Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Rajan Parrikar on September 14, 2013, 01:21:21 pm

Title: The Crematorium
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on September 14, 2013, 01:21:21 pm
From my photo essay, The Crematorium (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2013/09/14/the-crematorium/).

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/Balappa-Kholkar.jpg)

Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: David Eckels on September 14, 2013, 04:57:03 pm
WOW. Powerful.
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Chris Calohan on September 14, 2013, 05:36:35 pm
Christopher James did a whole series on this same subject. Like yours, the images are quite powerful.

http://www.christopherjames-studio.com/build/photoIndia.html (http://www.christopherjames-studio.com/build/photoIndia.html)
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: RSL on September 14, 2013, 05:41:23 pm
It's a fine shot, Rajan. Good shooting.
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on September 14, 2013, 05:55:06 pm
David, Chris, Russ - thank you.

Chris, thanks for that link. I haven't yet tended to my Varanasi photos, but did a quick photo essay for the Huffington Post some 3 years ago. HuffPo's gallery interface and software suck (or used to suck). Here's that gallery -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rajan-p-parrikar/varanasi---indias-holy-ci_b_498218.html




Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Harald L on September 14, 2013, 06:39:13 pm
Quote from: David Eckels on September 14, 2013, 04:57:03 pm
WOW. Powerful.

+1

Yes, WOW was my first thought as well.

Harald
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Iluvmycam on September 14, 2013, 08:25:52 pm
Nice Rajan!
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Rob C on September 15, 2013, 05:18:25 am
Yes indeed, a very strong picture. Were you to kill some of the highlights (make them stronger - lose the detail) you would be there in W. Eugene Smith or McCullin territory. Worth a try, just to see how it would work out.

Why do I suggest it?

Because I assume the picture is a location shot, and losing some detail could add to the sense of drama because such good detail as you have captured suggests a studio environment instead, thus losing some of the impact, the more gritty reality one sometimes hopes for in images.

Having thought this mighty thought, I realise yet again how a long memory can dramatically alter perception. Today's kids who may well have never see either fashion mags or news mags where bleached out highlights were used to effect will have no reference points like that to let them think outside the 21st century straightjacket of plasticized personalities.

It's nice sometimes to have some mileage...

Rob C
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: sdwilsonsct on September 15, 2013, 11:46:18 am
Quote from: Rob C on September 15, 2013, 05:18:25 am
Yes indeed, a very strong picture.

+1. I liked the rest of the series, too.
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on September 15, 2013, 05:04:26 pm
iluvmycam, Harald, Scott - thanks muchos.

Rob, your feedback is valuable and much appreciated.  I like to think of the images posted to my blog as a 'first draft.'  This man was shy and nervous.  He has probably never had his photo taken, certainly never before been asked to stand still for a portrait.  He had a hard time looking directly into the lens and I had to request him more than once to shift back his gaze.
Title: Re: The Crematorium
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 15, 2013, 05:48:02 pm
You captured him beautifully. He has a very photogenic face!
Nice series, quite different from your usual work.