I spent 8 days in Varanasi photographing life as it occurs along the Ganges river. The river is the cities life blood, many come daily to the river to pray, bathe, wash away their sins, do their laundry, cremate their loved ones, or just sit along it and meditate or do yoga.
It's an amazing place to wander around, getting lost in the old narrow alleys or just sit down on one of the many ghats and watch people as they go about their daily lives. The early morning ( still dark ) spiritual rituals that are performed by individuals as they enter the cold water and set adrift candles with flowers is breath taking.
Wonderful images, Harry, I truly enjoy them! I would like to see exif data for those images though. If you just click on the "show exif boxes"... that would be great.
AGeoJO wrote:
Wonderful images, Harry, I truly enjoy them! I would like to see exif data for those images though. If you just click on the "show exif boxes"... that would be great.
Joshua
Thanks Joshua. Unfortunately I strip all the exif data upon export from Lightroom. If there are particular images you want more details on, let me know.
chez wrote:
Many bring plastic jugs to take the water back home for special ceremonies. And yes, I've seen some people actually drinking the water.
Not sure if that's true but i read somewhere that there is a bit of radiation in the water which kills most bacteria to keep water relatively clean and save for locals.
Rajan Parrikar wrote:
Another excellent series from you. Very sensitive treatment of your subjects without trying to make them ‘exotic.’
Thanks Rajan. I try not to be invasive into the daily lives and almost all the time they know I'm there photographing them. If I feel discomfort from them, I'll walk away. I never try to sneak a photo or shoot from the hip as that is a sure way to lead to mistrust. Open, upfront and patient is the key to my documentary photography.
It's a privilege not a right to photograph people.
milkod2001 wrote:
Not sure if that's true but i read somewhere that there is a bit of radiation in the water which kills most bacteria to keep water relatively clean and save for locals.
Nice pics.
If one researches what gets dumped every day into the Ganges, I'm sure they would not only not drink from the Ganges, they most likely would not even touch it.
Harry, another outstanding documentary photography. Your pictures display the important role Ganga plays in Hindu culture. Excellent photography and PP. Enjoyed seeing Kub mela and Varanasi thru your lens.
Great work!
chez wrote:
Thanks Joshua. Unfortunately I strip all the exif data upon export from Lightroom. If there are particular images you want more details on, let me know.
Harry
Just curious which camera and lens you mainly used for these. Thanks.
