]

Show Comment +

Luko (14000) 2006-05-02 16:50

You know I usually dont care about kids photo waiving hands or fingers in a shot.. although this one has a certain quality and interest I cannot really define. Perhaps some kind of enthusiasm and incredible chaos in it, it's bursting in every corner of characters getting or showing their "interest" in different ways... I mean it's like a body language showcase for when you want to have your photo taken in all seasns : smile, pose, point a finger, knock your forehead, point your finger or poke from the foreground...
The outsatnding thing is that the image is quite clear : like a long studied and well displayed collage. Kudos for that.

Perhaps the color shift is a bit off, towards red, might be the film characteritics though.

[2] +

entrelec (8328) 2006-05-02 17:10

What is nice in this one is theese parents standing very serious while the children are all excitedn each in his own way.
So, we have a contast, in the same picture of two styles different; I like this .

joel

sayan (2617) 2006-05-03 5:02

hello sir,
Its a nice dynamic composition. I like the natural smiles on the face of the chindren. Beautiful capture!
Regards
Sayan

ALSOM (6616) 2006-05-03 6:51

Nice one Animesh, very dynamic.
I'm not used to colors with your photo ;o).
I wonder how it will look like in b/w.

oochappan (4880) 2006-05-15 6:52

Hi Animesh
I like the pyramidel composition of the people here ending by the head of the camel giving it depht through the diferant plans sarting from close the enduces a nice way of eye-travelling in the scene.
Knowing the reason now for your preference to B&W I will keep that in mind.
Warm Greetings
Henk