The Herb Of A Thousand Problems, a photo from Samarkand, East

Photographer's Note

At a roadside market on the Silk Road between Tashkent and Samarqand, I met a woman who would, for a few Uzbek "sum," ward off evil spirits and negative problems by walking around you three times - covering you with the smoke from a burning herb called "Hazorispan" (the "Herb of a Thousand Problems").

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Critiques | Translate

BennyV (34734) 2009-11-13 7:05

Great shot, Michael. I like the closeness of it and the soft colours. Focus is spot on, as well. It creates a very decorative effect. There's an aesthetic 'flatness' to it...if you know what I mean.

And it carries the most intriguing title of today's TE session for me. Thanks for the note.

Benny

ahmet54 (3590) 2009-11-19 10:59

Hello Michael,
thank you for showing us that detail of daily life in Uzbekistan. Those burnt plants are called harmal or Syrian rue in English (lat. peganum harmala; uzb. isirik, farsi: esfand). The name hazorispan is tajik, which is widely spoken in Bukhara and Samarqand. I showed a picture, that shows how it is sold in the bazar of Samarqand. It is burned and inhaled or simply hung up in the house to cure from a cold or to prevend from the 'evil eye'. In higher dose it has got a hallucinogen effect.
Kind regards,
Roland

jalab_temen (2193) 2009-11-24 3:33

Hi Michael,
this one is an artistic, deeply involving, supersensual, mind-capturing, jaw-dropping close-up. I am utterly amazed on this photo. Both composition and the almost tangible textures of textile, skin, metal and smoke make this image truely mind-capturing.
Thank you and best regards, Jalab

ManuMay (36447) 2009-11-26 13:34

Hi Michael!

A very good shot!

A great mood on the capture, showing this very special use, very good crop to the subject and wonderful details on textures...a olay of colours very good too...

Best regards

Manuel

Wanda1 (15142) 2010-08-01 23:13

Hi Michael,
I like this shot. It is kind of mysterious with just seeing the hands and the smoke wafting from the old metal pot. Great composition with everything in the frame telling a story. Love the faded colouring as well.
Regards
Wanda