A very eager model, a photo from Tamil Nadu, South

Photographer's Note

While I was looking for photos in the market area of Vellore in southern India, a saleslady asked me to take a picture of her. I was surprised, but I liked her look and she was seated in a nice place with a pleasant light, so of course I agreed.

But the moment I aimed my camera at her, I was surrounded by a large crowd of curious people, including several boys who wanted to be in the photo. I had to spend some time shooing them away, and the saleslady at one point rushed up to the most eager boy, yelling at him and about to slap his face before he got out of the way.

There had already been a similar hullabaloo a few minutes earlier when I wanted to take a photo of a lady selling flowers. But it also ended well and you can see her in a WS.

I had no memories of taking these photos more than 33 years ago, but reading my diary from that journey I found quite vivid descriptions of both photo sessions.

Both photos were scanned from the usual Kodachrome slides.

macjake, Fis2, ikeharel, pajaran, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, jhm, ChrisJ, adramad, COSTANTINO, PaulVDV, worldcitizen, clic, burmaman, jean113, ricardomattos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

macjake (96579) 2021-02-21 0:33

Hi Gert
great to 'see' you again :) its been too long for me. Been busy with my 18 month old. I get the feeling this will be a very popular photo/post for you. Thank goodness for your diary! fun story, and totally believeable too, no doubt. I'm sure you attracted a lot of attention just because you are white, and because you're holding a camera :) I like her look, she looks proud and confident. excellent post. Hope all is well! cheers
Craig

Fis2 (158215) 2021-02-21 0:33

Witaj Gert my neighbour today again :)!
Great photos, women make an impression.
Nice scenes from daily life.
Good frames, colors and light.
I like it.
Have a nice sunday.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (107107) 2021-02-21 0:44

Both pictures deserve a main-post, Gert.
Anyway, a strong face-expression collected with this lady, and yet she was smiling at you.
The younger lady in the WS was happy to pose for you.
A nice two pictures, well managed the scan, as always.
Have a nice sunday,
Ike

Silvio1953 (208597) 2021-02-21 0:59

Ciao Gert, great portrait of lovely woman, really an ideal model for you, nice expression excellent clarity, splendid light, fine details and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pajaran (104923) 2021-02-21 2:49

Pozdrav.
Interesantni pogledi, dobar tekst, lepe fotografije.
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajda, lepe boje i kontarst.
Lepe fotografije i secanje.
Zelim vam lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Royaldevon (78332) 2021-02-21 4:52

Hello Gert,

I found your notes very amusing, but of course, 30+ years ago, you would have been a very interesting person, exploring the market, dressed differently and with camera in hand! You would have been like a magnet to small, curious boys!
I also liked your description of the actions of the older lady! Those were the days, when you could slap disobedient children without fear of legal retribution!

She looks full of self determination, smiling and with arms folded. (I couldn't help but notice her toes!)
Lovely textural details of her wooden backrest!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

pierrefonds (105561) 2021-02-21 5:02

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the smiling expression of the woman. The point of view is showing the details of her clothings. The light has a good effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (205223) 2021-02-21 5:54

Hello Gert,

The Lady it seems the queen of the street, I would not think or she has hungry.
Pleasant to look at, the woman as seller.
An excellent composition with real colours.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John

ChrisJ (162660) 2021-02-21 6:25

Hi Gert

A good scan with reasonable sharpness and a determined looking elderly grey haired lady! Well framed and composed and luckily the boys were dissuaded from lining up in front of her. Tfs!

lousat (131433) 2021-02-21 6:26

Hi Gert,it's always nice to read your note,sometimes funny like today. So a difficult pic to do because the childs,but finally the queen were alone,and this is the result. She seems very satisfacted watching her face expression,while the other lady in the WS it's too serious..ehhee....have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

jmdias (105119) 2021-02-21 8:20

gert

I liked more the WS because the colors and the girl, but the portrait of the lady is nice too despite the pose. I presume they don't mind about photos nowadays, each little boy has a cellphone..
in a small city some boys asked me for photos, only them. in siberia a lady and her daughter wanted a photo with me because I was brazilian.

take care

jorge

adramad (68174) 2021-02-21 10:11

Hi Gert.
Two very authentic characters these two women from the most authentic India, the lady in the main photo has a pleasant half smile, you can see that she was pleased to pose, the other surrounded by the color of her flowers, gives a nice chromaticism
Good framing of the image, very pleasing to the eye.
Colorful, sharpness and luminosity are captured effectively.
Very good composition, magnificent presentation.
Have a good start to the week.
Warm greetings.
Luis.

Tue (84016) 2021-02-21 10:55

Hej Gert,
Det er meget godt du stadig har dine dagbøger for at kunne fortælle om historien bag billedet. Et godt portræt med kvinden, der sidder der meget stolt på stenbænken. De grønne frugter er en meget god detalje i forgrunden.
Lars

emka (153414) 2021-02-21 12:17

Hello Gert, I have written a long critique but it disappeared. I forgot to check. Such situations that you describe are quite common in Asian countries, it happened to me many times.
Excellent photo of this woman. She must have been very poor, her dress is so dirty, she has only a few bracelets. So maybe she felt proud that she could pose for you. 33 years ago she couldn't see the result.
The stone bench and the bags are also very well and natural shown. But she doesn't look like an Indian woman, rather like an African. great picture.
The Workshop is not especially interesting.
Best regrads MAlgo

ifege (35341) 2021-02-21 19:01

Hi Gert
Both your subjects to day seemed happy to pose for you, especially the main one. Both good quality scans, as always.
If I am right the fruit in the photo is the not so common Indian Olive.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (106055) 2021-02-21 23:20

Hello dear Gert and have a nice day
and a happy new week
excellent capture of this
lady dressed in traditional
clothes...
I like the expression of the face..
regards
costantino

foxy (2453) 2021-02-22 2:42

Hello Gert,
It's a very beautiful picture of this lady.
'Beauty is only skin deep'.... what I see, it's all natural without any make-up, and she offered to be photographed.
That's show she is very confident and straightforward , yet very cheeky mischievous smile on her, the way she crossed her arms ( this is ME! )....the only glamour she has , are the bangles. The only sign of nervousness, I think, the feet and toes.....even more interesting to the whole picture. It would be nice to see more fruits ( mangoes? ) scattered evenly around her feet.
The WS , by the look the 'dot' on her forehead, I do believe that she is married. That's why she was embarrassed by a handsome stranger :-)
The profusion of these fragrant flowers , she selling....esp roses and jasmines, filling the street with wonderful scents.
Thanks for sharing this 'hullabaloo' note.
Loong

GyurMaster (22206) 2021-02-22 3:45

Dear Gert,

Its another excellent photo, which could have been sold to the magazine with that yellow frame. I like how she pops out from the dull, brownish environment with her white clothes. The green fruits are a nice addition. The WS photo is also nice. I guess my fave goes for both photos this time. :)

Best Wishes,
Gy.

PaulVDV (56393) 2021-02-22 11:40

Hello Gert,
When I saw the photo, despite the physical appearance of a Tamil woman, I thought for a moment that you took this one in Africa.
If the described situation had happened in the digital age, you would now have a large number of photos with people constantly changing roles. Funny that this woman helped you to get rid of the pushy guys.
The photo in the WS is a bit blurry, at least the foreground. Still, I would have chosen this one as the main photo.
Best regards, Paul

worldcitizen (14562) 2021-02-23 12:50

Hello Gert,
This is a very atmospheric portrait. I like the way the woman is crossing her arms, her clothing, and the limes at her feet. The WS photo is lovely, too. Take care!

burmaman (1108) 2021-02-24 9:57

Hello Gert!
She looks proud and very relaxed.Maybe she had a good buisiness that market day.
It is a good enviromental portait and your low POV worked well.
Reghards,Ronny

clic (24154) 2021-02-24 11:12

Hallo Gert
Arms and feet crossed could be related to a sign of an avoidance behavior and of isolationism. Nonetheless, as your wrote in the note, she behave as the queen of the premises chasing resolutely the curtain-twitchers.
So I conclude, at the sight of her faint smile and of her posture, that she poses, displaying the afterglow of satisfaction following her victory on the latest events.
You show a true-to-life and exotic strong portrait with lot of scanning dexterity.
Halsningar

jean113 (23481) 2021-02-25 11:45

Hello Gert, this lady looks quite comfortable, sitting there for her photo to be taken.
Scruffy surroundings, but she is not bothered at all!
Your notes add a lot to the story of how this shot came to be.
The w/s shot could easily have been a main post too.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

ricardomattos (15908) 2021-02-27 15:16

Hi Gert

This portrait is fantastic. The model exudes sympathy. The scenery helped in the composition of the photo. The light on it and the weaker light around it gave a special shine to this illustrious local character. Very well done photo!

Congratulations

Ricardo

mcmtanyel (59400) 2021-03-05 19:45

Hello Gert,
Isn't it great when you meet eager models who are not too eager? Great photo!
Regards,
MT

kasianowak (16148) 2021-03-14 12:27

Both photos are lovely portraits but this one is my favourite as it reminds me of a painting with a mixture of dark and light tones and the few fruit on the floor.
I have to add it to my favs.
Have a nice week.
Kasia