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Streets of Bangalore
3rd PlaceStreets of Bangalore
choltmeier


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Poverty II (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Location: Commercial District, Bangalore, India
Date: Oct 20, 2008
Aperture: f/2.5
ISO: 1600
Shutter: 1/90
Galleries: Urban, Photojournalism
Date Uploaded: Oct 20, 2008

 10/29/08:
I'm so pleased that this squeaked into the ribbons (started slow and gained over the week)! She was a wonderful subject to shoot. Thanks to everyone for the feedback and suggestions. I will be posting a fully post-processed version (beyond basic editing) on my Flickr site along with many other images from India. Thanks!

Original Post:
I got the opportunity to visit Bangalore, India for one week for work. It was/is my first trip to India so I didn't know what to expect, but I figured there may be some good photos for the poverty/affluence challenges. My 1 week trip spans two challenge weeks, so I'm hoping for good themes again next week.

My coworker Prashant took me out in the evening after work to visit a tailor and have a suit made. After visiting the tailor we walked through a commercial area with many shops. There was so much energy and activity with many bright colored lights and interesting sights and people to see. It is/was street photographer heaven!

I cranked up my ISO to 1600 and used my 50 mm f/1.8 lens to get as much light in as possible. That was plenty of light for most shots given all of the lights from the shops.

We came upon this woman begging on the street. She was sitting in the sidewalk exactly as she appears here. I approached her and pointed to my camera and she was happy to have her picture taken. We gave her some money and I snapped 3 shots. I would have glady given her more money for the amazing photo but we decided it best to move on with the first donation.

I love the way the night lights sidelight her face, the eye contact, the completey unaltered / unrequested pose, the headlights over her shoulder backlighting her hair, and her beautiful colorful outfit even though she is much in need.

I have to say I have high hopes for scoring on this as the subject doesn't get much better than this. It is pure and simple the real thing. Hopefully my mediocre photography skills didn't get in the way of this wonderful shot of a woman needing some help.

Post processing was minimal.
Shot in JPG
Sharpen
Noise Reduction
Sharpen Again
Black Border
Save for web

Statistics
Place: 3 out of 98
Avg (all users): 6.5524
Avg (commenters): 7.2000
Avg (participants): 6.2813
Avg (non-participants): 6.6011
Views since voting: 4781
Views during voting: 377
Votes: 210
Comments: 28
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/02/2008 12:53:01 AM
Originally posted by Chiaroscuro:
Nice shot and congrats for the ribbon, but if I may be so bold and honest I'm disappointed.
For one I feel almost all tourists come back with images with a very similar theme from India - poverty.
While I agree that there is plenty of it which is right in front of your eye there are few who dig deeper to find true 'Indian' culture and the color which you mention in your description.
Here's to seeing less of impoverished India and more of the vibrant India.


First off, thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback. I appreciate that you took time to look at my image, read the story behind it and provide a response. I learn most from comments like yours.

As I look over my pictures from my trip to India, many of the images are things I found to be 'different' than my normal surroundings in the U.S.-- I think that's natural that those things caught my eye. However, most of my images are potraits of people, not highlighting their poverty but showing their eyes and expressions and getting a glimpse into their lives, which happen to be very different from mine. It just so happens that I was in India during the Poverty challenge and I came upon this woman on the street. I see as many or more homeless people asking for money in my own home town. So, my intent was not to highlight poverty in India (although it certainly exists there) but to show a woman who has been through a lot in life.

I have posted and will be posting more images from India to my Flickr site called "Faces of India" that shows many people in India, in no way highlighting their economic status as this one does. My intent is to show faces, expressions and the lives of people that I interacted with in an amazing country. I don't do justice to the depth and breadth of the diversity of culture, but at least I captured a slice of humanity in their faces.

Again, thanks so much for your comments. I'd love to chat more offline if you're interested.
 11/01/2008 10:52:17 AM
Nice shot and congrats for the ribbon, but if I may be so bold and honest I'm disappointed.
For one I feel almost all tourists come back with images with a very similar theme from India - poverty.
While I agree that there is plenty of it which is right in front of your eye there are few who dig deeper to find true 'Indian' culture and the color which you mention in your description.
Here's to seeing less of impoverished India and more of the vibrant India.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/31/2008 07:35:08 PM
Excellent shot, congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/31/2008 05:55:07 PM
2 ribbons in a short while, and both for excellent shots. I like that you are winning ribbons for very different photographs... shows a lot of diversity. Congrats on the recent results, and hope to see more front page stuff from you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 05:40:55 PM
Congrats on another ribbon. I love the colour in this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 04:06:28 PM
wow - back to back ribbons - fantastic! congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 12:59:05 PM
glad this ribboned. Great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 12:59:04 PM
glad this ribboned. Great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 11:30:27 AM
Looks like you're on a roll! This was one of my favs for the challenge, excellent choice of subject. Congrats on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 11:18:16 AM
Oh Chris! This is amazing! And I seriously beg to differ with you about the "mediocre photographer" thing. This was taken and presented to masterfully! I'm so glad you left it in color. It's just beautiful! Congratulations!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 06:35:52 AM
Proficiat on your Yellow.
I voted an 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 02:44:36 AM
You nailed it.It is a perfect photograph.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 02:43:40 AM
Yes, a wonderful shot. I amnot that keen on the car lights, although they do give a good backlight to the hair, as you say. I find them most distracting though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 01:58:22 AM
It is a wonderful image, as well as very telling. I am glad you ribboned with this image. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 01:15:46 AM
Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/29/2008 12:34:28 AM
2 in a row??? nice find and congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
10/28/2008 03:20:30 PM
this one is number one in my book, good work
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/28/2008 01:00:01 PM
beautiful subject- I wish the crop was tighter, and that the right side of her face had more exposure. The color of her clothes are great. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/28/2008 10:32:32 AM
Nioce colors and expression in this one. The lines of age show on her face. You can see a sense of dignaty in her. I like the way she makes eye contact with the photographer. I like the blurred backround. You can tell she is on the street which is good.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/28/2008 08:44:04 AM
use of narrow dof doesn't quite manage to isolate her from bg distractions - otherwise excellent 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/27/2008 05:15:05 PM
Very good shot for this challenge. I wish there was a tad more light on her face.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2008 08:54:34 PM
Beautiful capture. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/25/2008 01:21:29 AM
Very good meeting of challenge. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2008 05:15:40 PM
beautiful light and emotive
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/24/2008 10:56:37 AM
If it wasn't basic editing, I would suggest blurring the background or using vignette to get rid of the bright street lights in the upper right. As it is, terrific capture of the expression on her face and her poverty.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2008 10:17:33 AM
aww
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2008 12:24:47 AM
wow wow this shot had so much potential! more fill lighting on the face
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/22/2008 12:09:45 AM
great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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